Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1864-11-11
Prior

President LNcoLN.-Hon. Wm. Whiting,
Solicitor Of the War Department, made an
able speech at Boston on Monday last In
course Of it be sketchcd the character Of
President Lincoln as follows:
Perhaps YOU viii expect me TO say a word
upon the personal qUalitcati bias 0i our can
didate for the Presidency. 10 has been my
good fortune 10 see much of the President
lie II one Of tine most Industrious. hard
working men III Washington. His manners
and style OF dress and %. living. are smulc
aud transformations. lie puts on no airs.
lie Is kind, tender-hcrtcd and generous
man. lie opens MS house 10 the public.
lie hears the complaints o. the humble lie
Is the friend Of the people.
He IL not puie- up by the distinction of
Office, and assume no superiority on account
OF his station. lie has great love of witand
humor, and does tell >tJries. Perhaps tins
peculiar quality oi humor may have saved
him from being broken down bv the weight
OF MS cares and immense Responsibilities.
Having observed hi- conduct under irving
circumstances, he ia- seemed &, me to be-, one
OF the most considerations public men have
ever known. lis honesty. rs vlu all know.
Is incOrrupuble and auhIuching.
Ills abilIty-his Intellectual powers. have.
| think. not been sufficiently appreciated.
He takes broad comprehensive views of every
subject ne examines. lie looks nj all it,
bearings. He Is cautious in getting at the
facts. lie breads mistakes winch might mis-
lead him, or do injustice to the absent
His reasoning powers seem t. me TO be of
a high order. lis discourse and his writ
ings are plain but powerful They are Load
ed with common sense.
To many be seems too slow and too eau
tious. lie may be SO. But We must remem-
Der that what is too slow for New England
may be too fast for the Western States and
the States must 70 together, or obey cannot
60 at all.
lie has been called yaclllating. But no
President has ever tr0d nis onward path
with frmer steps. lie has never looked
backward nor mas be ever r1Scn his word
nor taken back what be has said. While he
holds a question under consideration he list
ems to ali opinions in or cut OF MS cabinet
When he has fully made up his mind he is
immovablc
do not hesitate 10 say that Gen. jackson
had no more frames than President Lin
coin; but the former was guided to his con- /
clusion (t0o olten) by viii and tcmper-the |
latter Is only guided by conscientious conyic- |
ton of duty.
1t has been said that the President is over |
borne by the influence OF the members of his /
Cabinet, and is thus swaye4 one way and |
the other. The instance most relied on is |
that Of Mr. Blair. Yet it is fact, that on /
most Of the great questions Of public policy |
relating to slavery, the President has gone
directly against the views of Mr.. Blair, and
finally requested him to resign his seat in
the cabinet. Beyond all question, Mr.. LIN
coin Is now and always has been the controll-
ing mind in the government.
They are greatly mistaken. who suppose
that frmness Of purpose, decision Of charac-
ter, and gentleness Of manners are not com
bined in him. lie wins constantly upon the
respect Of all who know him well, and what
ever faults he may have, whatever errors of
Judgment he may have committed under the
difficulties Of the government,
in new and untried situation, yet those
who know him best, believe that be is the
man for the hour, and that be has been rals-
I'd up by the Providence Of God to save this
people.