Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1864-03-04
The Presidential Campaign.


Committee met at Washington, and issued
their patriotic call for a national convention
of delegates, to meet at Baltimore on the
9TH day of June next to nominate candidates
for President and Vice President. On the
same day there appeared in the National
Republican at Washington a circular signed
rs. c. Pomeroy, Chairman National Execu-
tive Committee. Doubtless it had been in
circulation privately before at any rate
we observe that it was circulated among the
members of the Border-State freedom con-
vention at Louisville on the 22nd This cir
cular from Mr.. Pomeroy takes open ground
against the denomination of Mr.. Lincoln,
and in favor of the nomination for the Presi-
dency of Mr.. Chase, the present Secretary of
the Treasury. On this circular we remark
briefly
LIST, That il assumes, what it has no right
to assume, that there will be such powerful
combination against Mr.. Lincoln, that his
reelection is impossible, if desirable Not a
particle of evidence is offered to sustain such
bold assertion.
2nd, There is in 1t a charge-not direct ly
but by insinuation-that Mr.. Lincoln's past
policy has been such and such are his leanings
for the future, that he can not be trusted to
administer the Government in a spirit accor-
dant to the cause Of human Liberty and the
dignity and honor Of the nation. nor even
with safety TO our republican institutions
We look upon all such charge and insinua-
ton as wholly uniustifa5le, and far from
creditable to him who makes them.
3rd, The whole tone of the circular, so far
as it refers TO Mr.. Lincoln, is accusatory and
unfair from beginning to end. 1t does not
grant to him a single merit either in action
or purpose while at the same time it AFRO
gates all perfection in both for Mr.. Chase.
and intimates that there is already such
strong public sentiment in his favor as to be
almost a guarantee of his successful election
if nominated.
We are not writing to disparage Mr.
Chase, for whom We have very great respect:
but sure we are that this circular of Hon. 5.
c. PomeroY will do him no good.
The day after the appearance of the Pom
eroy circular the y. Y Tribune broke ground
against the denomination of Mr. Lincoln and
the next day Feb. "a, it followed with indi-
eating, though not in direct terms, that it
was for the nomination OF Mr.. Chase. An
article in the \. Y. Independent of Feb. %,
entitled " The Presidency in Prospect By
Horace Greeley is of the same tenor. The
argument of these several articles-all I'M
questionably from the same penis so Gu
rious that it deserves notice.
Mr.. Greeley says that those who 20 for
the nomination of Mr. Lincoln lay down two
positions. LIST, "thdt he has lreH DISCHARGED the
responsibilities Of has sraLted station: and ID,
that he rs the first choice, for The nerf Presi-
DENTAL term, Of a large majority Of those ,rho
hare thus far supported has administration and
the rrar." Both Of these propositions Mr..
Greely admits to be TRUE to the fullest extent.
He says Mr.. Lincoln has been patriotic.
honest, and iaithful''-that .he has done bis
utmost to serve and save the country''-that
though he has made some mistakes in iudg-
ment, as all men do. the verdict of historr in
his case will be, "well done, good and faith
ful servant" Mr.. Greeley has no doubt eth
er that "a great majority of those who to-
gether triumphed as unionists in the State
elections of 1868, If required to vote for
President tomorrow, would vote for Mr..
Lincoln
One would naturally expect after such ad-
missions that Mr.. G. would say that unless
remarkable shall occur within the
next few months to change public opinion,
We must expect Mr.. Lincoln to be re-nomin-
ated, and to be reelected too-for why should
the loyal voters of the country discard
faithful and able and tried man in the height
Of the country's troubles, to take up an un-
tried one? But Mr.. Greeley says the prefer
ence of the people is nothing to the purpose,
md refers in few words to sundry elections
rom 1900 to 1852 to prove it. The amount
Of his argument seems to be Just this-that
I you expect to succeed in a presidential
Election the only sure way to do it is to nom
nate somebody whom the majority of the
'arty are opposed to!
Now we admit that we have not the most
1alted opinion of Mr.. Greeley's Judgment in
he selection of candidates for high public
fhces. HIS conduct in that respect has often
cen ss paradoxical as the principle which
e lays down In this instance. His conduct
the Chicago Convention in 1860 is case
j point. He was bewitched with the notion
nat Mr.. Bates, of Missouri, was the only man !
} be nominated, and he belabored the Yer T
lont and other delegations with urgent ap-
calls to 60 for him, with as little reason to /
zpect success as to his nomination, or his :
lection if nominated, as if he had plead for J
he nomination of the man in the moon. I I
But what are Mr.. Greeley's reasons for S
king up new man? Why in the first :
lace, be says d" heartily agreeing that Lin Y
,ln has done well, we do not regard it as at
demonstrated that Gov. Chase. Gen. Ere
ont, Gen. Butler, or Gen. Grant cannot do
we'll" 1t never'cOuld be proved, except
ION trial but that makes no reason for the t.
ial. Apparently Mr.. Greeley feels the want ii
weight in that argument, and SO he brings
rward what he calls /" the salutary One IL
rim principle which, he rays, " has been Ell
tablished by the concurrence of each OF our !
eat parties in
Now we look upon all this talk about a
ne-term principle"-whoever makes it at
little better than sheer CANNON, whether