Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-03-08
From The Independent
Our Candidate for the Next Presidency.


We have an early word to say concerning the
next Presidency. A few newspapers are pro-
testing that something else, just now, Is more
important to be thought Of that is uumake
the rebellion first, say they, aud make the Pres
idency alterwaTd. But the appointed time to
make the Presidency may have come before we
have unmade the rebellion. To be preparing
now for the mex presidential issue is one thing
to be experimenting with candidates for 1t Is
quite another. Ii is too early, we agree, TO be
insisting upon the names Of men, but not too
early to be establishing the groundwork of prin.
ciples The candidate is the mere ball upon
the fountain the principle is the perennial
stream that tosses il up OF tumbles it down.
The Presidency OF George Washington was
not, and Of Abraham Lincoln is not, OF equal
Importance with that Of the next four years
Washington entered upon his Office just after
great storm had ended Lincoln, Just before u
gteat storm had burst the next President will
20 to his Office while the tempest RACES over his
head. Or are we, as some predict, to have
peace before next summer? No; We may not
have war, but we shall not have peace. For,
hgugh military hostiliues may cease (Which
we doubt), yet, when the war OF bayonets has
ended, the war Of diplomacy will tegln The
collision of parties On the next morning
alter peace, strife of cunning questions will
open. The enemy, throwing away his worst
weapon, the sword, will resume his best, the
tongue 50 that, even il the bittle.smoke shall
be blown away by the breath Of the next
June roses, danger will still remain.
" A nation tired of war, said De Tocque.
vile, " will submit to be duped for the sake Of
peace. This nation, now confronting such
peril, seeks in advance to mold a Government
able to ward of The cheat. To settle civil
war is usaly harder task than 20 wage It, Ii
is, in fact, The most difficult duty that can de
volye upon Government, and one almost never
well done-thc proof OF which ls that almost
every civil war in history has ended in COM
promise. Shall ours? God forbid But how
avert it? 10 be iorewarned is to be iorearmed
Let us be wise 10 time, that we may not be
" duped for the sake OF peace" To keep out
the almost inevitable compromise, We must now
begin 10 build the barriers,
The next Administration, if it shall begin
under peace, will have its hands more full OF
various labors than under continued war
Government has cohesive power during war
greater than during peace. national emer-
gcncy, such as the Amer. can Revolution or the
present Rebellion, cOnsolldates all loyal inter.
ests--fusing all mems minds into a single pur-
pose, and compaoting the Government into u
terrible strength. But peace with its diversity
Of interests dividing and scattering popular
sympathy, uncentraliEcs the governing power
lt will be harder task to unite parties under
the next Administration than 1t has been under
this. Ii viii require finer craftsmanship to
conduct the next Administration than it has for
this ureat statesmen are few in any country
like great poets. But few as they are, We
must make dllIgent search to lind one for the
next Presidency
Whlta complication Of problems will the
next four years bring2 Nothing ess than the
establishment and security OF human liberty
the reconstruction of broken Republic the
rtadjustment OF the rights OF the States, and
OF the Federal Government status OF the ne.
gro, and his conversion into citizen, the pun.
lshmeut OF treason the REQ snership of South
usn lands the Mexican question the Monroe
doctrine the national finances the re-absorb
ton Of a disbauded soldieFy back into citizen.
ship, the fixing npon standing army large
enough to defend liberty, and not large enough
to menace 1t these and many other problems,
toreseen aud Unforeseen, are the unparalleled
difficulties which the next Administration mus,
meet and master,
That Administration, therefore, facing in ad
vance such an uneounted multitude Of duties,
must be equal to the emergency, The country
cannot afford to risk any second rate committee,
chosen at hap-hasard, to be its President and
| Cabinet II needs first class men, every one q
pure diamond llCromwell and Milton them.
selves coald return from their graves to serve
us with their own genius, they would not bring
any ability superauous for the occasion. When
cue stops 10 think how the immediate future
of this country shuis fast in It's bud the whole
worlds hoEe-that by our victory or defeat the
happiness of all mankind is to ho helped OF
hindered-so solemn and serious becomes the
question OF the nationa! leadership that sober
men may well ask themselves, even three short
montha In advance, Who is sufficient for these
things r.
The man, therefore, who comes bearing IN
his hauds credentials tor the next Presidency
must demonstrate as his hrst token OF fitness, a
sublime allegiance tO God, Liboity, and Human
Rights--a reverend mind, heightened to the
noblest conception OF the function Of Govern.
meat, the grandeur OF Justice, and the nobility
lof man. The chief object Of Government stop.