Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-11-08
A SKETCH OF fiiE PREslDENr.

Hon William Whiting, Solicitor of the War
Department, in his speech at the Boston Music
Hall, on Monday evening, sketched President
Lincoln as follows:
Perhaps you will expect me to say word
upon the personal qualifications of our candi-
dat for the Presidency. II has been my good
fortune tn see much of tho President. lie is one
of the most industrious, harl-working men 10
Washington. His manner and style Of dress,
and of living, are simple and unosentatious.-
lie puts on no airs. He is a kind, tender hearted
and generous man. He opehs his house to the
public. lie hears tho complaint of the humble
lie is the friend of the people lie is not puffel
by the distinction of Office aud assumes no au-
peri0rity on account Of hs station. He has n
great love Of wit anu humor and does tell stories
Perhaps this peculiar quality OF humor may
have saved him from being broken down by the
weight of his cares and immense responsibilities
Having observed his conduct under trying
circumstances, he has seemed to me to he one Of
the most conscientious public men | have ever
kno WI. His honesty, hs You all know, is incor-
ruptible and untlinohing. His abiliiy--his in
tellectual powers, have. think, not been sufn
cicntly appreciated. lie tak"s hroad oompre-
hensive views of every subject he examines. :
lie looks at all its bearings He is cautious in
getting at the facts. lie breads mistakes which
might mislead him, or do Injustice to the absent
Ills reasoning powers seem to me to bo of high
order His discourse and his writings nre plain
but powerful. They are loaded with comm, N
sense.
To many he seems too slow and loo cautons.
He may DO CO. But we mast remember that
what y too slow for New Englaud may Le too
| fast for tue Western States aud the States
must go together or they cannot 60 at all. He
has been called Vacilaling, But no President
hns ever trod his onward path with frmer steps.
He has never looked backward nor has he ever
broken his word, nor taken back what he said
While he holds question under consideration
be listens to all opinions in or out of his Cabi
net When he has fully made up his mind be i,
immovable do not hesitate to say That Gen
eral jackson had no more firmness than presi.
dent Lincoln but the former was guided to hi,
conclusions (ioo often) by will and temper; tn,
latter is only guided by conscientious conviction
of duty.
1t has been said that the Presid mt is over
borne by tho influence of the members Of nj
Cabinet, and ID thus swayed one way null th
other Tho instance most relied on is ihnt 0
MIR. Blair Yet il is fact, that on most Of tn
great questions of public policy relating 10 sla
very, the President has gone directly aqains
tue views Of Mr.. Blair, aud finally reaueste
him to resign bis seat 10 the Cabinet Beyou
all question, Mr.. Lincoln is now and always ha
been the controlling mind 10 the Government
They are greatly mistaken who suppose tLa
hrmness of purpose, decision of character, an
gentleness of manners are not combined in him
He wins constantly upon the respect of nll VIII
know him well. aud, whatever faults he ma
have, whatever errors Of judgment he may hay
committed under the unparalleled difficulties of th
Government, in new and unlried situation, We
those who know him best believe that he is III
man for tue hour, and that he has been raise
up by the Providence of God to save this peo
pie.