The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1864-03-04
The Presidency.

States, already involved in a fierce and
protrecled struggle for national existence,
were startled by the omens Of the APP
preaching Presidential contest, That
contest is now upon us, and we ale com.
PEELED, willingly or reluctantly, 10 accept
it, and abide the issue. A few words,
therefore, IN regard to the duty Of loyal
men in that contest, cannot, az this time,
deemed premature, If, indeed, every loyal
journal be not called upon to define it,
position emphatica.ly and clearly.
We are not among those who think i, loo
early TO agitate the Presidential question,
provided the agitation be in a spirit and
with q purpose becoming loyal men. 1t
is, unquestionably, too early 10 engage IN
unworthy partisan strife over tha, ques-
ton, or to be laboring 10 promote the per.
sonal ends OF selfish aspirants and so il
will be six months or a year hence, and
whether the war shall continue 80 long or
not. 1t will be a great while before the
people can well afford TO devote them
selves to such controversy. If they are
u%nprepared TO deal with the Presidential
question now. six months or a year of 81.
lence and i%naction would hardly improve
their confidence or ability. The argu.
ments for pos,ponement are mainly those
OF the politician, who is proverbially dis
l%ruslful Of the people, and fearful Of the
results Of free and early discussion. They
prove nothing, or they prove too much.--
The fact that the question is to be decided
in 1864, and cannot be postponed beyond
the coming Autumn, is a sufficient answer
to them all. We hope the war will be
ended by The Fourth Of July but il may
not be; and, whether i, shall be or not,
the people should not find themselves I'm.
prepared when the time shall come,-a
come i: must, and that quickly,-to
choose a President. The politicians, who
deprecate agitation, are secretly at
work while the people arc silent. To
speak Of the selection OF the Union
candidate for the Presidency as a matter
which may be hastily settled by a few pol,
~ilicians months hence, is 10 show a lament.
able want OF appreciation OF its importance.
The War and Presidential questions,
which are indissolubly connected, must
be considered simultaneously, and a full
aud fair discussion among loyal men is
the suresl guaranty that they will be de.
eided Alright.
What. then, is the duty Of loyal men
in this Presidential contest We an
swer, first, 10 determine the principles
upon which 1t should be decided, and,
next, the man who, Of all men, is best
fitted to administer the Government.
What are the principles npon which
the friends Of the Government should
unite in the selection Of Il Presidential
candidate This question. being first in
importance, must be first considered
The people Of The loyal States, both
slaveholding and non.slaveholdng, are
to-day virtually a unit in favor of imme.
diate, total and unconditional emancipa-
ton as the basis OF reconstruction. They
have attained this position. as the result Of
long years Of bitter experience Of the
wrong and impolicy Of Slavery {; and they
will never yield it. Nor can they afford,
upon any considerations of mere a~vaila-
bility or expediency, to lose sight of it,
for one moment, IN this contest. They
regard any policy that looks to re.
construction without emancipation. as
utterly futile and suicidal. The details
OF reconstruction they may leave TO
craftsmanship to perfect hereafter. but the
fundamentals they are to decide for
themselves, now. All the measures Of
the present Administration having in view
the redemption of The country from the
curse OF Slavery-in other words, all its
radical measures must be made an es.
senIial part OF the platform Of Union men
in selecting a candidate for President in
1864. We may advance, but we cannot
retrace the steps already taken. To tie
next Administration will be committed
the work Of re constructing the shattered
framework Of The Union, more intricate
and difficult by far than even the conduct
Of this great war and it is all imporlan,
that the foundations Of that work be laid
upon the firm and enduring ground Of
Justice and Freedom.
This point settled, who should be the
candidate Who. of all our great lead.
ers, is best fitted TO bear the fearful bur
dens and perform the great duties OF
the next Presiden, OF the United States =?
Who will rally the loyal millions the most
enthusiastically in his support A? Whose
name possesses the most talismanic power
among all classes Z? In short, who is the