The Portland daily press., 1864-11-21
Mr.. Linooln,s Ra-aleotiou.

The attitude of the Louisville journal to-
wards the present administration has peen
well known. Itopposed Mr.. Lincoln's re-eiec-
ton and gave its support to Gen. Mccielan'
But now that the voice of the people mas peen
proclaimed with such emphasis, the journal
bows gracefully to the popular verdict, and ex-
nrasses confident and bright hopes for the fu-
turo arbe result" says the Journal, is "over-
.,hoI,o;no and we defer to the voice ofthe ma
;or;tv spoken SO potentially. The secession
movement was the result of a minority's refus-
al to submit to the clearly-expressed verdict
of the nation. Mr.. Lincoln had received /,
s6o, ASP votes, while 1853 81 persons cast their
SURFACES for Douglas, Breckenridge, and Bell,
so that Mr. Lincoln, though obtaining mi
nority OF the votes, was constitutionally elect
ed, having received majority in the electoral
colleges. He is now majority candidate 10
all essentials, and most heartily do we beseech
the high and mighty Ruler of the universe to
direct and prosper all his consultations to the
safety, the honor, and the welfare of the people,
and the establishment of peace and happiness
upon the best and surest foundations. 1t was
from no factious opposition to the President
that we opposed his reelection. We believed
that the President erred in interpreting the
law and the constitution; that he had mistak-
en- the limit of executive authority, and had
interfered with both the other coordinate
powers Of the government, and, therefore, we
could not continue our advocacy of his meas
ures. No honest man can condemn us for this
course. The unparalleled majority which he
has received we accept as an evidence that the
American people do not fear his policy as tend
ing to the subversion of constitutional liber-
ties, and we shall look to the future of his ca
reer with hope. The bitter rancor which has
been excited will, we trust, be allayed, and
not be again aroused. The nation has decd-
ed that it was not expedient to "swap horses"
while crossing raging stream, and we must,
therefore, trust our safety to the old nag, in
the hope that he will be able to bear us over
the torrent Of civil strife.
"We are enlisted during the entire war for
the preservation of the old Union and the old
flag without single star undimmed. Resis-
lance to law because the law is distasteful
to particular interest or party, can never be
palliated. Thus we opposed in its very incep-
ton the policy of arming negro troops, but
when Congress authorized their enlistment, it
became duty to submit to the law. 1t is fan
better to acquiesce temporarily in the require
ments oferroneous legislation than toplace our
selves in factious opposition which may have a
tendency TO produce seditious movements. The
true corrective is in the popular intelligence,
and the stern arguments of experience. We
have now to cooperate with the President as
we have done in the past, to crush out the re-
] bellion, and to bruise the head of the serpent
which has struck its fangs at the peace and Sc
curity of our Union, and we must do this in
the most effective manner, without putting on
any drags to impede the war chariot of the
nation in its proud swoop toward victory,
President Lincoln on the evening of the cleo.
ton was serenaded in congratulation of his
success, and in short speech he said he be
lieved-and he trusted without personal inter
est-that the welfare of the country required
and the best interests of the nation were u
be subserved by the support and Endorsement
of the present administration; that he earnest
ly believed the consequence OF last Tuesdays
work would be of lasting advantage, if not
the very salvation of the country.
"There is deep solemnity in these asser-
tions and in his thankfnlness to God for the
manifest approval of the people, while dis
claiming any faint of personal triumph and
without impugning the motives Of those who
opposed him. We detect no selfcommenda-
tion in this speech, but a confidence in the
position of affairs, and we cordially trust it
manifests that he feels himself to be master
of it."