The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1864-12-07
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

Tho reelection of this gentleman to
the highest position held by any man
now.IiVing, By, an immense majority OF
the SURFACES Of his countrymcn, in the
very crisis Of the most bloody and mo.
mentous struggle that this or any other
nation ever engaged 10, ensures to him
prominent place among the great his.
toric characters Of the world. 1t need.
ed this to render tho character complete.
Had he retired at the end Of one term,
be would still have occupied large
place in history among the good, the
great, the true; but now with the seal
of the appreciation Of twenty millions Of
Intelligent freemeu eustamped upon
him, he stands before the world as the
representative man Of the Great Rcpub.
lie, and the standard bearer Of Freedom
in the world.
Heuceforth his origin, his progress,
his character and his pcculiaritics-his
virtues and his foiblcs, will all be sub
iects ofinterest aud careful research to
the philosopher, the statesman and the
curious inquirer into human character !;
and his words Of wisdom and his humor.
GUS sayings, his public documents, his
peculiar epistles, his blunt honesty and
slow aud easy frmuess, and even his
homely features and ungainly manners
aud movements, will all become subjects
Of curious investigation and study.
Men will trace him back from the seat
which WASHINGTON occupied, and which
WASHINGTON did not more adorn, to his
attorneys Office in a western town /;
thence to the heavy western forest where,
with sharp axe and brawny muscle, he
hcwed his way forward thence to the
clumsy fat boat which, with tho giant
strength Of early manhood he guided
down the long, silent current Of the
Mississippi; thence back, still farther,
to the cabin Of poor man in kentucky,
where our, great man Of. Natures own
producing had his birth. . - .
- OF his education all that can be said
is, that he was at school all his life. lie
read books little, he read men much,
he read nature more. What greatness
no possesses he owes moro to native
genius and o marvellous versatility, than
to any extraneous advantages he ever
enjoyed. 49,. .,3,',
ABRAHAM LINCOLN is a man whom
his countrymen can and do trust. They
love him moro than they admire him.
He IS favorite, but not an idol. His
character is mcsaic-a strange medley Of
beauties and blemishcs-and yet about
as faultless as it is commonly given to
mortal man to be. lie is not like
CROMWELL, nor HAMpDES, nor FRANK
LIN, NOR WASHINGTON, nor MADISON,
nor JACKSON. In wisdom and sagacity
he is uot.inferior to- any Of these, nor
will his purity and patriotism suffer in
J the;comparison but he has so peculiar
q way Of saying aud doing things, that
their wisdom is; not Immediately appar-
emit; yet when these words aud actions
arc more closely scanned and considered,
even those who at FIRST severely criticised,
are often constrained to admit that both
were Just right, aud said or done at ex.
uctly the RICH. time. Rarely indeed is
It that men placed in circumstances so
difficult and trying, have been obliged
to take so Few retrograde steps. "Slow
duh taure8gislan old and homely, but
M expressive phrase, aud none better
expresses the general tenor OF Mr.. LIN
coins conduct during this period of
unparalleled agitation. None blamed his
sureness, but thousands Of his more ar