The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-06-13
The Only Argument Advanced In Favor
or MT. Lincoln.

The Only Argument Advanced In Favor
OF MIR. Lincoln.
Mr.. Lincoln has been nominated by the Balss
timore Convention, and the effect which that
nomination is likely to produce begins to be
apparent. Already - has niyhtou0o tue great
majority Of the republican papers; and the
more earnest these journals are in support Of
the principles Of their party the greater is
their fear at the prospect that the success of
those principles is to be ventured once more
with Mr.. Lincoln. So widespread is this hesi-
fancy and sense Of danger that it pervades all
that portion Of the republican party not
directly under the influence of fat Offices, and
it ia not at all improbable that the whole rank
and fle Of the party will yet break into sud-
den panic in spite, Of all that the oficeholders
and contractors can do to keep it in line.
Mr.. Lincolns nomination sent gold up to
within hairsbreadth OF one hundred per
cent, simply because it tells the people with
awful plainness that there is an organized and
apparently powerful party which desires to
keep the country for four years more in Its
present condition; is opposed to amendment,
or to such chance for amendment as change
in the Executive might give, and favors the
continuance of that series OF criminal bunders
which has already brought the country to the
verge OF ruin.
| And with all this fear, and with the many
reasons that are apparent to the country why
Mr.. Lincoln should give place to better man,
his supporters can advance but one argument
in favor of his reelection. Secretary Seward
furnishes this argument In speech delivered
at Auburn before the last Presidential election
Mr.. Seward gave to his party the phrase /" ire
pressible conflict" which did such yeoman's
service in that campaign. In speech delivered
at Auburn last fall he furnished also the key
note and the argument of the campaign to
come This argument Is, that in 1860 Mr.. Lin
coin was elected to be President of the whole
United States-that the rebellion has forcibly
prevented that result-and that Mr.. Lincoln
must remain in the Presidency until he has
been President Of this whole United States for
four years. And this partisan metaphysican
| claims that If Mr. Lincoln is not in this way
| President Of the whole United States for four
years the objects Of the rebellion will be
| gained. at is the object Of the war;" he says,
ito make Abraham Lincoln President in
Georgia and South Carolina, as he is in Massa-
chusetts, New York and Obio.'
Here we have established very nice arrange
ment Mr. Lincoln was elected to be President
OF the whole United States for four years; and
the will Of the people is supreme He must,
therefore, stay in bis present position until he
has been President OF the whole United States
for four years. That is, be must occupy the
Presidential chair until four years after the
rebellion has been pu. down; and the longer
he can nurse the rebellion the longer he stays
in Office. Such is the metaphysical nonsense
that Secretary OF State can seriously attempt
to palm upou the people.
The contest Of 1860 was over principle, and
not over man. Abraham Lincoln was OF the
least possible consequence In 1t. He was
merely the individual whom the accidents aad
mannuvres OF convention had placed before
the people as the representative Of an idea.
That idea was, shall the majority Of the people,
or minority, rule this country! The people
decided that a majority should rule, and the
triumph was triumph Of that popular prinsi-
pie, and not a triumph, as his fricsds seem to
suppose, OF Mr.. Lincoln. Mr.. Stewards ridi-
culous idea would compel the REIMBURSEMENT OF
the principles upon which tbe country stands.