Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1864-04-15
The Question Of Postponement.

JOSEPH GERHARD District Columbia.
The Question Of Postponement.
1t is stated that the Union State Commit
tee of Vermont have memorialized the Ma
tionsl Committee in favor Of postponement
of the National Convention. Our State
Committee is composed of the following
gentlemen j. W Stewart Of Middlebury,
5. b. Colby of Montpelier, B. W Bartholo-
new of Washington, g. y. Dale of Island
Pond, D. {. Denison Of Royalton, G. W.
Wilkins Of Stowe, and Jonathan Ross of St.
Johnsbury. Several Of these, perhaps all,
arc gentlemen Of ability and good Judgment,
but with due difference we cannot but think
and say thas in our humble Judgment the
committee has done an unnecessary thing in
thus attempting to influence the action OF
the Nati4ral Committee Their action is
already pointed to as virtual Iepudiation
Of Mr.. Line In as a candidate Cor the nomi-
nation, on the part of the Committee This
is not CORRECT inference, as we are inform
eI. On tie contrary a mai5.i-y Of the State
Committee, "a, We suppose are in favor Of
the ren9miuati1n OF Mr. Lincoln. Whether
they are or no, is Of the les consequence.
however, because the people OF Vermont are,
and viii show it. in due season. Vermont,
in the Chicago Convention, headed tile ava
lauchc that swept the other candidates aside
and placed Abraham Lincoln at the head Of
the ticket. Her people have sustained him
with a support more s,aunch and true than
that Of any other State. aad tLey are not
going back on him now. But what are the
the reasons for postp1nemcut? Sundrv are
given; but all may be silnmered down to
t,ro
With those who do not favor tue re-
nomination Of Mr.. Lincoln, the reason is
that delay viii give them tine to organize
an opposition to him which may stand some
chance Of success. whereas at present or at
any early day such opposition Is hopeless
This class has more or less help from the
copperhead press, which without exception
is anxious l5r postponement Of our conyen-
ton.
With those Of Mr.. Lincyln'o friends who
favor postponement, the main reason is, con-
ceding that Mr.. Lincoln would be nominated
in June, that an unsuccessful military cam !
paign might subsequently injure his popu-
lsrity, and lose us the election This is a /
politician 5 reason but Mr. Lincoln strength /
lies not with the politicians but with the /
people. They have hitherto sustained him
through bad AMI good success alike, for they |
recognize his substantial integrity and capaci-
ty;-they see that IN spite of some draw
backs and mistakes, his admins ration has
encountered the tremendous difficulties in its
way, with wisdom and a success beyond par
alel, and they are not likely to Withdraw
that confidence in consequence of any tenn
porary reverses. Moreover, the coming
campaign is to lie engineered by Gen. Grant.
He will be supported by Mr.. Lincoln with
all the men and means he can use. and if he
fails. with such support, the blame will not
lie mainly at Mr. Lincoln's door.
On the other hand there are strong rea-
sons why a postponement is particularly I'M
desirable. 1t would be an indication Of in
decision and possible division in the Union
ranks which would afford great encourage
nent to tho enemy, while a hearty and
substantially unanimous nomination, fore
shadowing a triumphant election, will
corrcspondingly dispirit them. 1t is plain
that any change OF administration, were it
even to Fremont or Butler, would be graft
flying to the rebels, and that anything on
which they can ground hope of change
will operate as an inducement to them to
hold out. The simple fact that Abraham
Lincoln is in all human probability to he {
president for another term, will be power !
full assistance to our arms. 1t will be SO TOO, $
in more ways than one. 1t will be a guar I
anty to our Army of the same hearty sup S
port Of the soldiers and of the war, which |
they have learned to reckon on with perfect q
and will encourage the army in |
the same ratio that it dampens the spirit of !
the rebels O
The time is not so very early in ITSELF e
The convention at present stands called for
the 18th of June. The convention that
nominated Gen Fremont met on the 18th
If June-but ten days later in the
reason. In 1860 the convention was first :,
allied on the 18th of June: but was :
,hanged not to a later but TO an earlier
late. |. assembled on the 10th Of May
hree weeks earlier than the day now set
II, as is urged by some, postponement
or three months, would efiectually put of
ii consideration of the presidential ques- L
ion, and leave administration and people b
he freer to devote their energies to the War, p
hen it might be well to postpOne;but all that n
) simply and utterly impossible. The presi- N
ential question is already before the Coun- r
~, and cannot now be laid aside. The only M