The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1864-03-02

SECRET CrRcULAR SMOKED OUT.

1t has been known for many weeks, says
the New Eosk Times, that ii, orga,ized body
at Washington, With Senator Pomsroy at its
head, has been busily at work to prevent the
re-uominatioa Of resident Lincoln.
This organized cabal have been secretly
putting forth anonymous publications against
the President, and have been circulating the
malignant :diasribes of Wilkes Spirit. of the
Times, aud thus avoided responsibility. This
cabal, SO to cali il, was operating in the inte-
rest of Mr., Chase. against Mr.. Lincoln.-
While thus active, in endeavoring to shape,
mould and control public sentiment, they
were earnestly protesting, through the news
paper organs that subseryed their purpose,
against too early discussion of the Presiden.
tial question, and vigorously harped upon '.the
cne term principle In this, the full meas
ure of their honest sincerity, all can see.
But by an unlucky faur pas, of the not
over sagacious Senator Pomeroy, that func-
tionary, as Chairman of the self-censtituted
Chase National Erecutive Committee, put forth
secret circular, and sentit, under the frank Of
certain members of Congress, marked strictly
private . to such direction as they thought
would tell heneficialiy on their secret purpo-
ses. Would honorable men, having an hon
est, praiseworthy and honorable purpose in
view, thus seek seeresy and darkness? But
the 'secret circular' was exposed It got into
the newspapers. 1t will be found in the cox
umns Of the DEMocRAT to-day. It takes
ground against Mr.. Lincoln and his Admin
istration as an enemy and an opponent A
Copperhead circular could do no more. This,
.serefore, is but a new spawn of copperhead-
ism. st.ss,s
The publication of the CIRCULAR exploded
the dark, midnight schemes of the eaballers.
Mr.. Chase was thrown into great embarrass-
ment and distress. A Washington newspa-
per, having warm leaning towards Mr.. Chase,
in the first anguish of its surprise and cha
grin, pronounced the circular hoax. Mr..
Pomeroy did not deny. its paternity, and was
left, only, to the modification of being
friends, not for dishoaorable conduct, but for
unsagaciously playing an unfortunate card
Mr.. Chase felt called upon publicly to deny
any knowledge OF the Circular" prior to its
appearance in the newspapers. He does not
deny, however, that he was fully aware that
as. c. Pomeroy, Chairman of the National
Executive Committee was, with. his associ-
ates, busily at work to promote his (Mr.
Chase's) interests, at the expenseiof the rep
utation ard character for reliability of Abra-
ham Lincoln.
Mr.. Chase. still retains his seat in the Cahi-
net, notwithstanding the very natural rumors
to the contrary. Mr.. Lincoln is magnanimous
and fsrbearing, and if the distinguished Sec
retary of the Treasury can, consistently with
self-respect, retain his scat in the Cabinet, be
will probably remain. 5s aia
The New York Tribune, that has all along
been decrying too early discussion of the
Presidential question, while its editor, Mr..
Greeley, was known to be assiduoasly at work
in private, to suppiant Mr.. Lincoln. for the
benefit of another, since the publication of the
"secret CIRCULAR admits that the Presidential
discussion has begun, and comes out hat-footed
in an elaborate editorial against Mr.. Lincoln.
And yet Mr.. Greeley admits, with an eccen-
tricity of position entirely characteristic, that
!" Mr.. Lincoln has wcH discharged the response
bifities of his exalted station" Admits that
/" IS the first choice for the merit Presidential
term, of a large naajo,ftg Of those ,oho have thus
far supported his Administration and the War;
Admits that G No doubt, a great majority oJ
those scho together triump1sed as Unionists Il,
the Stat. Elections of 1868, If required to vote
for President tomorrow auould vote for Mr.. Ls,,-
cola''
After these frank admissions Mr. Greeley
adds, butwe dissent, altogether, from the de1uc-
tiom that M. Lincoln ought to be re-nominate.'
And why does Mr.. Greeley thus dissent p
Because says he. the loyal masses--not
having begun seriously to think of the pro-
spective Presidential cohtest-have not get
fired upon some one else to succeed him an his
high position a9 9ss s4 u
This is exceedingly Greelesish. Mr.Lsn-
coin ought not to be re-nominated, because the
loyal masses haze not get red upon one else
to succeed him. ,5s5.is5 sle5sisss-3 "a
The trouble is, the sloyal masses'' have not
yet been taught BY Mr.. Greeley! They have
"not begun seriously to Think about the
Presidential succession Is not that an insult
to the intelligence of the American people
Are they blundering ignoramuses. acting
,vitbout fh,,,,bt r., f.,4;,,, th.;r al
mitted, almost unanimous preference for Mr..
Lincoln, do they not know what they are
about Must they forego action upon their
preferences, till Sir Oracle, of the Tribune,
shall enlighten. them by the rays of his wis
dom Mr. Greeley will probably learn in due
time that the American people have mind
| of their own, and that he has undertaken a
large job, in sendeavoring to sway them from
their cenvictions.se And why should Mr..
Greeley, SO long trusted and appauded by the
people, wish now to mislead them, or if not
to mislead them, to wrench them away from
their intelligent. well settled convictions p
The answer is, Mr.. Greeley is swayed by pas
sion, likeother men-and as long as Mr.. Lin
coin shall repose confidence enough in. Mr.
Seward to retain him in his Cabinet, he can
not have Mr.. Greeley's suffrages for re-nomi
nation, for Mr. Greeley is the mortal foe o
Mr.. Seward. and blinded by his animosity
cannot bereHed upon for cool judgment wher,
the Secretary of State is concerned. Blu. be
cause Mr.. Greeley has aquarrel with MI
Seward, there is no valid reason why tn
American people should espou>e that quarrel