, 1864-02-13

Elsewhere We publish circular signed By
s, Draper, aud other citizens of New York,
Recommending that those favorable to the
reelection Of Mr. Lincoln ehall meet at ap.
prop1iate places on the ed Of February, for
The purpose OF giving expression to thclrscn-
timents On this question
The objection we haye is, that 1t is prema-
turc. The time has not yet come for q gene
ral movement OF the people on the Preslden-
ttal question. Our National Convention will
not probably be held for nearly hvc month";
Hence, It is too soon to commence an act
I've agitation of tho Presidential topic
And, SO far as regards Mr.. Lincoln, 1t is not
necessary. We believe him to be the first
choice Of vast majority Of the Union men
Of the United States The masses Of the
common people are unm}stakahly in favor of
his reelection, In our opinion. But If VIC
should be In error, and It should turn out
that they are for some one else, then the pro-
posed meetings On the I'D inst. will damage
Mr.. Lincoln's chances by developing weak
ness with the people. Again, II those 1ncet-
ings should be s1imly attended, that fact
viii be seized on and proclaimed as evidence
pfcoldnces towards him on the part Of the
people, II they should be well attended 1t
will be claimed that they were got up and
manipulated by Federal ofice-holders. Nov
ing in the. matter thus carly will only have
the effect to make the friends of other gen.
t1emen spoken OF as candidates, more active
and nndcrbanded against l{r. LINCOLN Be.
sides, We are opposed to having the atten-
tion Of the people diverted from the prose-
cution Of the war at this time, and
to getting them excited over Presi-
dental candidates tour or five months
In advance Of the meeting Of the National
Convention. No strength Will be added to
Mr.. Lincoln by It, His friends are powerful
and numerous enough to let things take their
naturnl course. Wait until the National Gen.
tral Committee meets and fixes time and
place for holding the National Convention.
Afte, that is sufficiently soon to begin to pre-
pare to appoint delegates to that Convention.
So far as Illinois is concerned, 1t fs ike the
handle to a jug-au on one side. Ninety
nine of every hundred Union men in the
state-fncluding our soldiers in the field, arc
for Old Abe's reelection. Meetings, such as
the New York gentlemen suggest, are super
fuous In Illinois. Her sixteen votes In the
National Convention will be cast solid for
MI. AlAtu1uS uuQ IL II NOT UeueFGQ LII LQ1H
Statc, TINT the Convention viii ballot more
than once to make q nomination. We shall
be egreatly mistaken in our knowledge Of pub
Lie opinion, If Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin,
Iowa, Minnesota and Kansas do not also vote
solid for him. We would include Ohio and
Missouri In the list, but wish to avoid con-
tradiction or controversy. Yet we arc con-
ident when the Convention meets the dele
gates Of both these States will vote with the
other western States for Lincoln's reelection.
The radicals ofBlissonn win be so pleased
with Rosec1ans and the improved state ofaf-
fairs TINT, Ike the radicals ofKansas, they will
forget their quarrel with old Abe and go
In for him. As for Ohio, if her great tlnan-
clal statesman is not q candidate, her de1cga-
ton will be instructed to vote for the re-nom-
inntion Of Mr. Lincoln. It. Is pretty safe
to ASSUME that the public mind
is generally made up to give the President
moro time to finish up his big job" and to
show to the rebel States that there can be no
successful appeal from the ballot-box to the
cartridge-bo1 in this country, and that Lin
coin must be recognised, and obeyed as szch,
as the constitutionally elected Presideut Of
the whole United states-South Carolina in
cluded. His reelection will accomplish tbat
end, and when he retires into private life on
the 4th Of March, 1859, the whole Union will
be enjoyi ing profound pence and great pros
perity.