The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1864-02-24


An anonymous pamphlet, containing BIT
ter personal assault upon Mr.. Lincoln. andshs
conduct of the war, is being put in scirca1a-
ton iorthe purpose of defeating his nou1ina-
ton, and paving the way for some one else.
This pamphlet is being put. in circulation
from Washington, by Union men, under the
frank of Union members of Congress. We
give alr of the contents of the pamphlet be-
low, except one of the bitter articles from
Wilkes, Spirit OF. the Times, against Mr.
| Lincoln. withSwhion it concludes. 1T is not
likely that the gentlemen thus engaged, viii
seriously harm Mr.. Lincoln, 0: advance the
interest Of whomsoeyer they may be attempt
ing to favor. They may, it isstrue, weaken
and damage the Union cause. by promoting
factious discord, but Mr. Lincoln rests too Sc
curely in the confidence and affections of fhe
/ loyal masses, to have their confidence weak
ened by. secret acabals, and anonymous pam
4ephiets, or bitter newspaper articles of the
/ w likes ,,Spfritaof the Times stripe. We give
/ the contents OF this pamphlet, that the peo-
t pie may see how1near akin toscopperheai-
| ism are these efforts of certain Union men,
t,who aimto destroy Mr. Lincoln, IN order that
they may control, and their favorite enjoy, the
Presidential succession. The pamphlet isias
follows, (to which we append few running
comments:
II sale .z8z z.LsZ-Z2--L zas s59a aat
Ist7Thc Next Presidential Election.
AR. Lincoln-.TAe Presidency 14ction Of Le
! p gislatares-0ne Term Principle - Patroaag
4 ~ Psolo'sging the Ra''- Inability and Tas
4 cillatior1 -. Honest Old Abe'' = filitay.,
be Commander as Candidate-1'h Z he Candidelt
Wanted sz.'3iislA = -
1e The effort now making to forestal TIE ac
ton of the Republican National Convention
. by procuring the formal nomination of Mr.
Lincoln in State Legislatures and other pub
lie bodies is deeply to be deplored. -.
p The more SO, because this movement origi
r mates with the recipients of Executive fayo
i and patronage, some of whom hold high sta
! tons in the administration of Mr. Lincoln
whose object is to perpetuate their own pow
; er and means of pecuniary advancement
1 without any regard whatever to the welfar
of the country. While these nomination
I dIc liituc dppctT 6uOu1il Iuty Gfudlittlcs
from the spontaneous will Of the people, th
a,,inaus in reality is to defeat their will alto
gether, by producing such a public clamor il
a behalf Of Mr. Lincoln, as to prevent the as
sembling of the National Convention at all
orif it should assemble, to force his nomira
= ton upon the country, irrespective of tn
a popular will a.q's. 6 ..'ss..i 49,
r In time of civil war and all its attendan
: -calamities, the attempt to advance the per
sonal Interest and ambition of any one mar
= or number of men, without regard to til
d public good, deserves and should receive uni
: versal condemnation. 9 ''is
To the proper discussion Of Mr.. Lincoln
claim to be made candidate for the mex
p Presidential term, there can be no reasonabl
IS objection; but it is the people and not NJ
d lincoln and his dependents who should decid
: upon his claim. (11 - ts. 8 =,
7t'While the great body Of the America, pee
pie have ererytsiag at stake upon the rigt
. administration of the Government, they hay
e really no personal interest in its patronage
i. Therefore, they are the only disintereste
6 party to select the Presidential candidat
= without interference from Executive infu
Il ences. !,
], But now tits too early to commit the pee
d pie to the fortunes of any Presidential asp
4 liant. The issues Of war are ever uncertain
and though we have every reason to hope OF
: gallant armies may have destroyed the rebt
h power before the meeting of the Convention
l. fthey may not AT all events, the people wi
4 be much better prepared-to decide this que.
lion three or four months hence, than the
can possibly be to-day. (2)sg5ssI so ssgSg
n Already has this premature action ALLEVIATE
u many of the friends of freedom, who belies
er that even with fair nomination in full col
: vention, Mr., Lincoln cannot be reelected I
:, the Presidency. ..5i4 tss q ,s4sssssaaa & lii-,
a There are many solid reasons In the vel
1t philosophy of representative goyernmeu
Of against the election of a President for q Sc
4 ond term. 5 .,t s5ss .'s5s,..ssf s7ssi "a.
:. The unbounded popularity OF Gener
at Washington during his administration, col
le yineed the American people that had he bes
d less than, Washington, be, might. by the pa
m ronage of Office, have subverted the liberti
of the country by procuring his own electie
T. periodically for life ~ rJs.issa.ssf 4iss.t
a. The want of a constitutional Limitation
the number of terms~fer which Preside
Emishs be eligible, was then felt to be serioi
] il d.fset BEssEsssss sts1si ss9sss Htsf@X8
- Washington participated in this sentiraer
ae and peremptoriiy refused to allow himself
ed be elected for third term; and his decisis
mt furnished precedent which had all the for
vve Eof unconstitutional restriction. :
Z. During the domination Of the Re- kublie
y party. from j efferson to Monroe the practi
N, Of the President nominating himself for Il
m Second term, ard then his. successor. throu!
or | the machinery Of a caucus, which virtual
transferred the power Of election from t
z people to the Administration., was becoming
2 ptscedent which threateped the subversion
Us Republican, liberty s ~ e,
= = General Jackson, N order q maintain !