The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1864-03-18
For the Jeffersonian Democrat.
The Herald on the Presidential Cues
ton

was said in an editorial in your paper q
week or two since, entitled 1.-The Presi.
dency," l was much pleased. So much
there wss SO well said that IL seems moth
ing new need be added, and, were it not
for some things said in an editorial in the
Cleveland Herald Of the 9th inst, / should
not iDrude myself upon your attention.
To the general advice giver by the
Herald, in this as we'll as other articles.
no one can object. 1t certainly is to be
regretted that the stten ton Of the loyal
people of the country should, BY a politi.
cal contest, be drawn away from the great
work Of crushing out rebellion, vindica-
ting the Constitution and the laws. and
sustaining the Government, while Free
dom achieves final victory in the last
great struggle with the demon Slavery.
Ii this contest could have been avoided
until this work was closed up, it would
have been well. So long as it could not,
it was well enough thstit should be post
poned as long as possible. But, as you
well say, shat contest is now upon us,
and we ale compelled, willingly or re-
luctantly. TO accept II, ADD abide the is
sue.' This being so, is i, not well that
the settled convictions Of the large ma
jority Of the loyal people Of Inc country
should find expression, and. resting upon
that expression. without attempting TO in
%fluence and change that conviction, all
unitedly 60 forward in sustaining the
Government and It's administration until
the time shall come when /; is necessary
to go into the election Of a new Chief Elk.
ecutiye? This forgetting Of the political
contest is what the herald advises, but ev.
identity wishes 1t before any expression oil
the people so that. as you have il, "the
politicians, who deprecate agitation
may be secretly at work, while the PEG
pie are SILENT" endeavoring TO change
and mould such sentiment us shall sui,
their purposes.
While the Herald deprecates agitation,
and thinks no one should, as yet, be des.
ignaied as a candidate for the Presidency,
its wishes can very easily be ascsrtained
Otherwise, why the effort 10 cast all
blame of agitsling this question upon the
friends OF the present distinguished and
highly popular Chief Executive ? Why
the attempt TO show the feeling of Union
Senators and Representatives, while &C.
knowledging the masses Of the people are
very largely against them, and TO com
mend ;heir wisdom and patriotism in re.
framing from an expression of their choice,
and for exercising "ihe greatest pc ssible
prudence and forbearance ?" Men in
such positions are rather aptto "lorbear''
the avowal OF opinions in opposition to
what is felt to be the prevailing public
sentiment Of the country.
The article referred to SAYS 1.-THE self.
ishness Of ~oficc.holders, the spite of dis.
appointed ofice-seekers, and the impru.
dence OF enthusiastic friends Of Mr.. Lin.
coin, have thrown this firebrand into The
political caldron at a time when it wa.
every mans duty 10 keep the Union rank:
closed, and TO keep out Of sight the Presi
dental question:" Now. here ia where
l take issue with the Herald, and it is ia
reference to its assertion that all agitation
at this time, is chargeable to the friends
Of Mr.. Lincoln, that | have now taker
my pen. This assertion is not at al
warranted by the facts. The Herald it
self acknowledges that the popular senti
ment of the country is such '.tha,, SHOULD
the Convention mee ct tomorrow, Mr.. Lin
coin would be nominated by reclamation :
and the only ones Of whom the article
speaks as opposed to him are the politi
clans. In the communication Of Judg,
S~pa'ding. Immediately following this ar
ticle, be says: "Ffom recent develop
ments. l am satisfied tina, a great MAORI,
ty of the people are, at this time, de.
handing the re nomination OF Mr.. Lincoln
to the Presidential chair, and, being thus
convinced, bave counseled the friends Of
Mr.. Chase to abstain from further active
efforts in his behalf" &c. Now, who il
it that have been agita,ing this question ?
Those "friends OF Mr.. Chase" who have
been engaged in "%aclive efforts In bis
behalf" --.E5L altr UslO
A little time since, the Union member
OF the General Assembly of this Stat
4 gave an expression in favor Of the re
election Of Mr.. Lincoln. This action th
v Herald G%enounces as uncalled' for, and
!. meddling with that which was none @
thei, business. This, under ordinary cir
n o~umslances, might have been true /; but
d at all events, it did not grow out OF a dis
position of the friends OF Mr. Lincoln t.
10 agitate this question. The writer of thi
knows that il was with great reluctance. an
after long elaboration, that this action wa
u had, and that 1t was only finally determine,
AZ upon, not on account OF tho agitation b
1. tho friends of MIR. Lincoln, but because Q
tho constant and uuwearying labors of u fe,
of tho friends of Mr.. Chase, in eudeavorin