Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-01-01
From the Philadelphia Bulletin.
The PresIdenL's Course,

| Hhe PreSl0enpS Courses
The enemies of Abraham Lincoln, North
and South, condemn him for the perststency
with which he has carried on the war
against the rebels. They condemned the
policy of coercion before any coercion war
attempted. They did not condemn the
coercion policy, when the Southerners be-
gan to coerce the Government into sur
render of all it owned at the South. But
coercion by the President of the United
states, for the sake OF saving the nation.
was a dreadful sin in tue eyes of traitors
everywhere. r,
suppose Abraham Lincoln had been u
weak man like James Buchanan; had been
persuaded, as he was, that coercion was
both wrong and impracucable, and had
adopted the policy that it was best to dis
solve the Union peaceably and to submit
to all that the South demanded. He would
aaye been the most despicable human be.
ing that ever lived.
Even the Southern people would have
despised him utterly for hia mean aud alb.
Ject tailure to do his sworn duty. The
loyal psople of the country wouli have been
so incensed at his infamous betrayal of
them, that they would have risen and driv-
en- him from Washington, and he would
probably have suffered death at the hands
the opposite of the one We have indicated,
and employing the whole power of the ma.
ti0n to suppress the rebellion, Mr.. Lincoln
Is entitled to the admiration of foes as we'll
as friends. They could only have despsed
MN had he dOue otherwise. Now they
may hate him, but they also respect and
fear him.
Each separate act of the President to
wards the rebels has been simply an act of
his duty as the elected and sworn head of
the nation. At first, owing to the treach-
cry that filled Washington, he was able to
do but little. But as time went on, and he
got honest men to serve him, the power
and resources of the people were developed
and be has used them wisely and effective
~. When he found the measures adopted
were insufficient, he tried new and stronger
ones. When military or naval command
ers proved too slow, too weak or too timid, |
he employed others. When he found that |
negroes were employed by the reoeIs, he
their employment, not only as |
servants and laborers, but as soldiers
When 1t became clear that the continued |
existence of the institution of slavery
was incompatible with the safety or
he honor of the nation, he first pro-
posed gradual emancipation, and
lnally proclaimed freedom to the slaves in
all the States in rebellion. There are
signs of progress in these and all other
iots OF President Lincoln in reference to
The rebellion. AT first he was not able to
smPloy any but cautious and compnra.
lively mild measures, and of course thew
we're Intellectual. But now he is strong.
aud be has gained in energy and determi.
lahon, as well as in strength. Soothing
syrup is not of much use when the subject
7 is administered to is q monster. The
resident does uot want to appease aud +
comfort the rebellion, but he wants to de-
troy It so he is treating it with strong
irugs like overpowering armies and fleets
With black-drop, like negro enlistments
laVing first extracted its teeth and re-
moved its venom by proclaiming freedom
o the slaves.
1t seems really providential that the
process OF subduiug the rebellion should
nave been slow instead of fast, as was at
lrst predicted. Had it been ended in three
IF six months, the South would have been
Is arrogant as ever, and slavery would
rave been firmly established In many {
states, though possibly its territorial ex-
ent might have been limited But the
obstinate resistance made by the rebels
las compelled President Lincoln to strike
It the very root, and seeing that the exis-
ence and honor of the Union cannot be
maintained With slavery, he has resolved
o destroy slavery, in order to preserve
he Union. He has little more than
! year left of his term, during which ti5ne
Ve believe that he will restore the Unitn,
md we trust that slavery will in that time
'e brought TO an end A Presidential
ERIN, ending thus gIoriously, will be for
.ver memorable in history. -!The President
hat does all this will be entitled Ia. d ucw Z
erm, in which he may enjoy peacefully
be fruits of the stormy four years of civil
var through which he itriumphsutly car
led the nation.