Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-03-11

The effort now making TOO orestall the action
of the Republican National Convention by pro
curing the nomination Of Mr.. Lincoln in State
Legislatures and other bodies is deeply to be de-
plored.
The more 20. because this movement origin
ates with the recipients Of Executive favor and
patronage some OF whom hold high stations IN
the administration Of Me- lincoln. whose ect
j. 10 perpetuate their own power and means of
pecuniarv advancement. without any regard
whatever 20 the welfare Of the country. While
these nominations made 10 appear though
they emanated from the spontaneous will of the
people their animus Is ia reality to defeat their
will altogether. by producing such a public
clamor in behalf Of Mr Lincoln as to prevent
the assembling of the National Convention at
all: or If IL should assemble, 20 force his nomi-
nation upon the country, irrespective OF the popu
lar will
In time Of civil war, with all It's attendant
cslamities. the attempt 10 advance the personal
interests and ambition OF any one man. OF mum
Der of men, without regard TO the public good,
deserves and should receive universal condemna
ton.
To the proper discussion Of Mr. Lincoln's
claim to be made candidate for the next Presi-
Dental term, there can be no reasonable ohjec
tiOD but IL Is the people, aud not Mr. Lincoln
and his dependants who should decide upon this
claim
While the great body Of the American people
have everything at stake upon the right admin
istration of the Government, they hive really
no personal interest in its patronage. There
fore they are the only disinterested party to Sc
lect the Presidential candidate without interfer-
ence from Executive influences.
But now il Is too early commit the people
to the fortunes of any Presidential asprant.
The issues of war are ever uncertain. and
though we have every reason to hope gal
LIANT al mics may have destroyed the rebel power
before the meeting OF the convention. they
may not At all events the people will be
better prepared To decide this question three or
four months hence than they can possibly be
to-day
Already has this premature action alienated
many of the friends OF freedom who believe
that with fair nomination in full conven-
ton Mr. Lincoln cannot be re elected to the
Presidency
There are many solid reasons in the very
philosophy of representative government. against
the election of President for a second term.
The unbounded popularity of General W ash
ngton during the administration, convinced
the American people that bad lie been less
than Washington, he might by the patronage of
Office. have subvsrtcd the liberties Of the coun-
try. by procuring his own election periodically
for life.
The want of a constitutional limitation to the
number o; terms 10 which President might be
eligible was then felt 70 be a serious defect.
Washington participated in this sentiment
aud peremptorily refused to allow himself to be
elected FOR third term and his decision fur
nished "A precedent which had all the force of a
constitutional restriction
During the domination of the Republican par
ty from Jefferson TO Monroe, the practice OF the
President nominating himself for the second
term, aud then his successor, through the ma
chinery of a caucus; which virtually transferred
the power of election from the people TO the Ad
ministratiou. was becoming precedent which
threatened the sGJversiOn OF republican liberty.
Gen. Jackson, in order To maintain the indie
pendence of the elective franchise. became the
candidate of the people in opposition to the eau
Gus system, aud though defeated at first, was, in
1928, triumphantly elected against the powerful
patronage OF the government. From that day
no President until Mr.. Lincoln. ever attempted
To revive that odials system of having himself
nominated without consulting the people in Ma
tional Convention.
General jackson was made a candidate by the
people for a second term against his will. and
elecIed with unparalleled unanimity. Yet such
the un5ounded enthusiasm inspired that
General Jackson saw, did every rejecting
man. that the danger liberty which occurred
under W aShingtOn ; administration was repeating
itself.
And so utterly opposed was that stern patriot
to the use OF patronage for the purpose of pro-
curing a re election 10 the Presidency that he
laid down the one term principle a. the funda
mental doctrine in our DemOc attic svsten and il
become part Of the political creed of the people;
so strong that President from that day has
been re elected. and probably never will be by a
fair expression of the popular will
1t President Lincoln in defiance of the teach
ings OF Jackson in violation Oi the great princi-
n
aud in the face OF tue solemn warnings of history
can now so wiei his patronage as to secure his
election tor "A second term. who 80 blind not TO
SEE that four years hence he will have less diff
Guilty in securing his election for third term
For with an army of more than half a million of
citizen soldiers under his con mand aud an annual
patronage of thousand millions of money. he
can, il he has one half the brains attributed to
him by his friends. have himself elected from
term To term during his natural life
Ii the military necessity supplies reason
now for his nomination, and the extraordinary
patronage Oecasioued by the war furnishes the
means of his election, matter of course his
interest is then to prolong tbe war as means of
perpetuating his power
No man with the patriotism of Washington
or Jackson would seek to place himself in a
position where his interest and personal ambition
would be cOincijent with the continuance of the
But aside from the consideration of the second
term principle, there Is still another and more
iorcible objection 10 the nomination of Mr. Lin
coin.
The people have lost all confidence in his
ability 10 suppress the rebellion and restore the
Union II il impossible TO put out of view the
fact that there is general feeling of dsappoint
ment in the loyal North that, after such vast
ing of its precious blood and such a vast expend-
ture of treasure. the rebellion continues unSub
dued: and all the promises OF the Administration.
time and again, for its speedy overthrow, have
been falSifed
The truth il that there is who does not
the livery ct office. or l. not in the paw of
the General Government. who does not feel
mortified and humbled that nation. with it,
with tour milhors of suxiarieS IN the South. to
saw nothing of the host Of Union there.
has not succeeded yet in verthrowing she in
solent slave Oligarchy, which does lot number
fse millions, all told
How j. IL tn.t Jefferson Davis, with his slen--
der resources without navy without manuiac
torie- Is still defiant Richmond. and has twice
sent his rehel hOrdeS across the Potomac. putting
in jeopardy even the rersonsl liberty OF Mr. Lin
coin himself?
IL : impossible 10 prevent the American peo
pie from making Illuminating comparisons be-
tween the rebel chief and the President of the
United States They will understand why this
condition OF things exist at the end OF the third
wear of Mr. Lincolu's term The taslt i not in
the want OF intelligence aud bravery Oh the part