The Portland daily press., 1864-05-19
The Union National Conyentjou.

| The position OF the Press In relation to the
| tune of holding the National Convention has
been already defined. We have never doubt
| ed the wisdom of having the Presidential NOM
ination settled at an early day; We have never
made by few presses and In few localities
| for postponement of the nominating conven-
| ton.
We are aware that few papers of the first
rank-the New York Evening Post one OF
them-have urged postponement, still there Is
much truth as well as force in the following
from the Baltimore Clipper. That paper says I:
The secret wire-pullers have not yet entire
| ly given up their efforts to have a postpone
| ment of the Convention called to meet in this
| city in June, to nominate candidates for Pres
| ident and Vice President. There Is mot shad-
| ow of proof that any considerable body of the
| Union men of the nation desire the postpone
| ment; SO far from it, the expressions OF conf
| dence in Mr.. Lincoln are almost unanimous,
| and demand with equal unanimity has been
made in nearly every State for his renomina-
| ton. The only State, indeed, that has failed
| TO respond to this demand being New York,
where no public State demonstration on the
subject has been yet made, although commu-
nicatiOn from State Senators, not united In by
| the Representatives, has been received by the
| National Committee, suggesting postpone
ment.
The condition of parties, in regard TO the
| coming Presidential election, is probably I'M
precedented. Instead of the office holders
| working and intriguing for the man in office,
at the head of the party, and at whose hands
| they have received their commissions, ii is be-
lieved to be the case that the main opposition
| to the undoubted wishes of the masses, who
have no peculiar interest in the matter, save
| that proceeding from great national principles,
Is from the ofiiee-holders. Mr. Arnold, an NJ.
e. from Illinois, and we believe member of
the National Committee, in the course of some
remarks, in letter opposing the postpone
ment, makes the following statement, which
we believe TO be emphatically true-that ii is
a spontaneous expression of the wishes of the
| people, that Mr.. Lincoln should be reelected.
1t is not because other men are not to be found
fully equal TO Mr.. Lincoln for the office, or
that the President is faultless, flor he is notl
but consultations Of policy and justice, and
the good of the country, all conjoin to require
him TO remain at the helm to finish up the
work which has been begun under his Admin
istration.
The following is an extract from the letter
of Mr.. Arnold, referred to,which was addressed
to and published in the Evening Post:
think / am fully warranted in stating that
up TO this time there has been no considerable
difference Of opinion among the people on the
Presidential question. 1t is a most significant
fact that, notwithstanding the efforts made in
this city and elsewhere in behalf of prominent
and able men in military aud civil life; not
wthstanding q thoroughly organized, able. ar
dent and Jealous opposition to President Lin
coin here, embodying great abilities and abun-
dant means: With the cooperation of some of
the great leading newspapers of the Union,
and with the aid OF some Of the distinguished
names of trusted national leaders attached to
your petition; yet all this has produced no
perceptible effect upon public opinion. The
minds of the people are fixed upon the great
contest for national existence, and are impa-
tient Of quarrels and controversies among
ourselves. The opposition to the President
in our own party, talented eloquent, jealous
and active as it is, has scarcely produced
ripple oil the wave of public sentiment which
is so strongly running in favor of Mr.. Lin
coins reelection.
There Is no organization among the friends
of the President, they are doing nothing; but
this action Of the people is spontaneous,
uuprompted, earnest and sincere. State after
state holds its convention, appoints its dele
gates, and, without dissenting voice. instructs
them TO vote for Mr.. Lincoln. This popula-
rity of the President, this unanimity of the
people, Is confined to no section. but East as
well as West, middle state and border state,
they all speak one voice, Let as hare Lincoln
| for our candidate. Do exaggerate? Maine
speaks for him on the Atlantic, and her voice
is echoed by California from the Pacific New
Hampshire and Kansas, Connecticut and Min
nesota, Wisconsin and West Virginia, and
now comes the great state of Pennsylvania,
seconding Maryland one after another, all de-
clare for the reelection of the President. Is
IL not wiser to recognize and accept this great
fact than TO struggle against itp
The truth Is, the masses of the people, and
the soldiers every where, trust and love the
President. They know his hands are clean
and his heart is honest aud pure. They know
that the devil has no bride big enough, no
temptation of wealth, or power. which can Sc
duce the integrity of Abraham Lincoln.
Hence the people, the brave, honest, self-de-
nying people, the people who have furnished
the men, and who are ready to pay the taxes
necessary to crush the rebellion, and who are
determined to establish national uuity based
on liberty, they are more wise, less factous.
and more disinterested than the politicians
Their instinctire sdgacity and good sense has
already settled the Presidential question. 1t
cannot be unsettled without CONFUSION
which will endanger the Union cause. A post
ponement of the convention would not pre-
vent Mr.. Lincoln's denomination; IL might
possibly endanger his election.
Acquiesence, union and harmony will fol-
low the June convention. Delay encourages
faction controversy and division. / say har-
mony will follow the June convention. | say
this because believe Gen. Fremont and his
friends are loyal to liberty and will not en-
danger its triumph by dividing the friends of
freedom. ] say this because believe the rad
ical Germans who support Fremont, who
have done much in this contest 10 sustain
free institutions, cannot be induced by their
enthusiasm for a man, TO desert or endanger
the triumph of their principles.
The hour is critical. We approach the very
crisis OF our fate as a nation. With union and
harmony our success is certain.
The presidential election rapidly approach.
es We cannot divert attention from IL by
postponing the convention. We cannot safe
ly change our leader in the midst of the storm
that is raging around US.
The people have no time for the discussions
which must precede and follow such a change.
repeat, we cannot safely or wisely change
our leader in the midsts OF the great events
which will not wait for conventions Such il
the instructive, nearly universal judgment of
the people. Let, then, the convention meet
and ratify the choice which the people have
already so clearly indicated.