The New York herald., 1864-11-26

Sceptre. PhiIadelphls u ahead Of New fofA 10
MI that pertains to petroleum; but behind Us
IN every element that relates 10 mercantile
prosperity, public morality al al individaal ais-
nifty The Quaker City mar we'll wear her
Subricating and greasy lsurels.
Mn. LrsccaLS As THE Parnox or CrA@scAr
AcaulRExESrs.-n is not little significant
Hhat the Latin autLo. with whose works
bur illustrious President Is known 10 be
most familiar, and from won be quoted
bis Res magma cst--"lt Is . bis thing 70
Jhe Maryland delegation Q few dass $50, s
Terence, or, more properly, Terentias Aier'
m African slave, born In the ancient CIV
OF Carthage, upon African SOIL This Terence,
or, as the President moro familiarly calls him,
his "African poet Terry" was purchased in the
Carthagenian slave market by ono Terentius
Luoanus, o rather ishy democratic Roman
Eenator, who finally became an abolitionist
Ind had to manumit his dramatic cbattel In
order to prove the sincerity OF his conversion
and secure the "Lloyd Garrison voten Of those
days in his particular district. 1t is also not a
little significant, in connection with tho Presi.
dents partiality to the writings Of this African
bard, chat Terence, subsequent to his manumis-
nion, became the bosom friend, social compan
Hon and political confdant Of Cornelius Scpio
Africanus Major, who was the first African
Major that we read Of in come ction with the
colored troops OF the Roman army. Taking all
CHEESE facts into account, what could be more
happily appropriate for our accomplished and
arudite Chief Magistrate, when speaking of the
abolition Of slavery in Maryland, than to quote
Che words Of the redeemed and regenerated
chattel, Terentius Afer, who-though subse
quently acknowledged to be mau Of noble
4enius-was, In his early youth, hold amenable
20 all the disabilities Of Csrthagenian 'sDred
Ecottu decision!
We all remember Mr.. L'ncoln's pithy an
hwer to the delegation Of radical abolitionists
who called upon him last July with demand
Chat he should withdraw his acceptance Of the
Baltimore nomination and cause that Conven-
tlon to be reconvened for the purpose of nomi-
mating General B. F. Butler in his place, as
sthe Presidential candidate of all sections and
Interests In the republican party" Gentle
men," replied the President, with twinkle
OF pure Augustan humor in his remarkably
expressive eyes, "you talk we'll and patrloti-
oslly; you talk lengthily and iearnedly; but,
In the words Of my favorite Latin poet, i can't
see ii in that light / therefore wish you good
day, gentlemen, and safe as we'll as speedy
return to your respective homes" No sooner
was this answer reported than the sophomores
ind empty sciolists Of our press raised their
hsual clamor about Mr. Lincolu's avulgarism
and slang" in using the phrase II can't zee il in
shat light" quite obIivious Of the fact, or
never having known it, that this phrase is
eaken, verb0tim ct Itero.m, from enc of the
most admired passages in Terence's play of
the "Andrian," act third, scene first, line
twentieth, page 226 Of the "Leipsic edition Of
ference" published in the year 1850, whore the
original OF Mr.. Lincoln's remark will be found
Ahus :--"Re,n RON riders possmn IN ca lace.'
let Mr. Lincoln only continue his flow or these
eemarkable sayings, and classical research, to
Ind precedents for them, will soon become q
bopularlzed and prsdominating trait Of ths
American character.
RrgoRH IN Our PuBLIC SCHOOL SYsrE4.-We
published the other day the provisions Of the
present School law in order that our citizens
Wlkut n3Vc ttS uSitSto iib WV WhSn shOs SShAS
60 vote for the new School Commissioners.
That it is very little Of an Improvement on tie
cid law there is very little doubt. The cor
fuption the immortality and the scandals
Of every kind that have dourished under
the old law, have created In the public
mind a we'll founded distrust of the system,
which will continue uader that ut present
orqaaized Some improvements might, no
S,ubt. be made in it by the election
OF p-,pcrly qaalieed men as commissioners
Those Who have hitherto filled the oa;s could
DOT do otherwise than disgnace IL. They were
Tor the most part 9ro9shoP politicians not
merely from their personal habits unfit tn oc-
cupy It. but In many Instances unable even to
write their own nameg. We have long urged
Che necessity Of making radical change 10
system which admits OF the probability OF the
election OF such men. The only proper way
20 appoint the School Commissioners would be
10 give the Governor power to select them
from the leading men in the clerical, legal,
medical aud editorial professions, subject,
OF course, to the ratification Of the Senate.
Ia the meanwhile il Is Of the utmost i'm
Dortsnce that We should prevent ss far ~
possible the existing Law from being abused
This can only be done by exercising discrim-
tnatiou at the ballot boxes In the choice Of the
mon who oiyer themselves as candidates for the
ofHce. None Of them come up to the required
standard but differences will be found among
chem In point OF intelligence aud decsncy Of
conduct. Let the voters give the preference
1n all cases to the men thus distinguished, IL IL
10 for no ether purpose than TO prove 10 the
politicians that their pswsr Of interference in
educational matters is approaching term.
arht. ,v;li Al s,r tba paxl eleotion py the time