Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1864-11-04
PRESIDENT LINCOLN, BY ONE WHO
KNOWS HIM WE'LL

Hon. William Whiting, Solicitor OF the
War Department, delivered a powerful speech
to an immense audience assembled in the
great Music Hall, in Boston, on Monday even
ing last. The press of that city has been teem-
ing, for several days, with praises of the great
effort of the accomplished orator.
Among other things Mr.. Whiting spoke of
the personal qualification of Mr.. Lincoln as
follows;
Perhaps you will expect me to say word
upon the personal qualifications of our candi-
date for the Presidency. 1t has been my good
fortune to see much OF the President. He is
one of the most industrious, hard working men
In Washington. His manners and style OF
dress and of living are simple and unostenta-
tious. He puts on no airs. He is kind, ten
der-hearted and generous man. He opens his
house to the public. He hears the complaints
of the humble. He is the friend of the people!
He Is not pulled up by the distinction of
office, and assumes no superiority on account
of his station. He has great love of wit
and humor, and does tell stories. Perhaps
this peculiar quality of humor may have saved
h IN from being broken down by the weight ol
his cares aud immense responsible les.
Having observed his condnct under trying
circumstances, he has seemed to me to be one
of The most conscientious public men have
ever known. His honesty, as you all know,
Is Incorruptible and unainching.
His ability-his intellectual powers-have,
think, not been sufficiently appreciated. He
takes broad comprehensive views of every
subject he examines. He looks at all its bear.
ings. He is cautious in getting at the facts
He breads mistakes which might mslead In
or do injustice TO the absent.
His reasoning powers seem TO me 10 be of
high order. His discourse and his writlngl
are plain but powerful. They are loaded with
common sense.
Tomany he seems too slow and too cautious
He may be so. But we must remember tha
what is too slow for New England may be to-
fast for the Western States; and the State
must go together, or they cannot go at all.
He has been called vascillating. But NJ
President has ever trod his onward path witt
hrmer steps. He has never looked backward
Nor has he ever broken his word, nor takel
back what he has said. While he holds ques
tion under consideration he listens to all opin
ions, in or out Of his Cabinet. When he ha
fully made up his mind lie is immovable.
do not hesitate to say that Gen. jackson
had no more hrmness than President Lincoln
but the former was guided to his conclusion
(too often) by will aud temper-the latter i
guided only by conscientious conviction 0
duty.
1t has been said that the President is oyer
borne by the influence OF the members of hi
Cabinet, and is thus Ewayed one way and III
other. The instance most relied on is that q
Mr.. Blair. Yet 1t is fact, that on most of th
great questions of public policy relating Il
slavery, the President has gone directly agalps
the views of Mr.. Blair, and finally reQueste
him to resign his seat In the Cabinet. Beyon
all question Mr. Lincoln is now, and alway
has been, the controlling mind Of the Cover
ment.
They are greatly mistaken who suppose IL;
hrmness of purpose, decision of character, au