The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1864-02-17


the Presidential quest tioia--and Yet these same
politicians are busy and indefatigable in work
ing behind the scenes to defeat him. We
leave others to characterize such course of
proceedings
Developments begin to come to the surface
in regard to a strong movement in behalf of
Mn Chase. Mr.. Greeley, one of the most
fiamorous for postponement of the discus
sion of the Presidential succession is engaged
in this movement. Issit quite fair and homo
rable to decry in public against discussion
of the question, aud at. the same time in pri-
vate, TO be actively engaged in a more unseen
manner to. prepare the way to set aside Mr..
Lincoln, in behalf of some specia. favorite !?
B The New York Herald, of Feb, 8th. has a
report of rhe proceedings of a meeting in the
city of New York, of men favorable to the
nomination of Mr.. Chase. The TRIBUNE
abstains from any report Of these proceeHings'
The meeting was composed of "a few gen.
5tlemen," who met Sin one of the rooms of
Gibson's building, cerner of Broadway and
Thirteenth street, They formed an organi-
cation under the title of "The Unconditional
Union Central Committee They adopted
a kind of platform, in which they strike out
vigorously for 'the one term principle.''-
This is to be.used as a potent lever to set
aside Mr.. Lincoln. It is DO more essential
and valid now, than it was in the days of
Washington and jackson, and its use is SIM
ply strategic, to accomplish present purpose.
Subsequently the Committee appointed at
this meeting, to the number of some forty,
met, and Mr.. Horace Greeley delivered a
very earnest and vigorous speech. This is
the first organized movement of which we
have any knowledge, designed to. displace
Mr.. Lincoln, ard advance the interests of an
lother
- Meanwhile, a vast deal is being done by
personal effort to disparage Mr.. Lincoln, and
certain Union newspapers are beginning to
speak dininutively and unkindly of him.
We will here insi ance Wilkes Spirit of the
Tines That journal, ia its issue of Feb.
18th, has an article on. The Presidential Con-
test" characterized by great bitterness against
Mr.. Lincoln--an article as uncandid as it is
lmaievolent. This article essays to recite GER
tain transactions, and adds. ~
.sAll this while Lincoln kept joking, and
performing the part of an honest but humor-
Gus jack pudding"
Thus, without decency. dignity or decorum,
is Mr.. Lincoln spoken of by Union men, who
are the partisans of another, and a very as
piring gentleman.
Is this appropriate work for loyal, Union
men Have they not undertaken rather
ungracious task to pave the way for another,
by destroying the confidence of the people in
Mr.. Lincoln? 1t is within the verge of truth
to say, that no man enjoys the confidence and
respect of the people to-day to so great an
extent, as does President Lincoln. In that
confidence abides the strength of the Union
cause, which is the cause Of the country
Will not the Peace-at-any price men," nay,
will not the rebels themselves roll these de-
nunciations which are hurled at Mr.. Lincoln
as sweet morsels under their tongues? Are.
those who do these things discharg:ng pat
rietic duty?
Washington had detractors as bitter and
venomons as those of Mr.. Lincoln; but they
could not shake the confidence of the people.
nor withdraw their affection from, him. Nor
viii the assaults upon Mr.. Lincoln be more
successful. Int the very simplicity and trans
parent honesty Of his character is his greatest
strength with the people. As he is without
hapteur, they love him as he is honest and
without duplicity,; they confide in him. On
the page Of history, for the admiration of fu-
ture generations, the name of Abraham Lin
coin will stand beside that of George Wash
ington. It will be, recorded that the one
saved the Union which the other fought and
labored to establish. 2s - ''.'s''
:, Mr.. Lincoln has made mistakes, and who
among mortals has not? But no man can
successfully impeach the honesty of his spur-
pose, or his disinterested devotion to the well
fare of his country. 1t therefore CRATES
harshly to hear him denounced by the friends
Of that Union, for the preservation Of which
be is laboring with such signal success. Mr..
Lincoln has displayed great power and saga
city in administration-7heI has given the
death-blew to slavery, the cause of all our
woe, and the people, it may be said with YER
lest truth, desire that he shall complete
what he has sd well begun; that he Shall be
his own successor57thatt as the trophy Of his
prolonged administration, he may present to
the world tie grand grand spectacle of a land with
out,a slave, homogeneous people, a Nation
saved, a Union yindieated, a Republican Gov
ernment strengthened and placed on founda-
tons that cannot be moved s,3a Il a7sti.l.s,
THE people, ,ittfnay well be believed, will
stand firm and steadfast, uninfuenced by par
tisan cabals, unswayed by the solicitations of
greedy aspirants, or their clamorous eulogists.,
Phosc who, cannot bide their time. but at
tempt to urge their way to power over the.
PROSTATE and demolished reputa tions of those
in advance Of them, may at last, prove in
their own experiences, the truth Of the, oldepi
declaration, It is lp hard to kick against the
prieks y.as,zs s. Il szss....s1s g,o a,,...s;t.
ssiss -1T-T777T - ts-r5 %
On the first page of to-day's DEmooKAr;
viii be found ar, extract from theFable address
of Postmaster General Blair, before the. Ma
'ryiand Legislature, satA ANNAPOLIS. Its litter
ances are patriotic andiuspiring The speech.
sraHples .sturdily and unfmchingiy, with
slavery, the pestilsntagcause of our ci vii war,
denouneipg, any and3ieyery attempt atco.n-
premise, and Calls fora Standardization Of
slavery as the only means cof establishing
psrplanent peane.in the country. That NJ