The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1864-03-16
'Fhv rFssaas.allaa ane.sissl.

i.
HAe HFssiasAsiaf Qnessioii.
s..'sE sveaai,d Herald; 8 few days since,
had very singular article on This subject
Likeether papers epposedto Mr.. Lincoln, and
in favcr Of Mr.. Chase, i eritieises wit b sever
ity the course pursued BY the friends IF the
former and finds nothing but approb obstioli ri
the eonduct of The frientss of the iAttsS Like
|ahsNsw York Tribuue, and Seshss Chase pa
pers, the Herald has 40 candidate for the Press
idency There Are great many political
0striohes about the present season
We regret to perceiy that the Herald finds
no word Of dissent from the secret circular''
movement Of Senators Pomeroy and Sher-
man., but stontly charges the agitation of the
Presidential question TO the corrnptlana nu-
patriotic sel6shness, and tsgreedn of offise
holdersl forgetful of the fact that the Chase
raid was borne forward by the clamors of
sofieehollers exclusively, against, the wishes
aud in spite of the remonstrahees of the peo-
ple. The scope and tendency, and doubtless
tbs design of tho Herald article to which me
refer. was to .disparage Mr. Lincoln, aud ele-
vate Mr.. Chase at the expense of the people $.
confidence in the former. We quote from
the Herald article as follows: m i,sfais
We say those Senators aud Representatives
whose first choice Mr.. Lincoln. is not have
shown the highest consideration for the cause
ef the Union in even withholding from the
world their, preferences. We doubt not it
will de a surprise TO most of our readers TO
hear that Mr.. Liueoln is theft choice of
but two of the Union United States Sena-
tors. So far as Ohio is concerned, one Sana-
tor has given his views and it is well known
that Mr.. Wade,s first choice is not Mr. Lin
coin. We state these things in order to show
that the selfshness of Office holders the spite
of disappointed Office seekers, and the irnptu-
-ffenee of EN- hilsiastic friends of Mr.. Lincoln
have thrown this FIRE brand into the political
eauldron at time aMhen it was every mans
duty to keep the Union ranks closed, and to,
keep out of sight the Presidential question.
The high consideration for the cause af,the
Union shown by these Senatorial opponents
OF Mr.. Lincoln, who withhold from the
world their preferences. issvery clearly shown
by 'Secret Circular Pomeroy" and his en-
dorser, John Sherman. Notopenlv. but ina
49, ~
strictly priyate' way, were they making
their preferences known to the world ! But
the asecret circular, came prcmaturely to
light. and the mine was exploded, and never
were unfortunate wights more sadly and hope
lessly entengled in their own machinery.
1.-The assertion of the Herald that sMr Lin
coin is the first choice of but two of the Union
\ J. 4 =
United States Senators, is certainly "a sur
prise."o Has the Herald polled the Senators.
that it thus speaks so coiifidertiy? We do
not believe the statement true, We do not
accuse the Herald of deliberate misstatement,
for. we cheerfully accord that the Herald is
incapable of that, but in the heat and zeal Of
advocacy and assault, there, is a wide margin
for nnisapprehension and mistake. The Her.
aid doubtless receives as verify, the loose as
sertion of some person very careless in his
statements. Belt as it may, if true, it sim
ply shows that Senators differ with the peo-
ple; and misrepresent their, sentiments Are
the people to be moulded aud modified in
their preferences by their ,lblic servants, or
are these public servants to pay some decent
respects the will and wishes of the people,
who, are sovereign in this matter? e
Again, the Herald says: s.: >tasssi
So far as the HERALD is concerned, it has
no candidate, for We have believed that it was
not yet time to decide who should be the
Union candidate for the succession. There is
no doubt how the public mind now tends !;
should the Convention meet tomorrow, Mr..
lincoln would be re- Nominated by acclama-
tion. But months of peril must be passed
before the election, and the man is an ass who
does not know that the progress of the war,
and not the Union Convention, is to decide
who shall be President. Military successes or
military reyerses will swing this question
back kwards and forwards, and knowing that,
we- have deprecated agitation; for unless our
arms are successful least not .unsuccess-
ful--the Union party would. we fear, in vain
nominate Mr.. Lincoln.
Might not the Herald add, g or any other
man p,
Some portion of the foregoing paragraph
#is more forcble than elegant, perhaps. 1t is
certainly. oftentimes easier to denounce a man
as IAN ass than to prove him so. s1 s4
/ Mark the admission of the Herald, that
2 should the Convention be held tomorrow,
Mr.. Lincoln would be re- e-nominated by accla-
mation.p This the Tribune and other viru-
lent opponents of Mr.. Lincofn admit, bat
they hope.if time is given them, TO change
all this, by weakening and finally destroying
the extraordinary popularity of Mr.. Lincoln.
e Months of periP' may bring q military re-
verses, and by persistently charging every
disastss to Mr.. Lincoln's incompetency, and
undergraduates for the emergency, he may be
destroyed, by taking from him the confidence
of the people. This we dc not believe is the
programme of the Unionists, but We do be-
slieve it was the programme of the s'secret
circular gentry, and it may be their pro-
gramme still. Hencs TO watch them will do
no harm even though Gov Chase has with
drawn.
Hsa The Tribune freely chargesupo the Pres
identthc sole responsibility of the sad disas-
ter to our arms in Florda-and thus the un-
gracious attempt is to be made, we suppose,
to render Mr.. Lincoln unpopular with the
people, and hence his opponents plead for
time. 1t is too early for the people to COM
nit themselves to Mr.. Lincoln. for, in the
astute language of the Tribune, ..tse loyal
masses haze not get .fred upon some one else to
succeed him in his high position ,''
As conclusion Of the whole matter..swe
think it. would be quiteas safe forthe country
and its cause, to let "the loyal masses have