The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-04-22

done his duty. Even he, indeed, with all his
natural sagacity and acquired knowledge OF
measures and men, but partially understood
| the magnitude of the task he undertook, and,
vet, when this was fully seen, when the whole
danger and the whole duty opened to his
view, this noble man shrunk not, quailed not,
nor ever once betrayed the slightest distrust
in the successful issue Of the fearful struggle.
With depleted treasury-with a fleet insig-
niacantly small, and scattered systematically
to the ends of the earth-with the army scarce
ly more than nominally such-with treason
stalKing at midday even in the Capital-with
nall the States in armed insurrection-witb
olsloyal officers, by scores, transferring their
allegiance to the rebel flag-and with 7yolun-
teer forces wholly inadequate in numbers TO
meet the domestic foe,-this man OF moral
might stood firm at his post with undiverted
eye, with steady hand, and with heart ever
confident in God and in the right.
IL would be doing great injustice, however,
70 MS memory, did we not record it to his
honor that, from first to last of his official ca
reer, he never momentarily forgot that he was
President of a Republic. The one-man pow
er found in him neither advocacy nor illustra-
ton. He rose from amongst the people, and
ruled by the peoples will, and for the peoples
benefit. He skilfully surrounded himself with
men of tried and tested patriotism, and II any
one of them, however personally esteemed,
proved untrue to his prestige or unequal to
his post, he was forthwith and unceremoni.
ously set aside. He had no petty jealousy of
obtrusion, by his chosen and trusted associ-
ates, on his Prerogatives OF office; but cheer
fully shared with each and all Of them the
honors as well as the duties Of the govern
ment Though, at first, supposed by some to
have too little independence of thought and
action, and too easily induced to adopt opin-
ions and measures not wholly accOrdant with
personal convictions, experience effectually
corrected this erroneous estimate of the noble
man, and taught all other men that ABRAHAM
LINCOLN had his own individual conscience,
aud was guided by it. By slow degrees of
popular enlightenment and the surest proofs
OF administrative wisdom, 1t became apparent
tn the most obtuse observer that, though he
was neither the commander nor the creature
OF his cabinet, he had will of his own, and
and would yield 1t only to conviction or to
the force OF circumstances not to be con-
trolled. The plastic ease with which he met
the exigencies of each occasion as 1t rose. the
bland and genial courtesy which made every
man approaching him feel perfectly at home.
the winning smile that came like the spark
ling ebullition of natural fountain, from the
deep recesses of loving heart, were found,
by manifold experiments, to be combined with
courage that no danger could intimidate, =
consistency which no vicissitude could shake, q
confidence that rested on no precarious or
problematic basis, but ON the solid and immu-
table principles of truth and Justice. From
these principles no force of adverse reason
ing could remove him, and no fulsome adula-
ton could seduce him. Even the wisest of
his councillors knew full well from the begin
ming, and the enemies OF equity learnt to
their hearts, content, that ABRAHAM LIN
in y<>f1
against all attempts n gain him over even to
a seeming recognition OF constructive false
hood, or the practical adoption Of treacher-
GUS expediency. lTl'a'sf
The Constitution of our country, as ex-
pounded by the greatest jurist OF modern
times, and as understood by many of the
most intelligent lovers Of their country and
mankind seemed at least to admit OF such
construction, as was favorable to system of
iniquitcus oppression. By guarding jealous
y,the rights OF States, it appeared to place
this system, as such, beyond the jurisdiction
Of the Union, and leave to this, as its only
legitimatespherein in that direction, the power OF
combining within or extending beyond actu-
al State organizations, the great crime and
grievous curse of human bondage. There
can be no doubt that ABRAHAM LINCOLN so
interpretated bis oath Of Office, as to feel
himself bound, in honor and Justice, to alb
stain from influencing by any act of power,
the legislation or executive action Of any of
the States when seen to be, or seeming to be
strictly constitutional. Then conscience and
constitution were at variance; but as he
had sworn to maintain the latter, conscience
demanded rigid sdberance to his oath. He.
did adhere to it-and it was in perfect accor-
dance with the spirit and terms Of that oath
that, when military necessity arose for his
Intervention, as Commander In Chief in the
way of liberating portion of the colored peo-
pie Of the land, he embraced the provieential
opportunity, and sent forth that glorious
proclamation OF emancipation which alone
would have imortalize bis name
A military necessity was the immediate
occasion of that measure; butthere are other
necessities higher, hol Ter, and st Il more imper-
ative, necessities to which the demon-po Of
slavery must misunderstanding, involved
in the principles of Cots word, admopitions
interviewer with the instincts Of humanity. and
demanding with an authority that calls heaven
and earth to Witness in these days Of civil
commotion and convulsion, the expulsion fof
the Slave holding demon from the body poli-
tic, and an interdict strong, enduring and ir-
revocable against its return. That interdict
will soon be pronounced by the American
people and the irnperishable record of the
amended Constitution be embodied in the
epitaph of our late noble President.
We have said that ABRAHAM LINCOLN
could not die before bis work was done. His
work tvas done. Beautifully symmetrical as
were the intellectual and moral qualities by
which he was distinguished, 1t is no dispar-
agement of the man or of the ruler to say that
he could not have mety as another may, the
solemn responsibilities OF the crisis atlwhich
as nation we have now arrived. That heart
oflove was not to be trusted with the work of
dealing with the authors and abettors Of gi.
gantic treason. Himself 30 absolutely free
from guile, he was but i'll qualified to look
through those disguises by which wicked men
conceal their deep designs, and when these de-
signs are thwarted-put on an air ofingenious
regret, and even Of injured innocence. That
recent visit of our noble chief to Richmond.
which many lamented. and not a few feared
might lead to a catastrophe likethat which has
filed the land with mourning-that visit, with
its immediate and possible results. may recon-
cie us to an event in itself most deplora5le
and sad, but, in its issues, not incompatible
with the honor. safety, and well being of the
nation. Wesympathize most deeply and sin-
cerely in their affection with the widow and
the orphan sons of our great and good chief
magistrate. We estimate. at its highest worth
the homage paid this day, through the whole
land, to his distinguished virtues; but we viii
not, even at the tomb OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
s'despair of the ;Republic." Despair The
very phisper of despair might reanimate that
corpse which has this day been carried to the
tomb, might reopen those meek and lustrous
eyes, dispart those lips of mildness and de-.
cision and draw forth q whitening rebuke of
the goddess unbelief and craven cowardice that
could despair OF arepublic such as ours. No
man, however great, however good. is essen
tial to the welfare Of our country. He who gave
us this great Chief, can give us-has already
given us another who will meet the responsis
bli,ies of trust so suddenly and solemnly
imposed upon him. He cannot yet divide
with his lsmented predecessor the love and
homage of his fellow citizens, but he is sure
to gain them, il the practical pledges Of his
past life shall be redeemed, and If the incip-
lent promise of his administration shall be
verified by its progressive developments and
prospective issues. Let us not then dishonor