Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-04-25
The Character Of Mr. Lincoln.

Ihs London spectator Hu'0u N'i'S7 '"'S'''
gently upon all subjects, and which has ev!need
1ru-emncnl intelligence, as well as liberality
aud sense Of justice in its discussion Of American
Affairs, has, in the number Of March 25, an
elaborate appreciation Of the public character
of MIR. Lincoln. IL does not scEuple to compare
him to Washington IN some respects, or to pro-
pounce that, with a more difficult task, he has
r.ached no less honorable success. Here 10
the substance Of what it says;
We all remember the animated culogum
on General Washington which Lord Macaulay
passed parenthotically in hs essay On Hampton
lt was when to the sullen tyranny OF LHud and
Charles had succeadei the fierce conflict OF sects
and factions ambitious Of ascsndancy or burning
for revenge. il was when the vices and igno
rance which the old tyranny bad engsndered
threatened the new freedom with destruction,
that England missed the sobrety, ,hs sslfcom-
mand, the perfect sounducss OF Judgment the
perfect reclitude Of intention TO which the his
tory Of revolutions furnishes no parallel or iur-
nisnes parallel Washington alone II that
high eulogium was fully earned, rs il was, BY
the first great President Of the United States,
we doubt II II has not been as well earned BY
the Illinois peasant proprietor and village law
YER whom, by some DIVINE inspiration or Prov
dence, the Republican caucus Of 1850 subs.tu'
ted Tor Mr. Seward az their NOMINEE for the
presideuts chair NJ doubt be bas in many
WAYS had a lighter task than Washington, for
he had not at least 10 produce 3 government
out Of chaos but only 70 express and execute
the purposes Of people Tar more highly organ
ised Tor political lie lhsn that with which
Washington had 10 d.ul But without the ad
vantages Of w shington's education OF training
Mr.. Lincoln was called from a humble station
at the opening Of mighty civil war 10 form
government out Of plrty IN which the habits
and traditions Of of ,al .o did not exist Find
ing himself the object Of southern abuse 80 herce
and 80 foul that IN any man less passloness u
would long ago have stirred up m implacaole
animOsity, mocied Al for bis othcial awkward
ness, and Denounced for his steAifasi policy BY
all the democratic section Of the loyal stats,
tried by years Of hhare before that policy
ashleyed a single great success, further tried by
series OF successes 50 rapid and brilliant ihsi
they voold have pufld ~ smaller mind and
overset It's bslance, embarrassed By the bolsiiul.
ness Of bis people and Of hI, subordnates no less
than by bin own inexIerlenoe in his relations
with foreign states bessi by fanatics of prnci-
pie on one SIDE who uld pay no attention to
his obligations as q constitutional ruler, aud by
fanatics OF caste on the other who were not on
~ deaf to the claims OF justice, bat would hear
OF no policy large enough for revolutionary
emergency, Mr.. Lincoln has peTseYGet through
all without ever giving way to anger, or dstpor-
dency, or oxultauOn, or popular arrogance, oI
sectsrian lansticism, or caste prejudice, vlublI
growing in fore, OF character, IN rsli-pose.son
10 IN AtsI Iaaf ms
sage to Congreis % the 4,h OF htfcA We can
detect no longer the rude and iliter.iO moold
Of a village lawyers thought, but find il repsc
ed by grasp OF principle dignity Of manner
and & solemnlty OF purp1, which would hay'
been unworthy neither Of ll,mpd-n nor o
Cromwell, while bis genlleneH ami generosity
OF feeling towards his foes are almes gr.ste
than We should eIpct from either Of them.
MS ANTl-lIAyERr sRowTD.
As to the growth oi his mind On the subj,c
of slavery, from the time Of lis debate wit
Douglas to the breaking out VI the war, tn
writer says
lie could not, Mr Lincoln said, look o.
slavery Us Mr. DJuga, old. as a local matter q
no more Importance than the oyster laws q
Virgina or the cranberry laws OF Indiana.
lie thought the slave laws mad more Of aggres
siyeness ana natural Iroselytism about thsr
than either oyster laws or cranberry laws stiI
that was only his own opinion as poltca
weather.prophet. A j be usted On WAS Ia
duty OF resisting the advance and growth VI
force whose power he feared as msllgn for III
whole Union. Ia It's then dimensions he woul
protect aud sanction a. and accord II every ror
stltutoual guaranty, but he did not believe
would be content 10 keep within its then dlmen
eiOns. tie looked at II az I'm Arlic navigate
would look on pack'ce, no; a. an Englrsh pol
tiolan looks at the principles Of the oprosi'
party lwJ years later, when so unexpected
summoned 60 assume the Presidency OF th
United States, he reasons with the seoessionis
in the same tone, appealing to the great Verde
oil political experiment, no. asking thsm to CIV
up slavery, but, IT they had real confidence
il, to show tuat confidence by leaving il TO i
natural persuaslyeness over the mind Of the pei
pie, to the natural strength which il would d.
rive IL I'm the proyldental care Of God VIII
should there not be patient confidence in ii
ultimate justice OF the peoplo2 Is there an
better or equal hope in the word' In OF
present differences is either party without iaii
Of being in the right? II The Almighty Tul,
Of nations, with bis eternal truth aud lustle
South, that truth ani that justice will suf.l
prevail by the Judgment Of this great tribuns
The American people. The plea was no unre
pretsnce Of argument Mr. Lincoln was spnl
ing from a ia IN 50 deep IN hlm.eli, that had !
been IN the minority (ds DO was two years b
iorel be would have accepted tho test. II III
thing DO not Of God u Will come TO naught,
had said with profound slnoosiy 10 explalnln
his own disapproJaton OF slavery and
thought his opp0nen might have faith enOug
TO say IL too. And lOr himSaii, though ho hr
now accepted the post OF pilot - the state,
was almost ludictously willing 70 abide by b
own slow, patient, uaturAlistc habit Of waitir
for a solution. All be could make up his lnlI
to do was to say, The power eondded to Il
will be used to mold, occupy and possess 4
property aud places belonging tn the cover
ment--he could do no less without treacher
for he was trustee for those places. lie eou
do no more witbou! preclphuog aeton, ai
he would not pfeoipltate action. lie wished
see the storm bur,t before h0 wae willing to
eide upon his duty. /, might even yes DRIFT
II he dad not do too much. 10 hold, occn
and pOssess,' that was his Gully clear duty.
d" The war once declared by his oppOnen
our readers know how hs treated the SLAVE
question, mot IRON any dOubs that slavery "
the root vi the whole struggle, but from p
found doubt whether ho was justified in anti
patins the divine moment fOr its exuncllC
lie was not placed there us Gli's instrument
put down slavery, bat as Ills instrument
administering the government VI the Uni
States on the basls OF tho constitution, and