Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-03-03

a DlsCklMlNAIlNG EAliMATE OF fRESI-
DENT LINcoLN.-Rey. o. b. rockingham
OF New York, in his New Year sermon, drew
the following admirably appreciatve outline
of the moral qualities Of President Lincoln.
showing his fitness to rule in such time Of
discofd and trial:
As another Of the Spirits gifts 10 us, let
me instance the fine Christian element Of
character which has entered so largely into
the designs aud purposes OF the head OF the
administration at Washington The Chris
tian element call it; the element Of moral
uprightness. say nothing Of the ability, Of
the judgment, of the skill, of the wisdom,
which may or may not have characterized the
executive policy. The type Of moral charac-
ter displayed by the executive attracts my
attention and it seems to me wonderful in
view OF the peculiar difficulties AMI aggrava-
tions of the position. What has been said Of
him in this regard seems to me not only true,
but most impressvely and touchingly true,
indicative o, spirit new and original in the
governing powers of a great nation indica-
tive, too, of the kindly genius which comes
GU, OF the common heart OF a free people, and
promising the most beautiful manifestations
OF Christian manhood among us. Have we
not always seen him calm and patient, and
soberly hopeful in the darkest of times Has
be not been invariably kind, conciliating, LEM
lent and courteous Have the terrible pas
sions engendered by civi. war betrayed him
once into revenge, Ii he has erred, has it
not been on the side of olemency? II he has
hesitated, has it not been always from excess
OF concientiousness When has he refused
10 take censuTe to himsalf for failures When
has he refused to award praises to others for
successess Has he not rejected the counsels
of his friends when tney savored of psttizan-
ship, and accepted the advice of hs opponents
when they seemed wises Has he not always
been accessible to the obscure and the un-
known as to the conspicuous and famous
Has he not always listtne to the voice Of
the people, when they spoke in that deep un-
dertone which was so often drowned by the
clamcrs Of psrlisans and demsgogues Has
he ever taken step i'll be had consulted the
secret oracles of hs heart, and made sue, so
far as he could, that it was just ana huma ne,
as well ss sensible and safe Has he ever
retraced as.ep once deliberately tskeni Have
not his steps tended steadily towards that
great contamination which he had in view from
the beginning, but which he was willing
should be brought about by Providence using
him simply as an instrument How solemn
ly has he kept in mind his oath even at
times when circumstances seemed, to others,
at least to give opportunity for violating it
or setting It aside,
| am speaking now friends, not of the ad-
ministrator, but of the man. Say what men
will of his statesmanship, is not this his char
acter; And is not this most remarkable
character in ruler at any time, but most o
all at such time; Is it not characte
whose purely moral power must make iIsel
felt in the management and contamination
this deadly struggle Does it not indicate
too, the presence OF grace in our peOnle I?
Tho nation elected not merely a man who
would carry on the war, but man who would
carry on the war in this way thus moder-
ately solemnly, patiently, trustingly, the ma
tion showing its appreciation of this rugged,
honest, pure manly character; and, in show
| ing this appreciation, showed that it had the
elements of such a character in itself, aud SO
far gave promise of an ultimate solution of its
problem, which should satisfy. not the diplo-
mats but the Christians of the earth"