The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1865-02-02
Everett,s Estimate Of 1incoln.

we take the following tribute to the
worth Of Mr.. Lincoln:
But l would not have it inferred from
these remarks, that the President of the
United States, in whose honor you laase
proposed the toast to which you have
called me to respond, is entitled to this
mark of respect, only in his official ca
Hacity. Now that tho struggle is past,
| am sure that no liberal minded per-
son, however opposed to him political
ly, (and you know, sir, that 1 belong
to ''the Presidents oppositioD,'O will
be unwilling that in performing the
duty devolved upon me, should say
that | recognize in him the full meas
ure of the qualities which entitle him
to the personal respect Of the people,
who have just given him a proof of
their confidence, not extended to any
of his predecessors in this generation.
1t is no small proof of this, that he has
passed through the fiery ordeal of the
recent canvass, and stood the storm of
detraction from hundreds Of vigorous
and hostile presses, aud had so little
said against him, I speak now of per-
soual qualities which deserves an an
swer. There is no one of his prede.
cessors, not even Washington, of whom
as many and as reproachful things have
not been said, unless perhaps it be Mr.
Monroe, who had the happiness to fall
upon "the era of good feeling"
and who was, in no one quality, either
as u man or as a President, superior to
Mr.. Lincoln.
The President gave ample proof Of
his intellectual capacity, when he con-
tested n scat in the Senate of the Uni
ted States with Judge Douglas. When
| sat in the Senate with Judge Doug
las, thought him, for business and
debate, the equal Of the ablcst in that
body, but his speeches, in the S.nato
rial canvass, were in no respect supc.
rior to Mr.. Lincoln's. l believe the
President to be entirely coscientious in
the discharge Of his high trust, anG
that he has, under circumsta ices of
unparalleled difficulty, administered the
Government, with the deepest sense of
responsibility to his country and hi
God. lie Is eminontly kind hearted
[ am sure he has never willingly plant
ed thorn in any mans bosom. H,
is one of the most laborious and inde
fatigable men in the country; and tina
he has been able to sustain himself de-
as great a load of care as was ever laiC
upOn the head or tho heart of Twins
man, is in no small degree owing to tn
fact that the vindictive and angry pas
siOns form no part Of his noble nature
and that kindly and playful spirit min
giles its sweetness with the austere GU
of public duty.
1t may seem hardly worth while t,
notice the descriptions which represen
the President as person Of unoouth np
pearance and manners. But as Nj
Burke did not think il out of place i
the most magnificent discourse in th
English language, to comment on tn
appearance, manners aud cOnVersatio
of the exiled French Prince, | will tax
the liberty to say, that on the ouly sc
cial occasion, on which l ever had th
honor to be in the Presidents compa
{ ny, viz: the comm en oratiOn of Gettyt
burg, he sat ut the table at the hous
: of my friend, David Willis, Esq, b
the side of several distinguished per
sons, ladies and gentlemen, foreigner
and Americans, among them the Frenc
> Minister at Washington, since appoint
Gu AW udoSauOE dI MuuElu, duu tu6 AZ
miral of the French feet, and that i
gentlSmauly appearance, manners an
conversation, he was the peer Of an
man at the table,
The most important objection urge
against Mr.. Lincoln, is that personally
he lacks fixedness of purpose, and th'
his Cabinet and Administration hay
wanted unity Of counsel. 1 thin
shall offend no candid opponent I oe
tainly am no partisan myself) if l re
mind you that precisely the same charg
: on the same ground, might be brOugt
: against Gen. Washington aud his Al
Q ministration. Under circumstances vas
: ly less embarrassing, he placed in b
Q Cabinet aud kept there, as long as the
t could be induced to stay, the two pc
o litical leaders { Jefferson and Hamilton
s not merely of different wings Of Il
n same political connection, but the heaC
Of two radicAlly opposite paSties.
Mr. Monroe, though elected himsel