Year: 1864

Geo. wilkes on MIR. Lincoln.


We extract from Wilkes Spirit Of the
Times the following article in regard to
Mr.. Lincoln's candidacy for reelection
AS Mr.. Wilkes "loyalty" is beyond dis
pute, being of that stamp that would sac.
rillce the lives of another million of white
men in order to sink the race to the level
of the African, we hope our friends of the
Administration party will read it and re.
fleet upon it. 1t may be that they will
hearken to the voice of Wilkes, and allow
the arguments urged by him to awaken
them to the dangers that surround the
ship Of state and which will engulf her
and forever wreck the fabric of constitu-
tiOnal liberty unless the people wrest the
helm from the hands of usurping imbe-
cility, and entrust it again to Democracy.
When the vessel is endangered by the in
capacity Of the pilot, arising from the in
accuracy of the charts by which he steers,
it is necessary that her bearings be chang
ed and the ship tackled, to save her from
destruction. 1t would be folly, now that
Abolitionism has involved US in q laby-
rinth of political shoals and reefs, to hope
for extrication merely by change Of pi-
lots of the same school. The Abolition
charts must be thrown overheard, the
vessel ballastcd with conservatism, equal
rights, honesty, patriotism and even.
handed justice; then, with the Constitu.
ton in the pinnacle and Democracy at
the helm, the gallant ship will wear of
from the reefs Of fanaticism and avoiding
the shoals Of shoddy, her broad canvas
filled with the steady breath of heaven
born statccraft, soon make the port of
reconstruction and cast her anchor in
the deep and secure haven Of Union and
fraternity. 1t is nonsense to hope for
safety with Aboltionism at the helm, or
corruption on the quarterdcck another
cruise under such auspices would irre-
trievably wreck the ship of statc-if not
swamped by her burthen of debt, her
timbers would rot with corruption, and
she would go to pieces in the bottomless
gulf Of despair. But to our quotation.-
The Spirit commences with a quotation
from the immortal hero and statesman
and apostle of Democracy, Gen. Andrew
jackson, on which it bases an argument
against Mr.. Lincoin's being nominated for
reelection to the Presidency. We have
no other interest in the family quarrel of
the Blacks, than the hope of its benefit.
ing the Democracy, suggested by the old
saw, "When rogues fall out honest men
get their dues" we sympathise with nei.
ther faction, believing that all are enemies
to civil liberty, and that another term
of Abolition administration of the Gov.
ernment, under whatever leadership it
may come, will destroy the last vestige Of
our republican institutions. We quote
from the Spirit to show our readers what
the shoddyiteS say Of one another:


4" cannot too earnestly invite your atten.
ton to the proprety Of promoting such amend
mcnt to the Constitution as will render the
President Ineligible after one term Of Office"
: Jackson's Message Of 1850.


There arc certain kinds of crime spring.
ing from political ambition, which, thro'
frequency of preparation, acquire seem.
ing warrant. Attempted for the first time
upon virtuous community, these Of.
lenses would only arouse rcpulsion or ex-
cite alarm; but spreading by degrees
through dctcreorating system, they Il
naIly come to be tolerated, solely kcrausc
they find no active moral hostility to con-
tend against. One of the most scanda-


ous Of these crimes is the practice grown
up since the patriotic days Of Jackson,
of incumbcntS of the Presidential chair
intriguing grossly to re-elect themselves,
and endeavorinS to force, through the
corrupting intIuencc Of public patronage,
a constructed verdict from the country,


The first idea of Republican form of
Government implies free choice of its
rulers by the people. Any effort on the
part OF those in place to pcrvert the rcve-
nues and patronage with which they have
been entrusted, to debauch, absorb. or
coerce the further expression of the peo.
pie, is not only base ingratitude, but an
audaciouS treason against the freedom of
elections. In ordinary periods, a scandal
of this sort might be passed lightly over ::
but in crisis like the present, no man
can be excused for prefcrring his personal
interests to the welfare of his country
Indeed, he should not be tolerated in con-
sulting them at all and, so far from such
intrigue being consistent with an innocent
nature las the practice of the hour would
seem to yieldD, it infcrs only greed, venal-
ity, craft, and all the lower qualities of n
sordid soul. We loathc the spoiler who
follows in the track of camps: we de.
spise the twin vulturc who extorts undue
profits from the Government but, while
we visit contempt on these groveling
creatures for subordnatng public spirit
to sense of profit. shall we pass without
censurc the efforts Of q President to wrest
by indiscretion new lease of power
frcm an embarrassed nation? If the
first merit our exccration, the other is at
least deserving of our protest; and we
are not certain that the heaviest condem-
nation should not lodge against him who
is under official obligation to be disinter-
cstcd. The eager contractor follows a
natural instinct and is justified in selfish.
ness by the laws of trade; but the high
officer who is charged with the welfare of
the State must abjure all personal consid-
erations; and cannot consult his private
interests without suggesting to the Oh,
server an idea of lrprayity. In this noint