Year: 1863

preaching the advantages which MIR. Lincoln
now commands in reference TO Che succession.
But, ON tho other hand, In the matter ot his
weigbty aud delicate responsibilities he stands
without a parallel. Nor can II be success
fully denied that his administration, consider
ing lis forces and resources, has been lamenta-
bly, feeble and inefficient in the conduct of the
war; but all It's deficiencies may yet be redeem
cd within the interval Of the elk or eight
months remaining TO the active opening Of the
Presidential canvass by the party conven.
tions Of the day.


Meantime there Is no good reason why the
people should remain inactive, or hold them
selves in passive obedience, subject to the pro-
ceedings Of these party conventions. The
Northern democratic party, in the leading
strings Of the copperheads, has been de-
molished from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Be-
fore its rank and Gle can again enter the field
with any show Of success they must assume
new shape and q new organization. The
republican party Of 1860 has disappeared; and
even that Of 1862 has been merged In tempo-
rary free and easy Union party, absorbing In
these late elections the floating elements on
the political tide. In word, there is no crys-
talized and cohesive Presidential party stand.
ing in the way Of the free action Of tho people.
The field is now as open to them as it was in
1924, when, the old federal and republican par
ties having melted away, four different Presi-
DENTAL candidates were brought out upon the
course-Jackson, Adams, Crawford and Clay.


Let the people, then, again take the initiative;
let, for example, the friends Of Gen. Mcclellan
in the East and Of Gen. Grant in
the West, proceed to their town and
county meetings, and organize for an
active campaign without reference 10 the
dismantled abolition republican party, or the
demolished democratic copperbead party. It
is probable that some experienced and capable
military leader will be demanded by the popu-
lar voice in 1864, as the successor Of President
Lincoln, and for the purpose Of finishing up
the war. In anticipation Of this event, the
friends Of General Mcclellan, and those of
General Grant, will be acting wisely to take
the lead from the politicians, in order to secure
the inside track in the organization of great
party, not upon the dead issues of demo-
cratic or republican platforms, but upon
the living issues of the day. We presume
that the friends of President Lincoln
and the followers of Mr.. Secretary Chase
will await the action of their national
party convention, some time in May next, or
June. In the meantime, however, the great
conservative masses Of the people. who have
ceased to be the slaves Of any existing party,
may, in the name Of some popular and conser-
vative military chieftain inaugurate popular
movement which will sweep the field. Thus
General Jackson, General Harrison and Gene
raj Taylor were each, by Independent popular
movements in their behalf, brought forward
and made the masters of their nominating
party conventions.


But President Lincoln has the power not
only to dictate his own terms to his own party,
but the power to forestall the organization Of
new and powerful opposition party, under
the Independent banner Of a popular military
chieftain. By bringing tho war to an end with
In the next ak months, and by measures for
the return Of the rebellious States to the Union
without regard to the abolition question,
"Honest Old Abe" will become the absolute
master of the situation. But, In order to bring
Che war to speedy and successful issue, he
must dispense .yith the services Of Welles,
Stanton and Halleck; for the FIRST d an imbeoile,
the second blunderer. and the third nothing
better than q thick headed and conceited mar
tinet Secretary Chase, too, must 60 by the
board; for while he remains In the Treasury
the administration, on this Presidential issue,
will be house divided against itself. These
are the conditions upon which President Lin
coin may command q reelection. Should he
fail to fulfil them he may prepare to retire on
the 4th Of March, 1865, with the unfinished
business Of the war turned over to a profess
sional soldier as his successor.


OBSTRUCTION OF THE SrREErs-SHAxEFUI.
NEGLECT OF THE AUTHoRITIEs.-There is not o
city in the world where the inhabitants get less
value for the taxation imposed upon them than
in this. Between corrupt or negligent officials
and swindling contractors, 1t Is 80 contrived
that the work they pay for is either badly done
or done after fashion to render its execution
. sort of slow blister. And then again we have
conflicts Of jurisdiction between the different
departments which are productive of equally
serious inconvenience and annoyance. Take,
for example, the condition Of Fifth avenue,
near the entrance TO the Park. On one
side deep ditch has been dug for water pipes,
encroaching far into the road, and on the other
there lies deep gully, without any fencing to
protect IT, Between this Scylla and Charybdis II
is impossible for carriages to pass each other
without imminent peril. Were the risk but tenn
porary one It would not elicit 80 much COM
plant; but the thoroughfare seems destined to
be kept continually in the same condition. The
Croton Board have had 1t In their possession for
a long time, under the pretext Of laying and
relayiug pipe, the work on which Is done 90
badly that II Is continually bursting The
Street Commissioner cannot, It appears, inter-
fere to set things to rights The paving and
sewara0a of tha atroeta are entre1v In tho b.cd.