Year: 1864

State aud Congressional tickets, the same can b


said with the same exceptions With such exam


plies before US. who will exclaim if We see prope


to scrutiniIe closely the character and preten
tions Of those who demand our suffragesf


The year 1860 opened auspiciously for tn


anti-slayery party, and every indication seeme


TO warrant the belief that the Government woul,
be wrested from the slave influence and starteI
on four years journey back to the principles o
the fathers of the republic. The eyes of tn


party turned naturally TO. Nr. Seward. and i
seemed tor once entire unanimity would exist il
the selection of the national candidate. but th
evil genius of the whi.e-coated philosopher o.
the New York Tribune arrayed him against Mr.
Seward and, failing 10 procure credentials to tn,
convention from his own State, sent him sneak
ing in at the back door MS delegate from Oregon
with the avowed purpose Of defeating Mr. Sew
ard aad selling out the anti-slayery sentiment o
the party. His combinations we're sufficiently
strong To defeat Mr. Seward, not quite DO " erfu
enough 70 nominate his chosen candidate, Mr.
Bates, of Missouri Ne. Stewards friends, fud
ing themselves defeated, cast aboa; them for ar
available man, that is, one who would be as claJ
in the hands of the potter, in their hands, anC
seeing Western strength sufficient when com
bined with their own TO nominate Mr. Lincoln
and knowing he met their requisites in a candi
date, in an evil hour that gentleman deter


mined upon as the nominee of the convention.


Ii might be useful, If time were offered tC
pause and weigh the action OF that convention
in the light Of events that have crowded SC
thickly upon us since its action Blind mus
have been the mln 10 that body who failed L
read the portentous signs with which the polit;ca
heavens were blazing everywhere; that a grea
and terrible national crisis was apprOachin nC
sane man could doubt; aud yet body of men
sitting as National Convention, whose solemn
duty il was to select from all the great ststesner
Of the United States the one most ably fitted
from long tried and oft-proven integrity, states
manlike power and comprehensive capacity. tC
carry the nation through period of great dan
ger; could be so thoroughly engrossed with theil
own paltry schemes OF personal advancement a:
to be manipulated by few shIewd knaves ntc
the nomination OF man possessing not one
qualification fitting him for the position lhey de
sired him TO 6ll A constant recurrence of sim
lar instances 10 our past national history forces
upon the rejecting mind the painful inquiry, II:
there not something radically defective in a sys
tenn of government which admits, or rather per
mi;s such grave trifling in its most important
concernsy"


The miserable personal quarrels of Seward
Weed and Greeley, coupled with the splenetiC
ambition of the latter TO rule or ruin, prevented
the convention at Chicago from selecting
statesman Of recognized fitness, and foisted upon
it man whose utter incapaci.y has well nigh
ruined the country. The surprise of Mr. Lin
coin on receiving the intelligence OF his nomna
ton was only equaled by that OF the country
upon which it fell with stunning effect. and il
was long indeed before even party drill could
wiring from the mass OF the Republican party
other expressions than those of chagrin and in
tense disgust: nor was this dissatisfaction modi


fed by the undigni6ed, new clothessh manner in
which the nomination was accepted.


The platform of 1860 lacked the bold, vigor
Gus character of that on which the man of prin.
ciple made the gallant fight of 1856. and seemed
to have been accommodated to the rather uncer-
tain complexion OF the gentleman 50 uncomfort
ably located upon it; consequently the issues oil
the campaign were not SO clearly defined as the
earnest anti slavery men could have desired
The New York Tribune, long regarded as the
most radical journal in the party. became sudden
ly as conservative IS the Herald, and the whole
brood of papers and politicians over the country
that looked to it for their political faith at once
began disseminating the new doctrine of con
servatsm. most of them, it must be confessed
without the characteristic zeal of new converts
but rather the familiarity Of old disciples OF
one thing we may be certain, without the hope
less split the Democratic party, the Republi-
can partv would have met with that defeat which
the charlatanism of its leaders and its own base
abandonment of principle so richly merted; as il
was, the party was successful and Mr. Lincoln
was elected President.


After the excitement attending the election
had in measure subsided. the public attention
was occupied with the movements of the Presi-
dent elect. Springfield became the Mecca of the
faithful and the modest brown residence of Mr.
Lincoln the tomb of the prophet, and certainly
shrine or holy spot was never more faithfully
visited: delegations OF disinterested gentlemen
streamed in in rapid succession from all parts OF
the country, till through omnous Whispering
and significant letters the great practical diff
Guilty of the new President in the formation OF
his Cabinet began to dawn upon the public mind
the numerous conflicting political and sectional
interests that were To be consulted, and if posi-
bic coneliated, seem to create greater difficulty
and be OF weightser import to the President than
efficiency and harmony OF councils in the Cabi-
net While Mr.. Lincoln was bewildering him
:. If with the arrangement of his political family
ano the satisfactory disposition OF the great 90
lit,c, wealth of which he had 80 unexpectedly '
come in possession. the long dreaded storm be
psn In gather in the South, aud the nation was
not lone left in doubt to the character of the
taking place in that quarter


The Le,i. latures were in session in many OF
the Southern States and they at once voted
large sums for he purpose of farming their States
and called for conventions to take Jhem out ol
the Union. All yer the entire South the most
vigorous preparatit us were being made for war
and the rapid advant e made IN that direction well
the belief that tue Southern people
were not taken by .'urprise oy the unusual
military demonstrations made IN their midst.


II will not be denied that Mr.. Lincoln was
r. ttt.a n
affairs in the South during ID g four months that
interviewed between the eectio and bis inaugu
ration: We, we fail to discover ia all that time oi
suspense and doubt, any Indicate n OF solIcitude
as to the condition of the country as becoming
sense of the mighty responsibilities awaiting him
on assuming the duties of his Office. lt is most
remarkable fact that, with the ampl time at
forded him in which 70 determine upon his course
of action. and mark out the policy to be pursued
by his administration. Mr. Lincoln started on his
trip to the National Capital without the sli. htest
detail of a definite plan of action determ med
upon in his own mind. That he was TO 60 TO
Washington was plain: that he was 20 be inaug,t
rated as President of the United States after he
got there was certainly intended; but of what
was TO occur after that be was a. ignorant a. his
f,vorite Youngest son True. a great portion Of
the country he was elected to govern vas in a
state of absolute rebellion. and had been SO for
months. but it had a. yet only reminded him of
some joke or rude Renaissance of his early life
" ho can read at this late DAY. even with all the
Illuminating experiences OF the past three wears
before him. the record of that journey 70 Wash
inston the a at insipid, pointie-s speeches made
AZ every stopping place and keep back the blush
Of shame that rushes to his cheek at such la
nentable exhibition Al last the Inauguration
is over. official duties are assumed, and now