2

Abraham Lincoln.

"We thank God that ABRAHAM LINCOLN is President of the United States," recently exclaimed the New York Tribune, and that prayer of thanksgiving is offered up by all the truly loyal of our land! When under the reign of the weak and imbecile, "the bad old man" — Buchanan, treason boldly reared its head in the national capitol, loyalty cried out in anguish of spirit: "Oh! for a Jackson to deal with these traitors!" The cry, though loud and oft repeated, could not awake the old hero from his slumber at the Hermitage, and loyal people were compelled to look on in impatient anger at the rapid progress and treason. But a greater man than Jackson was soon to assume the reins of State, and this was the hope that cheered and sustained the friends of the Union. Jackson met disunion and nullification firmly, but he compromised with it at last. Lincoln was to meet the same monster and grind it to powder beneath the iron heel of war — to crush and not to compromise with it. While the national heart was filled with gloomy forebodings, and the division of our country and the overthrow of constitutional government seemed inevitable, the President elect was quietly living in this city watching every movement of the enemy, writing out his inaugural address, and shaping his plans of operation. The hour for his departure from among us came at last. The disastrous term of Buchanan's Administration was near its close. A few days more and the strong and honest hand of Abraham Lincoln would grasp the pilot-wheel of the Ship of State. Our citizens will remember the gloomy, rainy morning of the eleventh day of February, 1861, when our beloved townsman bade us an affectionate farewell at the depot of the Great Western Railroad. How like a type of our country it seemed! Not a ray of sunshine — all was darkness, all was gloom! How touching were the few affectionate words he uttered — how vainly strong men labored to keep back their tears, but what a joyous feeling thrilled the crowd when with sudden energy he exclaimed: "WITH GOD'S HELP I SHALL NOT FAIL!" God has helped him and thus far he has met with wonderful success in the prosecution of the work assigned him by Providence. At the appointed time he was duly installed as President of the United States. It is hardly necessary to describe the state of the national affairs when he assumed the duties of his high office, as it is all fresh in the memory of the people. Every Department of the Government thronged with traitors. Treason was daily and boldly talked in the Senate Chamber and the halls of Congress — the Navy was scattered over the world — the Army was beyond immediate reach — Lieutenants, Captains, Majors, Colonels, Commanders, Commodores, etc., were traitors to our country and daily handing over to the enemy our arms, vessels, forts, etc. The treasury was depleted, the National credit at a low ebb, and, in short, every branch of the Government was in the utmost confusion. Treason was glorying in its work of ruin, and its apparently well assured success. A great party in the North were clamoring for compromise with the traitors, and a few timid Republicans joined with them. They all got down on their knees before the Slave Power, and offered to surrender everything, all, all if that power would only consent to withhold the fiery bolt of civil war. Such is a brief outline of the condition of affairs when Mr. Lincoln became President. Upon him devolved the Herculean task of bringing order out of confusion, weeding out traitors from the various departments, recalling the navy, and army, restoring the national credit and preparing to meet the now inevitable storm of rebellion. How quickly and well he performed that task we need not stop here to recount. The page that records it will be one of the brightest and most interesting in the history of our country. The manner in which he has grappled and dealt with rebellion has filled our loyal people with admiration and the world with wonder. Clearly comprehending from the beginning the nature and magnitude of the struggle and the priceless value of the institutions at stake, he has thus far taken every needed step to suppress the insurrection and save all that was in danger. That other means than those now used he may yet employ, we know not, nor perhaps, does he know; but that he will speedily crush out the rebellion, and rule over the Union restored is more than probable. If he shall succeed in saving this Union, his name, linked with that of Washington, will go down, honored and blessed to the latest generation.

But not alone in the work of wresting this Government from the hands of traitors, regaining for it credit and respect, and in dealing with rebellion has Mr. Lincoln shown his wisdom and greatness. The hand of the wise statesman is seen in all his other works. In the Trent affair, resisting popular clamor here, he bravely performed an act of duty and removed cause for war with England. In the case of the pirate Gordon he turned a deaf ear to all entreaties for pardon, and thereby struck a blow at the slave trade from which it may never recover. Upon the slave question he has proposed a plan that may ultimate in the freedom of the border slave States, and in the exercise of a power which he yet holds in reserve — he may ere long strike the shackles from the slaves of every disloyal master. All his steps are marked with wisdom, prudence and patriotism. All the means God places at his disposal, he wisely uses to advance the interests of his country and humanity. Devoted to freedom, he shows it in every word and act. He does not hold it a crime in a man to hate slavery, nor does he withhold office, trust and honor from him on that account. Possessed, in these near times of almost limitless power, he yet refrains from using more of it than the necessities of the hour demand. But he boldly proclaims his purpose to use it all if occasion requires, for the salvation of his country. We do sincerely thank God that Abraham Lincoln is President of the United States.