ore the voters of New York
in the attitude of one who could graciously correct the errors of
the Administration, and direct the course of the war in channels
of patriotism that would harmonize the entire people. The nomination
of Mr. Seymour was made with great enthusiasm by the Democracy,
and the policy of the National Administration was thus challenged
in the leading State of the Union. Mr. Lincoln looked upon the
situation as one of exceeding gravity. The loss to the Administration,
of the House of Representatives in the Thirty-eighth Congress,
would place the control of the war in the hands of its opponents,
and, as the President believed, would imperil the fate of the
National struggle. The power of the purse controls the power of
the sword. The armies in the field required a vast and constant
expenditure, and to secure the money a rigorous system of taxation
must be enforced. A House of Representatives controlling the power
to tax and the power to appropriate could, if hostile to the war,
neutralize and destroy all the efforts of the Executive.

The President measured the extent of the danger and prepared to
meet it. He clearly read the signs of the times. He saw that the
anti-slavery policy of Congress had gone far enough to arouse the
bitter hostility of all Democrats who were not thoroughly committed
to the war, and yet not far enough to deal an effective blow against
the institution. He saw that as the Administration was committed
to the partial policy which involved all the danger of a re-action
and a retreat, it would be wise to commit it to the bold, far-
reaching, radical and aggressive policy from which it would be
impossible to turn without deliberately resolving to sacrifice our
nationality. He determined therefore to lay before the people a
choice between the Union and Slavery. He would persuade them that
both could not be saved and that they must choose the one which
they regarded as the more worthy of preservation. Slavery was not
only the inciting cause of the rebellion but was its chief strength
and support in the South and at the same time a weakening element
to the Union cause in the Loyal States. No man had looked at the
question in all its bearings so closely as Mr. Lincoln. He had
studied the consequences of every step and had proceeded with the
utmost caution.

THE PRESIDENT'S MONITORY PROCLAMATION.

The President kept his own counsels so