fas aut nefas_, that few
men in this country ever avoid the error of using official position and
patronage to promote personal and party ends. This is the very bane and
opprobrium of our institutions. It has already so perverted the
democratic system, that men of the highest ability and character no
longer seek political position, and seldom succeed if they do. Alas for
our country, if this pernicious practice should prevail in conducting
the tremendous operations of the present civil war!--if the coming
presidential election should be permitted to cast the ominous influence
of party intrigue and official mismanagement upon our struggling armies
and our heavily taxed people! Let us fervently pray that our suffering
country may escape this danger. It is in the power of the Administration
in a great measure to control the whole subject; and upon it will rest
the chief responsibility for any serious error that may be committed. It
will be responsible not merely for its own conduct, but also for that
which it necessitates or provokes on the part of opposing interests and
parties. There must be forbearance, united with firmness and infinite
discretion in the use of just authority. A more difficult position was
never occupied by any party since the organization of the Government.
But in proportion to the difficulty and responsibility will be the merit
of a wise and successful administration in this most perilous crisis.

If the progress of the war thus far, running through more than half of
one Administration, has brought us under the ominous shadow of a coming
presidential election, it has, on the other hand, effected a vast
modification of opinion and feeling on some questions from which the
greatest disturbances might well have been anticipated. From the
beginning it was felt to be inevitable that the long continuance of the
war would seriously affect the relation of master and slave directly in
the rebellious States, and indirectly in all others wherever that
relation existed. Far more rapidly than could well have been anticipated
has this result been effected; but what is of much greater interest and
importance, the violent prejudices of the people have melted away before
the inevitable fact, and even the celebrated proclamation no longer
excites the fierce animadversion with which it was at first greeted.
From the escaped slaves of the rebellious States and the free colored
men of the North, negro regiments have been org