The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-08-30

its every act in detail, now badgering the
President, now assaultipg his cabinet, now
complaining of the dilatoriness Of the Ad'
ministration, now shocked at its fool.hardi'
ness, now staggering under the crushing
weight OF q national debt, and, anon, quak.
ing with fear Of british or French interfer.
encc."
Again these "ministers Of discomfort" dis
close themselves in EXPLANATIONS for "frecdom
of speech" and "frcedom Of the prcss."-
But what is the freedom they claim? It Is
freedom to talk treason and freedom to net
treason, freedom to declare this an "unholy
war;" freedom to invoke disaster and death
upon onr brave volunteers, freedom to hold
rebel conventions upon Union soil, freedom to
purchase and bear arms to prevent drafting,
and the collection Of q direct tax, freedom to
call JEFF Davis "a pure patriot" and the
President of the United States ''traitor, T"
freedom to break up the Government, freedom
to abolish freedom.
II this Government is 10 be maintained, 1t
must be through the irstrumentality Of the
present national administration acting con.
Jointly with the Union men of the South and
North. To attack this Administration in
such efforts to save the Union, with view to
DESTROY public confidence In 1t, and bring il
into disrepute or contempt by stabbing 1t in
the dark or by fire in the rear, or to seek
clandestinely to break It down by q guerrilla
warfare, is to sink mine under the national
capital, and thrust the inccndiary torch into
the temple of libarty.
This is no foreign war-no Sepoy or Cri.
mean camnaicn-wbere Whatever should be
,bs r.su,, tho country would bc safe. Far
from Il, This is civil war, war for ma
tional existanos and must be treated and con.
ducted In accordance with the rules and pro-
prieties of such state of things. During
,bs India or Crimcan wars the editor of the
London Times was suffered to criticise and as.
soil tho Govcrnment in terms which would
bov, sent him TO the Tower. if England had
been rent with civil war, because while the
effect of the same language in the one case
might be comparatively harmless, even BEN
al,-in the other case it might prove fatal
to the Government If unrestnined. Hence
in this civil war, every word of discourage
mcnt of Union efforts, or disapproyal Of the
war, no less than every suggestion Of the III.
innate success of the rebellion isof the most
dangerous tendency, since II serves to scatter
the seeds Of discomfort, and to break down
the very power relied upon to preserve the
Government.
II men are for the Union let them say 90,
and act so-unreservedly, boldly, definitely.
Let them speak with no forked tongue. They
are either for the Government or against it
they either sympathize with tho Union men
or the disunionists; there can be no middle
ground "If the Lord be God. serve him
n Ro,, sc,vs b;mr
Strange ,bo. men sbould bc mi,ed bv such
false lj,bts. I, /, no, no,orIou, tba. indie.
rordsrco =. ,bs roho, ,,,;m,,rm Tb., ..cor.
c;,l;,,o {, .concod.u and "com,roui.s" =.
,,,, ,,,v r,,o.. 30, o,o w;,,;,, >, ,;,o -,
ono half Of the country. Il will be upayailinr,
artillery, or friendly feelings save beleagurd
cd capital? Did ever nation long survive
without being compelled to crush out robcl-