The Portland daily press., 1862-10-11
LOYALTY NOT DEPENDENT ON COLOR.

ask the color Of benefactor. As listen to
people who higgle on the question how to
treat Africans who are all ready to come to
our rescue, | am reminded of that famous in
cident where the Emperor of Austria, driven
back by the Turks, 100000 strong, and be-
sieged in Vienna, which was at the point of
surrender, was saved by the gallant Sobieski,
of Poland. The Emperor, big with imperial
pride, thought chiefly of his own supereminent
position-as pro-slavery Democrat thinks of
his-and hesitated how to receive the Polish
monarch, who was only a king, when one of
his counselors said TO him, "Sire, receive him
as the saviour of your capital.' But the En-
peror hardly gave to his benefactor more than
cold salute, and we are now asked to imi-
tate this stolid ingratitude.
THE AFRICAN RACE.
Wherever / turn in this war find the Afri-
can. If you ask for strategy, | know nothing
better than that of the slave Robert SMALL
who brought the rebel steamer Planter, with
its armament, out of Charleston, and surren-
dered it to our Commodore as prize of war.
If you ask for successful courage, know moth
ing better than that of the African Tillman,
who rose upon rebel prize crew, and over
coming them. carried the ship into New York
If you ask for heroism. you will find it in that
nameless African, on board the Pawnee, who,
while passing shell from the magazine lost
both his legs by ball, but still holding the
shell, cries out-"pass up the shell - never
mind me; my time is up" And if you ask
for fidelity, you win find it in that slave, also
without name. who pointed out the road of
safety to the harassed, retreating army of the
Potomac. And if you ask for evidence Of the
desire for freedom, you will find it in the lit
tie slave girl, journeyng North, whom Banks
took on his cannon.
CONSTITUTIONAL POWER.
1t is said that all appeal to the slaves
is unconstitutional; and it is openly assum-
ed that rebels who make war on the Con-
stitution are not, like other public enemies,
beyond its protection. But why this pecu-
liar tenderness whenever slavery is in ques-
ton? Battalons may be shot down, and
property may be taken without due process
of law, but slavery must not be touched
The ancient Egyptians, when conquered, sub
mitted easily to the loss of lite and prop
erty but when a Roman soldier happened
TO kill cat in the streets, they rose on
him and tore him limb from limb. and the ex-
element was SO violent that the generals
overlooked the outrage for fear ofinsurrection
Slavery is our sacred cat, which cannot be
tou :hed without fear of insurrection. Sir, |
am tired and disgusted at hearing the .Consti-
tuition perpetually invoked for slavery. Ac-
cording to certain persons, the Constitution is
all for slavery and nothing for freedom. / am
happy to say that with me just the reverse is
the case. There are people who keep apothe-
carries scales in which they nicely weigh ev-
erything that is done for freedom. / have no
such scales where freedom Is in question; nor
do hesitate to say, that in a case of freedom
all such nicely is unconstitutional. The Con-
stitution is not mean, stingy and pettifogging,
but ii is open-handed, liberal and Just inclining
ALWAYS n IA of fraalptn nd fba
government in time of war, not only to exer-
else any of the rights of war, including the
rights OF slaves, but also to confer any largess
or bounty, it may be of money, or better still
of freedom, for services rendered. | do not
dwell now on the unanswerable argument BY
which John Quincy Adams has placed this
power beyond question. Whatever may be
the provisions Of the Constitution for the pro-
lection of the citizens, they are inapplicable to
what is done against a public enemy. The
law Of an Italian city prohibited the letting of
blood under penalty of death; but this was
held not to apply 10 the surgeon, who opened
a vein TO save the life of citizen. In war
there is no constitutional limit to the activity
of the executive, except the emergency. The
safety of the people is the highest law There
is no blow which the President can strike
there is nothing he can do against the rebel
lion which is not constitutional. Only mac
tion can be unconstitutional
HISTORIC PREcEDENTs.
s.orc,, ,h, ,,.r;,.,rs -, ,ha ., a,;o,s .na
Won will And an snneal 70 ,ha .Iavas ;ns,i,,ad
Search b;s,orv a1ba,har IN anc;an, o. ,nedarn
times and vo,, will ind i, ;rs,;tad b., axa,nnias
In our revolutions the appeal was made by
three different British commanders - Lord
ni Dullllore' or hehry Clinton, ana Lord corn
Maiiis; vans; 10 not stop ior aelaiis. mat tnis
appear was ilot unsuecessiui Is evident rom
1,e h'isuaIc ~ has,ihsuon WIN Win resaru 70
~, Duh.iiole, i, VI WHOM ne Saiu' is s'rehglh
WI ~ ease a. s'io" pli W roinus' anu ias
eei' y soiie eApeuieh. eaiino. pe hit upon 10
convince tie slaves ana servants oi the lmpo-
~hey oi ms uesiSns. nat sueh an dPpeu
Moulu oe proper Is adihi,tea oy JEFFERSON
wnlle descrioIng MS own ilidiViduai losses rom
oofh"aiiis' ne ueslroyeo an my growing
elvpe anu .ooaero, he puiheu an 'iy paihs,
ing first taken what corn he wanted he used
as trds to be expected, all my stock of cattle,
sheep and hogs for the sustenance of his army,
and carried Off all the horses capable of serv-
ice. lie carried off also about thirty stdres.
Had this been TO gice them freedom he tcoutd
hare done right
From an estimate made at the time, on the
best information could collect, | suppose the
State of Virginia lost under Lord CORVALLIS
hands that year about thirty thousand slaves"
-tLetter to DR.. Gordon. 1t would be diff
cult to imagine testimony stronger. Here was
sufferer justly indignant for himself and his
State; but he does not doubt that an enemy
would do right in carrying off slaves to give
them freedom.
,p,p ro
~ $40 20 'SA AiiiN"'