The Portland daily press., 1862-07-18


matter In similar light.
And more than this, we hope neither the
President nor his immediate eabordinates,
whether in the Cabinet or in the Field, will
swerve one iota to accommodate the spirit of
faction if not quasi treason, which opposes such
practical application of available power. If
not treasonsbie, it is at least timid spirit
practically very little better-that objects to
the use Of means to save the government and
the liberties of the people, and to preserve the
Constitution which is the chart of the one and
the pledge of the other, because the Constitu-
ton itself has not specifically given the author
ity; as though it were unconstitutional TO use
any means needful to save it from subversion
and overthrow The idea is fallacy worthy
only of a brain too small to comprehend the
truth, that the spirit of the Constitution is
equal in sacredness to its letter, and that where
the latter is SILENT and ceases to shed light up
on the path of a statesman's duty, he is bound
to consult the former.
And the spirit, too, which objects to the en-
ployment Of physical force, because that force
is wrapped in dark colored envelope, or
which would refuse to break link of slav-
cry in the further prosecution of the war, how
ever pressing the necessity, is spir-
it paralyzing to the strong arm of power, and
one for the prevalence of which in the loyal
States, no man prays with more sincerity or
more JUNCTION than JEFF. Davis himself. We
hope the administration will heed it not, but
march straight forward, and do its work re-
gardless of such clamor. We have not wanted
to believe that it was necessary to deal blows
directly at the slave institution to accomplish
the legitimate purposes of the war; but if it
should become apparent to President Lincoln
and his chosen advisers, that slavery stands in
the way of the great work of restoration, and
that this work is rendered the least doubtful.
or is even seriously INSTRUCTED by the peculiar
curse of the rebel States, we hope, in the spirit
of "Old Hickory" he will ''take the response
bility,' and "by the Eternal" put his big foot
down upon the head of the monster with
force that shall stop its breath as efectually as
Jackson did that of the monster which so con-
fronted his efforts.
1t is the policy of certain democratic politi-
Nidno-NOulu-bC iCuucis-tO kttp up tiit lIl-
preston in the minds of honest and truly 10y
al men, that the proposition to employ the
physical power of the colored man on the side
of the government, instead of allowing it to
be used to strengthen rebellion, is one that is
confined to abolitionists and republicans; and
they do not fail to denounce it in opprobrious
epithets, as scheme of Wendell Phillips and
other persons supposed to be offensive to men
of democratic antecedents; but nothing is
more false in fact or more base in spirit. No
body urges the employment of the negro ele-
ment, in all available ways. with more zeal
than do some of the most distinguished demo-
Gratis Of the country. Gen. Hunter, now set
upon by all the pro-slavery hounds, is demo-
crat. Mr.. Stanton-supposed to favor the
views of Gen. Hunter-was a member of Bu-
chanan's cabinet. Wednesday the telegraph in
formed us that Senator Wright, of Indiana--a
lifelong democrat-spoke at length in the
Senate, in favor of the policy of employing
slaves. Senator Henderson of Missouri also
urged more vigorous prosecution of the war.
The correspondent of the New York World,
referring to Senator Wrights speech, the same
day it was delivered, says:
HE delivered most vigorous speech in the
Senate to-day, in which he called loudly for
more energetic prosecution of the war He
did not believe the cautious way of conducting
the war would ever put down the rebellion
The immediate confiscation of all property Of
the rebels, from Slidell down to the lowest reb-
ell owner, he believed was imperatively demand
ed, and he would remove any general who re-
The prompt punishment of traitors every
where he desired meted out. This speech.
coming from Union Democrat, fell with
splendid effect on the Senate, and was one of
the most energetic of the entire session.
Senator Rice Of Minnesota, a Breckin-
ridge democrat, a few days since in the Senate,
as reported in the Congressional Globe, said:
Il admit that at one time was not in favor
of employing the blacks. l did not believe it
was good policy; but had no conscientious
scruples on the subject. But, sir, the exam
pie was set us long ago and has been contin-
ued for years by Great Britain. She has kept
in the Canadas one or more regiments OF blacks
for years upon our frontier, in sight of the
American flag; and who, North or South has
ever raised question as to her right to do So
or as TO the moral effect il had upon the COM
munity? We all acquiesced i'm it: no one said
it was wrong; and if it was not wrong for
Great Britain to have regiments of armed
blacks to protect her frontiers against us, is it
wrong for US to employ the same means TO put
down rebels? especially when they resort to
internal machines, to torpedoes, to assassina-
tions, to poison; shall we, from any scky mo-
tives of delicacy and mistaken tenderness. hes
itate? We have not men enough on the Po-
tomac TO authorize an advance, and unlets we
get them soon We must cease our exertions to
maintain the integrity of the Union. God
knows we can employ no means worse than
the rebels have employed; but / would not
follow their bad example. / would. however,
resort to all the means that are known in civ
ilized warfare to suppress this rebellion and
punish the rebels. / would not hesitate for a
moment. / will vote for any measure to that
end
In view Of such facts therefore, when we find
political leader trying to prejudice the prop
osition referred to by denouncing it as a
scheme Of aboitionists and fanatics, we mark
him down as a wilful deceiver. who thinks
thousand times more of serving his party than of
serving his country, and whose boosted loyalty
is no deeper set than the color of an Africans
skin.
PARIS HILL, Me-, July IA, 1862
To the Editors ofthe Press A deep gloom
has bepn cast ovar tI,iS villa a hv th. .,,llo.,