The Portland daily press., 1862-07-07

administration of honest Abraham Lincoln
You will allow me, sir, to make some reference
to those of its members who have had most to
| do with the war.
The Secretary of State, the philosophic
statesman and prudent man OF affairs, has con-
Quoted the business Of his department with
discretion and ability which have challenged
the admiration of the country. In the case of
the Trent, the surrender of Mason and SlidelI
was so made, that he wrought Americas tri-
umph and England's sore discontinue In the
| Seward-Lyons treaty for the more efiectual
suppression of the slave trade, he has renewed
in practical form the expression of the truth
of the "irrepressible conflict" and in being the
first American Secretary to commission minis
tiers to Hayti and Liberia, he is reminded of
that potent and untiring worker-the Higher
Law. Justice and right come at last!
In the conduct of our relations with foreign
powers, by his skill and wisdom he has averted
the great calamity of Intervention, and he has,
if you will intelligently observe, at no time
and in no way, abated one jot or title of his
faith in the ideas to which his life has been
devoted
1t is difficult for the world to do Justice to
Mr.. Seward from the very simplicity Of his po-
litical philosophy and the remarkable transpa-
rency of his character. His creed, as expressed,
is so single and clear, and his public course so
remorselessly logical, that men think there
must be something behind and out of sight,
for that no man SO able as he can be fool enough
to believe in what he pretends to- Sir, / have
discovered in no age the footprints of a states
man who has shown such undoubting conf
dence in the forces of Christianity and Democ-
racy-who has exhibited, by precept and ex-
ample, such complete trust in their efficiency
to promote the welfare and ensure the progress
OF mankind. And if he was slower than other
men to accept this terrible contest as inevita-
Bile, it was because he believed more than they
did, that intelligence, peace and good will
would win brighter and surer victories than
war. And so he was determined that if war
came, it should be the unprovoked work of the
shareholders, and that the world should see, and
history should perpetuate the fact that for its
woes and guilt the South was directly and
wholly responsible. Who of us all would
have the record changed? But now that the
war has begun, his own principles demand that
1t may be made short, earnest and decisive,
and | shall be slow to believe that here alone
he is illogical and inconsistent.
The Secretary of the Treasury has more than
rivalled Alexander Hamilton as successful
minister of finance. He has displayed a gen.
ius and capacity for the trust which was so for
tunately committed to his charge, which we
may not hope to see surpassed. Behold mir
acle! Sixteen months ago, when he received
the seals of Office, the country was at peace,
but its credit had been so impaired by the bad
conduct of the late administration, that its
bonds could with difficulty be disposed of at
discount of some fifteen per cent. Now, in the
midst of the most gigantic civil war the world
has ever seen, the same description of securi-
ties are eagerly sought after at premium of
five or six per cent.
Let US not forget who 1t was, near the close
of President Buchanan's official term. and when
at last he began to manifest some desire that
the Union should be preserved. or, at least.
that its destruction should not be accomplished
in his own time THAT by his patriotism, ener-
gy and will, just as that administration was
sinking beneath the wave, ready to go down
and carry with it the ark Of the Consti-
tution,-snatched it from its impending fate.
and held it till relief came, and thus pre-
served it and the noble bark il had in
convoy, from laundering in the dark and
troubled waters OF disunion and despotism
into which they had been sent by treacherous
pilots. Honor, then, all honor to Edwin NJ
Stanton. He may have erred sometimes in
the discharge of his many difficult duties. as
who that is human would not have done ? But
his power, energy, administrative capacity and
devotion to his country are undoubted
Secretary Welles will desire no better wit
ness to the efficiency of his department than
the brilliant achievements. the uniform sue
cesses, and the grand results which have at
tended the operations Of our gallant navy.
But before and above all. is President Lin
coin. the providential man, in whom every low
al citizen beleves-plain. honest, transparent
sagacious, firm, and, in the combination of all
these. great. As Washington was the father,
may he be the preserver of his country
few words are due nearer home. What
has Maine done to put down the rebellion and
uphold the government? Our patriotic State
has sent sixteen regiments of infantry to the
war, and, including the one soon to leave the
State, has fifteen now in the field; one repi-
ment of cavalry, six batteries of artillery. and
company of sharpshooters,- for which have
been enlisted in all, over 1900 men. And
when to this number are added those who have
enlisted in other States, and those who have
gone into the navy, we have an aggregate of
$4,000 as the contribution of the Sunrise State
in this struggle for life, and liberty, which is
life. And they were OF the most vigorous,
healthy and intelligent of all the men who
have gone to this war. The people of no State
will object when l say that soldiers they are
unsurpassed. Youhave heard how they charged
at WiIliamsburgh, and how they fought at
Hanover Court House, at Fair Oaks, at Pu-
laski, aye, and on the Inflated field of Bull Run
and in the retreat of the Shenandoah. Not one
regiment, nor one company, nor, so far as /
have heard, one man, has ever been disgraced.
And let us inquire about the generals that
Maine has given to the country, for time would
fail me to do adequate justice to the other
brave and successful officers who have shed
distinguished honor upon our State.
JAMESON, the Murat of brigadiers, brave,
chivalrous, daring yet circumspect-whose
name has become a pledge of victory, shrink
ing from no responsibility, fearing no danger,
no man has been in more battles since the war
began, and no one has shown greater valor or
better generaship. Languishing on a bed of