The Portland daily press., 1862-11-22
For the Daily Press.
An Evening with the Mechanics.

Thursday evening we passed very pleasant.
lwin the Library Room of the Mechanics As
sociaton. listening to the debate of several Of
the members, on the Presidents Emancipation
Proclamation. The Association has on its
rolls many men of ability, and these winter
debates call it forth. Mr.. o. S. Beale was the
first speaker of the evening. To him slavery
appeared to be power and the corner stone
of the so-called southern confederacy. He
believes that the Democratic party has fur
nished every traitor and spy thus far, and that
many at the north who pretend to be Union
lists do not want the Union restored. We want
the union at the north, that is manifest at the
south, and then if not now, the proclamation
will effect something.
Mr.. L. NJ. Pingree followed, but had moth
ing to say touching the question, except to
denounce the policy of the leaders of our ma
tion, as absolute despots. He charges the war
TO the radicals of either section, and lauds the
old Democratic party.
Mr.. G.. L. Bailey admits that the Republi-
can party and southern Democrats are parties
TO this war; but denies that the former is re-
sponsble, maintaining that it is not of their
seeking. In proof of this, he refers to Floyd,
Buchanan & Co., closing with brilliant eu-
logy on Massachusetts. His remarks were
well conceived, but had nothing to do with
the subject.
Mr.. j. T. Emery next, forcibly recommences
the opposition to the proclamation, arguing
that at the close of the war, slavery will have
a stronger hold on the nation than before. He
supports the government, but denounces the
administration, and reads from the Tribune to
show that the charge often made against the
Democrats of being conditional loyalists, ap-
plies with better grace to the Republicans 1t
seems to him that secessionists have rights un-
der the constitution, since they are not con-
sidered cut of the Union, and he believes ev-
cry man has right to object to policy that
would lessen those privileges. Mr.. Emery is
careful preparation.
Mr.. Giddings replies, defending the aboli-
tionists and right of free speech and shows to
the satisfaction of his side, that slavery is the
cause of the war, and should be ended. Moth
ing on the subject.
Mr.. Emery again rises, to show that the
negro is inferior to the white man. He main
tains that we have given to Lincoln despotic
power; that the Proclamation has disunited
the North, and sees no hope for the country
unless the people rise in their supremacy, and
overthrow the dominant party.
Mr.. II. c. Lowell here takes up the qnes-
ton, and spices his remarks with anecdotes Of
hogs, dogs. and chickens. He believes in the
Proclamation, and the duty of all loyal men
to support it.
Chas. p. Kimball, Esq, concludes the eve
ning's entertainment in opposition to Mr.
Beale's charges against the Democrats, and
stating his reasons for opposing the Procla-
nation. He considers it impoltic, a harm to
the slave, unconstitutional, contrary to the
Presidents promises, and cheat in the bor-
der States. 1t has thrown the President into
the hands of the radicals, whereby he has lost
the confidence of the people. He denounces
Stanton, and all such men, and only believes
in the conservative policy.
A variety of ideas were brought out by the
discussion, which will close or[he evening o
Dec. 4th. The public do not LOW what they
lose by absence thereirom. MAcHIGoNNE.