The Portland daily press., 1862-06-23

question we have no special revelations to
make; certainly no opinions or purposes to
conceal. Until slavery had proved itself the
most dangerous element in our political sys-
tenn, and shareholders had forced upon our
peaceful and prosperous country the present
bloody conflict, most people-all, except men
extremely radical-were not only willing to
leave the question entirely to the people OF
the States where the institution exists, but
they were disposed to go still farther, and re-
frain from all unfriendly legislation, and the
adoption of those measures for its restriction
which were plainly within the constitutional
power of the Federal Government. But the
issue is now changed, and the shareholders
themselves having spurned all conciliation,
and forced civil war for the sole purpose OF
perpetua.ing an institution which shrinks from
the light Of civilization as well as from the
tests of moral obligation, we feel that, as loyal
men, we are entirely absolved from all obliga-
ton to preserre the institution, or to refrain
from the adoption Of any constitutional and
honorable means by which the nation may be
purged of its greatest curse. With the truly
loyal men Of the South we deeply sympathize,
and for their sake would move with extreme
caution; but as loyal soldier would not with
hold his fire upon the rebel foe lest he should
MAIN or kill an early friend, SO no true patri-
OF should be restrained in his discharge of du-
ty by his sympathy for men who are mixed up
with, though not actually guilty Of, the pres
ent rebellion.
The shareholders have brought upon them
selves all the dangers which now threaten their
institution. The North,-we assert, and are
prepared to mantain,-is not responsible for
the civil war, neither is it responsible for the
results likely to flow from that war; If the
South would preserve her slave institution let
her lay down her arms and Loyalty return to
her allegiance, and possibly she may retain for
some time to come, though in damaged and
crippled state, an institution which curses her
infinitely more than it does the people of the
North But If in her insanity and madness
she chooses to pull down her .patriarchal /,
and "diyine" institution, she will only afford
the world one more evidence of the fact that
whom the gods destroy they first make
mad;" and the PRESS will neither shed tears
over her calamity, nor seek to avert it. We
would not have made war to abolish slavery:
but If slavery ceases to exist as the result of a
war for which we are not responsible we shall
most heartily rejoice. And we go farther than
this, and say in the spirit Of our Prospectus.
that all constitutional means by which the anti
republican, anti-democratic feudal system Of
the South can be abridged or abolished. and
made to give place to higher and nobler civ
iiizatlon, shall have the benefit Of our best ef-
forts, our warmest sympathies and our greatest
sacrifices in their support. The popular in
stincts of our people demand so much at our
hands, and with the blessing Of good health
and the permission of divine providence this
demand of the popular heart shall not be re-
fused. An institution which, in the better
days OF the republic, was regarded simply as
tolerated evil, existing by special local grant
of power, had, by the arrogance of its friends
and the subserviency of those who should have
been Its natural foes, come to claim national
recognition and protection; but its power has
been exhausted, its sceptre has been broken,
and from the lordly, domineering Autocrat, it
will, If life is spared to it at all, become the
cringing mendicant, subsisting only by the toll
erance Of people who have reason to regard
it only with adherence.
In taking leave of this point we beg not to
be misunderstood. We propose no forays up
on the Constitution; no raids upon the rights
of any loyal men, but we would go to the ut
most limits of constitutional power to wipe
from our national escutcheon the pIacue-spot
Of negro bondage, recognizing no rights of men
In actual rebellion against the constitutional
authority of the land, which loyal govern
ment Is bound to respect. We hope we are
understood.
Having extended this article far beyond the
limits proposed in commencing it, we have
time to-day for very few remarks in relation
to the general course of the PRESS on other
matters. Suffice it to say that it is intended
to be emphaticaliy State enterprise. and to
become an institution worthy of regard in
every well-regulated family" With the peo-
pie of Portland we hope to form a familiar and
pleasant acquaintance, and to become fully iden-
titled with that spirit of enterprise for which
the city has become justly proverbal
We shall try hard to avoid all unpleasant
personalities in our intercourse with Others.
and seek to cultivate that spirit of courtesy
which should always mark the intercourse of
gentlemen. fla sufTiciency of grace is youch-
safed to us we shall exclude all blackguardism
from our columns, and do what we may to in
crease rather than destroy the good feeling so
richly shared in by the people of the city with
whom our future lot Is to be cast. Correspon-
dents will be expected to bear this rule in
mind, as the editors will claim the exclusive
privilege of its violation. With these remarks
we send forth our frst-born in this city, COM
mendng it to the kind regards of an indugent
and generous public.
IF We feel grateful to those of our Week
ly contemporaries who have published the pro-
Snectus of tho Press and have an,a,oa .l,....