Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-03-20
For the Innrnal.
For the Journal
Personal Experiences an LIncOlndOm.

The StOnington boat IS stealnhS up ana we must ue
oH fifteen miles an hour, up Long Island Sound neck
nd neck with the New York " and the Granite |
State lively race Arrived at Groton, enter the
luxurious night cars and swiftly pass along through
Connecticut and Rhode Island to Massachusetts, via
Stopington and Providence arriving at Boston. On |
the boat was T. l. battery, Governor Spragues, we
believe, and some Massachusetts companies among
them was pointed out to US the man who Killed Jack
son the first martyr in the OF Southern lndepend
ence Hurrying on from Boston through New Ilamp-
shire we reached Portland, Me, the OF our first
personal experience OF the tyranny and aseness oil the
present dynasty at Washington dPJoPoS OF the dynas
tv, we do wonder whether Lady Lincoln has above d
the mellowng influence OF time to assuage the pognan
cy of her grief for Prince Albert and land aside that
elegant and costly halEmOurnlng robe for one more
becoming the cODsort OF that heroic chean OF bonnet
and plaid nOtorlety.
What glow of manly pride must have sufI1sed that
salow cheek, irradiatDG these handsome features aud
lighting up the dulness OF that snakey eye when having
bTaved all the horrors of imaginary assassination
Abraham, the first, tr1umphdntty sneaked into Wash
ington Do you not suppose that that eventful
Journey he cast many lingering regret 10 the happy
days of youth when calling down the river. the Ohio
he pedded notions from the deck OF his gallant fiat or
later in life, his little soul bad been rufed by mighty
aspirations when he piled the woodlands axe in the
humble task Of splitting rails at the ridcuousy low fig
of three shngs Ork currency per hundred If ever
mortal had greatness thrust upon hm-ecce homo !
Surely there must be something rotten in the system
which, passing by undoubted talent and acknowledged
services, tOsts upon the nation celebrated for
nothing but his Obscurity. We all know that of late
years. just in inverse proportion to the position and dis
tncton to be conferred, was the individual chosen
hence the presidential chair being the highest gift in
the power of the people, the aptest qualification for it
the candidates being entirely unknown, and
quenty neUer haUing done anything. The few ~W
rule and if they cannot by Divine birth right they
will by some other. 1t has been common belief in
America that the people seltgovernng and elected
their Chief Magistrate; but like many other popular
belief it has had merely the shadow of foundation.
Conventions ruled the people and d19ues ruled the Con
ventiOns hence the aptness of a nameieSS candidate
hound hand and foot and laid upon platform to be
carried whittier soever this clique might dictate Hence
the Buffalo platform" the Chicago platform" &C.
How many TANKS, bolts, nails did the people furnish
for these contracts? None. They were built like
Stevens Battery" (if it be but beyond the vulgar
gaze No wonder that work thus put together should
tumble down and bury The people beneath We might
expatiate but we consider we have already somewhat
exceeded the limits of present subject and dismiss
the NATTER expressing the tervent hope that
Conlederacy may steer clear Of the rocks and ShdowS
upon which the old has stranded and is even now shv
cring in her every timber
We took up temporary abode 10 Portland. This
is one Of the most beautifully situated cities on the
tiuent With population of about $4,000. The houses
are well built and the streets handsome some OF the lat
ter such as Congress and Park, are lined either side
with rows of magnificent old elms whose nterlacing
branches high overhead form delicious shade aud of
Summers moonlight eve promenade of the most cap
tVatng witchery. The city is built upon emiDenCe
commanding and surrounded three sides by Casco
Bay, most beautiful expanse of water, studded over
with 365 islands, varying in size from the merest spec
to several miles In area, some OF which are fine
arms bathing retreats and hotels much reSOrted to
by pic-lcs, fishing parties and clQmbdkes that quines-
sence of down east Yankeedom Extending around the
city and facing the bay is a very fine smooth gravel
road called the promenade great resort tor the C-
zens, afOrding of the most beautiful panoramic
oceans views we ever behed. On one occasion during
the prevalence OF gale we spread over this ray
500 Mackerel and Herring boats, the majority of
them perfect models of symmetry and grace, more like
yachts than plebian shermen they swim like duck and
sail very swiftly. How we onged for about hundred
such craft armed with a long swivel gun piece -
Nothing but steamer could overhaul them and on a
wind they could show lessenUg stern to the fastest
steamer in the American Navy 4 hundred such craft
flying the Confederate flag would have made the for
tune Of the Boston and New York Insurance Compa-
Mes besides supply US rebels with some few ur"raes
The main sea channel is defended by two FORTS Pre-
bic " and Scammil," while inside a very formidable
new one IS IN process Of erection close by this is the
pier erected at cost of 100000 to accommodate the
LeVathan," afterwards named the The Great East
ern." We think the Portanders badly treated by
the directors OF this ship partly through their cOvetous
ness, but mostly through false representations of
isSaries from New York, which would, if they could
mOnOpOlize " all creation and the rest Of mankind -
Although the State of Maine entirely given
to her idols and the may be said of Portland ye
there many true friends to the South, Infinitely
than would have saved several Sodoms at Lots
lowest figure. We cannot, of course, mention names
but found friends there next door neghbors Il
the intolerant Neil Dow OF Maine Liquor Law nOtore
ty and that remorseess foe to the South, Senator Pit
Fessenden. Some of those men we arrested anC
sent of like elOns to Lafayette and still
prison {; and for what suspected sympathy for TIT
South and desire return there. Some of them haC
business connections in New Orleans and spent por
ton OF every year there. We knew members of an as
ISOLATION of gentlemen, not rowdies who sworl
latter these arrests to defend each other to the death
IN the expression OF their opinions. The Bangor Dem
OCrat" newspaper had been attacked and burned,
others less severely handled but after this
ISOLATION formed, we heard OF such scenes
There we're some few at whose houses a wecOm
guest after we had been branded a rebel sym
pathzer and privateersman. True the love OF 0
two even of such, waXed cold after our TRIAL One
friends because he opposed to the and tn
administration and hesitated not to avow had his hOus
mObbed with threat that unless be displayed the fae
it would be burnt about the OF himself and family
lie refused, and did not do 1t. He was bold and resi-
ute and they dared not execute their threat This ma
spared no opportunity Of a fling at the Abolitionist
and to the last in favor of the South being Above
to depart in peace He assisted us much in our Ow
little job. We witnessed the party going to arrest Co
Bateman, bearer of dispatches from Messrs. YaLcy
ROst to the Government at RichmOnd-but, althoug
mighty smart, the u 5. MarshQs were fOed. III
Colonel sent to Lafayette but be left his sister
Montreal, (they came from England by the Canad
9teamer) and she, understood, carried the document
through safely.
Portland is much ADgicized, or rather Canadianiaet
Many Canadians do business here, and much propert
and real estate are held by them The internations
trade has been the making of this place. Here is tt
present ocean terminus of the finest Railroad in Amer
ca, the Grand Trunk" which extends from Quebec O
ILL