The Portland daily press., 1862-12-08

Who is willing that a thrill of joy shall run
throughout the entire South, and that bonfires
and illuminations shall be kindled in the city
of Richmond over the triumph of the opposi-
ton in the great Empire State? If such there
be, let him vote party ticket. The occasion
demands the development of the sublimest
phases of human character. II, with the du-
ties to our land and to our race which are
pressing upon us, we cannot rise above a mis-
cradle scramble for party spoils and power,
then the sooner we creep into onr graves the
better.
Another danger which is threatened from
the inaction of our armies comes from abroad,
This rebellion is as ubiquitous in the curses it
scatters, as it is foolish in its spirit. The con-
fict from our commercial and other relations
concerns the happiness OF the civilized world.
Foreign nations, with forbearance that can
not be too much commended, have, without
interference, waited patiently, and given us
every opportunity to subdue the rebellion
But, unless some decisive military demonstra-
tion soon takes place, and the South is occu-
pied by our forces, these nations will conclude
that we lack either the will or the power 10
re-establish the Union.
Already member ofsthe English Cabinet
(Mr. Gladstone) has openly declared that 'Da-
Wis has made nation of the South; and such
an announcement, from such source, cannot
but be accepted as having a startling signifl-
canoe. Ii the vast army In whose presence,
as it were, a halfbeate army is lesurely de-
stroying one of the most important railroads
of the loyal States, does not do its work speed
lily, European governments must ere long yield
to the clamor of their impoverished and starv-
ing populations, and there will come intersen-
ton, with all its woes" upon this will follow
at once intimate entangling alliances with the
South, to be succeeded by hostilities with us,
and, in all human probability, by the perma-
nent establishment of the rebel Confederacy.
What fate might beal our own institutions,
amid the bankruptcy, and decentralization, and
brokenness of spirit consequent on such dis
memberment / will not trust myself to in
quire. We cannot hope to escape from this
train of events by any exploits of our navy,
however brilliant, occupying the Southern
coast and the cities upon the seashore. This,
though well, and very well, win be but scratch
ing the extremities of the giant, instead of
dealing blows at his heart. That heart palpi-
lates defiantly in the armies of Lee and Jack
son which have so recently ravaged Maryland,
and still from the banks of the Potomac threat
en- the Capital.
My faith in all this matter ia simply and
briefly stated. 1t is this: For all things that
are for the Union-aganst all things that are
against it. | am for the Union as uncondi-
tionally as / am for protecting my own body,
at SsCl Nooi anu ifpii tilc hlic Vi iiit
assassin. No human institution, no earthly
interest shall ever by me be weighed in the
scales against the life of my country. Least
OF all will / approach with unsandalled feet, or
permit to be thus weighed, an institution, the
fountain of whose being-the African slave
trade--the laws OF my country have for more
than forty years denounced as a crime worthy
of death-a crime not against any particular
code, or any particular form OF civilization, but
a crime against the very race to which we be-
long Hostis hunaRi generis is the designa-
ton which the Christian legislation Of the
United States has given to the African slave
trader
yield to no man in veneratiop for the Con-
stitntion, or in determination that its blessings
shall be extended TO those who respect and
obey it. The door to all these blessings is
widely open TO the Southern people, and they
are earnestly invoked by the President to en-
ter it and enjoy them.
These institutions and their every interest
are in their own hands, and can be saved not
only from ruin, but from the slightest injury,
by the utterance OF single word--a word Of
duty and of honor. But, If in their passionate
pursuit of separate empire, and in their blind
resentment against brethren who have never
wronged them, they refuse to speak that word
and prefer TO perish themselves rather than
that the loyal States shall escape destruction
be it so. The world will judge Alright, and
history will record its judgment. But is itnot
childish prattle to say that the South can claim
TO be at the same moment the pr0teqe and the
destroyer of the Constitution Does it not re-
quire an audacity absolutely satanic to insist
that the benefcent provisions of that hallowed
instrument shall be secured to States and peo-
pie who are hourly spurning and splitting upon
its authority, and who are leading forward vast
armies to overwhelm it, and with it the hopes
and homes of all who are rallying in its de-
fence? War-certainly one like this. in self
defence-is clearly constitutional; but il such
war has its restraints, it has also its rights
and duties; prominent among which is the
right and duty of weakening the enemy by all
possible means, and thus abridging the san
culinary conflict.
Never until now has ii entered into the
imaginations Of men to conceive that among
these duties is that of seeing that the enemy
is clothed and fed and armed before he is struck.
In prosecuting the war, Willie exercising our
right to weaken the enemy, we may destroy
not only ships npon the sea, and fortresses and
cities upon the land, but human life upon the
battle field. But what institution, what ma
terial interest is more hallowed than human
life, and whatmaterial interest is there belong
ing to the enemy that we are obliged to spare,
even though byso doing we perish ourselves?
The Constitution Is charter of National life
and not OF National death. All movements
whidh seek or tend to the dissolution of the
Government created by it, and of which it is
the soul, are in conflict withits spirit and with
the scope and end ofits enactments, and may
be resisted to the death by its express or i'm
piled authority. Neither the keenest vision nor
the most delicate ear can detect in any line or
letter ofthat glorious charter the laintest throb
ofsympathy with treason or traitors.
Pardon these hurried words, which are spken
in elimination of none but in grief alone.
No man more sincerely desires the re-establish-
ment ofthe Union than does the President him.
self Let it be our trust that while an October
sun is yet shining, the mind upon which all de-
pends will devise ways and means to overcome
every obstacle to the onward march and triumph
of our armies.
New York has already sent hundred and
seventy regiments into the field. The muskets
they bear prove that they are unconditional
Union men. God forbid that the fathers, and
brothers, and sons, whom they have left be-
hind, should, through show of dissension at
the ballot-box, do aught to weaken their
hands, or to aid the strength and courage of
the traitors whose swords are lifted against
their bosoms. Very Respectfully,
Your Obedient Servant,
J. HOLT.