The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-03-07

cItravagant compensation for simple, ordi-
nary service. Is calumny on q body Of gen.
erous and devotedly patriotic men? Zap.
plause.) In the name Of the mechanics
repel tho insinuation and II is known to all
that the conduct OF the poor Of our city dur
ing this war has, for disinterestedners and
exalted feeling, and firm resolve and coura-
geous resignation, gone beyond oil praise
(Applause.)
washingtsn's Character.
The disinterestedncss Of Washing gton's con-
duct beams forth In still greater beauty when.
for the benefit Of this age, We recall his con.
duct toward his generals. He took care OF
their honor even moro carefully than ii 1t
had been his own. II was his delight to
give them opportunities for distinction; and
when danger menaccd alike himself and q
general in another department, he would
cheerfully send to bis subordinate the best
part of his force, and suffer no one TO risk
defeat 10 soon as himself. Nor should We
forget that Washington was always yigilant;
that he was never taken by surprise; that,
with oil his caution. he never missed an op-
portunity of striking blow; that hc never
sent his army forward except with himself as
its leader; that he never exposed them to
deep roads and bad weather except when they
could derive encouragement from his own
presence and example; that he was always
under fire with his men, and committed no
error In the field but from excess OF personal
courage. We must not forget that in tho
war OF tho Revolution Washington, among
other great objects, bore arms for the mari.
time rights OF ncutrals. When 30 many
officers In our navy showed signs Of disafiec-
ton, the first impulse Of public feeling might
approve a bold act, which spoke for the Il.
delity of q gallant commander. The just
indignation which is felt ut the conspirators
who struck at our life as nation might ex-
ult when several of tho least worthy OF them
fell into our hands.
But this excitement only shed brighter
iistre on the moderation Of the people, and
their perfect mastery over their passions
With ono voice all have agreed that due re-
spect must be shown to the neutral flag. A
ship at sea is o portion Of the territory OF
the power whose Gag she may rightly bear.
No naval officer Of another nation may exer-
else judicial power on her deck; the free
ship frees the cargo; q neutral ship in q
voyage between neutral ports is protected by
her flag; tho passenger who, In neutral
port, steps on board a neutral vessel, honest
iy bound for another neutral port, Is as safe
against seizure as II he were guest at the
Tuilerics or barrister before q court In
Westminster Hall. These good rules will
gain renewed strength from their recognition
by the American people in the very moment
OF Just indignation against men who were
guilty of the darkest treason, and had iallen
into their hands. (Cheers.)
The Rcbeiiisn aud Popular Ins,itsiisns.
Washington not only upheld the liberty
of the ocean. lilo was thorough republi.
can. And how has our history justified his
preference? How has this very rebellion
borne testimony to the virtue and durability
of popular institutions? The rebellion which
we arc putting down, was the conspiracy Of
tho rich, of opulcnt men, who count labor
crs rs their capital. Our wide extended sui
fracc is not only utterly innocent of it-it Is
the power that will not fail to crush it
(Applause The people prove their right
to a popular government; they have chosen
il, aud have kept it in healthy motion; they
will sustain II now, and hand 1t down in its
glory and its power to their posterity. Zap
plauso.) And this is true not only Of men
who were born on our soil, but Of foreign
born citizens. (Applause.) Let the Euro
pean skeptic about the large extension OF the
suffrage come among US, and we will show
him n spectacle wonderful to hiseyes-grand
beyond his power Of conception. That which
in this contest is marked above oil that has
appcarcd, is the oneness of heart and pur-
nose with which all tho less wealthy classes
of our people, of all nationalities, are de-
voted to the flag of the Union. (Great ap-
plausc.) The foreigners whom We have ta-
ken 10 our hearts and received as our fellow
citizens, have been true to the country that
had adopted them; (applausc) have been
sincere, earnest, and ready for every sacri.
fee. Slavery is the slow poison which has
wrought all the evil ]; and proud and sell
fish olicarchy are the authors Of the con-
spiracy. (Applause.)
A rumor reaches us, let us hope 1t is un-
founded, that three powers in Europe have
combined to force monarchical government
upon the ncighboring commonwealth OF Mex
leo, ut time when she seems, If LETT to her
self, better able to govern herself than ever
heretofore. I confess | am unable to devise
what material or what political interest of
England can be promoted by this untoward
pretension. Besides, America has never been
q propagandist: our people, even In the
days OF the Revolution, made no war on mon
nrcby. and did not ask or even wish that
their example might sway nations under dif-
ferent circumstances from our own. They
left each hemisphere to take care OF itself.
A junction of three monarchs to put kingly
power ON our flank has an Importance which
cannot escape attention. (Applause.) The
roynl families OF Europe would be justly in.
censed II the republican powers OF America
were to join together to attempt to iorce a
republic on one Of them. Is 1t right to at.
tempt to forco q monarchy on Americans?
Is it wise to provoke collision between the
systems, or to try experiments on the mystic
rious sympathies Of the millions?
The Slave Trade.
II the opinions OF Washington on slavery
and on the slave trade had been steadily 70.
spected. the country would have escaped oil
the calamity of the present civil war. The
famous Fairfax meeting, ut which Washing.
ton presided, on the 18th Of July, l7I4, led
public opinion In declaring that It was "tho
most earnest wish of America to sec an en-.
tire stop forever put to the wicked. cruel and
unnatural trade in slaves" (Applau:e.)
Tho traffic was then condemned as nm im'
morality and q crime. The sentiment was
thoroughly American, and became the Th. 1%
di,;onStie living faith Of the people Inc
centuries clasp band; and rsPe., ~ !! .1oisr gsS