The Portland daily press., 1862-10-22

pealed to the nation and it responded. Con-
gress convened in special session in July, and
voted all the men and money that were want
ed. He asked for 100000 men, and Congress
voted 100000 and raised all the money neces-
sary. The people responded. The whole pow
er was placed in the presidents hands to put
down the rebellion.
But at that time we had not got over the
policy of the last days of Buchanan-do moth
ing to offend the rebels. At that time it was
thought that we would lose the border States,
If decided measures were adopted. The Vir-
ginia Convention was in session in NAV, at
Richmond, and it was claimed that a majority
of the members were elected by the Union
men. If coercion were adopted it was feared
we would lose Virginia. Government listened
TO this talk for months. Virginia and other
States went out.
After the army was raised, and we had the
means to crush out the rebellion, there was an
indisposition TO prosecute the war in earnest
This came from the opposition of men in the
Border States, seconded by some in the loyal
States. They thought that we must not hurt
the rebels any more than we could help. If at
tackled, we might defend ourselves but must
not destroy any property Our policy was de-
fensive-buildng forts-and waiting for at
tacks.
We pursued this policy through the fall of
:.
advance was made. Then we won glory in the
West. The army moved from Cairo to Bel
mont, where q hard battle was fought. There
was some fighting in South western Missouri
where the gallant Lyon fell. Then came the
capture of Fort Henry, and then the great
Victory at Fort Donelson, where we captured
an army, and got possession of Kentucky and
Tennessee. That was followed by the battle of
Shiloh, where $4,000 men lay dead and bleed
ing.
We also had successes on the Atlantic, on
the North Carolina coast, under the gallant
Burnside, and at Port Royal and New Orleans
glorious acts that shall hand our navy down
to history.
| have referred to these, so that we may give
proper credit. After all, ask. any man if the
results came up to the expectation. Did we
accomplish what you expected when your son
went? Did you send him to war to lie in the
swamps OF Chicabominy and Tennessee? Ask
that mother in jackson county, whose only
son joined the army, and whom she freely gave
up for the purpose of perpetuating to him the
liberty she has enjoyed, ask her when the pine
box comes rumbling up to the door. and mark
ed, "Died of fever on the Tennessee river" if
she don't approve the policy that set her son
to work, when negroes offered their labor, and
it could not be accepted.
In the Shenandoah Valley we purchased
nay pdiu SOD pei toll W TtDtiS. ana OtDer
articles il proportion. Everything in Tenn
essee was under the same policy When we
took Memphis the rebels obtained three or four
prices. Plantations near Nashville. not occu-
pied sya single white person, and entirely
cultivated by blacks, the owners being in the
rebel army, were protected by our soldiers
who stood guard over these plantations and
men raising cotton, the proceeds to go into
the hands of rebels to furnish means TO fifht
from. When laborers escaped they were driv-
en- back.
We didn't meet with very great success
with that policy. Some in the North thought
it time to change. That's the issue: that's
why l refer to history to bring before you the
issue.
Your Representatives in Congress thought
the time for change of policy had come
Republicans generally supported it. with some
few exceptions; not many, thank God. They
soon went to work vigorously to initiate meas
ures to bring it about. They appealed to the
President, and urged that our troops be al
loved to forage on the enemy, and make WAR
on the enemy.
Measures were introduced to carry out the
confiscation act. That provided and made
clear the right to seize their property, and
delray the expenses of the war. 1t is also di-
rected that every rebels slave should be for
ever free! The law declared that wherever
our army went the slaves of rebels were free,
Now, some Democrats claim to be, pdr er-
cettenee, friends of the Constitution and laws,
and the enforcement of the laws. So am |.
VIII they 90 with ms? In the greater part of
my State, of those who have come back from
the army, | have not met one who has said he
was in favor of guarding rebel property, and
I've seen a great many. | met. travelling a
captain from Northern Alabama, who came
home to recruit for his regiment, who told me
that the last thing he did was to detail guard
of four for that purpose.
How about this other policy? If you con-
duct the war on the old principle you will fight
eternally. You support the means of feeding
them. They are all against you. You are
now, or have been, purchasing and paying for
cotton belonging to the rebels. What chance
has Union man there? Take two in Mem
phis, for instance: One was disposed to be
loyal, and the other a rebel. The loyal man
has everything taken from him, and barely es-
capes with his life. The rebel was protected
by the rebel army. and by us. The game was.
"heads, win; tails, you lose" He won.-
Could you expect any Union men in the South
under such practices?
This confiscation act saved Maryland; when
the rebels received no recruits it surprised
them and us. Why? The contiscation act
was like sword hanging over them if they
joined. When the rebel army would be driv-
en- out, everything would be gone. That saved
us, and disappointed them.
In Kentucky, their recruits will be few. ex-
cept those taken by the conscrption act. They
may force great many in their ranks, but few
will Join voluntarily.
Had such a law been enacted in the begin
ming, we would have had tens of thousands of
Union men in the South, where we now have
not one. Every one found ii their interest to
join in the rebellion until this law was passed.
This was done by the Republicans to put
down the rebellion. There are Democrats lin
favor of this while others cry out against the
proclamation. / don't mean the great Demo-
cratic party, for hundreds and thousands who
belonged TO it volunteered and sacrificed their
blood, and are true patriots. | speak only of
those who oppose these efficient means.
j know there are those who say confiscation
is unconstitutional The natural instincts of
man teach him fliat this cannot be So This
government has the means of maintaining it.
self Our fathers understood this the grant
of power is clear. Congress has the power to
declare war, raise an army and navy. call out
the militia to suppress insurrection, and "make
all the necessary laws" Also to make rules
for capture on land and water Yet, when we
get an army, we have got to fight in peace
The constitution meant what it said, when it
gave power to put down insprrection. 1t should
be put down with the bayonet and ball, and
cannon, to crush it out and suppress it, be-
cause the courts were incompetent and civil
law overborne. This is why this power was
given and Congress clothed with it. The idea
is quoted that the constitution is to protect
shall be deprived of his life, liberty and prop
dF,n e 1,,. l..