The Portland daily press., 1862-09-29

HoN. 4, o. j. SMITH.-This gentleman, the
new editor and o,cner of the Portland Adver-
siser, came out in his issue of Saturday morn
ing, with more than a column devoted TO the
Daily Press, drawn out by our comments up
on the singular doctrines which have recently
been put forth in that paper, in relation to the
natural status Of the Negro Race, the lack Of
power In the Federal government to touch the
slave institution even TO save itself from over
throw, and the unconstitutionality and inei-
fciency of the Presidents proclamation. With
all of Mr.. Smiths conceded ability and con-
fessed requirements, he seems not to have
learned one very simple and vet very i'm
portant truth, to wit: that mere stang is neith-
er forcible nor argumeatatire. By the use of
such language as makes up the warp and woof
of the article in question, man prove himself
devoid of the qualities of a gentleman, but he
will fail to disturb our equanimity, as he will
to satisfy the public that, in the discussion of
important national principles and policy, any
thing is to be gained by lowering himself from
the dignity OF man to the dirty level of
blackguard Mr.. Smith is welcome to the
whole field in that direction; and, in our judg
ment, he will exert far less unwholesome infu-
ence upon his readers, and upon community
generally, by continuing to stigmatize the ed
itors Of the Press as "pugnacious," shallow
leaders" @crazed fanatics" "smpletons," "lost
to all sense of decency," stupid fellows" ETC.,
than by propogating his illogical and unnatu-
a usfitfcafion of
those who taking advantage of the Presidents
proclamation, shall attempt to "renounce and
oppose the Federal government, as a usurpa-
tion and despotism," and fight it "by all the
means that God and nature have placed" at
their disposal.
1t may be smart in Hon. f. o. ]. Smith, TO
talk of "the negro miads" and NEGRO equali-
ty" of the editors of the Press, and to place
them on a par with "two of the Baboon race"
bnt we would remind that gentleman that there
may be such thing as sinking below the nat
ural level of the negro who seems to fill the
sphere and place for which God ordained him.
according to Mr.. Smiths theory;-and in our
Judgment this is done when, as in the Adver-
tser, labored attempt is made TO invite oppo-
sition to the government, to bolster up negro
slavery against the moral convictions of our
whole community, aud to pervert the simplest
propositions Of language and to mislead we'll
meaning public in time of great national per-
II, by such sophistries as those in relation to
the Presidents purpose to suspend the oper-
tom of slavery temporarily, in the rebellious
States and not to DESTROY il effectually and
forever. The Baboon is TO be praised for do
ing as well as he knows and attempting no de-
ceptions; the human animal, endowed with di-
vine essence by his Creator, is to be despised
when, by the use ofhis God-given intellectual
powers, he labors to pervert truth and to mis-
lead those whose proclivities are all in the -di-
rection of the Right.
In relation to the Proclamation of President
Lincoln, we can say to the Advertiser, and to
its editor, that the time for shufiling, shilly-
shailying. and double-dealing is past. He has
got to take one side or the other-to be for his
country or against ito support the procla
nation fully, fairly and without reservation or
go over TO the rebels and give them the bene-
fit of his .aid and comfort;" and, without in
tending to be offensive, we win simply add,
That, in the opinion of many loyal men who
know that editor best, he will have to travel
but small distance out of his way to adopt
the latter alternative.