The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-07-08
UNION NOMINATION..
The Latest Humbug Disunion Bubble.

Rev. MOncure ID. Conway is Nnglnlan Dy
birth, and not seeing the divine elements OF
the Institution Of negro slavery, and not be-
lieving in the chief cornerstone of the South
ern Confederacy, he was ostracised by the
chivalry, and compelled to flee from the State
Of his nativity. He is an ardent, perhaps rash,
impetuous man; eccentric, Eighty in hislimag-
ination, profound master Of metaphor in
composition, and has written some books with
queer titles which have not failed to strike
popular chord and to- produce effect. "The
Rejected Stone" is of this class, and will af-
ford an illustration Of his style Of thought and
expression.
Mr.. Conway was recently connected with
the Commonwealth" newspaper in Boston, an
extreme abolition journal, marked by great
boldness Of thought and Independence of views,
representing no party and acknowledged by
none, but paper that has fought upon its
own hook, not studying-perhaps not caring
to please, or to receive the approving smiles
Of the public A few months since Mr.. Con-
way went to England, fiom which place he
has written letters to the Commonwealth, and
where he has employed both pen and tongue
to set public sentiment right in relation to
this country. Finding himself in the same
capital with that incarnation of bombast, aris-
tocracy, stolidity and treason-James NJ. Ma
son, envoy of JEFF Davis, and from his own
State of Virginia-Mr. Conway very fooshly
opened a correspondence with him under date
Of June 10th, by representing that he
was authorized by the leading anti-sav-
cry men of America to make PROPOSE
tion, that If the Confederate States will con-
sent to emancipate their slaves, the emanci-
patton to be guaranteed by liberal European
commission, "then the abolitionists and anti
Slavery leaders of the Northern States shall
"immediatly oppose the prosecution of the
"war on the part of the u S. Government,
"and, since they hold the balance of power,
"will certainly cause the war to cease, by the
Immediate withdrawal of every kind of sup
sport from it,"
Mr.. Mason replied Immediately, asking for
evidence of Mr.. Conways authority to make
such proposition, when Mr.. G. virtually con-
ceded that he had made the proposition on his
individual responsibility, for he proposed to
scrite home for the necessary papers to salts
.fy the rebel enuoy on this poiat. Mr. Mason
finding that he had to deal only with private
in dividual clothed with no power to speak in
behalf of others, terminated the correspon-
dence, spurned the proposition to emancpate
the slaves, and carried his letters with those
of Mr. Conway to the London Times.
Strange as it may seem, the Copperhead
journals have seized upon this meaningless
and senseless correspondence with the ayidity
OF hungry dog upon a tainted bone. and un-
der the head of "a New Disunion Scheme"
duly set off with wonder marks, or some 9TH
or equally startling caption. they lash tnem-
selves into perfect foam in efforts to excite
indignation against the authors Of this new
form of disunion.
Now we long since became satisfied that
when men determine TO make asses of them
selves there is no law to prevent it. With
such people the law Of common-sense has no
force; and those who have seized upon this
folly of Mr.. Conway, expecting to make polit-
ical capital out OF it, If knaves will persist in
their knavery, and if honest men are too much
lacking in good sense to appreciate any Ian
guage that may be used to correct their hallu-
cination.
What we have to say, therefore, is not for
such persons, but for that larger class of hon.
est, welkneaning, common-sense men who,
while not posted in relation to facts, are liable
to be misled by INSCRIPTIONS party leaders.
To such persons it is sufficient to say that Mr..
Conway could not have referred to leading
Republicans when he spoke of leading anti
slavery men in America, because the Republic
cans have never affiliated with him nor he
with them. He has acted independently of
parties, and has had no party to back him or
to be held responsible for his acts or his words
The Commonwealth newspaper has disclaimed
his right to speak for it or in behalf of its con-
trolling spirits.
Who then could he allude to except that
class of earnest honest, and perhaps some
what impracticable men, represented by Mr..
Garrison, Mr.. Phillips and Others of the same
stamp? OF this class of men the Liberator is
perhaps the best newspaper exponent At
any rate, Mr.. Garrison, the editor Of the Lib
orator, is presumed to know the opinions and
the controlling sentiments of Heading anti
slavery men in America" as well as any man
living. We therefore close this article with
theifollowing statment from his pen. After a
high compliment to Mr.. Conway for his many
good qualities of head and heart, hesays:
This correspondence is of SO extraordinary
and grave a character, that we feel called up
on explicitly to say, in behalf of the Aboli-
tonists with whom we are identified, that
they have not been guilty of such folly and
presumption AS to authorize any such PROPOSE
ton to be made to Mr.. Mason nor will they
be inclined to forward any endorsement of it
to Mr.. Conway, who is in England onhis own
responsibility alone, representing the Anti
Slavery cause further than does every
other sincere and undinching friend of free
dom who desires 10 see the rebellion speedily
suppressed, and slavery as speedily abolished.
fhere are at least three weighty reasons
why the Aboliionists could not make any
overture of this nature 10 the Confederate
traitors, especially through the infamous an
thor of the Fugitive Slave Law.
The first reason is, that no reiiance is tn he
placed upon the word of those who stand he
fore the world black with perfdy and ,reason
and in the most dreadful sense as hostes b,,'
mani generis. Having long since proved
themselves capable of telling any falsehood.
however stupendous, practicing any decep-
ton, however detestable, and breaking any
pledge, however solemnly made, it would be
the height Of infatuation to suppose them
morally capable OF carrying out any stipula-
ton for the emancipation of their wretched
bopdmen