The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-03-24
-
Low xad Order.


Inc 'a'e "o" -<ress represented the people in
no ac. "o' . justly than in the act adopting
anu .adicaiing that arbitrary exercise Of Ex-
f-cutive power, which in the unprecedented
emergencies of this war has sometimes over
passed the limits marked out for ordinary
times, and has accordingly become theme
for abundant anirnadversion by the opposition.
Let demagogues pirate as they will, the COM
mon sense of the people cannot be misled in
this matter, As a man will consent to the loss
ola diseased limb to save his life, so will every
patriotic citizen freely waive his privileges un
der the hdbeas corpus act for the preservation
Of the government, without which that and all
other laws are unavailing. The more the op-
position rail against this measure, the more
clearly is the motive of their railing accusa-
ton apprehended, and the more surely do they
lose their hold upon the people, to whom they
look for place aud preierment.
This, with all the trumped up grievances Of
the Copperhead faction, is ceasing to attract
serious attention. When two months ago, the
anti-war movement began to be pressed vigor-
ously, the people looked on in anazement. The
cry was so loud, was taken up by so many
barking hounds from one end of the country
to the other and sustained with such hearty
good will, that it seemed there mnst be some
notable game reused, and everybody looked
to see it break cover. Nothing came of it,
Thereupon followed the disgust OF disappoint-
ed and at length relaxing attention, and the
Copperheads, who went up with roar like a
rocket, came down like the stick. Fault-find-
ing or scolding is very sure and easy way to
attract attention; but finding fault without
reason or excuse is soon found to be a tedious
exhibition OF i'll temper, and presently pro-
vokes an application of the gag in some form.
Our Puritanic ancestors used to set common
scolds in the stocks moral pillory suits better
the customs of their descendants.
Still these fellows are sometimes rudely en-
treated--not here, where we can afford TO des-
pse them, but in the border States where the pas
sion ofthe war throbs and beats with violence Of
which we have no adequate conception. Here
they protest against mob law, and so do we
now as ever; they protest against the rising
spirit of insufferable indignation, which they
have provoked to the brink of actual violence,
such as they have covertly suggested to their
test against extravagant proceedings Of this
kind but there is no need of anxiety-they will
never figure as martyrs.
In the border States, the case is somewhat
different. A Copperhead Indiana Representa-
tive, named Cravens, who had the insolence
to address Union Convention in Louisville,
Kentucky, last Wednesday, in the strain of
reckless, impertinent abuse Of the Government
and the war, which distinguishes his faction,
was received with groans and Kisses, and cheers
for the Union, and finally elected from the
hall. More than two-thirds of the members OF
the convention were Internationally for the
Union. If Mr.. Cravens would persist in max
ing speech Of that kind, he might 60 else
where to make IL they had other business be-
fore them. Not hair of his head was harmed.
NJ. Clay's life been threatened and attempted,
not for interrupting an assembly intent upon
other business, but for uttering his own views
in his own tine and place, where all hearers
were free to 60 or stay, as they pleased. 1t is
utterly impossible for these factious persons to
substantiate claim to represent the party of
law and order. The party of law and order is
the party of the nation, the party of the Union,
the party of the war, and that alone. The
party of violence and disorder is, and always
has been, the party of State rights, the party
of disunion, the party of false peace, and
only that party.