The Portland daily press., 1863-10-22

All sorts of evil prophecies were made re-
specting the emancipation proclamation, both
before and after its issuance. From the date
of Mr.. Lincoln's preliminary proclamation in
September, 1862, up to January /, 1863, no
efforts were spared by the friends Of slavery
In the North, or by the leading democratic
politicians OF the border States, to influence
him to revoke his purpose and to withhold the
proclamation of freedom which he had given
notice would be issued if the seeded States
should continue In their rebellion against the
constitutional government of the land. Thou
sands were the friends of the President who
feared he might yield his own convictions to
the pressure that was brought to bear upon
him. II was said the officers Of the army
would resign their posts, that commissions
would be thrown back in the face of the Ex-
ecutiye, that the soldiers would refuse to fight,
that enistments would cease, that the people
would rise in their indignation and protest
against the "negro war;" and that disaster and
ruin would become universal. 1t was further
asserted that the administration would fall in
to disgrace, that the conservatives" would
show their strength, and that the President
would be hurled from power just as soon as
the people could get at the ballot boxes More
than this: it was asserted that the credit of
the government would be ruined, tnat bonds
would become worthless, that greenbacks
would be of no more value than paper-rags,
and that financial ruin would drown out all
business prosperity as efiectually as the flood
Of old drowned the population of the Old
World.
And from that time 10 this - We shall be
Justified in saying 1.-THE so-called democrat
ic party of the nation and of the different
States, through its accredited organs, and its
speech-makers, and convoeations and plat
forms, has labored with an assiduity and zeal
worthy of better cause, to realize precisely
the state of things Of which its leading MEM
beers had become the evil prophets. No stone
has been left unturned to embarrass the gov
eminent. Volunteering has been dscour-
aged, the draft has been opposed-in some in
stances resisted = the credit of the govern
ment decried and slurred, the victories of our
arms have been as much as possible underrat-
ed, our rcverses have been magnihed and
multiplied, the measures of the government
have been assailed in advance, the enemy has
been aided by sympathy and comforted with
assurances of a great and rising peace party
In the North, and all that a diabolical party
spirit could suggest or disloyalty could insti-
gate, has been done to break down the govern
ment and to render abortive its attempts TO
uphold its flag and to restore its rightiul au-
thority over the revolted States.
And what has been the result? The answer
TO this question has been written in letters of
blood upon the field, and reverberated in tones
of thunder from the freemen's ballot box.
Since January LIST, We have had our most glo-
rious military successes. Lee in his efforts to
shake hands with the rebel sympathisers in
Pennsylvania and New York, was set back at
Gettysburg by Meade, with the loss of one
third of his army. Vicksburg has fallen, and
Pemberton and his large army fell into our
hands. Port Hudson followed, and the Missis-
sippi river, from Its mouth to its source, was
thrown open to our commerce. East Tennes-
see has been conquered from rebellion, and
NhhC ouiHoidC ntiuS huoANhic, bVsSNtaio
deliberately makes his preparation for still
further advances in the stronghold of Chatta-
nooga. Rebellion has been driven from Mis-
souri,, Kentucky and Tennessee, while the
stars and stripes proudly float in the capitals
Of Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana. Gil
more and Dahlgren are combining for the re-
duction OF the "infernal city" having already
reduced and captured its most important out
posts and deienses. So goes the good work
In the field.
Abroad we find the tone of sentiment turn
lag in our favor. The rebel Envoy has been
allowed to retire from London, where he has
been unsuccessfully paying court to royalty,
and where now he finds none SO low as TO do
him honor or scarcely TO treat him with re-
spect. Lord Russell has taken a stand most
encouraging to our Government and indica-
tive of the most pleasing results, and though
the attitude OF Napoleon Is by no means that
Of friend, he has evidently too much caution
to run his head against our iron-clad navy. In
the field the rebellion is evidently caving in,
and grand collapse may not be unlocked
for at no distant day, while abroad the sky is
clearing and fears. of Intervention or of recog-
milton Of the rebels are fading away. The
credit of the Government was never better;
skies sell at large premium, and foreign
loans to any amount could be effected were it
deemed wise TO accept them.
And how stands the account when we turn
the leaf and look at the posting Of the books
in the late elections? We find these facts: since
the issue of the proclamation Of freedom in
January last, not a single State election has
gone adceyse to the Union cause. Copperhead
democracy has gained no single crumb of COM
fort. Commencing with New Hampshire in
March and Connecticut and Rhode Island in
April, the Union victories have been rolled up
In an uninterrupted series, increasing in vol
ume and emphasis, until it now looks as though
eoppcrheadism would be condemned by
unanimous vote. Kentucky rolled up her
10000 majority. California and Vermont
rolled up their 10000 each, Maine her 10000,
and now Pennsylvania, Indiana and Iowa have
gloriously wheeled into line, while Ohio has
driven the nails into the coffin of Vallandig
ham and his style Of democracy to the tune of
hundred thousand strong. Minnesota has
not been heard from, but no one doubts the
result. Wisconsin and Michigan will complete
the series OF victories in the great Northwest,