The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-04-10

On the 14th of Aug, 1851, convention of
the Democracy OF Maine assembled in Angus
Ia, and after a wrarfeling session of eight
hours, more or less, it smashed up on series
ofresolutions in relation to the war. The spi-
nit which controlled that convention may be
learned from the fact, that an expression infavor
of The war SO far as 1t might be necessary to
enforce the Constitution and the to,cs Of the
land, and to suppress rebellion" was indig-
nantly voted down.
The refusal to give the war even so faint an
endorsement as this, and the passage of a Sc
ries of decidedly disloyM resolutions proved
to be the feather that broke the back Of the
Democratic camel, and, as we have said, the
convention smashed up. Among those who
were conspicuous in giving such a tone to that
convention, was Mr.. Mcdonald of this city,
who attempted TO vote in the name of George
F. Shepley and actually answered when Mr..
Shepiey's name was called, and that, too, with
out the slightest authority, as was afterwards
shown by c. P. Kimball, Esq, in commune
cation of his TO the Bath Times.
Among those who left the convention and
assisted in inaugurating the Jameson move
ment, were such men as ID. T. Pike and Judge
Fuller, Of Augusta; E..W. Flagg, of Bangor;
c. r. Kimball, of this city, &c. Among those
who codially endorsed the withdrawal from
the convention, aud espoused the Jameson
movement, were Messrs. l.. ID. NJ. Sweat, A. p.
Gould, Bion Bradbury, and a host Of Others
not needful now to be mentioned. Judge Full
Ter distinctly and emphaiically declared in the
seeding convention, and all the aiders in that
movement endorsed the declaration, that the
split and withdrawal uds a .fndtity; that come
what would, no compromises would be made
with the traitorous denouncers of the war,
with Mcdonald & Co. were to be regarded
and treated as the enemies of Democracy, and
no claims of theirs to Democratic sympathy
or favor were ever to be recognized. We knoW
we are not mistaken in the spirit evinced and
the positions assumed by the friends Of the
Jameson movement. In the Address issued
to the people Of the State, by committee con-
sisting of d. I. Pike, John A. Peters, HI. A.
Wyman. Charles p. Kimbal and A. p. Gould,
we find the voice of the convention that NOM
In ated John w. Dana, referred to as "a disso-
nant voice, more nearly allied to tredsoa than
to patriotism" Such was the position Of GER
tain democrats in 1861. How have they full
Allied their pledges? We shall see.
They have backed up their valiant words by
getting into the same truckle-bed with those
y, ho than EicE cd fbeo, ontf Thav In va dona
1t by wrapping themselves up in sheets printed
all over with what they then denounced as
"a dissonant voice." more nearly allied to trea-
son than to patriotism. Bradbury and Goaid,
Pike and Fuller Kimball and Sweat are now
cheek by jowl with the very men who Kissed
the Stars and Stripes IN Augusta in ls6l-who
indignantly refused to endorse even so much
as was necessary 10 enforce the Constitution
and laws, and to suppress rebellion! Mr..
Sweat then fraternized with J. c. Woodman-
the frank abolitionist"-onthe stump, and now
VIC find him and Mr.. Kimball aiding Mr..
Mcdonald to organize "happy family at the
old City Hall!
A question arises-Have the rebel sympa-
tbizers Of 1861, who opposed the war, who
clamored for compromise, who hisssd the ma
tional flag, who uttered "a dissonant voice,
more nearly allied TO treason than to patriot
ism," become loyal, and therefore endurable
aud fitted for the fellowship of loyal men, or
have he aspiring gentlemen referred to, who
in 1851 made such loud pretenses to loyalty,
become contaminated with spirit "morc near
ly allied to treason than to patriotism?" This
is plain question, and an honest constituent
motive for dece.ving Others, should be favored
with an unequivocal answer.