The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-09-09
The Democratic Legacy.

On the 4th of March, 1861, Abraham Lin
cola became President at the close of eight
years democratic(D administration of the
Government. And what did he inherit from
his "illustrous predecessors p He inherited
as the only legacy of James Buchanan's
power,
l. An exhausted and bankrupt Treasury
2. A Union from which seven states had
formally seeded so far as any action of their
own could perfect secession.
3. An unavailable Navy, for Buchanan
War Secretary had sent TO foreign seas all the
vessels in commission, so as to leave the new
administration powerless to put down rebel
lion by naval force.
4. An Army mainly under the lead of traitor
officers, Twiggs having surrendered the stron-
gest force collected under one officer to the
rebels of Texas turning over to them all his
stores and munitions of war, and Johnston,
commander of tho Pacific Department, hay
ing fastened from California to join the reb-
els in the South.
s. Forts and arsenals in the best state of
preparation to be seized by the rebels: filed
to repletion with implements and munitions of
war, shipped to them from the North by the
rebel Secretary Floyd, but with no men to de-
fend them when the time should suit the con-
spirators to seize them.
g. Every Department of the Government
filed with traitors, or at least with men in
whom no dependence could be reposed.
7. An exasperated Democracy(D that
sought to take his life by assassination, and
whose wicked Vaccinations were evaded only
by concealment and disguise.
s. A country pervaded even in the loyal
states by traitors and conspirators, who, as
early as 1858 gave assurance to Je1. Davis,
that should an army be raised in the North,
to meet and punish his treachery, it should be
compelled to fight before crossing its own
state lines.
Such was the legacy inherited by Abraham
Lincoln from his Democratic predecessors.
Such, on its decease, was the legacy be-
queathed by,an eight years democratic .ad-
ministration to the constitutional President OF
the country. Such was what he found when
4hi. A<hSoib N@hie w uhu'ibtoAci upon the tS-
tate left by Pierce and Buchanan! Does any
self-styled democrat deny this, or claim that
the statement is overdrawn? We back up
the statement with authority from which he
cannot appeal; from which he has no right to
appeal If he could. We introduce the testi-
mony of no less man than BIoN BRADBURY,
who, as late as March IL, 1S62,-one year af-
ter the rebellion burst forth,-in speech in
the Representatives Hall at Augusta. said:
II is due to the Chief Magistrate of the Nation
that this House should express its cordial approval
the past policy of the and renew its pledge of
unwayerng confidence and generous support In
duties imposed upon him by the development of a
widespread and wicked conspiracy to overthrow the
Government, with traitors all about him. with scat
tered and feeble army, with navy floating in all the
other but our own, with an exhausted treasury
thus powerless in the presence of gigantic rebel
lion long preconcerted and thoroughly matured-
President Lincoln met the great and delicate respon-
sibilities of his situation with a wise Judgment
calm prudence, and patient irmness which COM
mands my admiration.
People of Maine! Such was 'the last will
and testament of slaveholding, negro-wor-
shipping Democracy! Such the legacy upon
which, as stock in trade, Abraham Lincoln
commenced 10 administer the Government of
his country.