The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-08-14
For the Union and Journal
Resolves Of the Peace Party.
Souri, BERWICK, Aug. IL, 1863.

Mn. EDrroR:-A party PLATFORM set
of resolutions put forth by certain number
of mon-claiming to DO representative men,
gathered together from all parts of great
State, is, of course, thing of some note
and worthy either Of emulation and COM
mendation, or, of disapprobation and condem-
nation. This is SO, because it announces the
views, and enunciates the policy and inten-
tions Of its trainers and adherents; and es.
pecially because 1t is the registered VOW Of
those men, who como before the people ask.
ing their votes. Hence, to all reasoning
men, It becomes peculiarly interesting to
understand thoroughly the avowed principles
Of action, stereotypcd into party platform.
On the 9th inst, an organization of men,
under the title of "Tho Maine Democratic
State Convention" assembled in tho city Of
Portland, and thence promulgated set Of
resolutions, according to tho true tenor
whereof they propose to elect State officers at
the ensuing fall election. But, fortunately
for the people of this State, tho old truth
"mcn propose bat" &C., is still extant.-
These resolutions seem to us to present a
most mastery coagulum of stale repetition,
thrcadbare inycctive, sckening twaddle,
lurking rebellion, and daring Justification ;
strangely vague here, and too plainly appa'
rent there, craftily drawn, indeed, most
subtly worded, grandiloquent in devotion to
"the Constitution" pathetic in allusion to
the army, subscrvient in tho extreme to Scy-
mour, and bitter to the end upon the Prcsi.
dent. .'... '.--- 80 t .'
It harps upon iinical and iancfal distinc'
tions between the Government and the Ad.
.ministration, and equally blcsses the one,
curses the other. Surely, his must have
been hard practice. in all the arts and con-
volutions of political diplomacy, who could,
at once, 80 cater to tho most virulent scces-
sionist, land sugar.coat the whole so that
even loyal man might almost unawares
swallow both pill and spoon too. Yet, it is
very doubtful document. 1t has hole
through which every grade, from your
modest peace man, Mortified with the atroci-
ties of war, to your rampant rebol-may
safely crawl, and oil got through-an homo
genous mass, oil ardcntly in favor of the
election of Hon. Bion Bradbury.
1t gives the people in the first fire rcsolu-
tions, few stale old platitudcs-without
even the merit of novelty Of expression, or
any point Of application. The sixth con.
tains, first, q lick.splittlc bid to the Drawer
portion of rebels now in arms against the
Government, then two very plain, very harm
less, lies. OF the remaining sir, four, Bit
tcrly, and zealously attack the Government
with blind malignity, and at the same time,
as il seems to us, with fore.ordained incor.
rigible stupidity,-denying to it any right
of sclEdefencc, and requiring it to sit su.
pinely inert, while the Democratic Party
saved it. The last two promise in one and
the same breath, monuments to the soldiers,
and fcalty to Horatio Seymour.
Now did it never occur to these wise men
that soldiers much prefer assistance in the
field, support from the rear, good words OF
cheer and encouragement, loyal votes Mt
homo to back loyal bullets at the South, to
all the monuments" or "widows and or
phans'' the entire democratic party can either
create or support? How can a soldier listen
with other than pain and indignation to
those who accuse his Commander in Chief OF
treason? Is Abraham Lincoln guilty of
treason? Tho ninth resolution says he is.
The tenth resolution attacks the "Con.
scription Law" as it terms it, 1--WE presume
it refers to "an act for enrolling and calling
out the national forces &c. } to use anoth-
er's language "in o very weak, feeble and
diluted STYLE" II either dares not, or cares
not to commit that august body upon that
topic. II does say it is "in tho opinion of
this convention, unnecessary, unequal, un.
wise. and oppressve-deen,ed By many to
override the Constitution" &c.
How is this? did the committee differ? Is
it customary for party resolution to declare
what is "deemed by many? Give us plain
talk, Mr.. Bradbury and your friends Don't
cyade, don't mince matters, don't tell us
what Others deem tell us what you
''decm" If you want our vote Now then,
without any further particularizing. What
does the whole mess mean? It gingerly
treats of the transcription BILL" openly
assaults the Administration it swccpingly
condemns its every act; it loves tho "Consti'
tuition, vcncratcs Yallandigham and on the
whole is very fair piece of composition,
and would not do discrcdit to any young Miss
Of Is. But, let us ask ono question Of tho
men of to-day. Are you willing to mark
your orthodoxy or hcresy by these rcsolu'
tions? Will you vote for the men who pro-
fess so much and 80 little, so weak and so
strong. so straight and so crooked. whom
those twelve immortal resolutions, reveal?
What can honest loyal men think of him,
whose authorized mouth.piece declares that
he will, in certain contingencies recall tho
troops of Maine from the service Of tho
country What heed would such call re-