The Portland daily press., 1863-03-25

ern Virginia as an independent State to place
the Union in the condition it was in before
the war, to reopen the old controversies about
slavery in the territories; to throw open our
Halls OF fCongress, our Cabinet offices. and even
the Presidency itself, to JEFF Davis. A. III,
Stevens, Howell Cobb, Thief Floyd, j. p.
Benjamin, and that whole crowd of robbers,
murderers, assassins and traitors; to prostitute
the judicial tribunals: to re-establish slavery
IN the District of Columbia; to permit South
ern Committees of Vigilance to rob Northern
mais,whip defenceless Northern fem ales, mur-
der Northern citizens, and commit all other
deeds of fiendish atrocity.
This would be the UNION As 1T WAS!
Does the gentleman from Westbrook really
mean all this? If he says no, then he ignores
his own proposition. If he says yes, then /
make issue with him. If sland alone, will
never consent to such Union. When this
Union is restored, it must be so restored that
that all the righta of Northern citizens shall
hereafter be respected, and Slavery denom-
mated by the gentleman from Westbrook as
that huge crime," kept within such limits as
shall render it powerless for evil hereafter.
Why, Mr.. Speaker, the "Unon as it was"
had three millions of slaves more than it to-
day legally possesses. In the way of the "Un-
ion as it was" stands Abraham Lincoln's
Proclamation of Emancipation, like the gori-
Gus sunIat MONDAY, pouring its free effnlgence
mere merchandise-nog men. WHAT mag
nificent New Years gift was that. Three
millions OF men, women and chidren-the Di-
vine Fathers image "cut in ebony"-on the
3lst day of December were chatteized like
horses, cotton and sugar On the first day of
January they could stand up, and, with hand
upon their heads, say, Il own all beneathw
And pray tell me, Mr.. Speaker-let the gen.
tleman from Westbrook summon TO his aid
his kppnpsf lpual ~ md hic Jast
stores of learning, and tell me-who is to re-
mand these three millions of people back into
their bondage? Can the President? No.
His proclamation has the full force and effect
of law. And If it has that full force and eff
1ect, what power, except that of brute yio-
lence, can override it,? Let me tell you, Mr.
Speaker and gentlemen of this House. the
emancipation Of these slaves is a fact accom-
ptished, and the Proclamation may be success
fully pleaded in any honest court, by its bene-
flciaries
How, then, in view of the abolition of slav-
cry in the District of Columbia in view of
Congressional legislation growing out of this
war; how. ask, can the Union be restored
"as it wasp" 1t cannot be done, and If II
could, the people Of the North would never
assent to it. And If they should prove so de-
based as TO assent to it, there are three mil
lions ot blacks ,cho ,couid object!
But We are assured, Mr.. Speaker, that in the
event predicted by this prophet OF the nine
teenth century-NEw ENGLAND WILL BE
OUT IN THE coLDl
And why, Mr.. Speaker? What has New
England done TO deserve this chilly treatment?
l assert here on the floor OF this House, that
she has fulfilled all her constitutional obliga-
uons to the Union in letter and spirit. 1t is
surely not so long ago that we fail to remein-
Der the time when chains we're drawn around
the Court House In Boston-when cannon,
loaded to the muzzle with iron hail. were sta
toned at the head of State street--when full
regiment Of soldiers. with mnskets loaded with
ball, were placed around that Court House.
and from the Court House down State street
TO the wharf-and when thousands more Of
armed men were waiting in reserve. And why
tins? Because the South demanded the sur
render of black man, who, guided By the
North star, and impelled by divine love of
liberty, had found his way to the city of Bos-
ton. And Massachusetts said, he shall be sur
rendered. And he was surrendered, though
it cost the government more than ten thou
sand dollars to do it. Virginia had her runa-
way negro, and Massachusetts had kept her
plighied faith with the South. And what has
Maine done that she should be thrust out OF
this new arrangement of States? Or Rhode
Island, or New Hampshire, or Vermont, or
Connecticut? defy the gentleman from West
brook, or any member of this House, or any
person out of this House, 10 put his finger
upon the first act that demands the isolation
OF these States, or any of them.
Mr. Speaker, New England has wronged no
portion of the common Union. On the con-
trary, she has contributed more than her due
propotion to the glory of the whole. She has
sent her stalwart sons and fair daughters by
tens OF thousands to people the rude wilder
ness OF the West-to hew down the forests,
txx.f.~ -
OF chaos-to build cities, to establish States,
TO induct common schools. to nagurate high
christian cirilization-to do all, in brief, that
goes TO make stable republics. Her spirit, her
Industry, her sobriety, her integrity, her chris
tianity, permeate all the States of this great
North. As the sun goes not down on terrific
ry where the British drum is not heard, so it
sets not where New England has failed TO inn
press her influence. New England is the gar
den of the continent, and the perfume of her
good fruits pervades the world.
And pray permit me, Mr.. Speaker, to ask i
tide gentleman from Westbrook. who seems to
be so conyersant with this matter if he can
tell us WHAT PRICE New England must pay
In order to be graciousiy permitted by him
and his associates to remain within the shell
tering folds of his new Conederacy.
Shall she give assurance that the press shall
no longer alude to slavery, unless in terms of
endearment? Shall she consent that the BIZ
bles hereafter in use shall have stricken from
their Illuminated pages all passages that pro-
claim human equality in the Divine sight, and
assert that the great Father made of 'one
blood all people? Shall she paddock the free
lips of her citizens? Shall she mutiate the
heavenly commission of the ministers of the
Gospel, to accommodate the interests of sla-
very? Shall she surrender all that has made
her happy, prosperous and preeminent among
the nations. Shall she consent to blend the
black flag of treason in harmonious fellowship
with the golden stars of the Union? Shall
she, in short, take from her fair brow. her gold
en- crown of glory, and dash it in pieces at the
iron feet Of the Moloch of slavery?
Is all this the price ofremaining in the great
sisterhood of States? Then, Mr.. Speaker, if
1t must be, let her be thrust out Into the
cold" and GoD DEFEND THE RIGHT.