The Portland daily press., 1863-03-21


A sssouthern Gentleman" at Home.
While Mr.. Jefferson Davis was recently in
the Southwest, cheering the armies of the re-
bellion, he visited the Legislature of his own
State, Mississippi Chief actor in the great
tragedy brought out by the Cotton Slave As
ISOLATION, he could not forbear to come before
the curtain and acknowledge the plaudits of
his enraptured admirers. In the flush of an
enthusiastic welcome, he sought as dexterous-
", as modestly, to withdraw the concentered
gaze of the audience from himself, by extolling
the chivalrous excellence OF themselves and
their fathers. As the glory of their lineage
was rising on his vision, he caught glimpse
of retiring stars in northern skies, and in ecs-
tacy Of establishment, wondered show he could
''have had any love or regard for the old I'm
zion, composed of the descendants OF men from
1.-THE boys and fens of Ireland and Scotland,
"of low and vulgar origin. With such vulgar
"creatures e would never again unite.'
We commend this choice extract TO the at
teution of our readers. We have tried hard to
learn whom Mr.. Davis had in mind, when
framing this description of his old associates.
We believe he once shared the Inequalities of
our fair city, when i'll health compelled him to
breathe the sweet air OF a northern summer;
but he did not then style his entertainers low
and vulgar, and surely he is still, like Brutus,
an honorable man. We remember how he
praised our State and her people, before
DE uocratic convention in the old City Hall.
He cannot mean the people, still less the Dem
ocrats of Maine, though he mingled very free
ly with them; but everybody knows that no
adherent of that party has a more swampy
birthplace than Mr. Davis himself. 1t is just
possible he was thinking of the notable Wig
gin, and the flock he leads forth to browse on
the withered leaves of the Saco Democrat. For
a moment we thought Mr.. Davis meant to re-
pay the kindness, which bestowed the title Of
Ii. D. upon him, after his churlsh fashion, by
denominating his admirers snobs. But
we found ourselves miles away from a
right conclusion. Indeed, we can find but
one solution to the enigma. The speaker was
unconsciously betraying his old modes OF life.
We accept, therefore, without further question,
the truth of Mr.. Davis confession that he con-
sorted with low and vulgar creatures for ma
ny years. None but low and vulgarized
man, on high day, in the sight of bepraised
audience, would have so openly sported his
own shame, aud reminded them of conduct,
over which, II true, they must have been glad
to draw thick veil. But character must and
will out. The polite world go to bed after
shaking hands with Professor Webster, and
10 the morning stare aghast on the blood
stains left on their softly clasped fingers. The
polite world admire Schuyler's writing, but
are lost in horror when they learn the ink flow
ed freely, mixed with the tears of plundered
women. The polite world welcome Senator
Davis to their costliest parlors and best gar
mis- he'd tables, and then stand in amaze to hear
that between times, he repaired, like dog to
his vomit, to the company Of low and vulgar
creatures. Time and war reveal strange
secrets.
We have exposed the trne meaning Of our
orator The loyal can gather from his words
the real design and Lesson Of the bloody dra-
ma brought out by him and his company on
the great theater Of the war The selection
quoted, charges that we of the Horth are from
the boys and fens over sea. The apostle of
the theories Of slavery gives US the last place
in bis distribution OF humanity. First is the
Sunny South, next "the niggers,n and then
the men Of the bog and fen. We fear it will
be novel division to some in the midst Of us,
but let them remember it was made in mo-
ment Of penitential grief for the past We
leave him who made il TO the society of his
niggers and children OF the sun, while we ac-
cept the classification, and the lordly scorn at
tending it. 1t shows how priceless is the
government beneath whose fostering care our
lowly ancestors and their successive genera
tons have risen TO such greatness. None like
II is to be found in all the range of history,
none where out OF the depths men may climb
50 high. Look at the free schools and eolleg
Look at the mighty cities, at the vast railway
enterprises. Look at the telegraph, the press,
the ponderous enginery and the delicate me-
chanisms with which the land OF the men of
the fen ems and huns; and say If the govern
ment which helps vulgar creatures" TO effect
such results is not worth having and keeping?
The spirit of the Constitution and the spirit
Of the North are one. Through all the long
years of its existence, the Constitution has
tended steadily 10 freedom. The North has
fallen in with this tendency, and as the conse
quence,a love OF civil liberty for the sake of
what 1t does for man, is inhaled with every
breath OF Northern air. Nowhere are there
opportunities SO magnificent, incentives SO
stimulating, rewards so rich, as In the free
North, whose people translate into their lives
the true meaning If the great charter Of their
liberties. Is it not plain then, from the fruits
OF the two theories, that the Constitution was
framed to kindle liberty ever into brighter
glow, and was not contract, drawn with as
keen an eye TO the perpetuation of bondage.
as to the interests of freedom?
Man Found Dead.
W.rrpvIt March % 12R2