The Portland daily press., 1863-09-05


Mr.. Lincoln was perhaps hailed with greater
Joy at Charleston than at New York will
do them the Justice to state that they also
claimed to have some other grievances !;
among them, that some of the Northern
States, by their statutes, obstructed the exc
cuton OF the fugitive slave law, but the only
States that could complain much on that score,
were willing to remain in the Union, while
South Carolina, the State which set the ball in
motion, perhaps never lost a slave. But it
must be borne In mind that no act of the Ma
tional Government constituted any part Of
their grievances. They did not pretend that
any act of Congress infringed their rights, and
the decisions of the Supreme Court were
mainly such as they would have made them
selves.
The great cause of complaint was, that
man opposed to the extension of slavery in the
territories had been elected President of the
United States according to the forms of the
Constitution which he was sworn to defend
and protect, and who discaimed any other
than Constitutional means in the accomplish
ment of his objects.
If the South had real grievances, their
course was plain. They should have asked
for redress; not sought to escape their allie
glance through the door of armed rebellion.
A peaceful and legitimate effort to get redress
for any real grievance would have given them
the sympathy of the world, whereas now, says
our writer, ",ce haze not a friend in Europe.'
The writer then goes on to show how the
people of the South were deluded into seces-
sion-the false hopes held out to them by the
leaders. ~
First and foremost, they promised that Sc
cession should be peaceable.
Secondly. they promised that if perchance
war should ensue, it would be a very short
war: that it would not last six months-that
the Yankees would no. iight-that one South
erner could whip from ten to one hundred of
them-that England and France would speed
lily recognize us and render us every assistance
we might desire--that whatever might be their
abstract opinions on the subject OF slavery,
their interests would impel them to promote
its perpetuty in the Southern States that if
after all they should not be disposed to assist
us, Cotton was King, and would soon bring all
the crowned heads OF Europe on their knees
in duplication TO US; would compel them to
raise the blockade should one be established
jim thirty days, in sixty days, in ninety days.
in one hundred and twenty days, in six mouths,
in nine months, in one year at farthest.
Thirdly, they promised US that all the Slave
States, except Delaware, would join the South
ern Coniederacy-that slavery should not only
be perpetuated in the States, but that it should
be extended into all the territories in which
the negro could live; that all the grievances
occasioned by the non-execution of the fugi-
tive slave law should be speedily redressed;
that slave property should be established upon
basis as safe as that of landed property.
Fourthly, they promised us that the new
government should be mere Conlederacy of
States olabsolute sovereignty and equal rights;
that the States should be tyrannzed over by
no such central despotsm' as the old Gov
eminent at Washington; that the glorious
doctrine of State rights and notification as
taught by Mr.. Jefferson and Mr.. Calhoun,
should prevail in the new Conicderacy-
the sovereignty OF the States and their judicial
decisions should be sacredly respected.
Fifthly, they promised US the early and per-
manent establishment of the wealthest and
best government on the earth, whose credit
should be better than that of any other nation;
whose prosperity and happiness should be the
envy of the civilized world.
And lastly, they promised us that il war
should ensue, they would go to the battle field
and spill, ii necessary, the last drop of their
blood in the cause OF the beloved South.
While such have been their promises, what
have been their performances? Instead of Sc
cession being peaceable, as they promised
that il would, il has given rise to such war
rs has never before desoiated any country
since the barbarians of the North overran the
Roman empire.
SO far from the wars ending in six months,
As they said il would, should it ensue, it has
already lasted more than two years, aad ii
their policy is TO be pursued, il will last more
than two years longer; and Notwithstanding
their predictions, the Yankees have fought
on many occasions with spirit and determin-
alton worthy OF their ancestors Of the reyolu-
tion-wortby Of the descendants of those aus
tere old Puritans whose heroic spirit and reli-
gious zeal made Oliver Cromwells army the
terror OF the civilized world, or of those
French Huguenots, "who thrice in the six
teenth century contended with heroic spirit
and various fortunes against the genius of the
house of Lorraine, and all the power of the
house Of Valois." England and France have
not recognized us-have not raised the block
ade-have not shown US any sympathy, nor is
there any prospect that they will, and that
cotton is not king is universally acknowledge
ed. And Maryland has not joined the conied-
eracy, nor has Kentucky nor Missouri ever
really been with us. Slavery has not only
not been perpetuated in the states nor extend
ed into the territories, but Missouri has passed
an act OF emancipation, and Maryland is ready
to do so rather than give up her place in the
Union, and the last hope OF obtaining a foot
slavery has departed from the Coniederacy
forever. The grievances caused by the fall
ure of some of the Northern States to execute
the fugitive slave law, have not only not beer
remedied, but more slaves have been lost to
the South forever since secession was inaugu-
rated, than would have escaped from their
masters in the Union In five centuries. And
how have they kept their promise that they
would respect the rights and sovereignty OF
the States? Whatever the Government may
be in theory, in fact We have grand military
consolidation, which almost entirely ignores
the existence of States, and disregards the
decisions of their highest judicial tribunals.
The great central despotism at Washington, as
they were pleased to call ii, was at any time
previous TO the commencement of the seces-
sion movement. and even for some time after
it had commenced, a most mild and beneficert
government compared with the central despo-
tism at Richmond under which we are now
living.
Instead Of an early and permanent estab-
lishment of the "wealthest and best govern
ment in the world, with unbounded credit"
what have we got? In spite of all the victo-
ries they profess to have obtained over the
Yankees, they have lost the states of Missouri
Kentucky, Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Mis-
sissippi and Tennessee, and, in my humble
opinion, have lost them forever. and in all
probability Alabama will soon be added to the
number This will leave to the conederacy
but five states out of the original thirteen, and
of these five the Yankees have possession of
.<~ft