The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-05-16
New Hampshire Soldiers ps. New Hamp-
shire Politicians.

~-s--~-h'N----D
shire Politicians.
Allusion has heretofore been made in the
Press to the dismissal from the service of 1t
A. j. Edgerly, OF Co. Z, Fourth New Hamp-
shire Volunteers, for neglecting his legitimate
duties as a soldier to enter into the political
campaign in New Hampshire, and to labor for
the triumph of a party which openly and une-
quivocally arrayed itself against the policy a
dopted by the Government for the suppression
Of the rebellion. That Edgerly has been dis
missed seems to be admitted; that the causes
of that dismissal have been correctly stated,
or the order which directed his dismissal and
which purports to be official, is the genuine
order for that purpose, may admit Of some
doubt. These things, however, are not mate
rial to our present purpose.
One thing is sure: the democrats of that
State are trying very hard TO make political
capital out of the dismissal referred to, aud to
make it out that Edgerly has been martyrzed.
The State Committee Of the party have issued
stirring address ITO tlSDemocracy of New
Hampshire" in which they labor to stir up in
dignation, and in which they try hard to make
out the point that Edgerly was dismissed the
service for no otfense except that of being a
democrat and voting the democratic ticket
We copy few sentences from this address,
which has been thought worthy of publication
in full by the Argus of this city:
Under any circumstances such an order for
such a cause would excite the severcst indig-
nation; but if anything were wanting at the
arff TO- ~ nah irdi Ion, fha
want would be supplied by the fact that the
same Administration which so summarily Wis
tied its vengeance upon Lieut.. Edgerly for ex-
ercising his unquestionable right of suffrage
as a free citizen of this State, week after week
during the late political campaign, allowed
if it did not order-Iniltary officers from other
States, of the highest rank and receiving the
largest salaries, to actively participate in the
canvass and assume to dictate to our people
both their political principles and their politi-
cal actions.
II for voting the Democratic ticket an Off
Ger is to be punished by dismissal from the ser
vice, what is to be the limit in kind or degree
of punishment which officials in power will in
flict upon the private for a similar oaence?
Certainly nothing less than CONSUMPTION will
force the Democrats OF this State into the SER
vice If thereby they forfeit freedom of opinion
and the dearest right of the citizen-the indie
pendent exercise of the elective franchise.
But this order addresses itself to you direct
ly and individually. In it the President goes
out of his way to apply to you, the $4,000
Democratic voters of New Hampshire, the OPP
probrious epithet which we will not repeat.
In it, with degree Of falsehood equaled only
by its vulgarity, he charges you with laboring
to promote the rebel cause.
In your name and behalf we denounce the
charge contained 10 this order as false; and
without descending to the level of its author
TO handy epithets, we express your contempt
for any denunciations and threats intended to
deter you from the fearless assertion and ex-
ercise Of your inherited and inalienable rights.
The State Committee repel the imputation
that the success of the so-called Democratic
ticket in that State would promote the rebel
cause" II may be proper TO say that it did not
require an enemy of Democracy to see in the
New Hampshire movement how the rebels
would be strengthened and the enemies of the
country encouraged for with reference to the
very election in question, it was written by one
of the honored Democrats from that State-the
last man whom the Democrats Of New Hamp-
shire ever elevated to the Gubernatorial chair
Hon. NATHANIEL b. BAKER, now of Gin
ton, Iowa-as follows:
of vigorous prosecution OF this war to sup
press the rebellion, and then publicly or pri-
vately utter traitorous and bitter denuncia-
tions of the President and the Government.
have no faith in the man VINO says he sup
ports the Government, and finds fault because
there were calls for volunteers. do not credit
the man who says that he is loyal, and opposes
volunteering taxation, issuing bills OF credit,
conscrption, and all the methods TO raise ar
mics and means to sustain the nation. The
man who finds fault with every effort of the
Government to sustain itself, and then declares
himself Union man, must be either non COM
pos, or falsehearted and falsifer of his own
opinions. l never could distinguish between
one of this class of supporters" of Govern
nent and an avowed disunionist, except in this
that the latter had the most honesty, and
the former the most impudence.
regret to say that II some of the published
quotations from speeches made in New Hamp-
shire were correct, they would compare favor
ably as specimens Of disloydtty, with senti-
ments uttered by the haters of New England
in the West
have always voted the Democratic ticket,
but If had been among my native hills at the
time OF the election there, no act of mine
should have in any way been construed into
support of the men in other parts of the Union
who have DETAINED New England and her in
situations, villifed and traduced the President
and abused and denounced the Government
which protects them.
When an old Democrat, who has received
the highest honors from his party, thus inter
prets the movements of his old party frieEds,
surely it will not be thought strange il com
mon people fail to see in their opposition to