The Portland daily press., 1863-07-16
"Murder will Out.''

The Argus labors hard to defend the patrio-
tism of those towns that have voted $500 to
pay the combinations of drafted men, and in
sists that such a course is in perfect consisten-
cy with generous support of the war and its
vigorous prosecution.t But some of its fellow
laborers in the copperhead cause "do not see
it in that light" and occasionally let out the
unpleasant secret that the design of such
town action is TO leave the Government UNI
supported, and the rebels unmolested We
have heretofore quoted the Portsmouth States
and Union, but the REPETITION of its language
will not be inappropriate in this connection.
On the oath of April last that paper said
OF course, if a sufficient sum of money is raised
- pay the exemption fees of all drafted men, there
eiu be no one 70 right. and there uiH then be pros
pecf Of a speedy 49, ef the srnr-A THING MOST
EARNESTLY TO BE DESIRED.
But we need not go out of the state to find
the same evil and mischievous design crop
ping out. The Machias Union is the organ of
Washington County Democracy-a paper in
good standing in its party, and east Of the
Penobscot river having as wide an influence
and considered as good authority as the Ar
gus in this portion OF the state. Referring to
the action OF the town of Machias, which
voted $500 to pay the communication OF each
man drafted, the Union says:
The only epeech made on either side was BY c. W.
Porter. ESQ, Clerk of the Courts who spoke IN OPP
bubble ond only needed 10 be pricked 10 vanish,
The voters voted 10 pay the $3.50 rather than try 10
prick the "babbie."
The Union don't think it well TO prick the
rebellion bubble. This is frank whatever may
be thought OF the patriotism of the thing.
The truth is becoming daily more and more
apparent that the democratic party do not
wish TO have the war shortcned--they wish TO
have it prolonged until they can have another
chance to come into power. A democratic
lawyer in Oxford county, at a public meeting
a few pays ago, took this ground emphatically.
He said If the war could be continued till the
democratic party came into power, they would
then make such propositions TO the South as
should res ult in the restoration OF the Union
upon its original basis. He didn't state what
they would do il the rebels should reject and
spurn their peace proposition. 1t is to weaken
the Government, to leave it without support,
communication money to defeat the draft, and
the Machas Union is frank enough to ac-
knowledge this in direct terms. That paper
says:
Nothing can be more repulsiye than 10 threaten 10
co nseript men aud take them against their wills from
their homes aud families Hence the popularity Of
Town meetings. as a means of saving citizens from
draft ,r'thouf making direct and open con dict
r1h the Government"
Here we leave it. The town meetings are
the means by which to defeat the Govern
ment, without doing it directly and openly.
The conflict with Government is indirect and
covert, but none the less a conflict. Still, the
Argus will continue TO plead the patriotism OF
these cowardly attempts TO aid rebellion by
Withholding the needed supplies of men de-
manded to put an end to he-striie in which
we are engaged, by suppressing the treasona-
BILE rebellion which has caused it.