The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-03-27
NR 1RH4z WEEKzY PAaER DEEeYD TO AND
For the Union and Journal.

Mn. EDITOR:-ln my last snow, that '~
policy Of the Democratic party had for a
long series Of years been increasing the nu-
merical strength and material resources of
the rebel States, and that it had during the
same period weakened the moral power of
resistance in the North. propose now to
point out other lcgacies of weakness and
embarrassment, which that party has made
to tho Administration of Mr.. Lincoln.
This is a war not Of one party against
another party, but war Of the slave States
against the free States,-a war Of Slavery
upon freedom. and is Of 80 formidable q
character as to require the united energies
Of all the free States to resist it. In this,
all parties at the North are equally interest
ed,-the Democrat as much as the Republic
can. Hence the Administration has felt
bound so to shape its measures as to meet
general approval. Could tho President,
when the ship, carrying supplies to the belca-
guered garrison of Fort Sumter, was fired into
and driven off, or when that fort was assault
cd and taken by the rebels, have then Issued
tho proclamation of last September, threat
ching in three months to liberate tho slaves in
oil the States. which should then be in re-
bellion with the unanimous sanction and APP
prevail of the people of tho North, 1t is not
probable that moro than two or three States
would have been in rebellion ut the end OF
the three months. Could the, President with
like sanction of the people. have sustained
tho proclamation of Fremont, freeing tho
slaves of rebels in Missouri, the war in that
State would have soon ended. Had the
President been allowed to sustain like
proclamation of Gen. Hunter in the South
ern department. the rebels would have been
greatly embarrassed, and their armies weak
ened. But Democratic hatred of the negro,
and Democratic sympathy with the South,
prevented him. Either of those measures
would, at those times, have divided the people
Of the free States and endangered civil war
among ourselves. Democrats had to be dlsa.
bused of their prejudices, and OF their SYM
PATTY with the rebels, by experience and
sore sulfcrings, before they would consent to
tho adoption of such measures.
Again. had our Government been able,
with the consent Of the people, to arm the
negroes, at the beginning of the war, the
demand for men from the North would have
been comparatively small, tho expense of the
war and the loss OF white men in its pro-
gress. lessened by moro than one half. But
here, again, Democratic hatred and Demo.
cratic sympathy with our brethren of tho
South opposed. The poor laborer, who
would checrfully work with negro in his
field at home, would not consent to fight
with him land it was objected, that such
course would endanger tho lives of the
women, and children of the rebels,-just as
il it would not tend to dispense their armies
in tho field to their homes, to take care of
their families and make our victory easy -
Just as If the lives of Northern freemon arc
not of as much account as the lives of trail
tors in petticoats! But oil history shows,
that the negro is not cruel race. They
would escape tho accustomed lash and sla-
very, If they could, but would not repeat the
atrocities of their masters. They have
learned better.
But now after the measure has become
nearly impracticablo and hopeless, from long
delay,-after the fruitless loss of two hundred
thousand lives and ten hundred millions in
treasure. the Government is beginning, at
last, to arm few negroes, in spite of the
most violent opposition Of many democrats;
and it is hoped that their bravery and sue.
ccsscs will vindicate tho policy.
Still the negroes have not been entirely
useless to us in this war. They have helped
man our ships of war and build our lortif-
cations, and Mr.. Seward said in an official
letter to Mr.. Adams. our Minister to Eng.
land, some time ago:
"Evcry where the American General re
ceivcs his most useful and reliable informa
ton from the negro, who halls his coming as
the harbinger Of Freedom" E.