The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-03-18
Appeal to the most Brutal Passions.

Appeal to the most Brutal Passions.
Whenever our Government has felt called
upon to deal earnestly with outlaws and guer-
rillas, JEFF. Davis has attempted to checkmate
1t by threats of retaliation. When a pirate
was found guilty of crime punishable with
death, the gallant. Corcoran and others were
selected from rebel prison to atone for his
blood should drop of it be shed. When Pope
threatened to treat unorganized guerrillas as
bandits, and punish them on the spot where
taken. Davis made him and his officers an ex-
ception to the humanties demanded by the
rules of civilized warfare, in case they should
fall into his hands. When Mcneil executed
few graceess wretches in Western Missouri.
who had broken their parole and were entitled
to no clemency, Davis demanded that he be
surrendered to his tender mercies on pain of
the summary execution of Union prisoners.
When Butler, alone first and actually dared
to hang traitor, Davis offered a reward for
his head. Such has been the spirit of the
contest as waged by the rebel chiefs. The
arm of power has been more or less paralyzed
through lear of bringing down vengeance on
its own friends, unfortunately in the hands of
the rebels.
But it seems another step is to be taken in
this work of checkmating the authority Of the
Government. Rebels at the North are to be
protected in the sowing OF their treason
broadcast from every stump and rostrum, by
threats of the torch, the bludgeon, and the re-
volver! and the man who proposes this kind
of response TO the authority Of the Govern
ment, is no less a man than F. o. J. SMITH!
1t seems that while the new military law of
Congress provides for the arrest and punish
ment of those who resist it, or counsel resist
ance, there are those like Fernando Wood,
Brooks and Valandgharn, who tell what they
would do il occupying the executive office of
State, and that no troops should be with
drawn from their jurisdiction, except over
their dead bodies. In reply to this kind of
gasconade and encouragement Of rebels, the
New York Evening Post suggested that the
Government should arrest its authors and thus
put stop to their mischief. The Post went
further, and proposed, in order to put stop to
Davis's hellish persecution Of Union men in
the South that some OF his friends and sympa-
thizers at the North should be seized and held
as hostages, thus to protect the loyal men of
the South. Tie Post proposed no mob vio-
lence, but that the Government should protect
itself by acting upon the first law OF nature
the law of selfpreservation and of sell-protec-
ton. To such suggestion, F. y. j. Smith, in
4 To- o;t th.. l.
II Is spirit that must be met at all hazards,
and In an equally determined and defiant res
olution; and the masses OF conservative Re-
publicans, and of Constitution and Union low
ing Democrats must be prepared to deal out
an eye Tor an eye and u tooth for a tooth" in
works oil resentment and holy retaliation,
whenever and wherever, and upon whomsoev-
err shall strike the first blow. Ii it must
come TO tliis-that Union men, who hate a war
conducted upon the abolition principles now
enunciated the condition Of the war which
the administration is conducting; ii they are
TO be violated In their persons and property,
as well as political rights by recourse to force;
and by mnbs and bloodsled, and murder; let
the measure SO rendered he dealt back ia kind
force for force, mob for mob, btoodshed for
bioodshed, and murder for murder, until the
horrid NAV of german LIKING revolutonists,
aud ant-Union barbarians, shall have been
glutted with the recoil oil their own wicked in
centives, aud be made 10 cry out, enough
enough!
Not satisfied with this he follows up his bent
in these words:
II we know the heart of men, impelled and
g0aded TO madness By assaults OF sheer malig-
nifty aud wickedness, aud in great and crowd
ed city, where mind and madness, and pas
sion rush on In mountain waves OF irresistible
fury when once set in motion-it will require
but = few more such prov, cations, as the par
tizan spirit and demouiac spite the N. Y.
Post has exhibited, 10 inaugurate a condition
of things that would make a retreat in hell it.
self paradise, compared with the best port of
safety which these offenders Of popular for
bearance will be able TO fee to-
We give single extract more-an invoca-
ton to the basest ASSIGNS to protect the proc
iamauon Of reasonable teachings among our
people. Whom the gods destroy, they first
make mad" Smiths madness is an evidence
Of his sure destruction. Hear him
Well, let the civil war come, IL it must
come," and :" damned be he who first cries,
hold, enoughr' The property and the lives of
these fanatics, aud their supporters, are as
broadcast, and as accessible TO fire, TO mob lao,
to the biudgeon, TO the repoiUer-as are the
property and lives of Conservative Republ-
caus, and OF Maine Democrats, who alike hate,
and will alike condemn, to the bitter end,
these usurpatious. and the war conducted upon
usurpations, against the Constitution and
Union. They can hope for as much luck, and
as much safety in such fight for existence, rs
can the negro worshippers and Union laters,
here In Maine, as in Ohio, and in the other
States of the Union, where the iron heel OF
despotism. under the cover OF law, is attempt
ing to trample life out of personal liberty, and
to intimdate remonstrance by acts, and threats
of violence.
~ The Constitution must be made Of