The Portland daily press., 1863-04-24
Friday Morning, April ~, 1868.


Noh,e rr,,erance of an old Democrat.
N.ruAy1rr b. BAKER was the last DEM
cratic Governor of New Hampshire. He was
so popular with the people of the Granite
State that. even when Know Nothingism was
sweeping all before it in the New England
States, he was elected tc the chief magistraey
Of that commonwealth, and he held up the
Democratic nag for his party at least one year
after it hal been struck in the neiShboring
Democratic States. Mr. Baker, when Cover
nor, was possessed of all the ardor OF youthful
manhood aud ambition; he was the youngest
of all the Governors ofthat State-perhaps the
youngest of all the New England Governors
except Spragde OF Rhode lsiand-and he en-
loved the fullest confidence of the leading men
of his party. From New Hampshire he went
to Iowa-to the new city of Clinton-whefe
he became known politically as well as probes
sionaIly. and soon came to take an active part
in the politics of that State.
Daring the last presidential campaign he
was an ardent supporter of Mr.. Douglas, and
mayer for n moment wavered in his devotion
10 the Democratic cause. But when the re-
belljon of Southern Shareholders forced the
present calamitous war upon the loyal people
of the free States, Mr.. Baker, like hosts of
other Democrats, knew no party lines except
those separating loyal men from traitors. lie
gave his whole influence in favor of the Gov
eminent entered into the active military service
of the State. and was subsequently, made Adj
infant General, which office he now holds.
Recently he has addressed a letter TO friend
in New Hampshire upon the duties of the eiti-
zen to the State, from which the following
eloauent extract is made. We commend II to
all honest men Of the Democratic party, and
ask them to consider well the question, to
what point party must be drifting, if il sets
itself in opposition TO the views expressed by
the Ex-Governor:
From the day the boom Of the first rebel can
ON re-echoed from Fort Sumter took my stand
against secession and rebellion, ana for the Gov
eminent, and there shall stand to the end. 1t
is the platform upon which always stood, and
the first and all the lesson OF Democracy which
have learned taught me to stand there hrmly.
propose no conditions to my loyalty. l may
have differed from the Administration in some
points on the conduct OF the war, but that should
make no difference with man II he intends to
give the government his unwayering support.
I shall not make public declarations ia favor
of vigorous prosecution ofthis war to suppress
the rebellion, aud then publicly or privately ut
Ter traitorous and bitter denunclauons OF the
President and the government.
have no filth in the man who says he sup
ports the COVE nnient, and finds fault because
there we're calls for volunteers. | do not credit
the man who says that he is loyal, and opposes
Volunteering taxation. issuing bills of credit,
CONSUMPTION, and all themethods TO raise armies
and means to sustain the nation. The man who
finds fault With every cti'rt OF the government
10 sustain itself, and then declares himself I'm
ion man, must be either non contpos, or false
hearted and falsifer of his own opinions.
never could distinguish between one of this class
of supporters of government and an ayowed
disunionist, except in this-that the latter had
the most honesty. and the former the most I'M
pudence.
There is class OF ardent supporters of the
Constitution as il is and the Union as il was,
who proposed new government with New Eng
land left out ia the coli,' and that class of men
in the West would have hailed with delight the
triumph of the Democratic party in New Hamp-
shire at the late eeclion-not that they cared for
the State or the Democracy there, for they had
expressed their contempt of the one and cared
little for the other. They merely wanted the
success Of the leaders in New Hampshire as
sign that they tout West) we're supported in
their opposition to the government, regret to
-s~y- <sns II some vf the puo.ish-d quotations
from speeches made in New Hampshire we're cor
rect, they would compare flyorably as specimens
of disloyalty uttered BY the haters OF New Eng
land in the West
have always voted the Democratic ticket,
but if had been among my native hills at the
time of the late election there, no act OF mine
should have in any way been construed into a
support Of the men in other parts Of the Union
who have DETAINED New England and her insti-
md tr~sassd the p-asidsnt, and
protects them