The Portland daily press., 1863-03-25

4
venton; inculcated dishonorable compromise
with rebels in arms; and threatened new
Union, with New England omitted. In sup
port OF these assertions, refer not only to the
speech of this gentleman, but to other produc-
tions from his pen.
The Legislature of Maine, Mr.. Speaker, has
! for the first time since it became a State, heard
the boldest treason uttered against the gov
ernment, for three consecutive days, upon the
floor of this House. 1t was boldly done, and
l felt not a little admiration for the courage of
the gentleman from Westbrook. One always
respects more the highwayman, who, with pis-
tol at your head. demands your money or
| your life, than for the sneaking pckpocket.
who robs you in the dark.
Benedict Arnold was mean traitor. He
undertook to stab his country with no note of
warning. But the gentleman from West
brook, feeling that the sanctity of his privilege
| protects him, stands boldly forward, and
makes no disguise of his purpose. He he's
won the mantle of the Revolutionary traitor
But his speech was addressed to the wrong au-
dience. 1t was only fitted for Southern ears,
where it would have been received, not as here
In dead silence, but with shouts of applause.
1t was an APOLOGY FOR THE REBEL LION,
better put than his friend jeff Davis, could
have done it; and / cannot but compliment
this patriotic House, for its almost sublime pa
tence, in listening with attention, and without
one expression of feeling, to such infamous
sentiments as were uttered by the gentleman
from Westbrook. Neither can fail to render
my grateful Acknowledgements to the Provost
Marshal, who occupies an honorable seat ia
the other branch, for showing him scorn for
such futile effort at treason, by declining to
arrest the speaker on the spot And. Mr.
Speaker, may as well say here, as anywhere,
that, in my Judgment the government, instead
Of Ia.fr.n H.
the matter of arrests. This war is war for
the life Of the nation, and whoever and what
ever stands in the way. should be thrust out
of the way. The iron hand and not the vel
vet glove, is necessary. And if traitors must
talk and write treason here at the North let
them do it in the walls of our forts, and not in
our public streets, or in our legislative halls.
Taking the gentleman's reasoning to be
correct, then all that remains for the govern
ment to do is to ask pardon of the South for
compelling them to take up arms-agree to
all their demands-pay all their debts-and
let them go in peace If they will
The gentleman's elaborate speech-though
spoken at this House, was not intended for It.
1t is to be published, and will be circulated
broadcast not only over this State, but
through the north and south. Very well-
Truth is stronger than error, and
at shall plead,
Like angels, trumpet-tongued,
Against this deep damnation'
All we ask of the gentleman is, that he
shall deal as honestly with the public as he has
with this House. Let him entitle the produc-
ton,
"DEFENCE OF THE REBELLION,
"And Vindication Of Southern Rights:
"By a felio,c Rebel"
Mr.. Speaker, through all this speech af sew
en- hours and quarter, have heard repeated
denunciatlons of the north, but not one ,cord
dgdtnst the rebellion, nor one word of sympa-
thy with the glorious Nag of the Union
Even Judas Iscariot, when he was betraying
his master, had grace enough to do it with a
kiss, and did hope, sir, that when the gentle
man deserted his flag, he would have grace
enough TO give 1t parting salute. Judas Is
CARROT, after his high treason, had grace
enough left TO go out and hang himself | do
not recommend the gentleman TO follow his
example
Mr.. Speaker, it was not the ant-slavery agi-
tation of the North that produced this rebel
lion, as shall have occasion TO show before
have closed my remarks. 1t was produced 5y
the check to the farther Gggressions Of slavery
by the election Of Abraham Lincoln.
And here, before / proceed farther let me
anticipate misrepresentation of my views and
position, by saying that am not in the popu-
lar sense of the word, an Abolitionist. Until
this internal rebellion broke out, my constant,
though humble influence, has ever been in ia
vor of securing the South, not only in consti-
tutiooal rights, but for the sake of peace, more
than the constitution gave them, and if the
rebels will return TO their allegiance, | am
ready TO do so still, as far as the change in the
circumstances of the nation will permit But
l am not one of those putty men OF the North,
who, to please the South and their dough-fac-
ed allies of the free States, profess to admire
the institution of slavery. On the contrary.
hate it thoroughly and heartily. | hate il
from the crown Of its head to the soles of its
feet. 1t is violation of Gods law, which
gives TO every man the ownership of his own
body. II denies the doctrine of human rights.
enforced through all the word of God and
recognized as the basis of our national inder-
pendence. 1t is a huge wrong, in whole and
in detail. And. Mr.. Speaker, to me there is no
meaner thing that crawls on this round and
beautiful earth than the Northern man-born
beneath the shadow of our beautiful noun
tains, breathing our free air, and enjoying the
blessedness of our free institutions-who un-
dertakes TO vindicate the system of American
slavery. Our rich, exubeIant and glorious
language seems flexible enough to express
every shade of thought; but feel its poverty
W htthlS WDitS Iof Tic utitFdilCt Oh nv
scorn of the Northern man who would SO de-
grade his birthplace.
The first cargo of slaves ever brought into
this country was landed at jamestown, Vir-
ginia, 10 1920. That was not all its cargo. 1t
was freiglted from deck to keelson with curses
for this land of beauty. Out OF that small
vessel, walked side by side with its ebony car
go legion, devils, who have spread themselves
all over this fair land, blasting it with their
fiery breath as the serpent blasted Eden.
From the day OF that first advent slavery has
steadily grown in power.
1t so controlled the trainers of the Constitu-
tion, that those noble patriots were compelled
10 bow to its authority.
1t claimed divine, instead of an Internal
origin, and compelled even the churches, that
profess to teach that "God is no respecter of
persons" and "has made of one blood all men
to dwell upon the face of the earfh," to ignore
this equalizing doctrine, and teach different
gospel.
1t took possession of every department of
the Government. Presidents obeyed its conn.,
sal T..