The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-09-10
Noble Position OF a southern Man.

We listen with bowed head and reverent
feelings to the teachings and suggestions of
those men whose devotion to the Union has
cost them the most painful sacrifices; who
have felt all the accursed catalogue of evils
that rebellion has brought in its train, and
who have proved their loyalty by deeds of
selfabnegaton and personal suffering from
which even martyr spirit might reasonably
shrink. Such man is Gen. Andrew j. Hamil-
ton of Texas, who has written long letter to
President Lincoln on the issues involved in
the present national struggle. The writer
commences by expressing his ardent desire
that no temporary adjustment Of the cause of
quarrel between the North and South should
lead to the re-establshment of slavery in the
States where it has been abolished by the pro-
camation of January, 1868, which compro-
mise, the General says, seems to be aimed at
by persons of political prominence Northern
sympathisers with rebellion, and some who
Cannot justly be SO designated. He then at
length goes on to demonstrate, in opposition
to the arguments of such persons, that the
Federal and State Constitutions, not only by
their terms, but by the practices founded on
them, include negroes as a part OF the people
for whom they were made-that under the
proclamation of January they are free, fight
ing and dying for free government, and that
they are citizens in fact and reason, and by
every right that conlers citizenship.
The restoration of the Union rs it was, the
writer holds an impossible theory; as the ex-
istence of slavery, the great and sole cause of
the present disruption, would forever hinder
any possibility of peace between the North
and South The interests of 10000 slave
holders, the General insists are not for a mo-
ment to be placed in the balance against the
interests of the whole world beside in the Sc
curing of the terms OF permanent peace,
which will never fall on this country so long
as slavery conservatism is entertained by
Shareholders and encouraged by their sympa-
thzers. He says:
The nation has had enough of .Siarery Conserva-
tism. IL now demands Ioi only a change but rddi-
cal change The future security of the nation de-
ponds upon the policy which shall be adopted
Its strength results from civil liberty and free gov
ernm nt--s only weakness has been the institution
of slavery, which ihwarted tn development of
those ideas. The great South, embracing more than
ance, an effective element OF national strength has
one enemy only-that is Slavery Conservation The
2O0D,OO of people in the North have had one in
sidious mercenary and atrocious enemy-Siore-
~ Conservatism The nation at large has had one
enemy-staeery Conservatism, lheexample in our
country Is only repetition fwhat has been Witness
ed in all Others. The process of freeing nations of
the barbarisms of Slavery has generally been Slow
owing TO the weakness of the an slavery forces
We have one advantage The 80000000 of people
devoted TO free labor have 1t in their power to
make short work of American Slavery. We shall
Gxat hath
the national disease. whether a rapid and radical
cure shall be effected In the conalesccnce of this
nation the open traitors may not prove TO be its
worst enemies.
As to the difficulties contemplated by those
who are troubled to know what to do with
the slaves after they are free, Gen. Hamilton
says, 'Let them aoner' They will need, and
have paid labor in the South until a white la
boring population shall succeed them, when
they will naturally desire to have a home and
government Of their own, when the Govern
ment can aid them in this WISH Meantime
let the rebellion be cared for, and the future of
the negro will take care of ITSELF In conclu-
sion the writer says TO President Lincoln:
BY your just Proc amation you gave the highest
enfraDchisement of the black man, and BY his enroll
ment in armies for the defense of the country
YOU have confirmed IL to the benefit of the nation
You will be urged TO revoke that act. God forbid
that you should listen to such advisers and so rob
yourself OF the gratitude and admiration of man
lind