The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-07-23
AUGUSTA, July 20, 1868.

James T. McCobJ, Esq.
President &c.
SIR:-Yours of the 9Th inst. announcing the action
ofthe Union State Convention, assembled at Bangor
the LIST in the selection of ca ndidate for Govern
or 10 be supported by the suiirages of the uncondi
tionay loyal of this Stat in the ensuing cleo
ton, together with copy of the resolutions adopted
by that Convention, is received.
To be the appointed standard bearer of party
simply has heretofore been esteemed an honorable
compliment TO the individual who may have been as
signed TO that post in times OF peace aud when mock
traordinary responsibilities devolyed upon the nc
cessul competitor beyond the ordinary routine ofoi
iicial duty To be the chosen candidate of organ
ization assembled without regard to anterior party
al ations, with other test than that of 10y atty TO
the country. and devotion to the holy cause of pre-
serving the national life and such candidate, TAX
ing from that organization no banner emblazoned
with party devices but only the flag OF our country
with its stars and its stripes its traditions and imp
cations, at time when parricidal conflict Is rag
ing the result of which is to determine whether that
banner is hereafter TO maintain its place among the
insignia OF the nations or be trampled in the dust
together with the best hope of the human race,
honor which no man of ordinary sensibity could re-
ceiye but with humility and sef-dstrnsf
In accepting this nomination. | adopt the resou-
tions OF that convention, holding in their language
that at is the solemn duty of all patriotic and 10y
citizens, TO take firm and uneq1iyoca position in
favor of the National administration in conducting
the war against the rebellion and yindicang the au-
thory OF the nation throughout rs entire domain
THAT In sustaining the National authority in this
war for the salvation OF the Union, we make no frF-
oous or disorganizing opposition to the policy and
measures of the Government, but unite
In sustaining its military and civil policy and meas
ures, without qualification or reservation"
Mr.. Lincoln came to the Presidency at a time when
the aricers of the present gigantic rebellion by the
possession and control of Cabinet offices under the
previous administration had almost cmasculaied the
National Government of its powers of defense or
sef-preser atson Its small army posted
mote frontier, portion Of il where it could be
yenicntiy betrayed by traitors in command; its mu-
ntiOns and supplies seized for the of the rebels
its dimminutiye navy, still large enough TO have ser
onsy checked the early efforts of treason, scattered
on remote oceans beyond the reach of timely recall
al utaQ taft a.
aud the credit of the nation reduced so low by the
gross Encouragement of that department. that its
bonds could be negotiated only at price, which, un
der other circumstances wonld have been regarded
shameful sacrifice; State after State passing ord
nanees OF secession, raising the standard OF revolt
against the laws they themselves had participated in
making and sezing the forts arsenais, mints. dock
yards and all other national property within their
limits In this anomalous condition OF affairs the
administration found itself charged with far graver
duties than the execution ofparty policies or the
binary functions of government TO find the means
OF eNtricang the country from its peril, and vind
cate the national authority, was its first care and du
ty- While seeking peaceful solution of the difficult
ties which waylad its path, on the 18th day of April
1851 the whole people electrified by the bonn
bardment OF Sumter, The commenced by
this hragitious and tfaitorous act.
Then il was, the call OF the President thousands
and hundreds of thousands OF men, who had not
aided but earnestly opposed the election of Mr.. Linz
coin, casting behind iem all momory past differ
ences, forgetting everything but the of their
country, rushed To arms under the folds VI its giori
Gus banner; and then il was that other thousands
ling under their Feet AS unworthy OF consideration
the party distinctions of the oden time, vowed in
their inmost souls, TO stand by the Government
while there was traitor IN arms against its anhor
ty aud until ats supremacy should be re-estd6Ashed
And is our cause less worthy of all efforts to-
day, than at the outset of the conflict Is the I'm
ion now less dear or its benefits and blessings more
doubtiuly II not, why is not the government still
entitled to our hearty and undivided support How
patriots we refuse ity The administration is
charged with the conduct of the war; il Is duty it
cannot escape or eyade. That it will employ all the
n natl nj ffs al fnr ths
vigorous prosecution OF the same and that the Pres
ident shall exercise all the powers nhering in him
Commander-in-Chiefo of the Army and Navy in
time OF war, or so much thereof may be necessary
to the accomplishment of its object clearly his
duty as il is the expectation OF the loyal people of
the country. While such Is the duty of the govern
nent the c0rrelaiye duty OF the citizen is accord
TO il hearty support. our soldiers suffering hard
ships, priyaiion and DEATH do send up from
the fields of battle complaints of the policy of the
government. but have been and are steadfastly do
lug their duty like heroes How then can those re-
manning behind enjoying the quiet comfort and
rlty OF home, withhold LON the cause their whole
soulcd support.
general bald assertion of love of country and deyo
ton to the Union, but by words and deeds OF en-
couragement will help cause; il will not carp
at every measure OF the administration, and will
pardon much TO the immense difficulties that beset
1t; IT will not depreeaie or depreeaie the
of the Union II will dispaTage the charac-
ter Of our soldiers compared with the rebels it
will not iail 10 rejoice at our victories by whatever
General they may be won: nor be cast down by
disasters whenever they befall U.S. it will not decry
the national credit nor cast suspicion the
tiona integrity; nor will II endeayor TO prevent the
operation of laws, designed to give efficiency to the
army by filling its ranks, either by mob violence
By seditious Indictment thereto. Differences of opin
ion there may be matters but the discussion
of such differences may well be postponed till We
have achieved tue objects Tor which the on our
part Is waged-to wit, TIE eidisptted supremacy IF
the United states uifhiH its dncieat and rightfat
limits.
sympathisng at the outset with the movements for
the suppression of the rebellion, nothing has oc-
CURED in the course of the contest TO change my
opinion to the importance and necessity of prose-
cutting it TO success u termination There a re those
among US who are crying peace" and peace would
indeed be welcome TO every household in the land,
but II must be such an one as will endure. Peace
any other terms than q complete restoration of the
authority of the nation, could by no possibility be
more than brief armistice. temporary truce
Transient peace we might have If we would accept
terms dictated by rebels but such terms would be
Indignantly secuted by patriots. Peace perhaps for
short time we might have IT, among other things.
we would surrender TO their iDselent demands the
right to establish such boundaries as they might
choose to fix. and concede to them the ghi to make
the lower Mississippi another Dardauelles to be
lined with cannon, 10 levy tribute in all time come
upon the commerce of the Empires which are rap
idly growing up ON its tributaries in the West and
Northwest. Senator Douglas, a name still dear to
hundreds of thousands of his country men proclaim
ed years ago that the men the Northwest would
never permit the dsmcmberment of the Union, that
they would claim their natural highways TO the Gulf
and the Atlantic unobstructcd by commercial regu-
aons OF alien States The idea of that of
country, fast becoming granary of capacity suf-
cent to feed the entire world, sueing humby 10 the
State of Mississippi, Louisiana Arkansas singly,
or together for permission TO float their products on
what has been fifty called the internal sea- of the
West-whieh. with its affiuents, counts miles of nav
igafion by thousands the purchase of ancestors
out OF a common treasury, and the common inheri-
lance OF every American iuzen-is proposition so
preposerous that il requires only 10 be stated to en-
its scornful rejection In the language of the
gallant Logan 1.-THE men of the Northwest will ceaVe
their way TO the Gulf with their swords - and even
now they and the men of New England have shaken
hands, at Vicksburg and Port Hudson, on this dec
laration OF the freedom of the Mississippi
The progress of this war, has developed the vast
military power of the entire nation and IL is g
OF rhetoric to say, that the Union restored. IL
could defy the world in Ii the Union is dis
solved, this vast military power, instead of slumber
bcring il has in the that past amid the
pursuits Of civil life, ready TO be awakened at the
first alarm OF danger will be required 70 be held
constantly In hand, to guard ourselves from each
other. With the Union restored, In a quarter of
century. these United States would hold the front
rank among the nations of the earth. Divided, Mt
hrst into two confcderacies the process Of dsinte
grafton is but Just begun Ii would go till nothing
but fragmentaTy states would remain, too insignii-
cant Tor ofensc, too feeble for scp-oteetion ready
10 become the victims of any enterprising ruler who
might nave an ambition to extend the sway Of the
| Latin race, or Of any uniriendy power, who
might desire 70 "readust its boundaries people
VINO would voluntarily throw away or suffer 10 be
wrested from them, the inestmable privileges of our
magnificent and powerful Uuon as Il was can hard
ly be expected TO be strongly eeInented m any
| other '
Ii was well remarked, in the British Parliament.
by shrewd observer Of human affairs that nations
which border each other never can agree far this
single reasoni because they neighborsn and All
| history tends to confirm the sad aphorism The
American colonies, under the sway OF England and
the states under the old confederation and the CON
stitution, have been exempted from the scourge Of
internal war, for period, perhaps without parallel
Tor so extensive country, in the annals of mankind