The Portland daily press., 1864-08-25
The Duty of a Representative.

SHAH pt ItpleSChtCNf ~aNt
spokesmen, have a voice in the AFFAIRS Oh 'ne
nation. The manufacturers OF New England,
the farmers of the West, the capitalists oil
the great cities, the shareholders OF the South,
tho nioneers OF the Plains, and the miners Of
tho great Pacific States, all send representa-
tive men TO the congress of the nation. Ii is
not the duty Of these to be servilc advocates
OF the mere local Interests of their constitu-
ency; for small advantages must often be
sacrificed to the general welfare: but when q
great idea is cherished by a people, where
great truth is their central characteristic,
where glorious ancestry or worldwide
fame is their special pride, it should always
be represented in the central man deputed to
deliver the voice Of his constituency in the
grand council OF the nation. Thus in the
early days of the Republic there was, Win
the exception of few localities, bnt one
opinion on the subject of slavery. Liberty
was the rule, slavery the exception Inc
speedy removal OF the disgracelul institution
of human bondage was hoped and expected
By every one. Later, the country ui'ioeo.
Those TO whom slavery was precious sen. TO
.onarass men 10 defend 1t. Those to whom
II was a matter of Indifference sent men who
carried out their views. Those to whom lib
erty was still, in spite of interest, tradition or
authority, the one precious jewel Of the con-
stitution, we're also represented by sincere
and earnest men.
Although as rule the people Of New
England have never wavered from their origi-
nal devotion TO liberty, there have been among
US some discordant spirits, a foreign element,
who have never perfectly assimilated with
our earnest and loyal devotion TO the princi
pie of universal human equality before God.
With these men our Puritan ancestors have
ever been objects of detestation. To dwell
upon the unlovely side of their character to
recall their stern fanaticism, to repeat the
stories of their witch burnings, their black
laws, their rigid interference with domestic
affairs has been the chief delight of these
lovers of olgarchy. With strange inconsis-
tency they forget that the Puritans whom
they affect so to despise were the founders of
the only practicable scheme of Democracy
the world has ever seen, that they founded
state of which intelligent, educated individual
volition was the foundation, that they peopled
the swamps of the South ard the praries of
the West with an enterprising and thrifty pop
ulation, that they covered the sea with ships,
bound together the States with bands of iron
and circled the world with electric nerves.
All this they forget.
These haters of New England are mostly
to be found among the leaders OF the Demo-
cratic party. They have sought. out from
among the aristocratic, the purse-proud and
the snobs of New England for standard bear
ers; and they have found some so foreign to
our traditionary character, SO false to the spi-
rit OF liberty, so uncongenial to the intelli-
gent masses, as to join with them heart and
hand in their grand conspiracy against the
liberties of the country. Oac grand move in
the game of these men is to drive New Eng
land out OF the Union. Fernando Wood has
often expressed such desire. Gov. Seymour
more than hinted at such q design. Demo
cratic politicians in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois
have long advocated measures tending to
such a result. The most common means
adopted is wholesale vilihcation Of New
| England aud her Puritan founders An elat-
crate specimen of this sort of elecuoneefing
is In the speech of S. S. Cox OF Ohio before
the Democratic Climb in New York in 1868
A few instances of his eloquence will suffice
He said:
'Puritanism is the reptile which has beer
boring into the mound, which is the constitu-
/ ton; and this civil war comes in like the de.
| vouring sea. Its rushing tide of devasa ion
wul not oe sropped until the reptile is crushed
/ and the mound rebuilt"
He then goes on TO say that the hatred o.
the politics Of New England is becoming vi ie
spread at the West, whose people will soon
demand new confederacy OF their own
Here are few more choice bits:
Their history as written by themselves Is
| CLOSED over with ialsehood Investigation is
iast rubbing of the lacquer and the rotten
rame work Of their ethics and politics is be-
ginning ta appear"
They were in America the cruel zealots of
otter persecution; the more odious because
hey proiessed so differently"
There is yet ia New England the Brah
min and the Scotia Caste. There is an old
law that men might be whipped forty lashes,
out gentlemen never except in very fragrant
| cases"
"Ransack history from the death of Abel TO
the present, and you will find no such cruel
lies as those practised by the dyspeptic pref
udiced Puritans."
This is enough. The speech is made up al-
most entirely of similar stuff. Il is an elabo-
rate attack on the Puriians aud their descend
ants. Tha. lis sentiments are shared by a
choice few among US, who glory in their
shame, Is well known. But did it ever occur
to the people OF this district that their repre-
sentative in Congress, their chosen servant in
the national councils is so faithess TO his con
stituents, 50 forgetful of their origin, so re-
,ardless of their just pride in deriving their
descent from noble ancestry, so blind to the
| true feelings Of the community In which he
was born, so recreant to the proper spirit, and
so lost TO the proper self-respect of New
England man, as to work, vote and associate
with this vile traducer of our honored ances-
tors, and to herd with the demagogues whose
chief stock ia trade Is foul and malignant
slander OF the nobest men who ever founded
nation? Would any one imagine that he
actually coted for S. S. Cor for Speaker OF
the House? Yet it is true. Let the people
see to 1t that this stain is no longer affixed to
our fair name. Let us elect man who has at
heart not only the interests, but the honor
and reputation OF the constituency he repre-
sents.
Gen. Seymour's Letter.