Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1864-01-30
SATURDAY NOR MING. JAN. 80. 1864.
Senator Harding Of Oregon.

senator 6ar0lng OF VTeSOu'
Some one in Portland writes to the San
francisco Bulletin and under the appearances
If defence, which is ambiguous and very
questionable, rcvives the charge that Senator
Harding "takcd little acknowledgements
when at home the past summer" Upon this
text both the Oregon;an and 11mes chime in,
the one reprinting ana commenting upon the
paragraph Of the Bulletin letter which reflects
upon Senator Harding, and the other repeat
ing and charging upon the statements in
spirit that has surprised and panied us. The
malice of this attack lies in the false manner
Of stating the charSr of "Nallandiehaml-m
which is made against Mr.. Harding, his ac-
casers carefully ignoring from the public the
tact that the statement upon which it was
founded was in reply to acquisition based upon
a supposition not within the range Of posslti'-
ity. Mr.. Harding did say that if Nallan'lis-
ham was running against such opposite cS-
tremeists as Wendell Phillips or w. l.. Gar
rson, and he lived in Ohio, he would vote for
the former, and gave at the time satisfactory
reasons why he would do so. As far as his
accuscrs are concerned, it would be useless to
defend him against this Islander, for they
would be Just as bitter and have just Ms strong
an argument against him it he had answered
the question the other way. providing that
they had used his answer as they now do by
pervprting it. No one prctcnd- that Senato:
Har ling has in his public calerr ever waverrd
in his support of the Administration. Even
the Times admits that "whilc in the Senate
lie was generally true to the party WHO sent
him there" yet it can ilippan'ly denonne'
him as traitor, upon such specifications as
that Ne, installing public sentiment, pro-
nounced that Infamous SANDER upon the arniy
ofthe Potomac-dcclarinS it to be mol
Whether he made this declaration CT not
we are not prepared to say. Blu, we do be-
lieve that United States Senator, of Demo-
cratic antecedrnts, who has stood by tn" Ad-
ministration through thick and thin in its ct
fort to crush the rebellion, is entitled to be
considered n sound Union man, even if he did
express an opinion which was entertained by
General Hooker himself when he took COM
mand of the army Of the Potomac, and not
outstanding that opinion may have heen cor
trary to the public sentiment of Oregon. We
believe that the army Of the Potomac would
have been destroyed and the hopes Of the Mi
ton lost, if those who were responsible for it
had been deferred by fear of public sen'i-
ment from acknowledging to themselves its
decentralization under such leaders as Nc
Cl-llan, and failed to take prompt measures
for its reorganization.
The crime Of treason is regarded with such
feelings of horror in these times that the
charge. if only whispered from ear TO ear, is
too apt to overwhclm its victim without re-
gard to his guilt Or innocence, for there are
but few who had not rather O. with the popu-
lar breeze. establishing their own patriotism
by shouting treason against others. though
they may know the CRY to b. ever so false,
than to face the storm and risk the odium of
defending man who has been denounced sa
traitor. Thus hundreds have been burned at
the stake for wiichcraft, because not even the
Judges upon the bench, or the ministers of the
Gospel, dare raise their voices against the &C.
cused lest they too should be denounced and
burned AZ witches.
As yet We have SEEN no reason to suspect
Senato, Harding Of disloyal'y in either
thought, word, or action, and We believe that
oil who have honestly repeated the cry against
him-if there are any such-will in short
time BE- prepared to reverse it, Perhaps even
his false accusers would hiue no desire to
maintain that he was witch after the ordeal
nad.put him out Of their own way.
+, private letter which We have seen,
written Oct. 9TH, 1863. Mr.. Harding ant;c.
pated pretty much of what is now Transporting.
In speaking Of the elements of discord in the
Union organization. he says:
~ seems that it is enough that individuals
shall yield all claim to prefement, aud aid
aad strengthen the party as simple members, but il
they must be driven from tho Union ranks If possible
sndsh least denounced as copperheads. secessons.s
or traitors"
y Our latest San Francisco papers say
the monitor ComancAe has no, yet been raised.
Il is thought that parties are interested in
keeping her under water-probably those who
were behind the scenes in the Chapman