The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-01-14

Aboltionism whose uniriendly exac'ions
were first put forth on the very day jllumined
In America by the dawn of abolition. We
frankly say We could never have forescen that
the election Of air. Lincoln and the several
acts which we have just enumerated would
be an endless cause oi complaint, and distrust
aud unworthy denunciation from so many
men who plane themselves In Europe upon
their hatred of Slavery.
And since to destroy the North in public
opinion it was not enough to accuse il of too
much favor for Slavery, another grievance
has been found The North oppressed the
SOUTH The struggle was of two nationali-
ties. The South had risen for independence
Its independence. there were then subject
provinces In the heart Of the Union? Doubt
less these provinces had no part in the gov
ernment OF the country, the South had not
the same rights as the North? OF course the
South was held in this state of inferiority and
subsection by numerous Federal garrisons
Not at all All the States enjoyed the same
rights, took like part in elections. Ii any Sec
ton was favored IL was the South. to which a
further suffrage was granted in proportion tn
the number of its slaves. II any advantage
bad been enjoyed ii was by the South, which
had given the majority Of Presidents aud
chief officers. Yet in this free country, a
country without an army, and whose material
rler against oppression, in such country we
are told OF province claiming indepen-
dence!
We are not Of your opinion, gentlemen, that
independence and nationality are words too
noble TO be abused. In their abuse, things
are compromised, and the more noble and
sacred these things the more carefu. should
we be not to confound them with what is
neither noble nor sacred-a revolt in the name
rf< <loxrn - a. 81
destroy free Constitution and tear asunder a
common country for fear lest there might be
interference with the internal slave traffic, the
continued breeding in Virginia, the sale and
separation of families, and lest perchance some
Territories should be shut out from the con-
quests of Slavery.
In vain we seek in the United States for
nationality striving TO regain its independence.
Not only has independence been nowhere as
sailed, but there is absolutely no trace of a
separate nationality. Nowhere, perhaps, is
there more thorough national homogeniety.
North and South the race is the same; faith,
language, history, and, we bodily add, interests
are all the same. All these States have strug-
gled together, suffered together, triumphed
together Their glories. their defeats. are
common. Their Constitution sprung from
the free consent of all all pledged themselves
alike to remain faithful to its obligations.
This pledge is no empty word with which
caprice may idly sport. Among the inyen-
tions Of our epoch there is none moro extra
ordinary than the right Of secession. Those
who discovered 1t will no doubt teach us
where 1t should stop. Ii each section has
right Of secession fiom the country as whole,
why not each State right of secession from
such section? Why not each county right
OF secession from the State? Why not each
town right Of secession from the county ?
Why not each citizen right OF secession
from the town?
The truth Is that, but for slavery, the South
would not talk of its suppressed independence.
nor OF the right OF secession. Slavery has
brought the two sections IN strife. The ex-
tinction Of slavery will restore unity. The
North aud South will some day wonder that
they could have failed to appreciate tho most
complete and homogeneous of natio1alities.
A last resort remains. That we here NAV
not see the great struggle on the subject of
slavery, an attempt Is made TO present the
struggle as one for domination.
But this latlar- -siraee,e- l. tsre-~r-y- ..f
North and the South each stroye actively. en-
ergetically, noisily, for the triumph Of their
candidate and policy. But when one ofthem,
losing the battle Of the ballot plunges with
ont hesitation into another kind of battle /:
when it resists, arms In hand, the result Of a
regular election: when on the very day that
t ceases TO rule it tears into fragments the
common country, it Is guilty of a crime for
which il is difficult to imagine an excuse.
I'D a.