The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-08-26
The Oopperhead Programme.

"Peace" is evidently to be made the watch
word OF the copperheads in the approaching
campaign. True, the intelligent ones know
/ they can have no peace except upon the basis
a a rIyTuud Union OF OF avsorure suumIssIur
70 the most exacting demands Of the rebels
bit what care they for this? Such knowl
g lge they will keep to themselves till they car
b od wink the masses into subordiuaiion &c
their treasonsble purposes.
The programme OF the Mcclellan party In
1 New York, it is said, contemplales the status
| mo on slavery, and the assumption OF the
c nfederate debt with payment for all conis-
Gated rebel property, and restoration of all
fugitive slaves, who, by the fortunes OF war.
have found themselves freed from their own
es. or course the gallant fellows VINO, cloth
Q in the uniform OF federal soldier. have
bsen fighting our battles, are to be returned
to the plantation, there to labor beneath the
uh Of the oppressor.
This is copperhead Justice; copperhead hui
nanity, and this is the basis on which peace is
ID be solicited from men who stand with their
aggers aimed at the heart OF the nation
We have no fear that such result will be Sc
c lred. The people are too intelligent 10 be
lmbugged by such a sham, and too patriot
ic to consent to such an arrangement, were
possible TO secure for it the consent of the
rebel authorities.
The only fear Is that honest and patriotic
men may be misled by Misrepresentation OF
actual facts. Attempts are made TO impsoe
ipon them falshoods for truth, and that, too.
Of the most baseless character. And IL is moi
little surprising that papers usually regarded
IS respectable will lend themselves TO such
Dase uses. Take for example the following
paragraph from the Newburyport Herald, re-
ierring to the executive lead OF the rebel
government:
When he proposed TO speak to ns directly.
IS he did through Alexander II. Stephens,
Vice President OF the Confederate States, or
through messengers claiming some authority.
WY not give them audience? Why not let
them speak? Why, after we have slammed
ne door ia their faces without listening 10 a
yord, turn round and say, 'they will make no
peace that is honorable TO u.s."
The Herald should blush TO prostitute its
otherwise clean columns to so foul a purpose
AS that OF imposing mischeyous ialsehood
upon its readers. When A. II. Stephens pro-
posed to come to Washington his instructions
rom Richmond, afterwards published, stated
10 terms, TO refuse pereaptorily all nego,ia-
tons with Mr.. Lincoln unless Jefferson Davis
should be acknowledged as his EQUAL IN
ALL RESPECTS! Would the Herald so debase
the constitutional President of the United
States as to make him acknowledge the per
ectsquaiity with himself of a rebel aud trail
tor worthy of halter? viii that dignifed
paper labor to excite Indignation on the part
Oh ihe peopie against their chief public ser
want because he would not get down on the
guilty level OF a traitor, or admit traitor 10
mutual audience at the White House?
Messengers claiming some authority
This refers TO the Clifton House negotiator.
who, with all their folly and madnes. new,
claimed the slightest authority, but. ON the
contrary, disdained all authority. and only as
sumed TO have "the confidence of H., ooo
federates. But what signifies this, or viii,
should copperhead hesitate at any lie pro-
yided he can thereby deceive honest men?