The Portland daily press., 1864-10-06
False Pretences.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Sept. 80, 1884.

UAshlNdION, ~. ", Oept' ~, 49,
70 the Editor Of the Press:
TO atruly honest mind, nothing is more as
gushing than a false pretence. decent either
covers or enters into almost every crime
known to human and divine law. Moses re-
buked it, the Jewish prophets rebuked it.; the
Christian churches in all ages OF the Christian
era have rebuked it and even among the rud-
est of savages nothing is held more detestable
than hypocrisy, or in other words, "deceit or
false pretence"
The laws of England are especially severe
on persons who obtain goods by false preten-
ces As practitioner in English courts for
twelve years as a law reporter, the writer of
this can say with truth that he has been pres
ent in these courts when sentences of ''trans-
portation beyond The seas" varying from sew
en- to twenty-one years, have been pronounc-
ed in scores of cases of "false pretences."
Memory recalling my experience in Eng
land during these twelve years, have of late
felt astonished, chagrined and ashamed that
the government of that country should mani
lest SO little regard for principles laid down in
her Statute Books, and enforced by her courts
especially when the parties concerned were
not of her own nationality. With what feel
ings must every honest Englishman regard
the IMMUNITY with which the British Govern
ment permits the use of her flag for the basest
and most cruel of all purposes, that of PIRACY
ON THE HIGH SEAS Is it not known through
out the world that rebel pirates deceive and
decoy United States merchant vessels by
display of the English flag, until, like the
snake which fascinates the bird, they have
them in their power; when then, and not till
then, they unfold theirreal character and pur-
poses by running up their piratical flag? The
instances of these receptions, or false preten-
ees, during our unfortunate civil war have
been numerous to an appalling degree; and
yet we have not heard one word of rebuke or
complaint from this immaculate government
concerning this shameful prostitution of her
national flag!
How can the English Government, under
| these circumstances, be regarded other than
as recreant to her own principles and laws, or
as too selfish and cowardly to resist such an
abuse aud violation of her national ensign?-
A day of close and severe reckoning will as
suredly come.
But while we have these paradoxical in
stances of severe punishment and immunity
from punishment for the same offence on the
part of England, we have some cases OF
FALSE PRETENcEs to look after at home.
What is the Chicago Platform? A false
pretence. What is General George B. Nc
Clellan's letter of acceptance? A false pre-
tence. What are all of Governor Seymour's
and Auguste Belmont's speeches in favor OF
peace and restoration of the Union but
FALSE PRETENcEs? What are all their de-
nunciations of the present Executive and
Cabinet but FALSE PRETENcEs? What are
all the attempts Of this unprincipled party to
hood wink the soldiers in the field, and their
friends at home, by promises of honorable
peace, but FALSE PRETENCEs? And what
punishment, according to law and equity,
should be awarded to these deceitfnl and false
pretenders? aat.aa
THE PEOPLE ARE NOT FALsE.-There is
a common honesty permeating the popular
mind; and these deceivers and false pretend
ers who would decoy the people to their
ruin, will find, after the November election
that their hypocrisy has been unmasked and
rewarded according to that inevitable rule
which +" maketh all things work together fol
good" T.