The Portland daily press., 1864-08-16

for Independence, and that or determination
ice sciu hare" Can language be palmer than
this? Does this traitor to his country mince
the matter, and show any signs of repent
ance? Does he intimate anything like peace,
except on the condition that we acknowledge
their right TO self gorernmentf And what is
the fair and legitimate meaning OF selfgov-
ernment? What is the meaning of indepeRd-
ence for which the rebels are fighting?
Now it seems TO us that the meaning of
these words are exceedingly plain. Can these
traitors enjoy self-government, independence,
in any way short of a separate and distinct
confederacy? No reasonable man can be at
loss for an answer to these questions. The
question is as plain as the nose on the Argus
mans face. When a state enters the Union
it must necessarily give up some Of the privi-
liges, immunities and rights which it could
exercise out OF the Union. The Union of
the States has rights as well as individual
states, and entire selfgoyernment and indie
pendence cannot be exercised or enjoyed by
state when in the Union. Some state
rights must be given up in exchange for 9th
ers which state out OF the Union could not
have the benefit of.
These principles are all very plain and east
ly understood, and yet the Argus has mud
died the subject, aud endeavored to convince
its readers that JEFF. Davis is all right. Very
seldom indeed does this journal call him a
traitor. The whole truth is. these leading
rebels began this war for the purpose OF
breaking up the Union, and establishing
separate confederacy-an aristocracy founded
on negro slavery-and ION that line" they
have fought and will continue to fight. 1t is
idle for any man or any journal to dispute
the fact, for it is recorded on every page of
this wars history.
1t is too late in the day to ignore or dis
pute these important facts, and until the reb
els repent and say in so many words that they
are willing to come back Into the Union, we
must be governed by the lessons this rebel
lion has already taught us. 1t is well known
to all in this country, and in Europe that our
government has always been ready and will
ling to listen to overtures of peace when such
| overtures came through a proper channel.
Common sense and common justice require
that a rebel in arms against his government,
must first lay down his arms and ask fer
peace. 1t is no part of the governments du-
~ to humble itself and ask the armed rebels
for terms of peace. The distinction is as
plain as pike-staff, and all the Copperheads
ia the North or rebels in the South cannot
hide it from the people.
The Argus says the rebel leaders are ready
to negotiate, but where is the evidence, and
M is Southern independence and consequent
" dissolution of the Union. Give us some
evidence, some sign OF rebel repentance. Let
JEFF. Davis and his cabinet make their propo-
sitions for peace if they desire peace. Let
them come in no questionable shape, but open
and above board, even il the overtures involve
some humiliation on the part OF the rebels as
they necessarily must. 1t is for the guilty TO
humble themselves and not for our govern
ment which has never wronged them In sin
gle instance. When overtures come from
such source aud 10 such shape, they will
be listened to. And the Argus knows it as
well as we do. Then why this continual harp
ing on peace? Why don't our neighbors come
out fair and square and state the facts as they
appear on record? Ifthis were done the at
mosphere would be cleared of much of the
smoke that darkens it, and the eyes of the Ar
gus itself might see more clearly than they
seem to now.
JEFF Davis and his Cabinet, the Confederate
Congress and the rebel leaders generally, have
put themselves on record, and that record
shows conclusively that they began the war
against the United States for separate and
independent confederacy, and to establish
more firmly the peculial institution of human
bondage. and they are still prosecuting the
war for the same unholy purposes. The rebel,
leaders hate the Old Flag of the Union--they
trample it under their feet and spit upon it.
Reconstruction they repudiate, the Yankees
they despise and speak OF them contemptous-
ly, free labor does not set well on their aris-
tocratic stomachs, and they look upon north
ern "muisis" with horror and contempt.
Such is the character of the leaders OF this
wicked rebellion, and shall our government
get down bn its knees and sue for peace?
God and Humanity forbid! We trust the
gorgeous ensign ofour republic, now honor
ed and known throughout the earth" will not
be thus disgraced.
We intended to make some comments on
the editorial of the Richmond Sentinel which
the Argus hugs so closely to its bosom, but as
this article is longer than we intended, we
shall endeayor to place before our readers
our opinion of that rebel organ aud the object
of that editorial at this important juncture
Of political affairs. The text is a good one
and we will not let it pass without comment.