The Portland daily press., 1864-01-08

ana statesmen are perplexed to provide means of
| supplying the national treasury, and sustaining
the national credit. The tax-gatherer is met at
every door, but there is not a loyal man to
Whom he Is an unwelcome visitor, for loyalty
greets 1t not only as duty but pleasure to
contribute of its substance to the nations need
IN Its time of trial. The range of dutiable arti-
cies has been SO enlarged as to embrace some
coming almost within the category of the neces-
saries of life, consumed alike upon the tables of
ue flch and poor, and upon which for a gener-
alton the tax-gatherer had not laid his finger.
Wmie our own people are so taxed, and bearing
tins all SO cheerfully, without a whisper of COM
plant, because demanded by the necessities Of the
country, is it not unjust that citizens of foreign
States, who contribute not a penny TO the sun
port OF our government, should be admitted to
an equal participation of commercial privileges
| jury?
The terms of the treaty, providing for its alb
rosaoh after ten Years, clearly indicates that it
was regarded as an experiment. As such it has
been SO sufficiently tested by the people of Maine
that large majority desire neither its continu-
ance nor repetition. In one point il has most
slgnally failed, and that is in winning for the
United States the good will Of our territorial
neighbors; and the government, in terminating
TINS treaty, is relieved of all embarrassment on
| that account.
lcommend this subject TO your consideration.
and that you take such faction in the premises as .
upon an examination of the same, you NAV be-
heNe the interests OF your constituents demand
COAST AND FRONTIER DEPENcEs
Upon the call of this State by the resolves of
the Legislature. touching the defenceless condi-
ton OF her coast and northeastern frontier and
the urgent solicitation of my predecessor. the
United States, in addition to large expenditures
upon the permanent Notifications in the harbor
OF cortland, at the mouth of the kennebec
river, and the narrows of the Penobscot, has
fpfrn tad MI
and Eastport, at each of which places two bat .
teries OF five guns each have been mounted.
while both at Castine and Maehiasport single
battery of five guns has been supplied These
earthworks are, indeed, but temporary defences,
though it is believed that properly manned thew
would, afford sufficient protection against any
mere plratical cruisers, for when sufficiently en-
larSed, they have proved very formidable, as n
means OF defence, against imposing sauadrons
There are still other points on the coast calling
for defensive precautions, which the Government
OF the United States viii doubtless provide, hav
ing already INDICATED Its purpose to do whatever
may be needed to render the towns on the sea-
board secure from surprise by attacks from the
ocean.
In relation to the northeastern frontier. the
only means suggested for its defence is the con-
struetion of a railroad connecting it with our
interior lines OF communication, by which an
army, with its munitions and supplies can be
rapidly concentrated on its line or al its term
nus. As yet nothing has been ACCOMPLISHED to-
wards securing the national aid for this great
object. Thus far the railways of Maine have
been the results Of private enterprise, aided, in
some instances, by the credit Of certain munich
palties. They have received no aid whatever
from the National Government, by land grants.
nor even by the refunlng or remission of duties
upon railroad iron, Except, perhaps. in a single
lnstance,) both Of which have been largely en-
joyed by other States.
In happier days, and as means of develop
ment, tue State, forbidden to use its credit for
the purpose. made, on certain conditions, a grant
OF the public lands TO the Aroostook Railroad
Company. The conditions not having been
complied with. the grant lapsed. 1t was then
and Is now apparent, that the construction of a
railroad, whether for defence or development, to
the eastern or northeastern frontier of the
State. within a reasonable time, can only be ac-
compllshed by combination of private enter
prise and government aid, State or National
That, under the circumstances Maine is fairly
entitled to call on the Government OF the United
states to aid in so importanta work of defence
the defence itself being a national obligation. is
very clear.
The towns upon the 81. Croix are liable to iso-
lation and capture, BY land attack, in the event
OF a rupture with Great Britain for lack of
speedy communication with the more densely
populated portions OF the State. While the
Government of the United States has been erect
ing its defences at PASSPORT, the citizens of that
section have interested themselves in endeayor-
ing to secure connection between the railroads
on that river and ON the Peuobseot; and al
though 1t is but comison turnpike that is pro-
posed By them, it viii reduce very much the
time, which is now the measure of distance. from
the one point TO the other As purely defen-
sfvr uTrusurr, IN the ebsence of n better, our
fellow-citizens in that portion of the State are
justly entitled to your favorable consideration
The very recent alarm on our eastern border,
tod hxfr hat 4
lied in the neighboring Province of New Bruins
wick, under rebel auspices, for the purpose of
devastating our cities and towns, is an imputa-
ton of ineciency in the police of that province,
so gross as to be incompatible with good faith.
As such, should profoundly regret its vertical
ton. The incident, however, emphasizes the
propriety Of establishing, at an early day, some
more speedy means of communication than is at
present enjoyed with that frontier
PRIVATE RELIEF 10 SOLDIERS.
This war. fruitful as il has been in stimulating
the inventive genius of our countrymen to de-
wise new methods of defence and destruction.
has also developed spirit of humanity strange
ly in contrast with the inevitable barbarities of
war The charities of our people, like every
thing else connected with the war, have been
gigantic in their proportions. The cry that our
soldiers are suffering, is the ''open sesame
that unlocks all hearts, and at its call no matter
how oft repeated, afiuence pours forth its
abundance, and penury contributes its mite for
their relief. The women Of the country, in this,
as in every labor of benehcenee, the first to enter
and the last to retire from the field--from city.
village, and hamlet have sent forth continuous
stream of the fruits of their industry, to make
comfortable the frame of the suffering soldier
and to cheer his heart by these reminders, that
though far away, he is still the object of their
kind regards.
The self-appointed Commissions, almoners of
the peoples benevolence, have nobly done their
duty. The opening vocy that announces a
battle commenced is the signal for their agents
TO rally, and the echo of the last gun dies not
away, before they, like angels of mercy, have
gathered on the field of strife to administer re-
lief TO the wounded and consolation to the dy-
ing--to friend and foe alike. They deserve the
thanks of every man aud woman in the country
for these labors of love, and, | doubt not will
be enabled to continue them by the unfaggng
lberality of the people.
PRESIDENTS PROCLAMATION
In the scale of recent national events the fact
which most prominently challenges the attention
and sympathy of Christendom, is the Proclama-
ton OF the President of the United States, de-
clarng the emancipation Of the slaves in the
States IN revolt. Having given timely warning
TO the rebels to lay down their arms and return
to their allegiance and duty, under the penalty
of this assault upon their right to hold their fell
low men in bondage, the madness which precedes
destruction made them deaf to the warning, and
this bolt, which but for the rebellion could not
have been forged, was hurled at their cherished
institution. w.
No measure of the government has called
forth such fierce inyectye, or evoked more con-
stitutional criticism. Those who at the outset of
the rebellion, and before any act of war, denied
the right or power of the nation TO maintain its