The Portland daily press., 1864-09-06
Judge Towards Unionism.

Inc Argus, unable 70 meet VIC AnCohteseA
BILE proofs OF Judge Howards unenyiable and
indefensable position on the great and vital
question Of the hour, undertakes to prove his
devotion to the Union; and to show that he
would not sacrifice it for peace. quotes the
resolutions OF the Bangor Convention, which
Judge II. says, "meet my entire approval"
Ye gods and little fishes ''Them's my senti-
ments, Lord" Has Judge Howard no better
proof Of his position to offer to day than the
meaningless resolutions OF copclaye of par
ty hacks? Can he point TO nothing Of his
own begetting except words-mere common
platitudes Of the day-uttered more than
three years agoi According to that paper
Judge Howard, in 1861, where, on what oc-
cssion. or how the language has been preserv-
ed we are not informed, said-"We will stand
BY our Union, our Constitution and our laws,
aud We will maintain the government at all
hazards"
Wonderful indeedi That was the refrain OF
every one, copperhead and loyalist, in that
day. That is the refrain OF eopperheads to-
day, but when We cali upon them 10 act, they
begin TO bubble sbou, the administration.
and to draw q ine bead on the distinctions
: between IL aud the government They vii
maintain the Government, but cripple anu
strike down its constitutional agent They
will support the Government, but parsza III
only arm by which it can deal a blow. They
will standby the Government. but denouncs
every maa having authority to administer l..
LII 4
about every efficient step 1t takes, every blow
it strikes, every rebel it arrests, every means
/ 1t puts forth TO save the nations lie!
Is this what Judge Howard meant three
years ago by diminishing the Government at
all hadards?" For three years, while the ma
tional edfce has rocked to its very founda-
tons. while patriots have watched and prayed,
while the President has toilcd and given him
self no rest, while rich men have poured out
their money and patriots have shed then
hood, while the household jewels have been
ieiicated to the cause OF the county, and
new made gravos-the result Of this terrible
rebelIion-have been filing up al over the
land, what, we ask, and we do 50 In no cap
tious spirit, has Judge Howard done to show
that his hesrt-every fiber Of that hearts
in sympathy with the CREST struggle for ma
tional life? What has he done to show that
h, will maintain the Government at every
h,xards What has he done or what is he
nop doing to show that his soul is alive to the
great vital struggle in which we arc now en-
gagged, which challenges the admiration Of all
good men, and for the success Of which the
prayers OF the good Of all lands ascend to
God dailyy
WHAT HAS HE DONE? Has he not al
lowed his name to be rallied over by tricksters
and rebel ynpathizers at Bangor? Is he not
the candidate by unanimous acclaim of large
convention that could Ind time and space TO
say oil manner Of hard things OF Abraham
Lincoln and an administration that is laboring
10 save the country, but coul find no room
FOR single word in condemnation OF JEFF
Davis. treason and rebellion? Is he no. the
candidate OF convention whose debates, re-
solves and acts ignored the rebellion, and
would have led foreigner, not posted In our
Affairs, TO infer that the war was wsged by
the administration TO subvert the national Tn
ity rather than 30 preserve it; to wrest liber.
~ from the people rather than protect 1t; to
break down the Constitution rather than to
subdue those who have trampled and are
trampling il In the duste
Action speaks louder than words. The
Argus protests Judge Towards soundness,
and points 10 "glittering generalities," mean
ingless words aud equiyocal resolves. But
there he stands. amid this great struggle. a
satisfactory candidate FOR the Virgil ID. Par
rises, the DIR. MAINS, the Maroeius Emerys,
the Gorham L. BoJnfons, the Y. o j. Smiths
while every traitor in the State, every rebel
pected. OF treason. every man who mas been
In Fort Lafayette or ought 10 hare been
there, every friend OF JEFF. Davis, every
peace-on-any-terms man PROPOSES TO VOTE
FoR HIN!
This fact DOES no, prove Judge Howard a
bad man, We admit, but ii does prove that he
is In bad company; and The position is al
least . suspicious one. IL Judge Howard
was fully alive 10 the great Interests OF Tie
country. and was . thorough, unequiyocal.
unconditional Union man, ready 10 sand by
the Union though il required the extefmina-
ton OF every persistent rebel ia the Sou b, he
could NOT, 1t seems 10 us, for one moment
consent 70 occupy the position he does as the
representative of the disioyal clement Of the
State
He is declared by one Of the most Sou.l-
ern OF our Southern papers, The Bangor
Democrat, TO BE OPPOSED To THE WAR.
AND TO HAVE BEEN OPPOSED TO Ir FROM
THE START, and 10 DENY The TOWER and
the RIGHT Of the Government TO EN-
FORCE ITS OWN AUTHORITY against
State authority II this is diminishing the
Government at all hazards" then, surely,
there is need Of the prayer, God cave tie
national Commonwealth
II the language we have used seems severe
Is not Our fault. IL Is not onr fault that
Judge Howard occupies position which ex-
poses him to such criticisms. Personally we
respect him. Personally We say lot a word
againgt him. II is not pleasant TO be called
upon thus TO deal with respe ctable ieIIow-
citizen. But there can be no reuIals In this
var. He has no right as a Union man to
occupy an equivocai position. Having ac-
eepted the nomination from disloya men, we
know OF no right he has to claim exemption
from the fate that awaits them-that they de-
serve.