The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-11-04

portant charges without the most CONVINCING
ana indisputable evidence. ..sia7 aaa
0nuge Holt Is In no way Responsible for the
oepioraDlc facts revealed by his report. Nc
man grieves over them more thoroughly than
himself. But the duty was assigned him Of
examining and collecting the yoluminous tes.
timony OF the existence of discordant and
organized seditious element in our midst. and
presenting the result to the country. He has
doneit faithfully and impartially, and we are
satisfied that when the testimony is published
In full, as II ought, and we hope viii be, the
country will cOncede that he has understated
rather than colored the proofs of one of the
most infamous conspiracies of modern times.
The publication of the evidence win be his all
sufficient Justification. .6aia taaaJ ia
We know it is said that the report is incred-
ible, because of the depth of baseness and ma
lignity il discloses. But what is easier for
men who denOunce the war az unholy and
unjust-who shave never given dollar or en-
couraged a man TO its snpport"-who assert
that the South was WrOnged and prosecuted
race, and denounce the government hourly
as despotisln, than to cOnspire to stop the
war, discourage enlistments, do Justice 20 the
South, and overthrow despotism? III said
that 1t is incredible that such large numbers
of our citizens could be betrayed into 90 de-
testabie an organization. But IL must be re-
membered that it is not asserted that the body
OF the members understood, or indeed had any
idea OF the nature of the secret society into
which they were initiated. To many, it SEEM
ed only secret Democratic club, instituted
with grips and signals only to secure more
perfect organization. To some itwas but o
military prelude to the resistance of "armed
Loyal Leaguers;;" to others, the innocent pre-
paFation against the threatened tyranny Of
sLincoln's hirelings.n II was only the select
few who ocomprehended it In Its dread import,
of an armed conspiracy against the constitu-
ted authorities. In many localities, the or
ganization was recent and incomplete, Its
unconscious victims were slowly and gradual
ly prepared for result which, II at once re-
vealed, would have awakened their indigna-
ton and horror. But arbitrary arrests, ex-
cesslve taxes, exhaustive conscriptions, were
steadily harped upon until the mind OF delud-
ed men were insensibly prepared for what they
were taught to believe was the mandate of des-
potic authority, and NOT Unconstitutional Coy
ernment. ssnaa 81 4
No, the evidence ID extant. yiliAcation
will not impair 1t. Slander will not effiace it.
Ridicule will not abate its force or screen from
the indignant condemnation of the present, or
the righteous execration of the future, the
guilty authors of the dark plot to paralyze the
arm of the Government, and curse the North
with intestine broils and armed insurrections.
In the secret eonclaves of the leaders, already
the project of resisting the reelection OF Mr..
Lincoln has been canvassed, and the nefarious
purpose contemplated OF appealing from the
ballot to the sword. But we have no fears
The conspiracy Is unmasked. Already in the
Northwest, which is the stronghold of its fell
plottings, the scheme has been exposed. In
Indiana, the trial Of d, H. Dodd, and the rev.
elations of amazed and innocent accomplices,
opened the eyes of the people TO the Tread vol
cano on the edge Of which they werei stand-
ing, and publicity quenehed the hidden Ares
which threatened destruction Of the national
Government, The people meanto do what is
right. They need only to understand the des-
perate aims of unscrupulous leaders TO con-
sign them to the fate Of Arnold and of Burr
-Washtngt0n Chronicle.