The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-01-09
Mechanics, Association.

The meeting OF this Association Tor lectures
resolution laid on the table at the last meet
ing was called up for discussion.
Capt. Coyle opened the debate in the affirm
alive. He referred to the unlavorabe circum-
stances under which Mr. Lincoln came into
office; spoke of the power of slavery that was
struggling for existence and demanding pro-
lection; said the South were bound to have
war il they could not have their own way; he
spoke OF the caution and prudence with which
the President moved, having one class urging
him forward to take the most ultra measures,
and another warning him of the danger of
going too far and too fast; he took such meas
ures as he deemed for the best interest OF the
country, and maintained them without fear or
favor and the result is evidence of his wis
dom.
Mr.. Pingree admitted that the course pur
sued by Mr.. Lincoln had developed the mill
tary power of the Government, but he did not
think the best course had been pursued;
thought the President had transcribed the
Constitution; he thought there had been no
argument presented by the affirmative of the
question, and therefore there was nothing to
reply TO.
Mr.. Walker said the argument, generally,
was, that the rebellion could not be put down
by force OF arms; he contended that the Pres
ident had not oyerstepped the Constitution;
that necessity growing out of the danger of
the Government from an armed rebellion,
gave him rights such as he would not have
had. In times OF peace among these rights
was that of suspendiDg the writ of habeas
corpus; thought the President had been too
lenent in his treatment of rebels and their
sympatlfizers, rather than too severe.
Mr.. Foster said he should state, what every
body knew, that the cause Of this rebellion
was slavery; that the administration has not
struck directly at slavery as the cause of the
war, while 1t had the power to do so; thought
it had been very slow to interfere with slav-
cry where ii has full power to crush it.. Had
the administration struck at once, and with
all its power, at the cause of the rebellion
slayery-the war would have been closed be-
fore this day; when blows have been struck
at slavery, they have not been laid on as the
exigency of the case demanded, and there
fore they have ialedto accomplish what might
have been accomplished by more determined
blows.
Mr.. Bailey thought it little strange that
Bro. F. should complain of the Presidents
unwillingness to strike as hard blows at slav-
cry as the circumstances demanded, when he
had taken so much interest in celebrating the
Emancipation Proclamation; said the Presi-
dent had no right to interfere with slavery on
ly as a military necessity; he agreed with Mr..
F. that slavery was the cause of the war, but
thought the President had done all TO abolish
It he had right to do.
Mr.. Pingree did not think slavery the cause
of the war, and thought the rebellion should
be put down without interfering with it,, he
did not want the war prolonged for the pur-
pose Of doing away with slavery.
The discussion was continued by Messrs.
Patten and Bailey in the affirmative, and
Messrs. Foster and Pingree in the negative,
and the resolution was adopted.