The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-08-02


humanity, and he continued to hold out to the
rebels offers of peace upon the simple condi-
ton of laying down their arms and obeying
the Constitution and laws of the country. But
mo- they would not hear him, or if they did,
they would not accept such offers of peace.
They continued to swear louder and louder
every day that the Union should be broken
IN, and separate and independent government
established for themselves whose corner stone
must be human bondage. For such purposes
did they wage this war upon the Federal Gov
ernment, and for such purposes do they con-
tinue to carry it on. These are solemn, stub
born facts and viii be so recorded on the page
of history. They cannot be winked out ofthe
sight of an intelligent and loyal people, and in
spite OF The hissings of all the copperheads in
the country, the people will hear the truth and
abide by it.
The President has said, If the Union could
be saved by saving slavery, then he would
save slavery; If it could be saved by de-
stroying slavery, then slavery should be de-
stsoyed; and he meant precisely what he
said. We all know that he has always been
anxious to save the Union and bring back the
States into it, with all their lsws and institu-
lions. This doctrine he preached in public
speeches and documents and in private let.
tiers, until he had no audience In the South
or il there were any there who desired 10
hear him, they dared not show themselves, so
oppressed were they by the military despot-
ism of JEFF Davis and his minions. Now LET
the stubborn fact be proclaimed to these
croakers about abolition war;" and TO all
. Copperheads who have set up the cry Of
peace In the land, that the President of the
United States has changed his opinion
and been compelled by force of circumstances
reluctantly to change it. He once believed
he could save both slavery and the Union
but he is now forced to believe that the I'm.
ion can only be saved on the condition that
slavery must be destroyed. And what rea'
sonable, intelligent man will censure the
President for such a change of opinion
Have not the Shareholders themselves demon
strated to us that we cannot live in peace
while slavery continues? They have often
told us so, and surely we have no reason to
disbeleve them. The fact stands out in bold
relief
And the question here comes up, as not
the Union worth infinitely more than slav-
ery?" This is the question which the loyal
people are called upon to meet, and meet il
they must, face TO face. There is no lodging
here and now. The issue is made up and the
shareholders themselves have made it. The
past thirty years have taught us that we can.
not have peace aud union while slavery ex.
lists, and if we have not learned the lesson
the fault is our own, and not the events that
have transpired. Slavery is repugnant TO re
publican Institutions, and in the very nature
of things, it must always be so.
We are willing TO go before the people OF
such an issue, if the Democratic party dare
present it. Let them show us the fact that
the leaders OF the rebels are anxious fol
peace, but the information must come from a
higher source than bogus meeting at Mag
ara Falls. Let them show us'tast JEFF Davis
his cabinet and the editors of the rebel jour
nails have swallowed their own words, and
now ask for peace, and we will stop to con-
slider such information and ponder upon il
well. The truth is, and it cannot be disguis-
ed, these rebel leaders have put themselves
on record, times without number, and this
record plainly shows that they commenced
the war upon the Government in the interests
of slavery, and for the express purpose OF
gaining and establishing a confederacy sepa-
rate and distinct from the Union.
Such was their doctrine in the beginning
of the war, and such il is today, and the inge-
nuity and adroitness of the Copperheads in
this country, from Vallandigham down to the
Editor of the Argus, caunot blot out that
record. 1t stands an open book to be read
of all men who feel any DISPOSITION to turn
over its leaves aud note the contents. Then
why this false cry of peace, when the rebels
say, with an emphasis that cannot be mistak.
en-, 1--WE will have no peace that stops short Of
destroying the Union, and establishing an in
dependant Confederacy, whose chief corner
stone is negro slaverym Now, croakers and
copperheads, show your hands, and no longer
attempt to deceive the people. if you are In
favor of such confederaey, say so in SO ma
ny words; IL not. buckle on your armor, rally
under the folds of the old flag, and help
crush out this cnrsed rebellion.