The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-05-06
The Baltimore Convention.


Legislature have almost unanimously petit
toned the National Committee to postpone
che time Of holding the Baltimore Conyen-
ton to later period than Juno, and We 200
no reason why such course should not be
adopted. 1t is considered by some that each
days delay is detrimental to the chances Of
Mr.. Lincoln. However much we may desire
his denomination to the Presidency, we do
not consider that the chances Of any person
should overcome Considerations affecting the
issues Of the present military campaign. The
political ono will be long enough at best, and
should not DO thrust upon the people to di-
yido their attention from the all-absorbing
idea, which ought to pervadc the minds OF
all-IIow shall we best concentrate our en-
eryics Tor tho crushing out of rebellion.
II may be argued that delay will not Of.
feet tho desired results, but that wirc-pullcrs
and politicians, working for this ono or that
one, will DO cmincntly busy until candi-
date is chosen, when all will settle upon that
rs the ultimatum. Granted. The politi-
clans constitute very small unit among the
population, and they are the persons who
are so excited, knocking their heads about
and making themselves ridiculous-not the
people. Tho excitement necessarily attend
ant upon popular election, will not DO
reached until alter nomination; then the
labor Of the wirc-pullers will cease, and the
work OF those who now have no particular
interest in candidates, but who will do the
work Of electing q representative of their
opinions, will commence, and not till then.
We say, then, that the undivided atten.
ton Of those upon whom the country relies
for support Of the war, should DO concen-
tratcd upon the military campaign now be-
iorc ms, which will not and cannot DO done
by 30 early Convention. To our mind
there are other considerations, only ono Of
which we will name.
Some time ago subscriber appended to q
business note the question, "Why don't you
say something about RECONSTRUCTION" A
sufficient answer may be gathered herein.
Men went into this contest with well de-
fined plan Of action made up from condi-
ton Of peace, and therefore untried in the
cruciblc Of war, and each Of those theories
have been exploded by the hard logic of cir
cumstances and unlocked for contingencies.
And many man has had smile ut the e1.
pense Of those who sailed out with their
opinions, iron clad rs they thought, to GER
tain victory, only to find that their smooth
bore pop-guns were entirely commanded by
rided ordnance which the march Of events
had produced. The Democratic party at tho
outbreak Of the war, borne along by the
wave Of popular indignation, were obliged
to declare themselves in favor Of tho war.
But see the positions which they assumed,
and how stern necessity has forced them to
change those positions. LIST. This war must
be defensive ono. This was ono Of the po-
sitions taken by many at tho first, who soon
dropped it, when they found that such n
course was nothing moro nor less than an &c
acknowledgement Of the so-called Confcdcracy.
I'd. Every traitor caught without musket
in his hands must have n trial by jury, and
il once dismissed, whether guilty or not
guilty. he must DO considered loyal man.
That rocket exploded before it got fairly in
the air, and looked very much like stick
after it had fallen. Then every negro that
escaped 10 our lines was 10 DO returned to his
master, bccanse the Constitution recognized
the state oil slavery, and some generals went
80 Tar M to issue orders to that effect: but
they soon found that such course was sui
eide and not war. Then, again, the rebel
lion must DO put down only with wooden
guns and with the spade, directed by Nc
Ciellan, and two-thirds Of the country set
tied into tho belief that this apostle Of the
show not to do it, was tho only wise man
amongus. Opinions have somewhat changed
upon this point. r.. ...s
When the question Of employing negro
troops camo up, those democrats who had
been openly in favor Of tho war, and secret
ly opposed to ii, decided that they were ut
last on tern frma, yea, that the very rock
should ay from its firm base as soon as they.
BY and by volunteering failed, and tho gov
crnment adopted the policy Of the democrats
who had 80 long clamored for draft; and
whom it camo, and II was proven that blacks
would fight, and that II was as infinitely
proper that black body should stop bull
lot as that white ono should, and that every
black soldier enlisted lishtcned the conscrip-
ton from the white population, their selfish.
ness alone forced them from that rock which
they thought was their eternal salvation.
And no on, from ono thing TO another until n
man cannot DO democrat unless no Is utter
ly opposed to tho war, position which they
think they can hold.
But to return: The Union Convention
can enunciatc that the rebellion must be nut
down, and crushed in such way that il
nevsr may rise again, but beyond tina. no
man or sat Of men can say that he or tbcv
will follow this course in its details, and NO
otubr. The result Of the present campaign
NAV nrescnt nm entirely new aspect 10 our