The Portland daily press., 1864-09-09
Evidences of Devotion to. the Union.

Judge HOWARD said in lS6l-so says the
Argus
"We will stand by our Union, our Constitu-
ton and our laws, and We will maintain the
government at all hazards"
Here is the proof of Judge Howard's de-
votion TO the Union. He said he was thus de-
voted more than three gears ago. Neither
he nor his friends point to a single act he has
done during this long three years and more Of
struggle and war, while traitor hands have
been seeking the nations life, to confirm the
words so long ago uttered. On the con-
trary, rebel-sympathizing paper, whose edi-
tor openly says he would welcome jeff Da-
Wis to the control of the whole country, de-
clares that Judge Howard DENIES the POW
Err and the RIGHT of the nation TO meet
this gigantic rebellion by force, and is In ia
vor of immediate peace.
l.. d. n. SWEAT declares his devotion TO
the Union, and talks about fightng-perhaps
dying-for the flag. He was understood the 9TH
er night to asseyerate his love for the Union
with marked vehemence, and clenched 1t with
assurances of the most solemn character; and
yct nc Always NOtts Will TGTuduQO NOOu.
Dan. Voorhees, and G. III. Pendleton; voted
against the expulsion of a member OF the
House OF Representatives who "hoped to God
the government would not succeed in con-
quering the South" and lodged vote 10
censure man as unworthy place on the
floor Of the House, whom the Chicago Con-
vention voted unworthy seat in their wig
wan. But Mr.. Sweat is Union man, OF
course, for don't he say he is, and swear to it
Well, in 1856, on the It'll of August, anoth-
or good Democrat man OF influence
man of presence man Of position, stood in
Deering Hall, In meeting OF which JOSEPH
HOWARD was vice presiding Officers
meeting referred to in the Argus as THAT
Glorious Aeeting'-and then and there he
pledged his fidelity and boasted of his devo-
ton to the Union. We quote a few Of his pa
triotic cords:
eve live in common country, under a
common Constitution; we worship at the al
tar OF acommon Union. God grant that our
children, centuries hence, may be able to an
nounce, one to the other, the same fact
Here is the Constitution of my country.
God bless that Constitution. Point me to one
single provision of it that this day am not
willing to stand by the altar OF my country,
and swear eternal fidelity to-
@Come, let us kneel together at the altar of
our country, and, without exception, without
prevarication, taking not this and that on the
other provision, but taking all the Constitu-
ton, swear eternal allegiance TO it."
"If there is one characteristic that marks il
1.-THE speakers lifel beyond all Others, is indy
m law ~ sh..
Union.n
And SO he went on in similar strain, prop
ing his devotion to the Union beyond ques-
ton; II WORDS constitute proof. Finally he
referredto the then candidate Of the Democrat
ic party for the Presidency, aud on that point
seemed inspired. Hear his burning elo-
quence:
Every drop Of blood that flows in his
veins Is true TO the Constitu lion of his coun-
Try. know him. He proved it afterwards. |
l know the principles lhat actuate him.
know that when placed ia the Presidential
chalr. he will be trne 10 the whole country;
no sectional lines will ever be drawn across
his heart"
Fellow-citizens of Maine this man, so de-
voted, so weddedto the Union, SO ready to
swear TO uphold 1t, and ON his knees to pledge
eternal allegiance, was HOWELL COBB of
Georgia, recently a member of JEFF. Davis
cabinet, And this Mr.. Buchanan, for whom
ne SO fully ayouched,-how that blood. so
true to the Constitution, must have oozed out
before the middle of his terml Howell Cobb
made all the protestations that we have quot
cd and even more, in this city, in Democrat
&c meeting, and yet in less than four years,
under the administration of the very man
across whose heart no sectional lines were
ever to be drawn. and who was to be atrue To
the whoie country" was PLOTTING TRrAsox
against the government,-doingt this while IN |
the cabinet-and actually threw up his com
mission as cabinet officer under that same
old functionary, and went home to engage in
the work Of destroying the Union to which,
In Deering Hall, upon his Bonded knees, be
was ready to swear eternal fealty.
And we ask, why were not Cobbs assevera-
lions OF devotion to the Union quite as reliable I
a. ,nose OF either Mr.. Howard or Mr.. Sweat
.o-aayf Was not he in as good standing as
.ney now occupy? Indeed, was he not in |
oe"er standing? Hadn't he more influence.
: wiaer reputation, more character POLITICAL
~, 70 maintain? Hadn't he been more trust
ed, more conhded In, more elevated9 And
yet from that position of patriotic PLEDGES
and deathless Union devotion, he fell into The
most damning treason. Are they better than
hep What proof OF loyalty have they shown
that he failed to show? Do they say the
Union must be maintaineds He would go
down on his knees to say even more.