The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-09-10
"Peace a Hateful Word,
A Raoy Letter-A Maine Editor Defends
JEFF, Davis. - =

JET. Davis. M Nsa szr
The Editor of the Rochester IN. VI Demo-
crat went to the Chicago Convention, and In
the following letter to his paper gives account
OF his adventures in the cars on the way
thitherward:
Nine out OF ten were Copperheads bound
Tor Chicago; several were delegates ssWe in
New Jersey are determined not TO lift a finger
TO help Old Abe prosecute the war any more.
SAID f1erce-looking, sandy-haired man, as the
cars stopped at a station. THE war has failed
entirely; the South has had the best of it all
along; We never can subject brave people
OF eight millions; and it Is only an Abolition
war anyhow" "That's so,' responded a
gray-haired copperhead of 65-"I tell you
you're just right, and the whole country is
coming 10 that conclusion fast General Lees
army never was so strong as tits this mint,
and Atlanty can't be took no more'n Gibber-
alter. We've had enough of our sons and
brothers dragged off to be butchered by Lin
coin an Grant, and they aint agoin to have
another man from Long Island, where live.
We are going TO defend ourselves-and-we're
ready 70 do something more-perhaps-i
necessary
II can't quite agree with with you, gentle
men" interposed middle-aged substantial
looking man, whom | afterwards learned was
delegate from the eastern part of this State
The Democrats of New York are not quite
ready TO resist the draft or to see 1t resisled,r
he continued, because it is law, and law
must be obeyed. They hate the war and would
like to see 1t stop on our side, If Davis would
agree TO hold still also, but we are not ready
TO propose q truce while he is fighting us,
much less TO surrender to him. We do not
think the war has been pushed with much
yigor, but Ii the Convention propose an ar
mistice, In the face of Davis demand for in
dependence, We are beaten party in Novem-
ber-l don't believe We can carry four States
on that ISSUE.
II Think said young fellow across the
car, THAT the Democrats OF Maine occupy the
same position, but 1t seems to me wrong and
inconsistent. If they want the war to 20 on,
why don't they support Old Abe, and enlist
under his generals? ] want the war 10 stop
immedistely-not becaure 1t has failed. nor be-
cause 1t is for abolition but because believe
Jefferson Davis is fundamentally right, and our
government fundamentally wrong. A State
Is utterly sovereign, sir, and has right to se-
cede at wiii-this Is the only consistent ground
for Democrats to stand on, and the only plat
form they can adopt at Chicago that will stand
the ghost OF chance of success. For II a
State Is moi sovereign, and has no right to So
cede, then they are outlaws, and Jeg Davis
a felon to be captured aud hanged, az the Lin
coinites claim. am State Rights Demo-
crat, and my printing office, the Bangor Daily
Democrat, was destroyed by mob in 1862,
because said Davis was right, and hoped
he would succeed. | think my sacrifices en-
title me TO express my opinion.n
The cars started again, but the martyr from
Bangor had taken firm hold on the affections
OF his audience and set them thinking. "If,n
he kept saying 10 them, you are not ready 10
say that Davis is clearly right, you ought to
join Lincoln in subduing him. / can see no
middle ground" His polite, but decided
manner his close analysis of the half fand-half
humbug, and his incisive way of saying just
what he meant, made him completely master
of the situation. The Delegate from near AL
bany caved in, and general conversation on
politics was not resumed.
When the colored Dictator from Congo
came along to prepare and apportion our
whirling dormitory, found myself assigned
TO double birth with the old gentleman rom
Long Island. "Goin' TO Chicago ?" he lnquir-
ed, as we crept In. 'Yes," replied, "could-
MT keep away from Chicago in such stirring
times. Everybody is curious TO know how
We can stop the war and save the old Union.n
framed the answer deliberately, TO imply my
political sympathy with him, for l was sleepy,
and wished to avoid any discussion with my
garrulous bedfellow. Yes, that's it," he re-
sponded eagerly, "that's it, Stop the war
War is disunion-nothin' else. You're right.
| You from Bufialo?' Rochester said, and
turned my back TO him. 81 tell ye," he per-
sisted, "you New York Western Democrats
must wake up. Yer half asleep. We hear
yer goin' to let 'em draft ye. tell ye, we
on Long Island air agoin' 10 fight Ole Abe il
anybody. We're goin' to resist the draft
next week solid. The Bangor man is right,
and we are goin' TO act on the principle that
JEFF. Davis is better President than Linkin,
an fghtin' for his rights. That's it, that's
it.'he shouted in my ear.
81 want the war stopped" said /, hoping
that it would stop him.
ut must be stopped" he repeated, ''right
of. There's been enough butchering, and
you Western New Workers must git yer eyes
open. tell you we're preparin' " he whis-
! cred hoarsely, as he raised on his elbow, "you
know what there doin' in Injiany an out
west-drnin! There gittin' ammunition
/ and guns, for they know they will hey to use
'em by and by ef they wouldn't hev their
| lives crushed out by the bloody heel of des-
potism. An tell you between you an me,
we're armin too, and they are beginnin' TO
prepare in New Jersey. An agent of the
the Sons has come TO organize us for resis-
lance. We hey got to fight to inaugurate
( our man If we elect him. Don't you know
/ gum W hcf cOiNitio ~ W
this convention, and we've got TO fight II we
would be free. tell ye it's so. We're arm
in and they ought to arm everywhere. You
Western New Workers must wake up.
thought / knew orone Western New York
er who would like to go to sleep, so tried an
other tack.
Look herew said /, turning towards the
old fellow, "Do you know that you are talk
ing treason ?-the crime they hang men for ?f
"What?" he exclaimed In establishment. -
atreason? what? Democratp you?s 81 am
Union man." replied, "and consider All
men traitors who conspire against the govern
ment OF the country. Ibelieye the Rebellion
is crime against God aud man, the rebel:
criminals who ought to be put to the sword
and Mr.. Lincoln is precisely the man to d.
it,"
He sprang to the floor aud danced rounC
like a spider on hot shovel. "Iou said yoI
wanted the war stopped" he exclaimed. :"
do" l replied, 81 wish jeff Davis would sto
carrying II on" "You must get out of this.
said he, Il won't sleep with an abolitionist!
the now disturbed passengers laughed. a
him. "Youean go elsewhere" said. III
seized his boots, has and satchel, bent half dou
BILE and Kissed at me the only English wor
} that would at all express his feelings-"meeen
: estlr "Meeeenestp he repeated fiercely, a
he went away--and "meeeeeeeenest! y wa
! the Iteration that saluted me as he slamme
: the door after him to get the colored Dictate
10 pack him away in some uncontamlnate
oefti IN another car. awoke in Detroit.