The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-07-15

the spirit of genuine manhood. they entered
the ranks of the national army. bravely daring
all the legitimate dangers of war, and the still
greater peril arising from the feroclous spirit
OF their masters as illustrated at fort rilow.
Inc sutterings and services OF the Diacks IN
the army have not been surpassed by any OF
their associates; and If they nave not Deen
such as to earn the right OF citizenship for
themselves and their race, II Is dmcult TO dls-
cover by what title it can be claimed. The
President of the United States, with great
wisdom and magnanimity, by his recent
| PROCLAMATION has released large numbers of
rebels from the pains and penalties legally at
| taching to their conduct; but can this act of
pardon make them better citizens than those
who have never offended, but always sustained
the Government? 1t would seem not; and
that it should not bestow upon these condor
ed rebels the right to demand exclusion from
citizenship of men who never revOlted against
its authority. That loyalty which rests for its
proof upon ietters-patent under the great seal
OF the United States, contrasts but poorly
with that which has sealed its fidelity with
blood. ~ as
( To allow their masters, whose hands are red
with the blood of our murdered countrymen,
and their hearts filed with i'll suppressed rage
and hate towards the Government they failed
w uCobIOy, W fcSulitc dt OuC6 LQelI pOIlticdl
rights and relations and to remit to the guar
dianship of these men the liberties and iran
chises OF the colored loyalists, depriving them
OF all potential voice in framing the laws by
which they are to be governed, and by which
they should be protected, would be an act, the
fatuity Of which would be equalled only by its
infamy, and an intamy which has itself no
parallel in the annals of mankind. If to the
slave we have given liberty without the power
I OF protecting it, a situation more abject and
renediless than that of this race cannot be
conceived. While the revolted States are held,
as they now are by the President, in allegiance,
their powers suspended, it viii be within the
scope of the national authority to provide for
the wants of the freedman, which have been
alluded to. In comparatively brief period
the objection of ignorance as disqualifymg
him (which would be equally good against all
complexions) would be removed, and he be-
come trained to an intelligent exercise of the
functions Of citizenship.
Thus much and solely as relates to the per-
sonaI condition and interest of the freedman.
. There are numberless other considerations
affecting the welfare of the nation, which de-
mand the policy of allowing the negro to vote
Ills emancipation increases the political power
OF the South The exercise of this power, if
limited TO those who have held it exclusively
heretofore, viii but strengthen the hands OF
--HSS~ /" ~ oOtAt5AAo W 0CcbAOJ
The rebellion has thrust upon the nation an
enormous load of debt, requiring heavy taxa
tion to preserve the national faith. Recon-
structed rebels would feel but little repugnance
to repudiate debt they would allege to have
been created in the prosecution of an unconsti-
tutional war for their subjugation. Failing to
repudiate the debt Of the nation they would
endeavor to foist upon it portion of the Con-
federate debt which has so largely swallowed
the property OF the South Preposterous as
such proposition would be, it contains too
large an element OF, and too fertile resource
for, corruption to be contemplated without
alarm. The safety of this country demands
large infusion of loyal voters in that section
where the disloyai SO largely preponderate--
The people Of the United States, with mag
nanimity unequalled in any age and country
Will not invoke, even upon criminals, the pun
ishlnent justly due to transcendant crime but
It Is to be hoped while they may fall short of
justice IN the direction OF mercy to offenders,
that they viii not likewise fail to meet its de-
mands IN such manner as to bring upon the
nation the stigma of inhuman cruelty to those
entitled 70 the amplest protection
That Divine Being, who has so signally in
Ierposed In behalf OF our country during the
fearful ordeal to which it was subjected. in
His inscrutable wisdom, has permitted the
hand OF the assassin to strike down the life of
him upon whom the love and hopes of the ma
ton SO confdingly rested. En- aTi is e5a s.Is
The Constitution has devolved the Presi-
DENTAL office in this emergency upon man
long and most honorably known in the councils
of the nation and to the country, as a wise.
and patriotic statesman. When
secession reared its hideous front in the senate
Of the United States, and patriots were looking
timidly around to ascertain from what quarter
help was to come to our distressed country, |
Andrew johnson, tearing himself from the as
sociates and associations of his life, hurled the
thunder OF his manly eloquence in indignant
tones upon the traitor senators as one after
another they left that body, starting forth |
to execute their mission Of mischief and
treason. For the spurning of their seduc-
tions and the denunciation of their wicked
ness the rebels pursued him with malignant
hate and chased him like fox upon the hill
Sides
The loyalists of the nation recognizing his
eminent patriotism, called him to that position
which the Constitution of the United States
and the providence of Coz, ,have made the first in
the nation That he viii discharge the duties Of
Republican Liberty, to the value of which he
has borne testimony in the innumerable haz-
ards he has encounterd, it would be mock
ing of Providence to doubt, and not justified
by any act of his life.
In him now center the hopes and confidence
of the nation. These he will not disappoint,
nor win those those by whom he was SO gem
erously chosen, fail to accord him that cordial
support $50 grateful to a public servant), amid
the trials and responsibilities by which he is
surrounded. ,tf7tt9s-itilo 20 e8aaaf s
am very respectively, M 49, s.
.r Your obedient servant, ss enlis8
SAMUEL CoNY.