The Portland daily press., 1865-02-17
The War.Masting in Richmond.
PORTLAND.

The War-Mesting in Richmond
After the peace Commissioners returned to
Richmond it was determined TO mold meet
Ing in the capital for the purpose of rousing
the war spirit and check, ifpossible, the grow
ing Union sentiment which was prevailing
more or less all over Dixie. 1t was we'll
known to the leaders of the rebellion that the
people had become sick of the war and had
lost all hope of gaining an independent con-
federacy. The recent Federal VICTORIES had
produced q strong conviction in the minds OF
the masses that the rebellion was about play
out, and the leaders began to fear and tremole
that IL something was not done quickly to
counterfeit such an influence, the rebellion
might collapse before they had time to pro-
vide a safe retreat for their own persons.
Grant stands watching at the gates of their
capital and ready to enter at any moment,
while Sherman is marching on, conquering
and to conquer. We can very readily fancy,
without any great stretch of the Imagination,
how JET. Davis and his Jewish Premier felt
on the return of the peace commissioners and
what they and other leaders said in relation to
getting up this war meeting. The necessity
was upon them aud something must be done to
drive away the cloud of despair that was evil
IDENTITY settling down upon the hearts Of the
pei pie. And what better could they do than
to call war meeting to strengthen the hands
and encourage the hearts Of the masses who
seemed to be about ready to give up all for
lost.
The meeting was called and no doubt fully
attended. 1t would be strange if it were not
Ia that city where despotism reigns supreme,
and white men dare not say their souls are
their own. The poor black men were never
allowed that privilege. This meeting was
holden both afternoon and evening, and elo-
quently addressed by r. NJ. f. Hunter, II. W.
Sheffey, G. A. Henry, j. P. Benjamin and
others. All these speeches were directed to
points-frst to deepen their hatred against
the Yankees and to infame the hearts of the
people with war, unceasing, relentless war.
We have not space to characterize all these
out-bursts Of eloqaence, but the speech of
Benjamin, the Jewish Premier, was the grand
one of the occasion. But the Richmond En-
quirer thinks this Jew does not regard the
Christian vitues and repudiates orthodox
doctrines! In no proclamation or state paper
signed BY him as Secretary of State has the
existence of a triune God been admitted, but
he has confined all his state documents to a
strange belief and stamped upon the religious
faith OF the country practical denial Of trim
itarian Jehoyah The Enquirer says: "The
people do not like to be made to choose be-
tween Jesus Christ and Judah P. BeDja
and to take the latter In preference p Some
other statesman is desired whose faith accords
with the religious convictions of the people.
But we pass this over, for we think the re-
ligion OF the Jew in its practical effects upon
life is about on par with that OF the En-
quirer. Benjamin, it is true, did not in his
speech manifest much of the spirit of the Prince
of Peace. His voice was for war, and his
greatest endeavor was to infuse the war spirit
into his hearers. For this end he labored hard,
and spoke most eloquently. he fell upon the
"croakers" like a thousand of bricks. "These
croakers," he continues, say, this or that gen
eral is whipped, gold is sixty, and calico nine
typ There is another thing he wanted. "Af
ter you have given us all the men and Means
he says, 1--WE want the croakers should be
hanged"
He goes 10 for arming the negroes" We want
means" he asks, ''are they ia the country p
II so, they belong to the country, not to the
man who chances TO hold them now. They
belong either to the Yankees or to the Confed-
crate States. 1 would take every bale of cot
ton in the land" He has no regard for indi
vidual rights t property, and goes for taking
every piece of gold the Government can lay
its hands upon. He rejoices that the rebels
burnt the cotton at New Orleans when that
city was surrendered, but he condemns TIE
citizens of Savannah for not burning theirs
"This now all goes to the Yankees he con.
tinues, who gIoatingly said, mot that we got
Savannah, but that we have got eighteen mil.
lion dollars worth of cotton" Such an ex-
clamation from the Yankees sits hard on this
jews stomach He can't digest it any how.
He is fully convinced that If all the cotton,
tobacco and gold are not taken by the govern
ment and made basis of means, the war OF
the rebellion cannot be carried on. And
this is not all; he wants the bacon and every
thing that eau feed the soldiers "Talk oil
rights" he excaims, ''What rights do arro-
CANT invaders leave you? l want another
thing. War is game that cannot be played
without men. Where are the men? Put in
the niggers." Here cheers came in, and the
war spirit ran high. But we have not space
to follow this Secretary of the SO called Con-
federats States. Enough has been shown to
convince our readers that the rebellion is
really in bad way. No man knows this bet
terthan Judah P. Benjamin.
/ is hard to kick against the pricks and tie
rebels are beginning to feel the force OF such
atruth. We can see no hope for them, and
the sooner they lay down their arms and re-
turn to the Union the better for them. We
believe the leaders are planning way of es-
cape, and do not expect to establish their in
dependence. They do not intend to be caught
and this war breeze they are now trying tc
raise is only for the purpose of gaining little
time that they may prepare for their owr
fight. They do not intend to live under the
old flag, but when the rebellion finally collar.
ses, as collapse it must, they will come up
missing, and fee to some other country
We may be mistaken in this conjecture, but
such is now our conviction.
= NURSE AND Spy
Mr. N. B. Perkins, General Agent for this
state, has laid upon our table finely got-up
volume entitled "Nurse and Spy in the Union
Apnor