The Portland daily press., 1865-01-31
The late Libel Trial-1ts History and
Pasults,


The time of the Supreme Judicial Court in
session in this city, was occupied about four
DAYS of last week with the abortive trial OF
the libel suit, JOHN NJ. ADAMS, Editor OF the
Eastern Argus, us. NEWELL A. FOSTER,
Publisher of the Portland Daily Press. For
the amusement IL not profit of whom 1t may
concern" we have as briefly as possible, con-
densed the history of this case, with Its result
for the columns of the Press. In doing TINS
wehaye not been under oath, and therefore do
not expect the statement to be used as testi-
monv before future jury, but we have stated
the facts with the same fidelity to truth that
we should have done upon the witness stand
In court. - ssf,s,s
II was during the session of the legislature
of 1868, that Hon. SAMUEL E. SPRING, Of this
city, in the State Senate, made some remarks
in debate, touching the commissioning OF GER
tain gentlemen in this city, as officers OF mill
tary companies, which the politicians of the
other side construed into an aspersion of the
character OF Portland citizens as patriots and
as men. He referred to the well-known jubi-
liant spirit manifested In certain quarters over
federal defeats in the field and rebel victo-
ries.
These remarks of Mr.. Spring, certain OH
cious Democrats, instigated no doubt by the
argus, and hoping thereby to make party cap
ital by so doing, were pleased to construe into
a general attack upon the citizens ofPortland,
and so resolutions censuring Mr.. Spring were
introduced into the Common Council by a
Democratic member, which received three
votes-the entire Democratic strength of the
Board. These resolutions were of course very
patriotic, and very indignant that any per
sons patriotism in the city should be doubt
ed. ~
It was In allusion to this Illumination of
wrath--this tempest in a teapot"-in the
Common Council, that we specifically referred
to at least one disloyal man on the committee
chosen under Democratic auspices to 60 to
Boston and invite Gen. Mcclellan to visit the
city, and we quoted his language, denouncing
1t as treason of the blacklist hue. This brings
us to an interesting fact, not brought out In
the late trial, but truthful nevertheless
The editor ofthe argus called upon us through
his paper, to name the disloyal person refer
red to. OF course we did no such thing. The
person referred to was a private citizen, and
the language quoted from him was used In
conversation in our office, and while we had
no sympathy for his views we respected his
frankness, and had no desire to drag his name
before the public in any unpleasant associa-
ton. The editor of the Argus knew to whom
we alluded. Meeting the individual referred
to on the street he said to him-"The Press
means you" II know it," said the individuals
"for 1 used the precise language it has quoted"
swell" said the argus man, "If will push
the editor of the Press into a corner, and force
him to call your name, will you responde"-
The individual promised to do SO, meaning, as
he has since told US, that he should have writ
ten a Communication explanatory of the mat
ter, and request US to publish it,-which we
should, no doubt, have cheerfully done.
The above detailed arrangement to goad
us up to the calling of private citizen by
name in an unpleasant connection, slightly
miscarried, and revealed for the more than ten
thonsandth Tune, that
1.-THE best iaid scnemsJ &C mice an men,
Gang aft astray."
The Argus came out with brief challenge,
daring us to name one disloyal man in Port
land, and intimating very distinctly that II we
did not do SO either our veracity or our cour-
age was at sad discount. Not being accus.
toned to stand challenge of this kind, we
promptly responded as follows: 1l III
HAVE NOT THE COURAGE" HAVE WE?
The Pr a and Mr.. Spring roundly assert that there
many dis oval Democrats In Portland, but sngulary
enough they have not courage to one though cha
lsngsd to do it. Their courage veracty sadly dis
count-the public can judge which.-lArgus. u
The Press has never asserted that there are
many disloyal Democrats in Portland, for
two reasons,-frst we don't believe there are
many disloyal men of any kind In our city,
at least we hope not, and second, disloyal
Democrat is a misnomer. A real, true, genu-
inc Democrat must be loyal to the government
Of the majority. Mr.. jefferson, the father of
American Democracy, made implicit obedi-
ence to the expressed will OF the majority one
of the first articles In his creed. Democrat
is no copperhead. It's only those whe have
stolen the name Democrat to cover up their
disloyaltY-who have stolen the livery OF
heaven to serve the devil in-that are cop
perheads. IL Is charitable to believe very
large majority of those who help to make up
what is now called the Democratic party, are
honest, and love their country with true
and commendable devotion. At least we hope
as much.
But such people-the honest masses-how-
ever cruelty they may be deceived, or howev-
er mistaken in their heads, are right at heart !;
and none would detest the copperheads more
cordially than they, could they be made to see
them In their true light. = nNs tsreFsrs y
If the author of the above quoted paragraph
means that we have not the courage to name
one of the selfstyLed Democrats OF Portland,
whom we consider disloyal, he is simply mis-
taken-was never more SO In his life. or
course we cannot look into mau's heart and
read his motives, but it Is pretty safe maxim
that you can tell what Jug contains by what
comes from it. Grapes are no more gathered
from thorns or figs from thistles now than
they were two thousand years ago. Adopt
ing this rule of judgment-the safest the case
admits olive dare name at least one self
styled Democrat "a regular copperhead =
whom we consider disloyal, and that one is
the editor of disloyal paper styled the East
ern Argus. 11 KS VI
We have the highest Democratic as we'll as
Republican authority for pronouncing con-
dattonGt patriot an unconditional traitor
a conditional Union man Internationally dis
loyal; The Eiitor Of the argus is a condi
uanal Union man. When the rebellion was
IN us Infancy mar he opposed the Presidents call
Ior 'oOOO men to protect the federal capital
ana 70 crush the rebellion. He suggested dis
ahrsSa@ "a !. gaafsTy in the language Of
pray thee, between me and thee
Is not the whole land before theep Senorote
hyseg, ! pray thee, from me; II thou wilt
take the left hand then will go to the right
or II thou depart to the right hand, then viii
go to the left" ~
Such was the position the editor of the dr.
gus then took, and he has never. to this day,
indicated a change of desire in this regard
He was for dividing the Union; for saying TO
the South, Hayward Sisters. depart in
peace" What more conclusive evidence
could be offered that his Unionism was bas I'D
upon conditions!
Now, every day, his paper is arrayed In OBJ
position to the Government 1t Is reekinq
with treason and with the blood OF our loyal