The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-08-17
The Maine Convention.


The old proverb shat distance lends
enchantment 70 the rieH" appears To-
be specially applicable to the action Of
our politicians ia regard 10 the negroes
Of the South. The further We 20 from
the Southern States the more the poll
ticians knoE-or, ct least think they
know--sbout the proper treatment Of
the blacks and the duties Of the GOV
eminent IN reference 70 that race
Thus in Ohio and Pennsylyania, which
border upon the late s~laveholding /
States, snd have 3 larger proportion
Of coloeed population than the more
Northern States, the republican politi-
cisns fully endorse and Support the
policy Of the President in recognizing |
the South But when We 90 way down
East TO the State Of Msine-a State
which had N 1850 a cOlored population
Of only o thousand three hundred OF
all ages and sexes, and decreasing at 8
rapid rate at that-We find the pOit-
clans thoroughly versed in the great
problem, and qualified 70 instruct the
President in all his duties relating 70
that perplexing question. Our public
men, including our military heroes
who have had opportunities Of practi-
cally studying the negro character as
manifested in the South, look upon the
transition Of the blacks from slavery TO
3 standard Of equality with their late
masters a. 3 critical period, not only to
the negro, bat 70 the country They
have, however, such superior oppoFtu-
mites IN Maine to examine this ques-
ton N ali its details that no doubts ex;
st there but politicians meet in con
~vention, and inform the President that
il is his duty TO demand that there shall
be perfect equality Of races, and the re-
mOEal Of all disability Of color as the
condition Of the return of the Southern
States
The politicians who took part in the
recent republican State convention
held at Portland, presented such an in
c~ongruity of ideas an their resolutions,
and lsbored so hard TO denounce the
President and at the same time to
keep up the appearance Of supporting
him, that we do not know which TO adj
mire the most-the remarkable knowl-
edge exhibited in regard to the negroes
|, of the South, OF the wonderful skill
shown IN the art Of political gymnas-
tics and tight-rope performances. They
hrst expressed entire confidence in
{ President johnson and pledged him
! the cordial support Of the Union mer
ia Maine; but, Notwithstanding he hal
instructed the official appointed fOl
that purpose to call elections as soon a
e possible, they notify Mr. johnson tina
: Il l. his duty TO keep the Southern
o States under provisional governments
for they are unsafe depOBItorlss o
free republican, government Thi
is followed with q demand for negri
equality, negro suffrage and removal o
e distinction of color. Then comes
! fall endorsement of an expression O
+" the President that = treason is 3 Grim
J. and must be punished, and q call 70
7 its full enforcement against the rebe
4 officials, both civil and military. Thi
Is backed by still another resolution
, containing implied threats a. the Pres
ident for not trying and executing De
, Davis st once. These, with three 0
four others made up with a mixture {
denunciation and praise, in which the
! recommend an amendment TO the cor
I %stitution establishing equality Of rep
le resentation, also declare that the colo
M ed people must have conferred upo
them. il fact as well as in name, all th
: political rights of freedom, form IA
% substance Of the singular resolves. A
d this, We take il, represents the res
plans which the Chase-radiesI csusad
and the Observation-Disclosures party hav
assumed. as such it exhibits unmi
1t taxable signs Of weakness. The Leaf
|, ers in the Convention unquestionabl
Al intended to oppose the Presidents Pc
!. icy. Yet their whole our show
great weakness Of the radicals, an
De want Of confidence in the people, whe
to they cannot, even in the State
is Maine, secure the endorsement Of the
= negro suffrage schemes without tryln
10 sugar coat them oVer with an Ell
dorsement Of Mr.. Johnson.