The Portland daily press., 1865-04-27
The two COUNTRIES.

What will JEFF Davis now say about two
countries ?n 1t has been his pride and plea
sure to ring many changes upon these two
WORDS. They have been the basis Of many of
his arguments, especially when negotiations
for peace have been talked Of He has CHING
to them with more tenacity than many cler-
gymen do to their texts from Holy Writ. But
what is country without capital? Its sit
uation is even more deplorable than church
without bishop. Heretofore the rebel gov
eminent has occupied sort Of capital from.
which 1t dated and issued its public doeu-
ments. Posted behind strong Notifications,
that had hitherto ldeded the power of the
United States, JEFF. Davis issued his flaming
proclamati6Ds, wrote his fiery documents, an
nounced to the world the Independence of the
Confederacy, and Illuminated his official thun-
ders generally.
Here, too, the Richmond editors coaeocted
their spicy editorials, and cracked their jokes
on the Yankees, snapped the slave whips in
our faces, and despatched our President with
foulest contumely and indignity; and here,
too, were concocted the marvellous plans and
wonderful enterprises that were to transfer
the tratorous government to Washington,
where laws were to be given to this great
Western Continent. But where are the "two
countries now? Where is the once proud
capital of the bogus Confederacy? Where,
o where did Davis, the arch traitor, sleep last
night? On whose pillow did he rest his fe-
;al falx L..
and minister to him? We can fancy we hear
him cry: "Help me, Chloe, or / sinkl'-
What change has come over the spirit of his
dreams We wonder it the Richmond edi-
tors accompanied nina, or did he seek safety
in fight, solitary and alone? W ~. VI as,s
Here comes in the romance Of this war,
and some Of these rebel editors could de
scribe 1t with richness of diction, wealth Of
imagery and power of Imagination that would
insure the work an extensive circulation. II
James could now write, we should again be-
hold Lee and Davis, the two "horsemen,p
vending their way through some solitary des-
ert, or calamity capering on the margin o
some beautiful river. But we must patiently
wait for such literary productions; they win
food the country one of these days, thick as
autumnsl leaves. ,.a n, ,s31 bs.si.. ~ (.
Wewill give Davis the credit Of remaining
| longer IN the capital than his Congressman.
They are shrewd fellows, and snuffed the bat
tie afar of. Having "fired the Southern
heart" they decamped long ago, and sought
places of greater safety to their persons than
the rebel capital would be likely to afford
them. The question now naturally arises,
where will this bogus President next make a
stand? From what city, town, hamlet or
plantation will he now issue his proclama-
tions9 These questions we cannot answer
just now. ~ sE-.S.-e s.
But to be more serious, for the subject de-
mands it, How wonderfully have all these
things been timed! How swiftly, and yet
how mysteriously have the events Of this war
succeeded each other! We have often been
| impatient, but higher Power has directed
the movements of this war, and all event
have passed in admirable order, if we could
but see it. The rebellion was begun to ex-
tend the area of slavery, and fasten the chains
more closely upon the limbs of the slave.
That was the great objective point for which
| this struggle was commenced But what has
been the course of events9 What has been
their logic? How impatient we have been
for the fall of Richmond But our time was
not Gods time. The time to take the rebel
capital had not come until, not only the
North, but the South also, had put arms upon
the shoulders of the negroes, and acknowledge
ed them to be MEN. That has been done, and
the negroes, thus armed and acknowledged to
be men, walked into Richmond and captured
it, or assisted in the glorious work.
This grand finale was not to happen before
the rights of the colored population were
more clearly understood by the masses, and
their manhood acknowledged. All this has
been done and Richmond has fallen and the
| people rejoice. sssisiA