The Portland daily press., 1865-02-06
Gross Misrepresentation.

In the report of the town meeting of Fri
day, in the argus, we find this sentence:
ME- Gilman, of the Common Council, spoke
in defense OF the City Council, and rejecting
upon the course Of the Mayor. He stated
that majority Of that body had been and
were IN favor of liberal action.
We hope there was no intention on the part
OF the reporter for the Aryusto misrepresentA
the remarks to which he refers, but how he
could inadvertently commit SO gross au error
seems almost unaecountable. We hope he
did not go to that meeting with spirit bent
on getting up indignation at the expense OF
the Mayor and City Council, thereby to turn
his party grindstone at the approaching March
meeting, and thus blindahimself TO factsso
plain that he who ran might have read them.
The truth is, Mr.. Gilman attempted no de-
fence of the City Council; he cast no renec-
ton upon the Mayor; he made no statement
as to what a majority of the City Council had
been or were in favor Of doing. What he did
say In this regard was simply this: That Mr..
Drummond must have misunderstood in rela-
ton to the reasons why the City Council had
taken no action; that those reasons had I'M
questionably been deemed sufficient by the
Mayor to Justify his action; that the Mayor
had no doubt been influenced by what he
honestly believed to be for the best interest Of
the city, and that doubtless the City Council
would all accord to him the most worthy de-
sire to promote the public good, although
some Of them might feel constrained to differ
from his view. The City Council, however,
had been stayed In its action by no such con-
siderations as those set forth, for they had
never been called together, and had had no
opportunity to express an opinion, or to inter-
change views so as to know what opinion pre-
no doubt majority of them would be found
willing to carry out liberal policy, and to
obey any instructions voted by the citizens. s
So much for the "defence" of the City
Council; SO much for ''refecting upon the
Mayor" The remarks had no such intent,
but they were designed to correct misappre-
hension that might grow out Of the explana-
tions of Mr.. Drummond, unjust to the City
Council, which had never been in any way
consulted upon the matter.
To the balance of the argus report of our
remarks we take noexceptions. We did say,
and we repeat it, that property should be tax
ed for all necessary war expenses. If boun.
ties are required to fill quotas, then those
bounties should be raised by taxation. The
man who volunteers or is drafted to face the
guns of rebel Notifications, to iuhale the ma
laria of southern swamps, to expose himself
to the hardships of camp and march and bat
tledeld, perhaps to those bells known as
Southern prisons,-incurs an amount of dan
ger for which no amount of money is adequate
Communication. He is entitled to nations
thanks, and those who are exempt from such
liabilities can do no less than make liberal sac
riices of money to meet the exigencies of the
case. @
We have no sympathy for any feeling that
looks unmoved upon the poor man forced
from his wife and dependent children, on the
ground that she otoes seruice" to the Govern
ment. Slaves have been recognized as outing
seryice to southern taskmasters, but. thank
God, that barbarism is about played out. 1t
is time the kindred idea was exploded, that
any class of men alone otoes service to the
Government The man of wealth may be
dismembered, deprived Of hand, foot, his
speech or his sight, and yet possess every COM
fort that money can procure. The poor man
deprived of a hand, foot, or otherwise MAIN
ed, has small prospect before him but an aims
house for himself and family. Is it nothing
that he takes the risk of being thus made a
mere helpless wreck upon the stream of life
We insist upon it, that for taking this risk
he creates a strong claim upon public sympa-
thy--a claim which even a liberal bounty can
but partially discharge.