The Portland daily press., 1865-10-28
Honrr WAND nennhnr,s last sensation.


Mr.. Beecher's sermon in Plymouth Church
on Sunday evening, Oct. 22d, has attracted
unusual attention, and it is not among the
least cheering 4signs of the times" that all the
eopperhead papers, great and small, are loud
in their praise of its author. After carefully
reading the published report OF that sermon,
we can only express the hope that thesenew
friends of Mr.. Beecher are honest; that they
commend him not simply because of his gen.
arous endorsement of the Presidents acts and
his desire to see the people of the South enient-
" treated but because Of his burning and
truthful words against the awful national
curse OF slayery,--of which we are now nearly
rid,-of his honest indignation against persist
ent rebels not yet repentant,--of whom the
South and North have yet altogether too
maryland of his scathing rebuke of Con-
necticut for keeping up, by the undivided aid
of the Democrats, its odious distinctions based
on the mere accident of color. {fTD43
We cheerfully transfer to our columns a few
extracts from Mr.. Beecher, and would Affection
ately commend them to the careful attention
of those Democrats and Copperheads who are
now exultant over his discourse as a whole:
When the crime of slavery blotted our fair
page, charity was a mistake and a witness
against us in favor of slavery. Now things
are changed; the cause of trouble is removed,
and it has become our privilege and duty, as
it is my pleasure, to plead for a large measure
of good will and love toward all men. In the
first place, we cannot expect those who have
been struck with this insanity to get over in
an hour their life long preiudices and beliefs.
And while we are calling them citizens and
brothers we should remember that GONZALES
cence is sometimes longer in its run than the
disease, and men who have been torn and de-
spoiled by fierce, relentless war cannot, in a
moment, change. Nor are we to expect them
| to give up their theories. Men at the North
are disappointed because prominent men at
the South are pardoned, when they do not
give up their secession. should not respect
them If they did. Let them accept the fact OF
union from this time on, and they can have
their theories. A man who too readily gives
up his theories and doctrines cannot make a
desirable citizen. / expect them to retain
their theories, but to accept the facts.
Nor is it right to distrust their professions.
1t is said they viii again get into power and
then do as they please. How do you expect
to prevent them? Somewhere men must be
believed aid trusted. What guarantees would
you ask-how secure them? / think the
utter destruction Of slavery is the best
guaranty. slaau E
am very glad that the foremost of our an
ti-slavery men have been pleading for less rig
or, and expressing a generous sympathy for
their old time antagonists. Let the true men
find the Southern heart, let traitors be ignored
| by both parties. / was panied by the many
criticisms saw in the papers upon General
| Lee when he was made President of South
ern College. In an hour Of great weakness
| he committed himself to the cause of rebel
lion. Since that time, however, he has acted
as well became him; the fact granted that he
conscientiously believed in the cause of the
| South, we must admit that he has conducted
himself without unnecessary violence: and
| when he laid down his sword, who could be
more modest, more honorable than he? And
when he was called to the presidency of the
| college, was glad to see him take it. He
needed to do something to support himself,
| and the criticisms made by our papers were as
ungenerous as they were unfair.
do not know what the Presidents mind is,
| If indeed he knows it himself Much COM
plant has been made of his reticence, but
confess that think his reticence admirable in
one who has nothing to say. In his answer
to South Cardinals delegation--South Carroll
ma that before she was received again into the
family, sends her advice TO Washington, and
suggests to the President what he should do,
how refreshing--he (the Presideut) said we
must be practical in our efforts, and think
his course is eminently wise, and we have ney-
er had man in the Presidential chair who
has proven himself more wise in the solution
of questions brought to him than President
johnson. I think his leaving of these CUES
tons to Congress e7aineatiy lciSe and much
better than would be the C@sarian practice of
deciding for himself, and by himself Alone
But inrcgard to criticism and advice, don't
think we are so very free from ceIlsure.-
When black man can ride in the cars, can
appear in court, can own property, can attain
to the full stature Of citizenship here, we may
turn to the lecturing of our Southern brethren.
confess that if want to advise them, 1
shoull speak very mildly, because ifthey
should ask me in what State l was born
should be compelled qcith bIushes to admit
that it was the loyal State Of Connecticut.
Let me express my gratitude to God that
He had appointed without our foretliourht
and almost without our knowledge, a man SIN
gularly fitted to take up the work where his
martyred predecessor left it. Thus far can
not lay my hand upon an act which does not
seem apt, fitting and most WISE With clear
eye, and skillftll hand he has gone on weav-
ing most cleverly the robe which was to cover
the entire brotherhood of the States of the
Union. The extraordinary unanimity in the
nation, in respect to him is most gratifying.
We who voted for him and made him our
Vice President, of course, are proud of him,
but what most fills my heart with gratitude,
and is my unqualified marvel and thanksciy-
ing, is the complete conversion Of our enc
mics who opposed him at the date of his cleo
ton with such virulence and spite. Let us.
however, be charitable, let us hope and even
pray that this sudden conversion mag be gen.
uine, and that they ,riU nerer backSEde
Laws can't make men-you may call the ne
groes all the pretty names in the world but
unless they are intelligent, industrious and de-
voted to the laws of labor, as are the people
of this part OF the country, they wont be one
whit better off than now. We can never deny
man in this country long any civil right for
which he is well fitted. If the negro can be
proven fit for the suffrage, for the holding of
property, he ,ciH not long be kept out of it,
AS point of transition, a property uualifca-
ton might be accepted-not as final. bit as a
transitory measure. Nor do 1 believe that
this nation would put guns into the hands of
10000 negroes, and then deny them the Tiqtt
to Uote. believe with Sherman, that man
acho has carried a natsAet has a right to carrg
ballot Let us have this for beginning. Let
those who have fought our battles have the
right to vote, and Iwould like to see the Dem
ocrat-the man who would look this black he
70 In the face, and say he is not fit to VOTE
HE HIMSELF is NOT FIT TO VOTE. lE