The Portland daily press., 1866-08-29

| al iaoOAClb duu OtCIUctlIl1lS aSSu1uDUlOQ Oh
superiority has always characterized the bear
ing of the South towards the North, and of
Southern gentlemen" towards those whom
they considered inferior, whenever the latter
endeavored to claim any of their rights. This
arises partly from their education among
slaves, and the influence of landed aristoc-
racy, and partly from their naturally narrow
comprehension and ignorance OF the world.
We can all remember with shame and morrill,
cation, how tamely in years past, our repre-
sentatives submitted to and invited the most
humiliating insults and the most cowardly A.
saults. We can remember how the slave
drivers used to crack their whips over our
heads and drive us through paths of their
own choosing, like flock of sheep. 1t was
this spirit of insolence on the part of the
South and of forbearanca on the part of the
North, that caused the rebellion. 1t was the
same feeling of confidence on one side and in
decision on the other, that caused orr defaat
in the first two years of the war. and il was
not until after many sacrifices that we were
at las' true to ourselves and proved to the
South and to the world our superior mettle.
endurance and s.bility. Shall we again shut
our eyes to the danger which threatens us ?
Shall we lie torpid and senseless until our enc
mics SHAH have gained considerable adyan-
tage by reason OF their superior vigor and au-
dacly9 Shall we endanger our free institu-
tons by allowing them tn be attacked In the
light CT experience, such conduct were simply
madness.
Let us refresh our memories with choice
extract from one of that noted band of pat
riots who lent his distinguished name and in
fuence to the plotters of the PHILADELPHIA
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES ii. Stephens-now re-
constructed Senator elect to the Congress OF
the United States from Georgia, and formerly
second in rank of our lately misguided breth-
rem, called, for short, rebels. After the pas.
sage of the Nebraska bill in 1860, he gave vent
to the pent-up exultation of himself and his
brethren in the following choice and elegant
bit of eloquence:
/ Well gentlemen, you make a good deal o.
clamor on the Nenraska measure, but it does
not alarm us at all. You have threatened be-
fore, butyo have neUer performed. You have
| always cdUed in and you will again. You are :
n,outting, sclite-tivered SET Of course YOU will
oppose. We expect that. You will rail, bu
we don't care for your railing. You will hiss
we expect it of you. You are like the devils
that were pitched over the battlements Of
Heaven into He'll. They set up a howl of dis
comfture, and SO will you. But their fate aUa,
sealed and 50 IS yours You MUST SUBMIT TIC
THE YOKE, but don't chqfe. Gentlemen, we
have got you in our power. You tried to drive
us to the wall in 1850, but times are changed
You went wooling and have come home fieec-
| ed. Don't BE SO nPUDENT AS TO COMPLAIN
You WILL ONLY BE SLAPPED IN THE FACE
| Don't RESIST. You WILL ONLY BE dashed
| INTO OBEDIENCE.
Compare for moment this coarse swaggel
in the moment of supposed victory, this
wholesale consignment of an enemy whom
they supposed they had conquered, with the
dignity, the moderation, the magnanimity Of
the Northern people towards an enemy whom
they know to be utterly crushed and whose
power for effective opposition is well nigh an
initiated. Imagine Thad. Stevens. who is
held up by Copperheads as the yery embodi-
ment of malignity and ferocity, quoting this
very language and applying it to the Southern
rebels What howl of execration would re-
sound throughout the North. Compare this
pot-house billingsgate OF the high-toned and
chivalrous Vice President of the Confederacy
with the calm, lofty, unimpassioned states
manship OF the last speech of Mr.. Stevens
when he presented the constitutional amend
ment to the House of Representatives, or with
the more cold and passionless argument o,
Senator Fessenden in his report on Recon-
struction. Which ale the conservative men p
| Which are the most tender of the feelinps of
their opponents? Which are the most regard
full of the rights and privileges of citizens Of
the United States? Which are the most like
\ ly to establish adespotism? Which may most