The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-09-14

oiSdSe MS reputation. Inc derdlu coHccueS
in adv ,nce that this nomination will probably
result in the reelection of Gov. Fenton by an
increased majority.
The Southern LOyalists nj Philadelphia.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON NON-RECoN-
sTRUoTED STATES.
The Committee ON the Non-reconstructed
States have the honor to submit the following
report ON the social and political status of the
loyalists of such States, together with their
needs and requirements: .-
Previous to the war for sectional disunion,
the patriotic traditions, the social pride, the in
dividual interests, and the religious and edu-
cational influences of the South were identif-
ed and closely allied with the American I'm
ion. The patriotic instincts of the overwhelm-
ing majority of the Southern people, without
regard to condition of life, were in harmony
with these elements. There were social bonds
OF interest and consanguinity ramifying every
fibre of the Republic, and embracing every
hearthstone and altar in the land. i, ..t,...
Those who meditated treason were forced by
this patriotic sentiment toput on the livery Of
republicanism to serve monarchy in. The dis
union plotters, for instance, declared that they
neld to the dogma of State rights because its
vindication was the only means by which to
conserve American nationality. They sought
to check the Federal instincts of the American
people by declaiming against what they term
ed the anti-republican character of strong,
aIl-sufficient national government
thirty years of ceaseless agitation and polit-
cal intrigue failed to discover the bonds of a
common country Those who secretly worked
or the overthrow of American institutions
saw at last that the South must have new So
clal, political and military traditions-that the
lame of Washington and the deeds of Bunker
dill must be obliterated by blood before the f.
nal work of Southern independence could be
achieved. A pretext for war was sought and
che Gulf States precipitated into revolution
In the early stages of that revolution the ne
-essltles OF the cOnspirators compelled them to
Keep up the pretext OF patriotism, until the
madness and bloodshed born of actual civil
strife should place the liberties, persons and
property of the Southern people within their
control. At the proper moment force was sub
'Gituted for fraud; the long concealed and
bloody purpose OF sectional disunion per se
openly declared, with human slavery as its
cornerstone. The pride of men once commit
Jed to the cause, the thirst for military glory
y the new love of military adventure, the sud
ienIy aroused and unthinking impulse of wo-
LIN, the new sympathles, new resentments,
leW hopes and new traditions springing inev-
-tably from state of war; were coidly calcu-
lated upon and deliberately directed for the ac-
iomplshment OF the traitors purpose. After
four years of bloody strife the first phase of
Sne contest closed by the surrender Of Lee to
gen. Grant. ~
The termination of the bloody conflict found
the people OF the South crushed to the earth
Dy the twofold influences of military defeat
anu long reign of military despotism, WELD
ed Dy the disunionists with selfishness and
crime. = eSA.-s---
When the armies of the United States COM
peiieu the surrender OF these rebel hordes, and
She insurgents returned to their homes, the pa
.riots Of the South welcomed them back in the
spirit OF forgiveness and brotherly love. Their
houses were thrown open to them, and in the
nouf OF reunion they overlooked their great
CRIME ana endeavored to heal the wounds of
nJured pride and unsuccessful ambition, The
nrst question they asked themselves was this:
What will the Government do with usoo n
was the general anticipation among them that
having revolted against the Government, hav-
ing fought for four years to estab ish an inde-
pendent Government, the United States.
IN justice to the hundreds OF thousands of no.
ole, patriotic soldiers who had died for their
country, IN justice to the loyal men of the
south, and IN justice to its violated law, would
impose such penalties on the leaders of the re-
oelnon as would prevent them from assuming
% control, by administration, direction, or
voice, the governments of theinsurrectionary
o5ates. With the full knowledge of the issues
winch they themselves had deliberately made.
compelling the Government to join issue with
arms in its own defence, and having. after a
long and bloody trial, been utterly defeated
ana overthrown, they were conscious of their
own unworthiness to participate in the work
OF reconstruction. Indeed, judged by the code
under which they had governed during the re-
bellion, they had cause to tremble for fear of
confscation of property and Punishment.
In this they were confirmed and their fears
intensified when, by the assassination of Presi-
dent Lincoln, Mr.. johnson, whose PLEDGES to
q fro oh IA L
odious and traitors punished" became the Ex-
ecutive of the nation. Their fears were reliey-
ed and their depression turned to feeling of
exultation and triumph when the North Caro-
una proclamation developed the Presidents
policy. From that hour the question. "What
will the Government do with lls?' was no lon
ger asked, but they at once began to deliberate
what they would do with the Government
Ihe anxious question of patriotism as to who
should guide the work of LOYAL reconstruction
was answered also. The question with them.
uttered with whispering lips and beating hearts
was, What will the disunionists do with us23
Ihls committee is in possession of informa-
ton that Union men dare not attend this con-
yention for fear of violence upon their return.
Gentlemen OF this convention have, since in
Jnls CITY, received notices not to return home
We have omitted the relation of acts Of faroc;.
ty and barbarism too horrible to relate, and the
recital OF which would scarcely be credited nv
2 humane, civilized people. We submit to the
impartial Judgment of the American people. IL
tnese state governments, thus ruled by dis
union ohgarchy, and based on the disfrancbse-
ment OF three millions of colored citizens. and
the social disfranchisement of the entire lovaI
WHITE citizens, are republican in form2 of
doubtful legal existence, they are undoubtedIv
eespotie Ill tne interest of treason, as we of the
South know but too we'll
All of the restraining influences in f.,or oe
the Y mon as existing before the war have nor -
lsned from the land, save the feeble liobt llant
alive by the loyahsts. The armed efforts To Nv.
erIhrow the government having been treated
soieiy as an unsuccessful but heroic act. the
leaders OF the rebellion stand Justified in tho
eyes Of their own people. This is the basis 'n nf
their moral justification. o e"''' vi
Iney possess the lands of the South tbrouob
the fayoritism of the military desnot;sm a.
throned at Richmond during the war Tbay
absorbed by contracts and speculation the
wealth OF our section. They have hean 60 ~
irmed in the possession of this ill-potten reaitb
by the pardomng power of the Executive. Nv
The provisions of the national hank oct roo,,;y
ing local residence for directors. thev nossass
control OF the financial power of these States
linus, with the lands, the cotton, tobacco and
abroad wealtn, anu welding the banking in
1uence OF the country, and speaking by author
ty OF the President as the supporters of his
iynssty and administrative policy. thew domi.
nate with an absolute power. -
II a conflict of arms for the qualification If
800 ana party hatred could be, as we have
seen, precipitated, Notwithstanding the re-
fbe al nt influences which existed previous to
rena % war, Wnat guarantee have we against
: : aepeeltlon OF the bloody experiment in noI;
w sIat me entire South is more intense
fssarf,1I array of n nnan ever? Overawed by the
abs Gy inc and Impoverished
ID them, how can the Union To 80 long opPress-
lcP re- u ramada TO %b %sntan their ground
ients policy will only increase orr sne rresl
md open the way for perpetuating the t vrang
If our oppressors. The admission of the Rarrcy
'entatives of these reasonable conventions in
% Congress carries with it the admission of
In MEL vote into the Electoral College, They
W. On many vital questions of Legislation, hold
wiz, e oahoe Of power in Congress, and they
denial n nInu the balance of power in the Pres
%en eiectlons. The effect of their vote in
n@ h tSs y ba Is true can be neutralized by keep
III ~ ote mans Of the national Legislature
soma Oody OF men with whom IT viii ba ;ronos-
no. iOr the agents Of treason to affiliate But
oral College The hope of wieldinn th tle L.ec
southern vote in the next PresidenfiaI a, u:eu
ok n