Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-07-06
The PORTLAND FIRE,

The PORTLAND FIRE.
BOsTOS, July THE terrible coufagra-
tion in Portland excites deep sympathy. A
dispatch from the Mayor of Portland to
Mayor Lincoln says Thousands of our
people are homeless and hungry Can you
send US some bread and eookkd provisions"
The response has been prompt and liberal.
A large quantity of provisions, in charge Of
J. B. Smith, the well-known caterer, was
forwarded by the o'clock train, and fur
ther supplies will go tonight. Two thous-
and tents have also been forwarded by the
United States authorities. Generous contri-
buttons of money to purchase supplies arc
being received by Mayor Lincoln, who will
see that it is properly used. The Adams
Express Company offer to take, free Of
charge, any contributions for the sufferers
by the Portland fire.
! ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
The following are the material portions Of
| some of the Acknowledgement of the Tam
many Society's invitation to celebrate yes
terday.
sIR-I thank you for the cordial invitation
of the time honOred Society Of Tammany
/ to participate with them in the celebration
Of the approaching anniversary Of our Ma
tfonal Independence. The National tone
| and patriotic spirit of the invitation meets
my hearty approval. They are indications
of growing public sentiment which, now
that the bitter strife Ofeivil war has ceased,
requires a renewal Of the pursuits of peace,
a return to the constitution of our fathers,
rigid adherence to its principles, increased
reverence for its sacred obligations, a re-
stored, invigorated and permanent Union,
and fraternity of feeling that shall make
US a people, one and indissoluble.
There can be for the patriot 20 higher
duty, no nobler work than the obliteration
of the passions and prejudices which result
ing from our late sanguinary conflict, have
retarded reconciliation and prevented that
complete restoration of all the States to
their constitutional relations with the Fed
eral Government, which is essential to the
peace, unity, strength and prosperity of the
Nation. Regretting that my public duties
will not permit me to be present at your
celebration,
lam very respectfully yours,
Gen. Grant simply directs his Secretary
to express his regrets that previous en-
gagent will oblige him to decline the honor
Secretary Seward writes;
l rejoice with the society that the con-
hict of arms has ceased, that the authority
of the Government has been Yindicated, and
that the flag Of the Union now floats tri-
umphantly over ever foot of national do
main. On the other hand mourn with the
Society that the perfect union given to US
by our patriotic forefathers has not
been entirely restored. That eleven
sovereign States are denied representation
in the Federal Congress, and are not recog-
nized as coordinate parts in the National
Legislature. How strange is all this. We
have killed disuniOn outright, aud have
killed African slavery with it, and yet we
are not completely reunited. If did not
feel assured that the American people can
not suff so great and fatal theory 10 COZ
tinue, should say as many others 90, that
we are at crisis, but l have unboupded
confidence in the wisdom and virtue of the
American people. 1t is said in excuse of
the denial OfrepresentatiOn that the States
and their chosen Representatives still
continue to be seditiOus and dis
loyal. ask, is Tennessee disIoyaiY
is Arkansas seditious are the senators and
representatives of those States disloyal? I
desire in this respect that each of the two
Houses of Congress will apply the constitu-
tional test with all the improvements Of
legislation upon it, and thus admit those
States and representatives. who are lOyal,
and reject only those against whom the
crime Of Aisloyalty shall be established. I
believe with the Tsmmany society thAt the
union was created to be perpstuated, and
that the States are equal under the consti-
tuition that the restoration of the Union
ought to be ACKNOWLEDGED and recognized bT
all departments; that Il spirit ofmagnanim-
ity and fraternity should prevail in all our
councils, and that the South, having ac-
cepted the lessons of the war and relin-
pushed the heresies of secession, should,
Just so fast es sho comes in the attitude Of
loyalty and il the persons Of loyal and
qualified REPRESENTATIVES, be admitted to
her constitutional representations. I want
henceforth and for ever no North, no South,
no East, no West, no divisions, no sections
and no classes, but one united and hAr-
mOniOus people.
Secretary Welles replied-To the honor
of your society it has in all times and under
all circumstances, in war and in peace, been
faithful to the Union OF the States and the
rights of the States. At no period since its
organization have its teachings and ser
vices been more required than at the pres
ent, when the victorious arms of the repub-
lie having suppressed the false theory that
the Union can be divided by the voluntary
withdrawal of State from its Federal re-
lations and obligations, we are compelled
to encounter the opposite extreme of com
pulsOry exclusion by which the centraiists
deny to eleven States the right Of repre-
5entation in Congress, which is promul-
gated by the Constitution.
This doctrine Of compulsory exclusion IS
scarcely less offensive than that of secession
each is fatal to the Perpetuity of the
Union. After a long and exhsusting war
whic-I has cost US so much blood and treas
ure the country needs repose that industry,
commerce and the arts of peace may revive
friendly reiaEons between the States and
the people may be re-estsblished, and
friendly confidence euoRg the people is to
be encouraged, and must supsrsede hatred
and revenge. No portion Of the States or
people can be deprived of their Just rights
without producing arrangement.