The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-11-12
DAILY PRESS.
PORTLAND
Monday Morning, November IL, 1866.
PORTLAND.
The Conservative Theory.

Openly Hlc uOuubS rtSpcCtu6
the American Congress. After ne nad gone
SO tar as to describe that assembly as "a pody
hanging on the verge of the government" the
nublic mind was prepared to hear that he
had addressed official inquiries on this point
IN his legal adviser. The rumor TO that effect,
which has never been satisfactorily explained,
found ready credence and shook the public
credit from one end of the country to the
other. For plain denial OF that authority,
coming from the President, means civil war.
1t would be enough to say about this theo-
ry, that Congress represents victorious peo-
pie, as unanimous and determined as when
during the war they sent forward their rein
forcements and furnished the means for its
prosecution without stint, and no man SHALL
question the authority OF their representatives!
But 1t happens that our adversaries are not
satisfied with plain facts. They want theories
besides: and are particularly PROUD to call
themselves strict construstionists. Was it
constitutional to coerce the South? they are
sim asking. and are ready to maintain that If
coerci.n was unconstitutional it was improp-
er and invalid, and we cannot claim any tights
acquired by victory in the field. Perhaps not,
but we DO! is the unsatisfactory reply.
Now ofcourse there can never be any hearty
argument between these Missionaries and the
practical men of the North. Between these
absurd spiders, spinning out of their own
bowels web to catch themselves in, and men
who have native reverence for fact which
Is only another name for truth, there can be
mo- common ground of understanding. But
snpposa we humor Tor while the Conserva-
tive penchant for argument; suppose we ex-
anime their theory and its consequences.
Congress, they say, has no authority because
it Is not. constitutional Congress represent
lug all the States. Very well, Then we have
had no constitutional Congress since 1851
Ali the LEGISLATION since that time is null and
voiai The appropriations were improperly
allowed, and the public debt is imaginary;
there is 10 such debt. fhe revenue laws are
Invalid, and the collectors are liable to prose-
ctti,n for obtaining money on false pretences.
The notes emitted by institutions organized
10 Ter the national banking law are worthless
specimens of engraving. Our soldiers and
officers were not engaged in q war; it was
rot, and may all OF each be brought 70 trial,
and any of them who have killed rebels may
be convicted of murder. Their pensions and
bounties cannot legally be PAID. All so cali
8. ed capture and confscations were mad with
csst authority OF law, and the owners OF prep
er;y iaas illegally seized may properly sue and
rec .yar damages. The so-called free liaeil are
really slaves. The late rebel officers who be
ION Jed 10 the amy and navy, may resumetheir
: duties, and by seniority of commission win
o ,tbrank the pretended officers who in fact
: hive on rank at all, most Of them hayiag been
c,m,ni STONED by authority Of this pretended
Coagry S.. 75-sct els,a ag, 81. f,,,.,
. All this, the conservative mind would per
:. haps be able to contemplate with equani.nity |;
but there are some other consequences which
as strict constructionists they cannot reject
Mr. johnson 'as not elected Vice President
ibya constitutional majority of the electors.
Is The votes were not counted in the presence
: o a constitutional Congress. Mr. John,on is
: therefore an usurpihg President. He has
signed the laws passed by this body pietend-
ing to be Congress. Nay, he was himself a
a., ,le has since been Rump President. He
has, enacted laws passed by these illegal
pd;s;csps cIininis. -'" ces' mo NAV
;. 4sn't this an ingenious theory. to be parad-
, ell osi men who affect to seorn the a.plain
csmmon sense OF the people, who attribute
tier deliberate action to excitement and pas
son and do not hesitate to say they have lost
their reason2 If Andrew johnson and his
faction OF. office seekers and Cepperheads are
'athe only Americans who retain the gift of
reason, can they make no better use of it
taan thisp If il is reason which leads men
Z. into sneh . bristling thicket of absurdities,
e il it is Conservatism which placidly babies of
= doctrines so revolutionary, thsA folly Is wis.,
dom and fadicaiism is the only conserving
force left in our politics. saa2 ~
scamocria.d Csanfy Temperance Associa-
= = ssaHl ~ sTsiis lion. 9; -sa q.
!, This Association viii meet at Yarmouth on
"Wednesday 21st inst, at O'Clock in the after
noon. sss 81 saS 'ti.p
Arrangements are making for a meeting
which, for numbers at least, shall surpass any
also that on the score Of ability it will not fall
behind other similar occasions and in the
matter of music, we understand, there viii be
. unusual attractions. So that, what with
large audience, spirited addresses, and sweet
songs, added to the vital importance of the OBJ
iect, namely the promotion ofTemperance, the
occasion cannot fail to be one of mark ed inter-
est and Of lasting benefit to the cause, go
Atthe opening Off the meeting an essay on
Home influence" will be read by f. M. Ray
ESQ., of WestBrook; and at the beginning of
: the evening session an essay on Public ,Opin-
ion considered as an auxiliary to the cause
viii be read by Hon. Charles Holden of this
city. These essays will be brief, and will doubt
less form the chief basis Of remark during the
sessions, Of the convention. -
The general character of the subject to be
discussed, and its special importance at the
present time should arouse the friends of
8 Temperance, and call out to the meeting all
in neighboring towns who can conveniently
attend. The staid old town of North Var
lamouth especially within the original limits.
loves IL to her ancient character forintelligence
morality and sobffety, to be- present in large
Is numbers, and contribute an in her power to
the interest of the. occasion. 0.s sl6 al ,,
iH should be borne in mind that in no sense
aWill it be partizan convention Democrats
who are friendly to Temperance viii be as
: much ct home as Republicans; and we trust
q that both win be- ready to cooperate in every
appropriate way to advance the cause. A hearty
: " s 1s " aiLsSias 80 tcDs5nS~ .Eg x
STATE oFFlcERsSThe name of General
20 HENRY. RUST, OF Norway, has been added to
the list Of candidates for the State Secretary
ship sGen. Rust entered the service as first
! lieutenant in the First Maine regiment, ana
rose by successive steps to The col5heIcy Of tbk
Thirteenth, which regiment he Commander
from April, 1862, until it was mustered o1t il
JANUARY, 1906 BE is in politics Radical,
and will be formidable rival to'the candidates
m. -. issfsfss = p. a.ys-s- "a.