The Portland daily press., 1866-09-26
The Two Prepasi,ians.

~J
-- The Two Propositions.
There are two propositions now before the
country, each professedly designed to secure
the peace and harmony for which all our IL
terests languish, Whether we CONSIDER 'ne'i
origin, the character of their advocates' or
their intrinsic nature the contrast between
the two is complete. The one was announc-
ed by the American Congress. the rightful
representatives of the people who indicated
the Just claims of the national government
The other emanates from convention, a
body of men unknown to the laws and repre-
senting no constituency whatever. The one
is maintained by the great party, North and
South, which conducted the affairs of the ma
ton through war to peace. The other is urg-
ed BY the faction which opposed the war at
the North and the conspirators who made
war at the South. The one requires few
simple guarantees against future insurrechon
and bloodshed. The other demands the ID
slant and unconditional restoration oil tne au-
thors ofthe rebellion to more than their lorlii-
er influence in our common government.
II we look at the two propositions little
more closely, we shall see that the Phlladel-
phia plan includes some obnoxious conditions
from which the Congressional scheme is en-
tirely Free 1t requires in the first place con-
fession of guilt which no man has any
right to exact of fellow-mortal, which no
right-minded man would require of another
unless bent on crushing within him every
spark of selErespect. The Southern members
OF the Philadelphia convention were called
upon to admit that they had been wrong from
the beginning. Do they believe that? Not
If we can trust the unanimous response of
the Southern press. They admit that they
were beaten; they do not admit that they were
wrong. Plotters and conspirators there WERE
Men there were, and many, who were forced
into war of which they did not heartily ap-
prove. But it is too plain that the people who
for four years maintained the strife against
such odds. were generally persuaded of the
justice OF their cause.
Wrong we certainly believe them to be-
Worse cause than theirs, gallant men never
laid down their lives for. but they are our
countrymen still. Their courageous devotion
TO bad cause is for US = matter OF melan-
choly pride. We shall not sacrifice the fruits
OF our dearly won victory, but We do not as
sumo to regulate their opinions. We desire
only their return into the Union as our equals
through no path of needless humiliation
Congress asks OF them no humiliating confess
sions-nothing but the simple admission of
the fact that the fortune of war was against
them. Admit that, modify our national com
pact as that admission requires, and all things
shall be as they were. 7.t, s.
No honorable man would have taken part
IN quarrel which he felt to be causeless. No
honorable man would admit that the war
which in his heart of hearts he felt to be inst
was causeless. The Southerners who now ac-
ce2t the Philadelphia doctrines were either
scoundIels when they knowingly engaged in
an unjust war, or are false knaves now when
they deny the justice Of cause in which thev
really believe, or lastly they have been con-
verified by the result and their opinions are too
unstable to demand any consideration what
ever. What shall we say of Northern men.
who opposed the war during its whole pro-
gress, and now confess that they opposed
just war? Let us say simply .this-that the
Philadelphia convention was made up mainly
OF tricky politicians, anxious about petty and
personal ends, purblind creatures, who aimed
to cajole and only succeeded in offending hon.
est people in both sections of the country.
Why then do not the Southern people at
once ratify the constitutional amendment p
The answer is not far to seek. They have
been taught to believe that it is not final. that
other conditions hrk behind it, and thew
have hesitated to enter upon course which
so far as they could see, led to no certain goal.
This notion was suggested by their own jeal-
Gus thoughts; it has been diligently inculcat-
ed by the Democratic press at the North. 1t
must be swept away by the plain, authentic
announcement of the National Union Com,
mittee in their address to the American peo-
pie. Tennessee" they say, has been formal
ly restored to all the privileges she forfeited
by the rebellion, including representation in
either house of Congress. And THE DOOR
THEY PASSED THROUGH STANDS INVITING
LY OPEN TO ALL WHO STILL LINGER WITH
OUT"
There is the proposition of the true party
of the Union, rendered by the Congress of
the United States and interpreted by the on
ly men authorized to speak for the party
which elected that Congress. Will the South
ern people accept it? We hope and believe
they win. But they must not hesitate too
long. Such opportunities come but once.
Time was when they might have pre-
served their peculiar institution. That
time went by. They might have secur-
ed compensation for their emancipated
slaves. That time is past. With little more
self control they might perhaps have secured
the unconditional restoration which they seek.
1t is too late. If they do not now accept the
offer which is made to them in all kindness
this offer, SO excessive in its lenity-it will not
oe renewed. A year ago we were in danger
of forgetting our duty the loyal Southern men
and women, white and black. We shall not
err on that side again.
MUNcHAUsEN OUTDoNE-An English civil |
engineer named johnson, lately engaged in |
the trigonometrical survey of Cashmere. has |