The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-09-10
UNION 1fEETLNG AT B4NGOR
Of Hon. Hanniba, Hamlin.

aii e.1i BANGOR, Sept9.
The Hon. Hannibal Hamlin addressed a great
meeting of his fellow citizens here last even
ing He was enthusiastically received and
welcomed. He spoke earnestly for an hour
and half He commenced by saying that he
intended to assail no man, neither did he in
tend to use any honied words to soothe any reb-
ell ear. No commentary he could make on the
President could have half the force of the COM
mentary he makes on himself. In the course of
his remarks he said that the Government must
be restored on the basis of the immutable prin-
elples OF justice, equality and liberty The
rebels fought for four long years to get out of
the Union, and now, with their allies at the
North, they demand an immediate return to
their former position. God forbid that thew
should ever resume their places but on the
principles of equality and justice to ALL He
would rather continue the struggle, and trans
init it to our sons, than that the question should
be settled on any other terms. We cannot af-
ford to have it settled ON any other. Weshave
poured out blood and treasure enough to have
1t settled right. We cannot consent to any
restoration that does not protect the loyal men
of the South who stood by the flag when it
needed support efeCs
Speaking of the proper treatmeat of the reb-
els, Mr.. Hamlin said he did not care to come up
to the revolutionary standard. He was willing
the traitors and their allies should remain in
the country, but, SO help him God, had he pow
er, he would hang some half dozen of the lead
ing rebels who got up the rebellion, and muir
dered three hundred thousand of our loyal SOL
diers. He believed in Andrew johnson as he
was, and IN our Congressional representatives
as they are. Under the head of what had been
done, the speaker denounced the recreancy of
the President. He wished to speak with can
ton. He had weighed his words The Presi-
dent had presented the issue whether loyal
men shall govern, or rebels with their allies
Secondly, whether the government should be
controlled by Executive ordinances, OF legisla-
tive enactment. On this head he charged the
PRESIDENT with the usurpation of powers not
delegated to him by the Constitution, in sup
port of which he cited the Constitution defin-
ing the functions of Congress- The Executive
and the Judiciary Congress had the sole power
to make laws. The President was but its in
strument to administer them. He was but a
servant, not the master he assumes to be in
his administration of affairs. He had ignored
Congress, taken the reins in his own hands.
and undertaken to run the machine himself
Where did he obtain the power of appointing
provisional Governors in the rebel States, and
to make conditions by which these States may
come back into the Union? Not in the Consti-
tuition. Congress alone possesses this power.
Yet he rises above Congress Ond the people. II
they respect themselves, they will yindicate
their manhood and stand by their representa-
tiyes. -e.f .nsf-l % .T.s. q
Having usurped powers not belonging to
nm he turns round and declares that the
people through their representatives have no
right to interfere. Upon what meat does this
our Cesar feed that he has grown so great?-
Had the President submitted to Congress- his
acts and the condition he imposed on the
States, the speaker would not complain, for
then Congress would have been the final arbi-
trater. But the President instead of doing
|. that, declares the work of Congress an inter
ference. He assumed to make the conditions
and denies Che right Of Congress. If this usllr-
patton is not high crime within the meaning
OF the Constitution, it certainly comes up to a
! misdemeanor. The New Orleans massacre is
all to be laid largely at his door, instigated by
his dispatches. Instead of COMMUNICATING
with Gov. Welles, the lawful chief maoistrate
| of Louisiana, he held correspondence with
Gen. Heron, man whose hands were red
| with the blood of Union men. Now. the Pres
| ident is trying to make a party .conposed of
rebels and eopperheads, and such as comM he
purchased at the auction of offices~hiralings
covered all over with political ieprosy The
| Philadelphia Convention was filled with men
with pardons sticking out of their noekets
| and the ratification meeting at Memnhis. Ten.
nessee, was presided over by Gen. Forrest who
ordered the slaughter of Union soldiers after
surrender. If the new party can stand the
recreancy of the President, Certainly the
| Union party can. Under the head of what
ought we to do now, the speaker said, we should