The Portland daily press., 1867-09-06
General e. M. lee i'm Caps Elizabc,h.

~CaCsuh lEec I'm CunH EtkZHbCths
CAPE ELIZABETH, Sept 5, 1867.
To the Editor Of the Press: ..,-
General Lee, of Connecticut who has been
speaking in various parts of the State on the
political issues of the present campaign, ad-
dressed the people of Cape Elizabeth last
night. The General is a young man, but dis
tinguished himself during the, war, and has
been twice elected to the Connecticut I,eo;s-
lature He brings an encouraging report
from those parts of the State which he has
visited, and predicts that the vote next Mon
day will be larger than has been anticipated.
In bis address here, he dwelt particularly up-
on the moral effect of the Maine election unon
other and more doubtful States. Tt was not
necessary he said, to make any exertion to in
sure the election of our candidates. Their
election is foregone conclusion. But il is
due to our friends in other States, not to suffer
our grand majority of last year to be reduced.
Towards the close of his speech the General
stated very clearly the position and ypros
poets of Andrew johnson. The Ameri-
can people, said the General, are resolved that
in the reconstruction Of the late insurgent
States, the Consultation of the United States
snail be Interpreted according TO the evil
dent'intent and meaning of it's trainers, and
not according to a technical construction.
which would frtter away its very lie. They
are determined that their public servants shallI
tdtthfutty execute the laws; SO that domestic
tranquility may speedily be restored and per
manent peace secured throughout the Re-
public. = 'A7s's . = Ss
But there are obstacles, continued the sneak
er, in the way of reconstruction In the Exec
utive chair at Washington, there sits a MAJ,
who, since the war has used, and still employs
tne power OF his high office to thwart the will
ana trample upon the wishes of the American
people, with respect to the question of recon-
strucuon. Without warrant in the Constitu-
ton, he at first usurped the legislative power
OF the government and himself assumed to legl
lslate for the seeded States. When the loval
men OF the republic, through the medium of
congress, had approved certain constitutional
amendments emb )dying most lenient and eoni
taoie terms OF restoration, he interposed his
( opposltion, and through his influence mainly.
the rebellious States were induced to reject
terms SO masnanimous. Again, Congress. re-
hecting the peoples WILL perfected a recon-
inieht speedily be restored to her former place
IN the Union. The Executive here gain in
terposed himself between the people and the
consummation of their wishes, and caused n Lo-
9dI opinion TO be promulgated under which tbc
Dill was so emasculated and shorn of it's v;tal;-
ty as TO render it almost nugatory. CONGRESS
again, as the peoples champion assembling in
extraordinary session, passed Supplementary
reconstructfon bill, with the object more fuIly
20 eApialln-iHe- intent and meaning. .of.tle bill
W which IL was suppleme Mt. Here again
'ne Executive, opposing the will of the people,
proceeded at once to remove from office their
chosen Instruments for the enforcement Of ma
uonal laws, thereby abusing the public conf
uehce' ana preventing speedy and peaceful
solution OF the national difficulties. The neo-
PIE nave r1ghtto expect peace and tfanauili-
" SO that trade and commerce, throughout the
republic, may be fostered and ENCOURAGED
They have right to demand that the Execn.
1--WE shall faithfully execute the laws. But the
acting President, ignoring his oath of office. re-
fuses faithfully to enforce proper legal enact
ments relating to restoration, and stands to-
day an impediment to their enforcement. using
the powers OF his high office to obstruct and
prevent reconstruction. el
What was the peoples policy when Jefferson
Davis at the head ofa million armed traitors.
lnterfered with and prevented the enforce
menr of United States laws? 1t was this
with Grant and Sheridan and Sherman TO
guide the whirlwind and direct the storms"
they scattered those tratorous hosts like chaff
before the wind. Half a million lives and
SIX billions of treasure were expended, to save
the Nations life. To-day single man and
not an armed host, obstruets. the laws and
stands between this republic and its glorious
destiny. Shall we hesitate?. Shall we falter?
tell you, No. Justice demands an outraged
people demands-that Andrew johnson be ar
raigned before the proper tribunal without un-
necessary delay: that he be speedily tried for
the high crimes and misdemeanors, of which
ne is notorionsly guilty; that during the trial
he be allowed no opportunity to add to his
guilt by the exercise of executive functions;
and that if pronounced guilty, he be removed
from that high Office he has so signally dis
graced. I3f5'ft !
This plain talk was received with good deal
Of satisfaction blythe Republicans present. Cape
Elizabeth gave Chamberlain majority OF ov-
er hundred votes last year, and we expect to
10 as wen next Monday. WIDE AWAKE