The Portland daily press., 1867-08-14

| ~ PORTLAND, Aug. 10, 1867.
MIR. EDITOR: have had new experience
-aride from Portland to Portsmouth on a
railroad engine. Through the kindness of an
engineer whom L am happy to cali my friend,
took my seat on the spring box of his engine
where had full view ofevery thing that was
going on. 1t was new sensation, and an ex-
citing one, as we dashed away over the rails,
and L never realized before as did then, how
dependent we who travel are on the skill and
prudence, and knowledge of their profession,
of the men who have charge of our locomo-
tives. Everything seemed under the perfect
control of my friend ami he managed his fiery
steed, as ifit were plaything in his hand A
slight movement in the machinery sent it for
ward with speed which made me hold my
breath-a reverse movement tanned him down
SO that with the gentleness and sobriety OF a
lamb he kept on his way. My ride set me to
thinking. Suppose the man who filed the
position of engineer were suddenly seized
with the passion of rivalry, and goaded by the
taunt of a comrade, should determine to see
how fast he could drive his engine, or suppose
him to have no control over his appetites, and
under the influence of stimulus which excit-
ed his brain and beclouded his reason, should
task the energies OF his engine to their ut
most limit; or suppose him to be ignorant and
wanting in self-possession, and finding some of
his gear out of ordor know not how to adjust
it rigbtly,-who can describe the terrific re-
suits which might follow? Does the commu-
nifty realize how much depends on having good
men and true, as the managers of our locomo-
tives And it is source of satisfaction to
learn that this class of our fellOw-citizens are
doing so much for their own moral and intel
iectuai elevation. Awaiting themselves of the
principle Of cooperation, and knowing how
Denencial Is combination to secure q good
end, they have formed themselves into
brotherhood OF Locomotive Engineers" with
Divisions, numbering now, not far from one
hundred, with four thousand members. and
scattered all over the country. have been
reading with great pleasure, the minutes of the
Grand International Division of the order at
their annual session held last November in
Boston. The high tone of moral and social
character which it is the endeavor of the Div
lslon to enforce, and the feeling of response
Hllty which they seek to waken in the minds |
OF their brethren, it is most refreshing to OBJ |
serve. The thought that an engineer who has |
charge OF the locomotives of train in which |
may happen to be riding is member of the |
order, and by his solemn pledge is bound to be |
a sober, intelligent, discreet man, will make me |
feel more easy and more confident that no ac-
cident will occur, while the man who holds
the helm, is what he processes to be. Others
with similar knowledge, win, doubt not,
feel as do. .r. -. j. G. s
The Boston Post democratic, says: "We
nave urged the North again and again to make
us citizens equal before the law and before the
pailot box. We should be glad to see the Mas
suffrage law by every State in the
Union. No matter what mans color or size
may be-if he can read and write, is twenty
one years old-(we have no objection to eight
een) and SO forth-let him vote. 1t is bumili-
ating to an honest citizen to see our paners
Tiled with arguments justifying unqualified
negro suffrage at the South while the North is
80 proscriptive to its own mansion. This will
not do' The purest charity begins at home;
out we are often more concerned about other
people Sins than their own"