The Portland daily press., 1868-02-17

A few days ago we spoke of the frightful
havoc occasioned to the shipping of the coun-
try by the Democratic rebellion. We are still
engaged in controversy with England res
pecting the damage done by the Alabama.
Our ships were burned on the high seas; our
commerce languished because we ceased in
large measure to produce goods for expectation;
our currency was deranged; wages and the
cost of materials rose; all these misfortunes
were incidents of the rebellion, and all COM
bined to depress and ruin our commerce. The
Argus objects to the phrase democratic re-
bellion," and by the very energy and warmth
of its remonstance confesses that If it was III
deed Democratic rebellion then the Demo-
cratic party and not the Republican Congress-
is irresponsible for the destruc ton OF our SNIP
ping.
Was il not Democratic rebellion?
TWAS a rebellion of the State Rights par
IT, Is not that the Democratic party? Was
1t not Democratic President who could find
no authority in the constitution to coerce re-
bellous State? Did not the Democratic par
ty, as party, North and South, support Mr..
Buchanan in that position. Did not ex-Presi-
dent Pierce write to Jefferson Davis in
1850, that "the fighting would not be
along Mason and Dixon's line merely,
but within our own borders, in our own
streets? Did not Ex-Governor Reynolds, of
Illinois, write to Jefferson Davis, after the Sc
cession of South Carolina, 81 am, in heart
and soul, for the South" and again, ''the gen
Y eral secession ought to be accomplished before
the 4th of March? Did not Mr.. Paul s. Mer-
ill, now chairman of the Democratic State
Committee of Maine, in 1861, write to friend,
when the Republican army march to South
Car olina may they be met en- nlasse by the
whole South and have Southern welcome?
Did not the Democratic leaders in 1862 ap-
proach Lord Lyons with suggestions offoreign
intervention, SO couched that he discerned
very plainly "a desire to put an end to the war
even at the risk of losing the Southern States
altogether? Was there not concerted plan
in 1863 to resist the DIR aft all over the country,
and end the wa by leaving our troops unsup-
ported? Did not Pierce at Concord and Pills
bury at Kingfed work eachin his sphere to
secure this infamous result, and did not Gov
ernor Seymour salute the New York rioters
as his friends? In 1864, the memorable Chi
cago Convention assembled. Governor Sey-
mour presided Rev. C. c. Burr, a political
preacher" now stamping New Hampshire.
said, "If he ever uttered a prayer, it was that
no one of the States of the Union should be
conquered and subiugated," and the conven-
ton declared the war a failure and demanded
cessation of hostilities. In April, 1865, while
Grant was driving Lee before him to swift de-
structon, Connecticut held her State election,
and loi eieuen thousand Democrats who had
voted few months before for Mcclellan, stay
al bor,a d;ccou nd c,IIan
The war was precipitated upon us by leaders
of the Democratic party South, encouraged by
the leaders North. During its whole progress
the attitude of the party was that of logged
opposition to its successful prosecution. At
its close the party as q party shrank back
cowed and broken, and many of its abest
leaders regarded it as dead beyond all hope OF
resurrection. There were many men, former
ly Democrats, who LETT the party during the
war. These are the men whom Judge Miller
of Ohio meant, when at Chicago he said,
"There is no real difference between War
Democrat and an Aboltionist; they are links
Of one sausage, made out of the same dog
By "Abolitionists" Judge Miller meant the
defenders of the National Authority; by
democrats" pure and simple, the defenders of
State Supremacy; and his classification is bet
ter than his nomenclature. The Democratic
party North as well as South staked every
thing ON the Rebellion and lost For whatey-
er mischief the rebellion has --orked to the in
dustral interests of the country y, "a. 30.
snona;h,o Tbav ancouroeed its INCEPTION
er -. ;,.-~-r, and lamented its fail
49, We're sincere, let them accept the
WutSonsibility which is justly theirs If they
were insincere, ifby double-tongued partisan
management, they brought this terrible infic-
tion upon the land, with not even the justifi-
cation of an honest purpose, may God in his
infinite mercy forgive them, for surely they
knew not what they did.