The Portland daily press., 1868-08-20
Grant and COlfax Stock still Co.
.' ing Up! 20 ~ s.
STORRS At CITY HALL.
Everybody goes to Hear Him.
The Democracy Discouraged


MI. Storrs should be kept iu this State, wheth-
er he was willing or not, The fact is Portland
is especially proud of the City Hall, and re-
CARDS its capacity as absolutely illimitable
Mr.. Storrs has dispelled that little illusion and
brought us to grief Perhaps ttree-quarters
OF the people that wanted to hear him last
night got chance to sit or stand or roost. 1t
was magnificent example of close packing.
Not an inch to spare, anywhere. The ladies
regarded the proposition that they should "oc-
cupy the galleries" as decidedly cool. 1t
couldn't be done. They invaded the floor and
the stage-a welcome incursion they made too.
seen before in this city at political meeting.
Hundreds of our citizens went away, being
unable to obtain an entrance to the hail.
N. A. Foster, Esq, chairman OF the City
Committee, called Gen. G. p. Mattocks to the
chair to the evident qualification of all pres
ept. Gen. Mattocks then introduced Mr.. 81. C..
Lowell, who led off in singing "Grant Goes
Marching On" in which the whole assembly
joined with inspiriting effect. The grand old
John Brown Song" whose prophetic notes
were sung through all the Southern land by
Union soldiers, never sounde more impress
sive and appropriate. Then Gen. Mattocks
made very brief Introductory speech, which
was quite model for that sort of an effort.
Then carao Storre. II neeSed not tue applause
and the cheering notes of the band (and no
band ever lent its aid with better effect than
tie Portland band last nght,) to cell him he
was welcome. Every face present beaTned
with welcome and with delis hted authorization
Mr.. Storrs said that we had supposed that
the war had accomplished at least two things
The liberation of the Southern mes roes, and
the Northern Democrats. The slavery of the
litter was quite as oppressive as that of the
geographically he had been under the whip
OF the slave driver twenty five years,but he
seems to like it. Let him continue it if it suits
him
In time of war, the Republican party was a
war party. In time of peace, we are pea.e
party. We are in favor or peace now. The
Democratic party during the war were in favor
of peace Now that we have conquered peace
they are in favor of war. r.. l.na5.t.. r
THE ISSUE. 1s'.t
The only issue distinctly presented by tie
Democratic platform is found in the declare
ton that the Reconstruction laws of Congress
are unconstitutional, revolutionary anC void.
1t is their declared purpose, in the event they
succeed, to dispense the State Governments
organized under those laws. This during tie
next four years could only be accomplished by
force. The employment of force for that par
pose is war. H. a. '-H .'
THE RECONSTRUCTION LAWS. =.
The rebellion did not operate to deprive the
Government of its rightful power over the Sc
ceding States and their people. 1t did, how
ever, impair and very seriously affect the rights
of those States and the people thereof, within
the Union which they sought to destroy.
The larceny of an overcoat does not efset
the title of the rightful owner; it does, however
very seriously affect the rights of the thief
after he is caught. ..r.s 9 81
At the close of the war, the Southern States
were without organic law, or any power to
make any. Their existence as Confederate
States had been destroyed by our act. Their
existence as States within the Union, had been
destroyed by their own act. l-a;a'"- nf
Mr.. Lincoln declared that the State govern
ment of those States had been subperted and
that the people had Jorferted their political
privileges. tssE g.e...UetItt F'gGf
Upon this theory Johnson allied. He appoint
ed State Governors-He fixed suffrage qualif-
cations. Our work was not the restoration of
the old government, it Was the constitution Of
new ones. aHe.,..s.f- b. ,stt7J &t.
z johnson however in his message contended
that the State governments had been merely
Suspended. That theory implies that at the
close of the war, the rebel people and govern
nents were at once RENTED to all their. old
rights and privileges within the Uuon. So
that nothing remained to restore to the rebels
all their suspended privileges; in other worlds
lust as often as we beat them during the war
hey gained their former privileges; and lust
as often as they defeated us they lost their no.
litical power and rights in the Union Ac-
,ordingly by Confederate victory in the field
was the loss eff Confederate rights within the
U nion, and Confederate defeat, finally was
The achievement Of all their suspended political
privileges.
,f .,A THE TRUE THEORY. &
Congress having the power to wage war, had.
rs necessary power, the right to wage it &C.
;ording to the laws and usages of war A civil
war is governed by the same rules as control
lifferent natonalities in war with each other.
The relations subsisting between the
rebels aud the Government at the close of
The war, were that of conqueror and conouer.
I'D. We conquered the Confederate armies
he Southern people, and the Confederate
State governments. Our victory was their
political annihilation. Our rights were tho
lights of the conqueror. We compelled the
not only of their armies. but of the
political ideas for which they fought. s1A
In the process of reconstruction,
THE QUESTION WAS,
What share in the reconstruction of tho
Government shall be entrusted to those who
have sought its destruction.
The Republican party has decided this cues.
ton. Their policy has taken its fl nal shane
IN the 14th amendment Under their policy
light States have been brought back into the
Union. And again we are confronted with the
question: should this policy be reversed and
he demand of the Democratic party for i'm
Mediate and unconditional restoration be com.
piled with.
The reversal of that policy is the overthrow
of all that we have achieved by the war. Tha,
accomplished, we need not talk about taxation
The result would not merely be q burden upon