The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-09-15

non. matthew ii. Carpenter, one of the
ablest lawyers in the West, who defended the
validity of the reconstruction acts i'm the
Supreme Court of the United States whe1,
AttorneyG General Stanberry refused to do so
has written the following forcible and con-
vincing argument in explanation of his con-
duct in deserting the Democratic for the Re-
publican party:
My steady support of the Democratic party
prior to the war is well known. / was edu-
Gated to believe that true Democracy, taught
by jefferson, consisted III the greatest good to
the greatest number, without regard TO ma
tionality, race or color. In this belief sup
ported its candidates. II | was mistaken in
this, then l was acting under a mistake OF
fact which wonld authorize Court OF Equi-
ty to relieve me from the consequence of the
votes cast for that party. But however this
may have been, the war raised an issue above
party politics. 1t was then ev dent that there
could be but two classes of American citi
zeus, those who supported and those who op-
posed the Government. AT first it was my
hope and expectation that Democrats, under
the lead of Douglas, would espouse the side
of the Government, and unitedly aid in sup
pressing the REBELLION. The first speeches |
made were in company with out;and-out
Democrats. At fag-raising in Milwaukee,
in the spring Of 1861, spoke from the same
stand with Hon. James S. Brown, subse-
quently with Hon. George B. Smith, at Elk
horn, and afterward with Hon. HI. l.. Palmer,
at Fond du Lac. In these speeches we all
advocated the old Democratic doctrine OF
standing by the Government and sending ar
mics against rebels. These meetings were
held for the purpose of encouraging enlist
mentS to fill up our regiments.
Soon after the meeting at Fond du Lac,
however, there was meeting of few Dem
ocrats in Milwaukee, to which was not in.
vited, where, as | understand, it was deter
mined that some check must be placed upon
thepopular currents Which seemed to be moo
ing in fauor of the government, lest they
should lead to a support of Mr.. Lincon's
Administration, and thus damage the inter-
ests of the Democratic party. This was in
1852. AT this meeting it was resolved to call
State Convention to show all Democrats
what Democracy was, and to call back those
whose patriotic impulses had led them too
far in advance. This Convention met and
adopted an address which disclosed the fact
that: no man could sympdthize Nth the goo
ernnlent and denOunce the rebellion aoithOu
being excluded from the Democratic fold. =
l had then to elect whether l would abandon
the support of the war or be considered an
separated from the party.
In 1864 we weIe in the midst of war. Nc
political issue was under discussion. The
great question of the hour related to the life
OF the nation. The Democratic party had
gone sadly astray, had dshonored its history
and disgraced its founders, by its opposition
to the war. Nevertheless then thought il
not impossible that when the war should be
ended and slavery abolished, that party might
accept the situation; return to the practice o
its own principles; become once more what
it had formerly been, the progressive party of
the country; espouse universal suffrage; be-
come the champion of the rights of all with
out regard to national birthplace, race or col.
or; and thus, by being aohat it aoas designed
to be, outstrip the Republicans in the race o.
rGdicGEsm. l believed, too, that the Irish
element, which is "the old guard" of that
party, wo;ild insist upon this course as the
best means of exhibiting to the world an ex-
ample Of universal liberty, and equal rights
before the law, which might shine across the
ocean to illumine the darkness of down-trod-
den Ireland. Up to this time, though was
wholly separated from the Democratic paaty
had not called myself Republican. In
deed, while we were all exhorting Democrat!
to support the Government without re
| gard to party ties, it would not hay,
been in exceeding good taste to hav
| announced myself as Republican. Their
| was a great force in counseling the
people to throw off all party ties and be nei
| ther Democrats nor Republicans, but patriot!
until the war should end. There was grea
| force in an appeal to Democrats to deser
| their party and act independently in the sup
port of the government until peace shoult
| revive again the necessity for parties; thi
exhortation employed all through the war
and / do not think it wsuld have beer
| strengthened, nor its benefcent effects in
| creased, if had accompanied it with the an
nouncment that | had lett the Democratic
| party and Joined the Republican party.
/ waited long "for the consolation of Isra
| ell" but it came not; and after the Chicago
| Times made its earnest and gallant appeal t
the party to plant itself upon the time-honor
| ed principles it had proiessed; to adopt negr
suffrage, and by putting itself once more il
| sympathy with true Democracy, to retriev
the biunders Of the past; and after the part
had not only rejected, but spurned this wis
counsel, and even the Times, under the las
| OF Brick Pomeroy, had shrunk back from il
suggestions of truth and wisdom, and return
j ed to its "wallowings," it became perfect.
evident, as l had long before concluded, tina
the Democratic party Of Jefferson and Mad
iS0n had ceased TO eriSt, was dead, burie
beneath the rubbish of the past, and hence
forth there was to be no opportunity for SUP
porting the great principles had at hear
except in the Republican party.
The nomination which declinee to be
candidate for was conferred upon my distin
guished friend, Gen. Halbert e. Paine, and
took the stump for him, and did everythin
in my power to insure his election. Indeed
have cordially supported every measure an
candidate OF the Republican party State an
National, since 1861. And II man is to b
classed in politics by what he does, not b
what he calls himself, it the servant who sal
he would not go but went, is to be approve
rather than the one who said he would G
but went not, then might reasonably clail
to have been Republican since 1861 in ever
thing except the name. And il calling on
self a Republican is conclusive OF the fac
then Mr.. Doolittle is the best Republican
the State to-day indeed, he says he is Il
only one, the party having left him standiI
alone upon its platform. l-
The issues which will divide the count
for the next twenty-five years have resultt
from the war, and the position of both pa
ties is now firmly and finally taken. Tho
tohO supported the Udr tciH support B.
measures the aodr rendered necessary, a,
these measures loiH be opposed by those "l
opposed the tudr. So that, however you ni'
regret it, have no doubt shall De cG,npe
ed by a sense of duty to remain In the hepu
! lican party to the end OF my me-