Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-06-28
THE GRAYBACKS IN COUNCIL.

THE GRAYBACKS IN COUNCIL.
This day, at eleven o'clock, there will be
a convention assemble at Portland to NOM
mate candidate for Governor. The dele
gates will be the representatives of that
party which sympathised with the rebel
lion, and prayed hatnorthern boys who en-
listed to fight the rebels would all find
bloody graves in southern soil. There
will be among them Emerys. Bradburys,
Pillsburys, Goulds, Simpsons, Adamses,
Elliots, and such as these from large
portion OF the State. but there will be next
to none who drew loyal breath during
the time that the nation was struggling for
life. All are stained with black disloyalty.
Most of them were apparently passive
while the war went on, but underneath
they hoped for the success of JEFF Davis,
and did all they could and not endanger
their personal safety to aid the rebel cause.
Some of these men were members of the
democratic convention in this city when
the American flag was insulted. Some OF
them had hand in the Kingfield riot.
Many of them actively opposed the filling
up of the armies All of them were de-
lighted when the Union boys met with a
defeat, and said it was "good enough for
men who went to fight for the niggers."
A few of them were boarded at Fort Lafay-
cite at the expense of the government, for
which generous treatment they seem to
have no particular gratitude, at this day.
When the government was in need of
money to pay its soldiers and continue
the contest waged for its salvation, these
men would not lend dollar. denounced
bonds and greenbacks as worthless, and
endeavored to cover them with odium, so
that none would take them, and the gov
eminent become bankrupt and be obliged
to stop the war. One would hardly be-
iieve, If the evidence were not SO strong as
it is, that those haters and decryers of
bonds in war time, are now the same who
are exceedingly distressed because the
bonds are not taxed. Probably they win
pass resolve to-day declaring that these
bonds, once worthless in their opinion,
shall be taxed. Give them the power and
they would not only tax them, but repudi-
ate every debt incurred in crushing the
rebellion. These are the men who had
faith in George B. Mcclellan, the "Great
Unready, believing that his policy of de-
stroying nobody but his own men was the
best way to settle our quarrel in favor of
"a rebel eonfederacy. Strip the disguise
from them which they wore from 1861 to
April 1865, and they will stand forth gray
backs in uniform. leagued with their coun-
try's enemies, cowardly striking our armies
in the rear as they marched against the
foe in front, sneering at the efforts of our
brave men, magnifying their defeats, and
shedding tears of wrath and bitterness
when the Union cause prospered.
OF such is the assemblage which will
meet at Portland to-day. Now they wear
very patriotic and confident air. They
will be profuse in their denunciations
of dishonesty, extravaganza and corrup-
ton in the government. They win con-
duct themselves as though this govern
ment depended for existence upon their
shoulders, forgetting that for four years
it got along without them, and against
them, while at the same time fighting their
southern brethren" This government
owes them but little, to say the least
some of them owe to its forbearance the
privilege of drawing breath upon its soil
We have seen them crawling about
through slime and filth to work their way
into the confidence Of the people, but the
brand is upon them, their character is
known, and the day is far distant when
they can succeed, except by ballot-box
cheating and similar frauds in gaining
positions of consequence. Who they NOM
mate to-day is of but little Importance.
Any man they embrace dies from the con-
tact as though blighted by poison. Sal
mon T. Chase tried ii and now he is dead
in politics. monument of the deadly in
fuence which democracy has over those
who embrace it in these times. Probably
some "old liner" well covered with grey,
will be the nominee. That color prevails
yet in the conventions. The party has a
lingering attachment to it, especially those
who were sorely alarmed, tried and vexed
by the tinkle of Mr.. Stewards little bell
and the consequences. and they WELD the
power. Such candidate would properly
go before the people with these words in
his mouth HHt
"show pity Lord, o Lord forgive,
Let repenting rebel live.v -.s.-es..--s-.ea