Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-08-07
esS.rs Of IL. day; it canno, be passed over

most. the instant repeal of the Fugitive Slave
BILL" You took your seat in the SENATE
December l, 1851; it was not until the zr'h
of July, 1882 that you rose to advocate i'a'
repeal alphabetically prefacing your remarks
by saying 'Had l attempted this duty at an
earlier day, it might have been said that as
new conner and inexperienced in this scene
without elaboration, hastily. rashly, reck
lessly, pushed this question before the
country" Surely, no true friend OF humanity
would have made such fling, and the posi-
bic sneers of its enemies were not deserving
a moments constellation. Beetles. the dis
cussion had been going on throughout The
land ever since the passage of the Fugitive
Slave bill, so that to talk of pushing the
question upon the public attention was
misapplication Of language.
Nevertheless, once putting your hand to
the pillow, you did not look back; once break
ing the painful silence, you have not ceased
to speak with great boldness and rare
eloquence, for the complete enfranchisement
of the eolored race; nor have | failed TO
stand by you through evil report and through
good report, cheering you on. and both in
public and private indicating you from the
unjust attacks of your pro slavery traducers
My reference to the early days OF anti slavery
trial is not to tear from your brow one of the
laurels with which it is so hoDorabiy bound;
but when-to make YoHr entuence potential
qcih the colored eoters to secure their rotes for
Mr.. Gretiey-Mr. Greeley's organ. the
Tribune, untru,hiuly proclsims you to have
been ''tbe foremost enemy of human slavery
when 'abolitionlst' was term of reproach
from one end of the country to the other
''the best and wisest friend of the free Omen
in the trying years since emancipation -
Flowed and Trusted bs the colored race above
all other men III America Jus ice requires
that the deception should be exposed and the
whole truth told. In nothing of courage or
vigilance, of zeal and fidelity in securing
equal rights for the colored race. has your
respected ex-senator, Henry Wilson been
outstripped by you; and no member OF Con
press has done more for them. Nay, long
before you were seen or known in opposition
to slavery, he was actively engaged IN the
noble strife under the banner of immediate
and unconditional emancipation. During
ihirty-six years OF public life he has made the
freedom of the race, 30 long peeled and
trodden down, pa amount to all other politi-
cal considerations. Instead of persistently
stunning anti slavery meetings. he was a
frequent attendant upon them, ard freely par
ticipated in their proceedings. Now that he
has been deservedly nominated by the Reput
iican party for the Vice Presidency of the
United States, and, if elected, may possibly
in the turn of events be the acting President,
it should be matter of pride and gratitude
on the part of coiored voters TO give him
their united suflrages. AS ne is a Massachu
sets Senator like yourself, has been q warm
personal friend and coadjutor, and stood up
undauntedly in your defence when bloody
violence sought your life, think it is dis
creditable to you that you have not only
evinced no satisfaction with the choice of the
Republican party in this particular. but have
treated it as unworthy Of recognition. To
make this slight the more noticeable, you
have taken pains to euiogize his political
rival for the Vice Presidency. Gratz Brown,
as one whom you ''have known for years as
a most determined abolitionist"! 1t is an
immensely exaggerated claim. Put a hun
dred men like Gratz Brown into one scale
and Henry Wilson into the ether, for anti
slavery services rendered, and for reliable
friendship for our colored population, and
they would violently kick the beam. There
is no comparison to be made between these
candidates as to trustworthness or meritori-
Gus character. The nomination of one SD
openly pronounced on all the leading reform
atory movements of the age AS Henry Wilson
is crushing reply TO the hollow charge that
the Republican party is without mission and
given over to corruption.
Having at last decided to support Mr.
Greeley, (why did yon lnger so long. in
view of his extraordinary virtues and admi-
rable Presidential qualifications p you natu-
rally make the of most him. .'He was
born to poverty" SO were millions besides
What then? Does Charles Sumner deem
himself unfortunate for having been born to
a competence? 2 she educated himself in
printing office" Thousands of others have
done the same thing; is it any reason why he
or they should be pu, into the Presidential
chair? g. ale started with nothing but in
dustry and character" An everyday occur
renee in all parts Of the country. 4. al
ways benefcent with the poor" Is that
rare trait, and worthy of grave consideration
in determining who shall be the next Presi-
dent? 5. "An honesty which no suspicion
has touched" There is nothing peculiar in
this. In the ordinary dealings Of business
life, no doubt, Mr. Greeley is honest; he will
neither cheat nor pick your pocket But in
his political management he has been and
continued to be far from upright substituting
low expediency for answering recti-
tude. The great American compromises
Henry Clay, living and dying, was alike his
idol and model He does not find it difficult
to believe that the end sanctifes the means.
To adhere to a fixed principle Of right, come
what may, he regards as fanaticism; to sacri-
fee it for present attainable advantage is in
his opinion craftsmanship. In the treatme Mt
of public affairs he is unreliable, and without
vision or judgment. The latest exhibition of
his slpperiness is seen in his high protection
dodge at Cincinnati to reconcile free traders
to his nomination. He seems to be quite des-
titute of moral sensibility, and when occasion
favors can easily be duped. lie sees no good
reason why fire and gunpowder should always
remain at variance, or why light and dark
ness should never coalesce.
1t is only for Southern dsloyalty to put on
the guise Of patriotism to be accepted as q
proof of repentance and regeneration. The
Adversary, when dressed as an angel of light,
is not to be repu!sed or suspected, but it will
be Christian act to shake hands with him,
whether over "bloody chasm" or the bottom
less pit! His clamor for universal amnesty,
and for total oblivion OF the cause and CON
sequences of the late dreadful war, is dire city
in the interests of another Southern rebel
lion; and should he be our next President,
as he has repeatedly proclaimed his belief in
the right Of secession if agreed upon by
controlling sectional majority, there is reason
Tor the gravest apprehensions as to what may
uanspire under his administration. There
need be adlupe cd n ia