Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-07-13
lfrO m the Portland i'Tcss
4 "PdfriOf SOidicI'."
\ Brief Review OF his Political Record
from IsOJ-I.
PoRlLANp. juno 29Lh, 1910.

PORTLAND, Junc 29th, 1870.
general Chrles ". RJJeris, Bangor:
GENERtL:-The Democratic State Con
vcntiou. whose proceedings Witnessed
as reporter, selected you as a candidate
!or Governor for the reason that you
were Patriot Solder" Yon were
certainly not chosen Tor any personal
knowledge ul State policies or for any
experience ia civil or legislative life,
about. which Your partisan fIiands had a
great deal to say before your candidacy
WAS resolved upon. observe that since
your nomination, they have been dis
crcelly silent in regard to that point. and
several criticisms which were quite ready
for Gen. Connor, in case Mr.. Talbot
should have been his competitor, may
now be considered as indefinitely post
poned. believe your warmest friends
do not advocate your election on any
ground OF your personal fitness for the
place.
OsIentatiously selected because OF
your war record. shall not be accused
OF violating the suggestions of dclcacy
or the laws OF propriety if | subject that
record to searching examination.
When the war broke out in 1861, you Le
longed to a respectable militia organiza
ton that had been in existence for several
Years. and You promptly united with
your fellow members in rendering your
services to the government. The Re.
publicans anxious to recognize your
patriotism as a Democrat, warmly assist
eI in procuring Tor you the high com
mission OF Lieutenant Colonel in the
regiment Of the gallant and lamented
Jameson. On his promnlion to the ranl;
of Brigadier General, Republican inhu
ence gladly advanced You to the command
of the regiment. do not intimate that
you ever failed to do your duty in that
position, or that you were wanting ir
true sOldierly qualities. II is with great
satisfaction, on the other hand. that |
recognize and record your personal
bravery and your general popularity with
your command. It was however, the
misfortune OF your military career that
you were associated with Filz John Por.
ter. that you eagerly attached yourself tc
his fortunes, and that the special com.
mendatons which may be quoted on your
behalf come largely from that disgraced
and degraded officer. The Fifth Army
Corps was composed OF splendid troops
your own Second Maine ranking among
tue best, but believe that it Is the gen
eral conclusion among soldiers that the
great misfortune of the Corps was thai
it fell Tor q time under the command o
career by being clshiered when the iudg
ment of many good officers was that he
should have been shot. | observe tha
Porter very appropriately turns up as an
office holder in a highly lucrative position
under the present Democratic regime 10
| New York.
Your resignation, General, was i'll
timed for "Patriot Soldier" You lel
the service when the help Of every mar
was needed; when every man was i'm
plored to stay; and when Gen. Hooker
said that "every officer was indispensable
to his command" You resigned when
you had been out but littleoover q year
and when the fortunes OF the army and o
the Union itself were at the lowest con
ceivable ebb. No patriotic man can even
now, after the lapse Of thirteen years. re-
call without chill OF horror, the condi.
ton of the Union cause in 1862. Oul
army driven from Virginia, alter the un
told disaster OF the Peninsula held at
bay everywhere in the Southwest; Ken
tucky and Missouri in partial revolt; with