The Portland daily press., 1875-09-04

ed the restoration of the Missouri Comprom.
Use. The Republicans succeeded. Thereupon
the Southern leaders began to intrigue to de-
stroY the nation. In vain did the Republi-
can leaders assure them that the institutions
OF the states would not be troubled. Having
subjugated the Democratic party, the South
ern leaders demanded as a condition of peace
that the Republicans pledge themselves to
ignore the very principles on which they sue
ceeded, and the same to which both parties
held until 1854. They could not thus stul-
tify themselves. Meanwhile state after state
seeded. Mr.. Buchanan declaring that he
had no constitutional power to compel
state to stay in the Union-an opinion which
the Democratic leaders in Maine at that
time generally held. The cabinet was made
up largely of Southern sympathizers, who
were not only advising Mr.. Buchanan to look
but were plundering the treasury, running
the national credit, and destroying the means
of federal defense.
When Mr. Lincoln was inaugurated, the
Democratic party turned over to him an
empty treasury, a scattered army and an
authority defed by eleven states. He tried
every measure consistent with honor and
good faith, to pacify the Southern DEM
ocratic leaders, but in vain. They were
bent on the destruction of the Union
and counted on the promise os the aid
of Northern Democratic leaders, who,
like ex-President Pierce, were writing letters
to Jefferson Davis and his associates that
"achen the aodr came 1t acould not be along
the Mason and Diron line, but IN, the streets
OF Northern t01ns." Democratic papers were
generally in full sympathy with the South,
and letters are now extant in which the pres
ent leaders of Maine gave utterance to the
most hostile sentiments towards the Govern
ment and in strong sympathy with the
Southern rebels. For short time after the
war began, quite number of leaders walm-
ly espoused the Union cause but before
year had passed the most of them became
opponents of the war and Joined Emery and
Pillsbury, who, from the first, were warm
supporters of the JEFF Davis rebellion.
Such are the facts. They cannot be dis
puted. Millions will attest their accuracy.
The honest and intelligent historian will
briefly put the matter thus: Eleven Demo-
cratic states in which no Republican party
could be organized undertook to destroy the
national government and set up another hav-
ing for the corner stone, the system OF human
slavery. The Democratic leaders in the Sc
ceding states were encouraged to take the
initiative of terrible war of four years by the
violent opposition of their fellow Democrats
in the North to President Lincoln and their
frequent expressions of sympathy. Impair
tial judgment holds both equally culpable
and equally traitorous.
1t is not our fault that this subject has
been brought again before the public. We
simply assumed what is an admitted fact that
none but Democratic leaders sought to destroy
the Union, none but Democratic voters car
ried rebel muskets, none but Democratic
demagogues sympathized with the secession
leaders and none but Democratic votes in the
North gave aid and comfort to the nations
enemy by voting for candidates on peace
platforms or platforms denouncing the war.
1t is an infamous record, but 'tis true and all
intelligent people know it is true, and it is
utterly useless to cry like Lady Macbeth,
Out damned spot, out!