The Portland daily press., 1879-05-31

the momentous decision whether to resist trea-
son by arms or surrender one-third of the States
with the National property within their limits
ct the demand of the insurgents. With what
prophetic voice must the solemn caution of the
fifth Henry to the English primate have
sounded in the ears of our rulers as they en-
tered upon the four years war.
From the first overt act of rebellion until its
suppression the justice of our cause was more
apparent than its necessity or expediency. The
Sonth were the aggressors they withdrew elev-
en- States took forcible possession of the property
up an independent confederacy in its territory.
To call these acts revolutionary necessitates
that "revolutionists should declare the causes
which impel them to the separation" Their
only grievance was subject that shocked tne
moral sense of most civilized nations, exposing
republican institutions to reproach-and the
authors of the rebellion sought to justify their
conduct as the exercise of an extreme consti-
tutional right and called it an act of secession.
This was no new heresy invented for the &C.
casion, but the natural, legitimate fruit of the
false political teaching of a school of Southern
statesmen for two generations. In their yea!
for Estate rights they viewed the adoption OF
the Federal constitution with jealous eyes as
an encroachment upon State sovereignty. The
resolutions passed by Virginia in 1898, ten
years after, while Washington lived, with the
accompanying debates, illustrate and verify
Southern soil, brought forth baleful harvest;
thirty-four years later, the madness of
Calhoun hurried South Carolina to
the verge of civil war, which it
required all the decision and intrepidity
of President jackson to avert The rebellion
OF 1861 was the work of Southern Shareholders
and the cornerstone of the confederacy,
its Vice President was not ashamed to confess
was African slavery This barbarous institu-
ton was rather the occasion than the original
cause of the rebellion. Had the Pennsylvania
President, who at the outbreak of secession de-
clared to Congress that the Constitution dele
gated to the general government no power to
coerce a seeding State, filled the chair of jack
son in 1882, our fathers might have been enl-
broiled in civil war with the nullifers of South
Carolina, and if the hero of New Orleans had
commanded the army and navy in 1860 the
Shareholders rebellion would probably have
been nipped in the bud. The sincerity of the
trainers of the resolutions of 1898 it is not
necessary to question any more that of Charles
Y, Philip II, Bloody Mary, Charles I, James
and chief of the inquisition, yet history regards
them as scourges of the race. OF what avail
to the widows and orphans, the MANNED and
impoverished, is the sincerity of men whose
doctrines denationalize Southern patriotism,
disturbed tranquility and plunged the country
into the horrors OF an unsuccessful rebellion.
Hell is said to be paved with good inten-
tions." We have been fattered with the
specious assertion that political truth must
triumph over error in democratic republic
and we have cherished the delusion that the
general difference of false political theories
over large areas OF country was of little conse-
quence so long as the heresy was not carried
into over-acts But experience teaches us
that free discussions and free ballot are in
sufficient to secure people from the
growth and prevalence of fatal political error
and that the false doctrine infused into the
hnfI
alton may break out into menaces in the sec
ond, rebellion and civil war in the third
The war for the suppression of the rebellion
was Just and plain constitutional necessity,
by the organic law of the land. The martyred
presidents first inaugural contains the whole
arguments unanswerabe The orator then
proceeded to speak of the doubts of eminent
men as to the ability of the general govern
ment to suppress the rebellion and the denial
OF its moral right to do so by some. But the
logic OF events, the patriotism of our loyal
citizens, and the heroism of our soldiers and
sailors, bore out the ability and willingness of
the Federal Republic to put down by the sword,
an armed revolt of one third of it's members
The dread duty to which the Providence of
God called Abraham Lincoln and his Cabinet
and the 37th and 3Sth Congresses, was faithful
ly discharged and they will share with the.army
and navy OF the nation the plaudits of a
grateful posterity.
The question now arises "have the fruits of
the war been secured and if not, why
not?'' ''Have the objects for which all our sol
diers fought and suffered, and for which we
embalm this day, been attained?" Have the
results OF the victory been realized if not whose
is the fault and what the remedy?" The abo-
lition of slavery and the acknowledgements of
the negro were only incidents of the great con-
fict. They formed no part of the purpose for
which we went to war. The resolve that
nac Of
two dissenting votes ON the day after the defeat
at Bull Run, and the Senate thirty to five, de-
clares this war is waged simply to defend and
maintain the supremacy of the Union with all
the dignity, equality and rights of the States
unimpaired, and when these objects are accom-
plished the war ought to cease.'' Slavery per.
ished in the struggle, a just reward to the 10y
atty OF the slave, righteous punishment to the
rebel slaveholder,-an indirect safeguard
against second revolt because it annihilated
the potent motive for rebellion. 1t was the du-
~ OF the Government to prevent second re-
belllon.and the 18th Congress made an indirect
attempt at future security by the adoption OF
the XIV amendment. The 10th Congress made
a similar effort by the passage of the XIV
clothing the African race with
the right of suffrage Immediately. The only
direct attempt against another rebellion is
found in the third section of the XIV amend
ment depriving the rebel leaders of the right
to hold civil or military Office in the United
States but authorizing Congress by two-thirds
vote to remove such disability, which, as might
have been fOreSeen, resulted in its substantial
repeal four years after its adoption.
The great duty of reconstruction which the
National triumph devolved upon Congress
fourteen years ago had the above results. They
remind us that the eleven rebel States have re-
turned 100 ex-rebel generals to Congress; ex-reb-
ell officers and soldiers fill many of the chief of
fees of honour and profit in the gift of Con-
EyQpntiua md
Judicial officers of these States are mainly OF
the same type; that under the enlarged repre-
sentation conferred upon the late slave
holding States by the recent Consti.
tutional amendments, the Senators and
representatives from the eX-rebel States
constitute a majority of the Democratic party
in Congress and dictate its legislation; and they
point to an exodus of the African population
of those States which, it is claimed, will rival
that of the Israelites from Egypt. We are also
assured that the votes and speeches of these
Congressman indicate purpose to carry future
elections, both State and National, by fraud
and violence; perpetuating their present power
by robbing the freedmen of the franchise. Some
even warn the country against the designs of a
"solid South" which menace the existence
of the Union and portend the approach of q
second civil war. If this is true, reconstruction
is a miserable failure. On the other hand, il
is claimed by the opposition that the solidifica
ton of the South is due to the corruption and
tyranny of carpet-bag- rule; that if the South
returns one hundred ex-rebel officers to Con
gress, the North can return double this mum
Der of union officers; that the disorder in the
South is no greater than was to be expected
from the chaotic condition in which it was left
by the war, and less than has lately prevailed
in Pennsylvania and Ohio, and a desire for a
free and fair vote, both black and white is ex.
pressed, and an apprehension felt lest the free
dom of State elections be jeopardized by the
military interference of the General Govern.
ment under color of law enacted during the re.
bellion. Two facts are plain: At the end Of
fourteen years nobody is satisfied with the prac
tical results of reconstruction, and the recon.
structed states arrayed in political hostility
against large majority of the North
Was not the golden opportunity which vic
tory gave the nation lost by allowing senti
ment to prevail over reason? 1t is to be feared
the historian will have to confess the leglsla
tive branch of our Government proved unequa
to the duty of securing to the nation the legisi
mate fruits of the victory which our arms had
won.
In conclusion the orator warned the citizen
soldiers of the Republic, who saved their coun-
try in battle not to desert it amid the perils o.
peace. Make yourselves felt, he said, in the
state and nation, not as mere political leaders
or partisans but as active vigilant, stern, un
compromising patriots. You who have MOI
shrunk from the lannon's mouth, need MOI
shrink from the fearless discharge of q citi
zens duty at the polls or primary meeting.
He besought them to scrutinize carefully
the qualifications of candidates, and throw
their votes for none bnt good men. The orator
o1oca1 will, tho rnnita tiou of the Donr,