Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-12-26
now accomplished. 1t was one of the peace

now accomplished. 1t was one of the peace
measures.
Gentlemen, have you ever heard one agita-
tor, one nullfer of the fugitive slave law, al
lude, In any way, TO either the admission of
California, or the prohibition of the slave trade
In the DIstrictl Not one, venture, thus
showing their total disregard of fairness in
their position. in neglecting to state all the
facts in the case.
The different states of this confederacy, it
may be sad with much truth, have their dis
tlnct and several interests growing out of eli
mate, soil and production. Hence the absolute
necessity of yielding on the part of each, for
the general good of the great whole. In this
spirit of ylelding-ot compromise-the Con-
stiuton was formed and adopted, and great
majority of the laws of Congress have been
enacted. In this same spirit were passed the
several compromise measures of the last ses-
sion.
And now suppose the fugitive slave law
wrong in some of its details, and too severe in
It's operation, what is the proper course to be
pursued by all good citizens! Is it to raise
the cry of opposition to the enforcement of the
law, and prevent its execution by physical
force, or is 1t to wait patiently and see lis OPP
Grafton, and If wrong in any particular, reason
like men-Sane men-not mad men, upon the
wrong, and petition Congress like orderly citi
zens, for such amendments as humanity and
reason may dictate. Holding as do, that the
mass of the people mean WE'LL aud that they
have sufficient intelligence to judge correctly
| have no fears but that through their repre-
sentatlves, all mistakes or wrongs, either in
state or national Legislation, will be speedily
corrected.
\ n important duty is with the conductors of
our public journals-with all our public men
with all of US as law-abldlng and order-loving
citizens 1t is TO impress upon all the folly,
the wIckedness, the madness of disobeying the
laws of the land. On the other hand, let every
man see that he is well informed upon these
matters and that he does not spare any proper
opportunity 10 lnculcate and foster love of
country proper patrlotlsm-among all with
whom he may associate. Above all, no pulit-
cal couutenance should be given any man, by
either OF the two great parties OF the country,
who Is nulllier OF the laws, or IN any degree
untrlendly TO the Constitution of the United
States
Some have doubted the propriety of Union
meetings, upon the ground that no danger ex-
lists, and others from dislike to the mlngling
/ ,
think, cannot fail to be produced, mass OF
information is thrown out upon the public,
which could hardly be obtained in any other
way, to 50 great an extent Such meetings
are calculated TO cherish and increase our love
for the Union, and TO prepare us for that recip-
rocIty of feeling which we should ever cherish
towards our sister states.
In conclusion. gentlemen, | will add that |
cannot believe there is little danger at present,
of open rupture, but that great torbearance is
necessary-that the open talk of secession OF
South Carolina, as a state, Is TO be reprobated
and dscountenanced equally with the late rash
law of Nermont-that the rash acts and rasher
talk of hot-headed, wcked-hearted men, both
al the north and south, are TO be dlscounten-
anced and condemned. Wise, moderate but
firm counsels are called for, and the Union
will survive the downfall of all its enemies at
home and abroad. And as for myself, here in
the presence of this immense concourse of in
telligent treemen, | pledge my honor, that,
whether at home or abroad-in private or pub
lie life, my voice shall be for the Gnion. My
heart is there, and my feeble arm shall ever be
ready III It's defence. | am party man-my
faith in the measures and principles | have
| lived by and cherished, | hold DEAR but if ever
the crisis come, when my party preferences are
a hIndrance to efficient service TO the Union, |
must lay them aside, not that | love them less,
but the Union more.