Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-07-03
EASTERN TIMES.
Bath, Wednesday, July ;, 1850.
The Legislature

Inc 40SASAdsoIo
Took recess last Tuesday, adjourning over
the 4th to the 9th of July. The further bal
lettings for U. S. Senator have also been
postponed in the Senate to the ed, and in the
House to the a5th Of July. ltmay be well for
the Senators and Representatives to mingle
for few days with the people, to learn their
will in relation to the Senator question.
From the indications that we have, the poo
pie are demanding the election of Mr.. Hamlin
if upon no other ground, for the support of
party usages-for the permanence of party Or
ganization.
Receiving in the nominating Convention, du-
ly and regularly called, Sc votes of the 81
democratic members, and in the Senate ii of
the 10, we have yet to hear the first plausible
reason in justification of the course of those
who have bolted the nomination.
Upon what plea is the nomination bolted |.
from principle, The leaders take this posi-
ton, contending that the unfortunate condition
of national affairs calls for aconcliatory course
on the part of the. North. Well, let us see
what the election or non-election of Mr.. Ham,
lin has 10 do with this matter Mr.. Hamlin
fully acknowledging and obeying the demo-
cratic principle of the right Of instruction, is
but an exponent of the expressed will of the
State
In endcavoring to change the policy of the
State by agitating and discussing the slavery
question, introducing and endeavoring to secure
the passage of resolutions of a different nature
than those passed last year, and all like open
movements, we recognize an unexceptionable
mode of procedure. Principle is not compro-
missed, but asserted by such course. But
when, after failing to produce change-fall-
ing to convince the majority of the necessity
of adopting their views, they suffer their zeal
for principles to override all party organization
and oppose the election of particular man,
then, in our opinion, they depart from Pinci-
pie and prove, as clearly as can be demonstrate
ed, that their warfare is personal one-that,
under a cover of principle, they are determined
to break down one, whose only dereliction is
charged to be the simple carrying out Of the
uW ofthe State. ...... ..L
We ask, if this is not perfectly legitimate
concusion-if any other can be arrived at! If
the Union is endangered-if the important cri-
sis has arrived which is charged to exist--we
would ask these would-be political saviors, in
all seriousness, if they have not gone as far for
their State and country, as their State or coun-
try demand, or hare right to demandi There
is a point, beyond which, persistence is fraught
with inevitable ruin.
But again. The Legislature, forced to act,
driven TO an expression upon the slavery ques-
ton, have passed, by large majority, resolu-
tons introduced by free soiler- Willing to
allow the expression of the State to continue
in accordance with last years vote, the major
ity were averse to the introduction of the ex-
citing topic which they refer to, into the pres
ent Legislature-but forced to vote upon reso-
lutions embodying the same sentiments as those
adopted last year-forced to vote for them, be-
cause by voting against them, it might appear
like resembling those of the last session-with-
out considering their origin, whether free soil,
wing, or what not-inasmuch as they asserted
principles in accordance with their own, they
were adopted. The majority are alone respon-
sibe for this course-the minority, who voted
against them, will be held harmless-but the
minority will be held responsible if they disre-
gard the will of the majority-if they endan-
ger party permanence, party organization by
persisting in further cherishing their petty ami
mosities.
Entertaining views averse to those of the
resolutions, our design has been to keep aloof
from the controversy as far as practicable with
a sense of duty-but we believe that in farther
silence we should compromise, if not totally
abandon our allegiance to the old democratic
tenets which we ever mean to stand by, and
which the success of our principles demands.
We sincerely hope that when the Legisla-
tme reassembles, it will come together with a
determination to carry out the will of the peo-
ple-to abide by party usages and to merge
personal, private differences in the public good.