Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-12-19
HON. DANIEL GooDENow's LETTER.

ALFRED, Dec. I2th, 1850.
GENTLEMEN Your favor of the 30th ult.
inviting me TO be present and address meet
ing Of the citizens Of Bath and vicinity in ia
vor of the Union, and of enforcing the laws
passed in accordance with the provisions of
the Constitution, to be held on the 10th inst,
has been received. | may not be able TO at
tend. but cordially approve of the object of the
meeting. l have regarded the Union, for the
past wear, as in great peril. Much has been
wisely done by our eminent and distinguished
statesmen in Congress, of both political parties
to avert the calamity of a dissolution. Yet we
cannot look at the proceedings IN South Caro-
lima and Mississippi, without percelvlng that
all ground of alarm is not vet removed. We
all hold that the Constitution of the United
States is government, and not mere treaty
between states, and utterly deny the right of
any state TO secede from the Union. True, any
state, so disposed may find livery convenient TO
commence a revolution. 1t will not be so easy
a matter To terminate it. Once commenced, who
can tell when and where and how II Will end
We should use all practicable and reasonable
means to prevent such crisis. If Itmust come,
we have the satisfaction to believe that we have
strong and wise and good men at the helm,
who, by God favor may be enabled -" to ride
on the whirlwind and direct the storm. NhIle
we claim from those states obedience to the
laws of congress, we should not fail to render
like obedience.
The Constitution could not have been adopt
ed without the provision in relation 10 fugltlves
from labor. 1t cannot be preserved, II this
provision is practically disregarded. 1t should
be carried out in good faith. Laws shonld
have such penalties as to secure their enforce
ment. When they have received the sanction
of both houses of Congress and of the Presi-
dent, it is not safe to proceed upon the hypoth-
esis that they are unconstitutional. 1t becomes
the duty of all good citizens not only not to re-
sist them butt. aid in enforcing them, when
legally required so to do. However much we
NAV deplore the existence of slavery, we are
not at liberty to hold out to slaves in any other
state in this Union that they can find safe
asylum here against the claims of their mas
ters If they come among us as tugitlves they
must come under the disability which the Con-
stitntion imposes. In order to protect them,
we are not ready to break up the Union.
The darkest period in our political history
was that between the close of the revolution
and the adoption Of the constitution. We have
received from that instrument much more than
the most sanguine could have expected 1t
has given US character abroad, and peace and
prosperity at home. We Will no, give it up.
Even the condition of the slave would not be
improved BY its destruction. Many of them
have not sufficient capacity and intelligence to
provide for themselves. If they could now be
at once emancipated by consent of their mas
tiers, their condition would not be improved,
and their happiness promoted, by being trans
felred in large numbers 10 cold northern eli
mate. With great respect,
| am your ob't servant,
DANIEL GOODENOW.