The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-08-11

fi,nd, in any quantity were prepared 10
rams 10 The rescue, had they bat openly
and manfully espoused the popular cause
The cause oil truth, liberty, justice anu
right. Blu, they were dumb, and one OF
their candidates is dumb 10 this DAY anu
If they are really and at heart opposed 10
the late aggressions OF The slave power
their case is certainly most pIl'abIe one,
and one moreover Of rare occurrence
Which before was the spectacle ever wit
messed OF politicians suffering deserlion and
voluntary mariyrdom, rather than give nj.
terance TO their own honest sentiments,
when they happened to be popularl And
besides Tie fact is a notorious one that ap-
proyal OF The Nebraska DILL was made the
test and iouch.sione o fitness in the selec-
ton Of delegates 10 the Paris Convention.
Aud further, the course they are now
pursuing is entirely satisfactory 10 Stephen
A. Douglas, President Pierce and "lhe
Union." To be silent under existing cir-
curnslances is ianiamount 10 full acquies-
cence, aud acquiescence is all that Is at
present demanded - aud wei! IL may be,
for who doubts that those, who acquIesee IN
the outra. e now will be its Sraunch defend
ers before the next presidential election.
We say therefore, emPhalically, iha'
every vote given for Paris or Cary, now
ever intended, is an actual endorsement OF
the Nebi aska iIaud; nor in declining 10
vote N, all, will you much mend the mat
ter. Not to speak OF, by your vote Is TO be
siient-and to be silen, Is 10 acqulesce -
stay away from the polls then, and you
make yourselves parties 10 tins "dumo -
show Of acquiescenre.
Aud here we might well stop, were II
not ,ha, The preieuce has been sci up, that
Dou glass bill. (now become a law, J whi;h
we have strongly. condem ed. Is in fact, a
bill for establishing popular sovereignty u;
and some ioleraby intelligent men seem
really TO believe ,ha, i, was intended by
tina, law 10 confer on the people OF the ter.
ril0ries the power 10 govern themselves,
aud determine independently OH the isli-
iuiions which they shucld permit, adop, or
reject. How any man should think so,
who has read The law is quite beyond our
comprehension. la the first place an
amendment offered TO that effect. SO far ms
the subject OF slavery was concerned, was
promptly voted down by the friends Of the
bill in both houses. II il is said that this
Amendment, was rejected as unnecessary,
the power in question having been previ'
ously conferred. good and sufficient an'
sw-r is found in the TACT that the trainers
OF the law are no, themselves agreed, OH
that very point; the large portion indig
nan,y denying ,ha, the people, DUNG
tl,..,, r,at. ,sf.. hay AtlT
whatever To le9islale upon the subject
But, admitting for the sake OF the argu'
meni. that the Legislature is endowed, by
the terms OF the law, with certain power
over The subject OF slavery - let Us see
what il amounts TO ard how il operates
Suppose the Territorial Legislature To con.
sisi OF 30 members, and that they faithfully
reflect the view, OF their constituents
Suppose too. that bill passes hi, Legisla-
ture 10y vote OF 10 TO IL, absolutely pro-
hiblling slavery in the Territory. llwonlI
never have the force oil law, for the Gov
ernor, selected aud sent there for the ex.
press purpose Of guarding the Interests OF
Shareholders, would most aSSuredly veto IL;
aud so, by this mic, little arrangement, tie
will aud the action Of more than lhree.fillhS
OF the people, is controlled aud OVERCOME
by feeble minority. Is tins popular SOW
eIeigu y"
But again, suppose that such bill should
pass by majority Of 10 To /. There stand
The Judges, appointed by the President,
and dependent upon his single will for the
very bread they eat, ready 10 pronounce it
unconstitutional, 4" imperative aud void !!
Is il anything less than an insult 10 the un-
dersiandings Of men TO call this "popular
sovereignty! For, bee il remembered tina,
the Governor and the Judges are not of The
people oil the Territories, nor in The slightest
degree responsible 10 them for their official
conduct. AID besides, what sor, Of sove.
rei.n,y and independence could we, the
people Of Maine. claim TO enjoy, it our
Governors, aud our Judges, our Secretaries
OF State, aud our SheIiffs, were all 10 be
appointed by the President, aud sen, TO Us
from abroad, aud our Legislature depend
ant OH the will of Congress, for every pow.
er il might presume 10 exercised Wonld
any man in his sober senses see anything
in all this but The mos, abjeci and entire
dependancel Aud yet this, in Kansas and
Nebraska, il the boasied popular sove-
reigniy - which reconciles the Officials,
one and all. OF President Pierce, 10 the ab.
rogaiion the Missouri Compromise. But
the people see the matter in totally diff
ferent light, and ave prepared to nc, accord
ingly.