The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-07-21
F,,ss TAs Portland AdUsrn'ssr, JsiyT.
Tho Position and Duty Of the Wings
of Maine

n SOuICt WhAIu UuUNlC ~ W shS tutC-
full aud favorable consideration ofevery true
whig:
To ruE EDITOR or THE ADVERTISER -
have read with great pleasure your ediio-
rial remarks, in reference TO the position
and tho duties OF the Wings Of Maino in
present crisis entirely agree with you
in the view you have taken, aud as an old
unwavering whig. through many years Of
conflict aud varied fortune, doing duty un'
finchiu.ly ia the darkes, days Vt disaster
aud defeat, thank you for your words OF
timely wisdom aud your clear and frank
ayowal OF Them. The time has come when
we must look things in tho face. ond act
boldly and unitedly. We in Maine are
called upon 10 fight the frs, grea, battle
in New England. In former years, Maine
has struck the key note. has set the tune
Tor the counlry--has led III ia the great
struggles OF other days. Ia this new crisis
and new issue, we are called upon 10 take
the position oi,he advance quad OffreedoIG.
Shall we strike blow that will be felt
through the land, or shall we beat the air
in aimleS-, efforts, and hit, in our blind and
indiscii inmate energy, hicnds aud allies,
rather than our subtle, and dodying foes,
who meanwhile will drive the nail and
clinch IL, leaving Us 10 look IN sullen blank
ness al each other, aud in as,onished won.
der, asking how did all this happen
Nor is the tine TO think and 10 act Old
things have, a, least for this issue, passed
away. New issues, and new associations
are before Us. Aud how do the wings OF
Maine stand in reference TO these issues =
Taking all that we hear an see IN every
par, Of the State, from the old and young,
The conservative and iimid, as well as The
bold & rogressive-taking the wings lndIs-
sriminalely or in masses, by tho ireslde or
in Convention, we hear but one voice ana
bn, ono opinion. All are agreed in one
unanimous and unbroken utierancc OF in-
dignalion at the wrong tina, has been done,
and fixed determination to right the wrong.
All feel that there has been gross breach
of iailh-lhai The South avaiIing itself Of the
base lIeachery of the Nolhern dOugh-faces,
who would sell for official po,iage. not their
own personal freedom il demanded has Gu
couraged these rOcbe,ies Of our righiiul do
main, and II not themselves the original
conlrivers Of the crime. they have become
the receivers Of s,9leu property, and the de-
tenders and protectors OF the naIauders.
The free States can take care OF these
jewellers in their borders, aud they will do
il, il the strong aud overwhelming indigna-
ton of the masses is bTough, into united ac-
ton, and into one mighty current, and not
diverted aud wasted aud turned into lille
rivulels by cunning or mistaken politicians.
There is strength enough 10 hull them all
to The ouimOsi verge Of political annihila-
ton, unless j, is wasted or lost like Samp-
sons. The wings are united on this mat
Ter. They all say 80. We take them al
their word. Talk with any one OF them,
and he will tell you, perhaps. tina, he has
long resisted Free Soil appeals-iha, he has
stood up against slavery agitalion-lhat he
has clung 10 the great national party with
ienaciiy, but that the last hair has
broken the camels back-,hat this last re-
peal of tho sacred compromise-,his un-
blushing recall Of what had been yield
ed, whilst retaining the consideration, has
destroyed all confidence in Southern faith,
and Southern honor, and that DOW and
henoeioTih he knows no other issue than
the ri.hling ot this mous,rogS wJong. As
Stunning this 10 be the real and true and
hearty feeling and determination Of the
elccior, II he Is ia earnest, and means wha,
he says, the path OF duty would be plain
particularly here in Maine. The recon,
why State Convention has clearly indica-
ted the only effective course 10 pursue
The resolution advising union in the con.
eressional districts is based or n general
principle, aud il can hardly be expected by
sensible and practical men, that 1t can be
limited and restricted TO that single matter
OF Congressional elections, and that II may
be discarded and repudialed in all other
eieciions. beg my whis brother Ia open
his eyes moment, aud 20 look calmly, anu
without passion or excitement, nj the en-
net facts. II he Is Que OF those who prefer
g. 10 20 il blind " who will no, unbend a
moment his stiff back, who will insist upon
standing aloOf from all who have not on the
wcdding garment, aud will say 10 all such
" stand aside" am too pure To be contain
inaled by you'll he is one Of those who
feel Thai their only duty, politically, is to
put in a pure whig ticket once year, and
TO know nothing ard 10 care nothing, whe,h-
or il counts effectively aud 10 any purpose
or Eo,-if he had rather be trodden under
foot, and rolled in the dirt, kicked and sen,
home degraded-if he had rather that sla.
very should spread itself over the whole
creation, aud The slave power violate com.
pacis, repeal compromises, and carry out
it, manifest designs upon Cuba and ST. Do
mingo aud Mexico - il he had rather wit.
hess the success Of the avowed intention
Of portion at least OF the South, 10 revive
the accursed slave trade from Africa-il he
had rather see all this come 10 pass, than
TO act in concert with those who are heartily
with ~, and those who have the same aims,
wishes, objects, and who have boldly, and
bravely, and honestly broken the old party
ties ,ha, they nigh, be fee men, and nigh,
strike blow Tor freedom, then 20 such man.
have nothing 10 say, for he IS hardened 10
all appeals-he is welded 10 his idols. But
trust and believe there are but few such
wings. turn from him, 10 the cool, hon.
est, firm aud patriotic wings, who have act
ed in good faith, and whose great objec, is
10 do the hes, they can with elective fran.
chise in Advancing the great cause Of hu-
man freedom. 81
The fits, stubborn fact that meets us is,
that the Wing party proper IN Maine, when
onn,ending with all other parties aud
divisions is in minority Of ut least iwe",y
thousand votes. gran, that, when contend
Ing tor some great principle or vital ques.
lion, and striving against party arrayed IN
diIec, aud deadly hostility on such a dis
linct issue, The fact that we are in hope.
loss minority should not deter US from
voting according TO our principles, without
compromise or hesitation. No true man
would in such cases be driven from his
marty because i, was no, able 10 command
n majority. But is ,uch the case now be-
to,o a.. l. IL not clear that. although 10