The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-08-11
To the Independent Electors of Maine.

10 the independent clectors VI maAuc'
Feliow CHisens:-
The Undersigned having been designated
for that purpose by large Convention OF
the people, beg leave to address YOU OIL the
subject oi The approaching election. II Is
an event to which The iIiends OF freedom
Throughout The land cannot fail 10 look for.
wa,d with the most intense interest. To us
il seems UNNECESSARILY more important in
its results, than any ol which the good PEG.
pie OF Maine have yet been called to bear
a part.
Six months ago, all was peace and quiet
ness Throughout tho county. The exclt-
ing question OF slavery had been pat TO
resi- aud both members OF Congress, and Of
he government STOOD pledged, The PIesi-
dent douby So, mol to encourage or allow
any renewed agitation OF the subject. So
cinl di,cord was at an end, statesmen rom
the South aud from the North embraced
each other with fraieInal regard, aud in
mutual conflcnce-bul while all seemed
to rejoice in The happy deI'verance OF The
country IRON The perils that had Threatened
il, The accused Demon Vi Ambition was
preparing aud applying torch that should
kiudle anew all The fIer Of DiscOrd. A
Presidential aspirani, taking courage from
The uniIoim acquiescence OF The North, in
all demands OF The South, undertook 10 pIo-
piiale The slave power by a surrender OF
more than she had even veniUred 10 ask or
presumed to claim. With the aid Of men
m hi.h places, whom We need nOi desig-
nate, and by The liberal nse Of means aud
i.,.h .a In .la usss IN,
tins bill OF tame and base surrender has
been forced though Congress aud The FAD
spectacle u now exhibited before The coun-
Try aud The world, Of truth aud honor out
raged, aud pligh,eh faith recklessly viola-
ted for The sole purpose oil extending Tho
area Of slavery and subjeclins Ibis heritage
OF freedom TO The perpetual domin'on OF 'he
slave power--and ihe question Is now TO be
settled at the ballot box, vi ether This i'll
famous plot shali prosper aud succeed.
Tia, you understand perfectly the true
position Of things. and are fully prepared
TO oppose manly resistance TO this mad
scheme OF reckless ambition aud ruthless
power is moi TO be doubled. The people
are everywhere awake 10 the reIils that
surround them, and disleearding for tho
lime all minor cons,dei atoms, are deter
mined To give their sufirases where they
will tell mos, effectively for The cause vi
Liberty aud eight, aud administer The sever-
est Iebuke 10 rencgades that would suuen-
der both.
Democrats find themselves in n position
in which neutrality Oh The great questions
al issue, is 10 them impossible. MOI 20
vote q, all is 10 acquiesce in, and so vii1a,
Is TO approve aud sanction, inc Iou,
wrong iha, was ever perpe'ua'ed 10 T" ''
country. .,h,, for Mr..
C,rv mr. IuJre Pari., 10 TO esP""s1 '"o
..ny, NJ S,ephen A. Douglas, anu enoo''o
.au'o y, The Missouri com promise'-
,ne fepeIr ,ow. i, family denied by some,
! nus we =. far Sr n. we have been able 10 pet
o on; n''' an any grounds that wers even
oy what is The stale oi The case
4 , ,he time when the conventions were
held which Nominated these Two gen'le-
men, this indignation was. as II 10 now,
vide spread, all but universal, against mo
,er pe,iaiors OF The Nebraska fraud.
The public sentiment was strong anu
in that direction. Now y Is
o be believed, that, IL they eoncuHcd IN
hal sentiment, the leaders Of those con-
,en,ions would have failed 10 chime in'
ind avail themselves OF The popular breeze;
They were greatly in need Of friends and