The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-09-01
For "a. Union aud Eastern Journal.


deemed of some considerable importance at the
present time. Ia the year Of our Lord 1919, the
democratic legislature of Maine passed the follow.
ing free soil resolutions, namely:
| REsoLvEp-Thai we hereby declare for orr
Slices. aud in hehllf Of the people Of this State,
our incorporating opposition To the rrt,nsion
of slavery into any new territory Of the United
States which is now free.
| RrsoLyEp-Thai in organizing governments for
New Mexico aud California, the introduction and
existence Of slavery in these territories should be
positively prohibited by net Of Congress.
RgsoLvED-That our senators in Congress are
hereby instructed, and our representatives, re-
aucsted, TO vote against any act establishing gov
ernnenis for said territories that does not contain
an ,ayres, prohibition Of siarsry.
RgsoLysD-That the Governor be requested to
forward copies Of the foregoing resolutions 10 each
of our senators aud representatives in Congress,
and to each of the Governors Of The several States
OF the Union.
These resolutions passed the Senate unanimous
~, and the House by ll2 yeas To IA nays. Sc
says the Maine Democrat-very good authority o
course.
On the 2Sth OF June, same year, there was
democratic State convention held in Portland io'
nomination of Governor, at which, among Others
the following resolutions were passed:
RESOLVED ha, the institution of human slav'
ery is ui variance with the theory OF our govern
ment, abhorent TO the common sentiments oi man.
kind. and iraught with danger TO all who come
within the sphere of ITS influence; that the ieder
ul government possesses adequate rover to inhibi
its exercise in ih. territories Of the Union TINT
the oonstitHtiondlity OF this power has been set
lied by judicial construction, by cCniemporaneous
Exposition, aud by repeated acts 81 legislation -
and we enjoin upon our senators and representa-
lives in Congress TO make every exertlon, and 10
employ all their influence, to procure the passage
of law forever excluding slavery IRON The terri
tories Uf California aud New Mexico.
| II may here be remarked, that although Caliior
MIA aud New Mexico are only PARTICULAR, named
in the close Of this resolution, yet II before speaks
generally "of the territories Of the Union" Ne.
braska and Kansas being such, and then supposed
TO be safe from the encroachment Of slavery under
the protection Of the Missouri Compromise; but
now exposed TO that "abhorent !" cure in the re.
peal Of that compromise, by the vote OF Moses
Mcdonald, and other northern dough.iaces. But
again:
REsoLvEp-That while we most checrlully con-
cede TO our southern brethren the right, on all &C.
casions, TO speak and act with entire freedom VI
questions connected with slavery IN the territories
we claim the exercise of the same right for our
selves aud any attempt, from any quarter, TO sig
muiize III, or our representatives, Tor advocating
or defending the opinions OF our people upon Thu
subject, will be repealed as an unwarraniuble act
Of aggression upon the rights Of the citizens o
this State.
Among others who attended this State conven
E,I al.
names Of Joshua Herrlck. late Register of Probate
and very recently president Of the NeJraska con
ven,ion in Saco, for nominating member Of Con
gress f,r the fret district, G. l.. Bennett Nebras
ka candidate for County Treasurer; l.. ID. Wilkin
son, Cary, Nebraska, and Anl.Maine Law candl
date for Congress ; A. A. Hanscom, editor Of th
Maine Democrat; Samuel Mildram, and J. w. LIE
land, advocates Of the Nebraska swindle. Mr.
Herrick was one Of the committee for drafting III,
foregoing resolutions, which, as we are inlorne,
Iby the Democrat, were "adopted by the meeting
Ibu, one member voting against them when th,
negatives were called for" Who that singie neg
alive was, he has not told us. II was probabl,
neither Of the above named gentlemen, but som,
other, not Judas, who did not choose TO dip BIZ
hand with them in this dish Of anti.slavery sop
and therefore now, not like themselves, guilty o
gross inconsistency. What stronger resolutions
agains, the spread Of slavery into our free terrific
ries could possibly have been framed? How could
men, even under solemn oath, bind themselvc,
more strongly TO resist The spread Of slavery? Ant
yet in the very teeth Of their own resolutions, we
find these same gentlemen now in favor of tn,
Nebraska measure, which repeats the Missouri
Compromise Of thiry.four years standing, anc
throw, wide open all our territories before free, Il
the Introduction Of slavery! Territories which
in 1920, were solemniy consecrated TO freedom
from slavery by the Missouri Compromise, and
which, by their resolutions, they sacredly bouut
themselves TO maintain, the above named gentle
men, and others who acted with them in the con
vention, are now rejoiced 10 see opened TO the al
mission Of "human slavery" which institution
in their resolutions they say "is at variance with
the theory Of our government, and abhorsni to the
common sentiments of mankind" They are no.
pleased with the abrogsiion Of the Missouri Com.
PROMISE, on condition Of which Maine and Mis-.
sour were let into the Union as independent
States, after long and ardent struggle, which
shook and endangered the whole Union before
they were thus admitted. These same gentlemen
are now found busy engaged In promoting to Of
flee candidates who are opposed to the compro.
mise OF 1890, and in favor Of the Nebraska law
which repeats that compromise. How very con
sslent the leaders Of the Irregular democracy "
are, in York County especially; and how truly de.
serving the fullest confidence Of the people Eel.
low citizens think Of !, and remember il.
But further. On the 4ih Of July next following
the above State convention, democratic county
and district convention was holden in Alfred, for
the purpose Of nominating county officers and
senators. At this convention Lorenzo ID, Wilkin.
son, Of Saco, Joseph Titconb, Of Kennebunk, G..
| l.. Bennett, Of Pasoa.feld Isaiah Hanscom, Of
Killery, and B. J. Henick, Of Alfred, were ap-
pointed committee 10 draft resolutions. Among
these resolutions, and as frat, was the following
REsoLvEp-That we heartily coincide with the
ac,s and doings of the late democratic Stale con-
yen,,on, holden at Portland, on The 2s,h ult, and
that we ehse.jnhy respond TO the pnneiplss aud
,sntiments uttered and published by said conven.
tion.
A. A. HAsscox, in his paper giving IN accoun,
Of the meeting, says, all the resolutions were nnan-
ipsou,iy adopted. He certainly knew, for he was
member OF the convention, and one Of the sec.
rctaries. Now, 10 ace wha, the principles and
sentiments uttered and published by the State COZ.
yention were, we have only TO recur to It's reso-
lulioas as above cited. More emphatic language,
we repeat, could not have been used to express
adherence Of the whole institution Of slavery il.
sell, or evince more strongly reLusnance to its ex.
psnsion into the territories Of the Union, than
found in the resolutions Of that convention. The
county convention then, checrfully "responded VI