The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-12-29
lFr.m the Temperance JosrnaLl
The Times and our Duties---No. Q,

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tFrsm the Temperance Josrnail
The Times and our Duties--No. Q.
There arc those who seem to believe tina,
the American party can and will ignore the
great question Of Slavery aggression. by
some this may honestly DO entertained
But no one who is acquainted with tho
mesnine of history and the rationale Of
parties, and understands tho present life
and impulses OF tho American people, can
sincerely hold such IN opinion. No po!iti.
cal party can exist and boar any practical
fruit for good, that is not vitalized and di.
rected by the real forces in society Plat
forms and tactics are rs nothing except rs
machinery and the mode by which - exist
ing power works it, way to its logical and
only legitimate result. That power in o
true republic comes from tho hearts, the
homes, the honest convictions OF tho peo.
pie. No pulling Of wires, or shutting OF
cards, CAP enable party worthy to exist,
and claiming to DO American, successfully to
ignore the facts and principles on which o
large majority Of the people have the most
positive opinions, and in regard TO which
they have formed tho most determined res.
olutions. How, then, can the American
party ignore the question! Shall we be
told that it has been resolved to have moth.
ing to do with Slavery, or Anti,Slavery !
Such resolution is fallacy. 1t will prove
delusion to every enc who honestly enter
tains II. There arc those who put it for.
ward with specious pretences, with the intent
to eheut the American people. In the great
political contest OF $50 and in the minor
contests that are to prccede it, decision will
be given on one s;de or The other of the
GU ss.ion of Slavery. It makes no essential
difference what>tsners then float in the
breeze the principles, the issues, the re-.
suits, of that contest most concern chris
tians and freemcn, and in reference to THEN
they will ACT. The powers and the victories
of the American party must MD Freedom
or Slavery. The President and the Congress
TO be chosen in '56 must DO in favor Of Sla.
very aggression, or opposed. Two terrible
outrages to freedom, 10 good faith, TO moral
right, to American patriotism, were COM
mitted in the passage Of the Fugitive Slave
Act of 1850 and the Nebraska Bill of 1854.
On these outrages the people will pronounce
solemn verdict. The President ami the
Congressman must be taken from those in
favor or from those against these moral and
political denominations. If takeu from those
in favor of these measures, the decision is
in favor or Slavery aggression. If from
those opposed to these measures, the deces.
ion is on the side Of Freedom.
IF the National Council decides to have
nothing to do with Slavery-to guard the
Order against lis agitation-it practically
decides against Freedom.
Slavery has taken its long strides-has in.
flicted its dreful otrages-has removed the
landmarks and struck down the symbols OF
Freedom, and on soil by God and National
faith consecrated to The highest civilization,
set up the opportunities Of despotism. A
large majority Of the people of the free
States are about TO arrest and punish the
offenders and restore what has been so
sacrilcgiously taken. Any moving Of ma.
chinery, or sounding Of shibboleths, calcu.
lated to draw the attention OF the people
from this work Of justice and selfdeience,
must corduce 10 the safety Of the political
criminals and to the interest Of that power
which caused the crime. OF courseall who
aided in committing the outrages, or sym.
pathzed therein, now cry peace and good
fellowship, for such course is their safety.
Silence helps conserve the wickedncss aud
throw around it the sanctions Of time. 1t
1t IN old device Of tyranny, which modern
oppessors have not forgotten, to warmly
engage tho people in secondary matters,
while they are quietly forging new chains
and preparing new aggressions, to be
used and pushed forward at an inspect.
ing hour when no organized and well
directed resistance can be mado by the
doomed victims. And it is another device
Of depotism iu vogue from the times Of MIN.
rod up to the days of the Car, Louis Ma
poeon, the Southern shareholders and their
Northen minions, to keep the people d.
vided and to cause their impulses, principles,
and convictions to break their force against
each other, instead of working together,
flowing into one broad and resistless current
Of development and freedom. While the
people thus neutralize each other and blast
their own hopes, the oppressors enjoy the
fray as amusement, and their works Of
wickedness 60 on unrcsisted. They are
ever ready to sound the delusive watch.
words-"keep out all side issues"-'ignore
all ngitating questions" So does the wolf
plead for silence and wish tho mouth Of the
faithful dog muuled as he is about to rob
the sheepfold, or lis passing OF to secure his
prey TO his whelps. lie wishes to keep down
all exciting questions, and not have the air
made hideous by the barking Of dogs or the
crying Of lambs. It is the policy of the
slave holders and their Northern minions, to
make Freedom and the American movement
break their force on each other-to eat
each other up-instead Of working together
as they should. They hope to make the
American party prove itself the rear guard
Of depotism, to DO hastily led in before the
advancing army Of frecmen who are resolved
to arrest the authors Of the outrages Of 1850
and 1854, and con'ign them 10 their politi.
cal Botany Bay, and restore the National
Capital to the purity it had ere it was pol.
n