The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-08-18

ne insertion IN tpeSe DlllS OF Inc pro-
vision repeating this line i the removal Of
restriction acknowledged by the ablesl
statesmen Of both political pa0iss 70 be. -
longer Of any PRACTICAL ihgV No il
caused y difference Of M aWp nIue
ocrats, regarding sS = s,id
principle, was seized upon . iesS( =
party as favorable mohieni ~ IsQeW iheft
sectional agitation. The time was au.pic-
ious for them and crisis had arrived
which was 10 decide whether The ireesoil
party should cease 10 exist, or struggle on a
little longer agains, the popular sentiment
Of the country. The principle that ercry
uetr territorial government formed trithin our
borders, should hare poiVer orer the question
Of sldrery triihia IT'S oIeu hnuts, once com.
pleie.y established, would 50 far remove
IRON Congress the exciting question upon
which the ireesOi party was founded, that
IL was highly probable iha, political orga-
niza,ion would cease TO exist, or shrink ilsp
media,ely into the narrow limits OF The old
abolition party. That this principle would
become the policy Of the country, was ren-
dered certain by the admission o. Texas,
the passage Of the compromise measures
Of 1850, and their triumphant popular APP
prevail in he election OF franklin PIERCE.
The removal Of the Missouri line was the
finishing stroke in the establishment, Of this
policy; aud when tina, act was passed, the
principle Of legislation involved therein
became as fixed and irrepealable rs any Of
the well known democratic measures of the
country"
We would thank the Democra, to name
q public man Of distinction in the free
States attached 10 the whig or freesoil par
y, (Mr. Everett iexcep,ed) who ever ac-
kaowledged that The Missouri restriction
was "ro ionger Of practical utih;y." The
declaration of the Democrat is an assump-
lion, unsupported by proof, and coniradicled
by the circumstances connected with the
passage Of the repeal in CongEess. But We
are not going 10 argue this point. A COM
mon sense view Of the matter is sufficient
10 assure any understanding man tina, the
South were moi acting IN this particular for
a mere abstraction. They wished the adop-
ton Of the Legislation no, simply on account
Of its application 10 the territories already
belonging TO the United States, bu, 10 aid
them in the extension Of slavery when ter.
ritories should DO acquired in future
Kansas and Nebraska may be free States,
through the fundamentally Of the Anti
Nebraska men of the free States, who ars
freely giving Of their substance 10 aid on
the emigration OF Northern men 10 those
territories, but this desirable event viii be
brough, about in spite Of the repeal OF the
restriction, and contrary to the expectations
Of The SHAREHOLDERS, and against the exer:
lions Of the Nebraska men OF the North
who have no, ye, done the first thing 10 aid
in the emigration Of freemen to this territory,
and who view all the efforts Of the Anti.Ne-
braska men with studied contempt, or cool
Indifference.
But the principle asserted in this extract
is all wrpng. The territories are the coE.
mon property OF all the States, under the
care Of the Federal Government whose
duty i, is TO see ,ha, institutions are framed
for them in keeping with the spirit and
genius Of our government In all past time
this has been conceded. The theory that
few hundreds Of people assembling To-.
ge.her, may impress upon country csPa-
BILE Of supporting millions in peace and
happiness, n form Of government, pernic.
ious aud immoral - may establish slavery,
legiiilnize all the grimes enumerated in
the decalosue, is mons,rous, as well as alb
surd, an outrage on common sense, and
impuden, Us ii is outrageous. We are now
speaking of the principle, and in this con.
nec,on we quote an appropriate resolution,
passed unanimously by the Democratic
State Convention in ls49, on this question
I" Resolrsi, Tha, the institution OF human
slavery is at variance with the theory OF our
government, abbonent 10 the common sen-
iimeni OF mankind, and frapgh, with danger
10 all who come within the sphere Of its
Influence - that the federal government
possesse, adequate pOirsr 10 inbibit as cyst.
enee IN the TERRITORIES Of the Union, that the
cons,i,uiionaliiy Of this power has been set
tied by judicial construction, by coniempo-
Ianeous exposition, and by repeated acts Of
legislation aud that We enioln upon our
Senators anu Representatives, in Congress 10
MAKE every exeI,ion aud employ all their
influence 10 procure the passage OF n Jaw
forever excluding slavery from the terrific
ries Of California and New Mexico"
The editor Of the Democrat assen,ed TO
this resolve; nay, more, his name is found
attached 10 an address 10 the democracy Of
The State, in which no demands, yes, de-
mands, Of Congress the extension OF The
ordinance Of 1887. 10 the territories acquired
from Mexico, as follows:
"we owe i, TO ourselves to give no coun-
ienance 10 slavery propagandism, and unless
The people Of California and New Mexico
shall form State governments inhibiiing
slavery, the democracy Of Maine will con-
slider !, the imperative duty OF Congress To
extend over those territories the provisions
OF the ordinance Of 1887. ? . Every SEN
sible person must see how impossible il is
10 draw the people Of the Moth INTO the
odious work Of an unlimited propagation Of
slavery. II is encouraging to know also
iha, in the South, the spirit Of Washington,
Jefferson. Madison, Mason and Pickney sill
exist. 81 . In the aliewp, 10 extend the
bligh, Of slavery over the free lands Of -,he
nation, the sturdy republicans Of Maine, in
common with the patriotic OF the whole
Union, will demand bait. In this they
!. s n9.hing sectional. They only ask what