The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-01-12

of opr institutions, may DO worthy Of your
investigation.
As one Of the sovereign States constitu.
ting this great confederacy, we have q deep
interest in every important act Of the FEEDER
nj government. We can but look To its
policy, foreign and domestic, with the deep.
est solicitude. Millions are being added to
our population, almost annually, and State
after State, in rapid succession, Is coming
into tho Union. Annexation having extend
ed our borders until States are springing in
to existence on the shores Of the Pacific ;
the Islands of that Ocean are asking that
annexation may bring them under the pro-
lection OF our government and TO tho on.
joyment OF our Institutions.
Progress is stamped on every feature Of
our country; and where the extended
boundaries OF the Republic shall be finally
fixed, Infinite Wisdom can alone determine.
With this increase Of population, enlarge
trent Of territory and addition Of States,
must como corresponding responsibility on
those who administer tho government |;
thereby increasing the responsibility Of the
millions whose free sulfrages must determine
on whom shall rest the honors and weight
of official power. And while we are called
upon. rs men true to our country and
the Union. to sustain the honest efforts Of
those entrusted with that power, to pro-
mote the best interests Of the entire confed.
eracy, We IRE under the strongest obliga.
tons to oppose any and all action Of public
men which has the Iemoest tendenco' to
undermine the free institutions Of this Re-
nnh!ic hy giving such construction to the
Constitution as shall permit the Institution
of Slavery, with its whitening and increasing
evils, to spread over our territories and to
extend such controlling influence over this
government as shall finally install II over
Freedom throughout the Union. However
DESTROYS large portion OF the people OF the
North have been to fcrbear to discuss or
agitate the question of Slavery, lest such
agitation might impair the permanency Of
the Union, to which they have ever shown
a most devoted attachment, it is evident
that the time has arrived when that question
must be met and discussed in our national
and state councils, and in primary meetings
Of the people with the same freedom with
which other grave questions are wont 10 DO
considered.
This question il one of too much import
ance to the whole country, to The North as
we'll as the South, to suppress discussion
only when it is moved by tho friends Of
Slavery in order to extend its jurisdiction,
or obtain for the institution some advantage
over freedom.
That the North has been too willingly
hushed to silence on this great question by
the menaces Of the South, cannot be deni-
ed, and the unanimity into which the two
great political parties acquiesced in the ex-
traordinary Compromises OF 1850, shows
anything but disposition on the part Of the
free States to continue the agitation OF which
the South so loudly complained.
Notwithstanding that most exceptionable
and rs is believed uncons,itutionable law
for The rendition of fugitive slaves, forced
upon the North, compelling lreemen 10 aid,
at their peril. in seizing and returning to
captivity persons who are guilty of no crime
known to the Constitution Of the United
States-and struggling only for the rights Of
'life liberty. and the pursuit Of happiness"
the free states were still disposed to resist u
renewal of that agitation which as was con-
tended threatened ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of the
Union. while this feeling prevailed the North,
the bill for organizing the territories of Ne
braska and Kansas was brought before Con-
cress connected with q scheme TO extend
slavery over that vast region Of country
north or 3GS 80 which had been solemnly
dedicated to Freedom by the compact Of
1920. This aggressive movement carried
through Congress, aided by few Northern
politicians, who have been foremost in de-
nouncing agitation ard the loudest advo-
Gates of Compromises, has again forced
upon tho country the consideration of the
question Of negro slavery.
To a,,emp, now to smother the sentiment
OF The North or TO put down free speaking
and Independent, action, would not only be
an unavailing effort, but any aitemp, 10 turn
the public mind away from the fullest
cvnlem pla,Ion OF The subject and The mos,
searching investigation into il, in its larges,
national aspect, its relation TO The whole
country, socially, morally, and politically,
would be an atironi TO The intelligence OF
the people.
The universal sentiment Of The nation in
its early history was hostile 10 the existence
Of slavery, regarding It rs incompatible
with justice and dangerous 10 the spirit oil
freedom. The policy OF the country was
TO inhibl slavery directly aud absolutely in
The territories, the express and declared OBJ
iecl being TO prevent the extension OF that
institution. This common adherence OF
slavery distinctly shows itself in the early
Legislation Of The county, and the disling-
ulshed men OF the nation OF all parties
looked forward 10 the time when the system
itself should become extinct. This nation
al sentiment prevailing the slave, as il did
the free States. has come 10 be reversed by
the South, and in lis place has sprung up
an attachment and devotion 10 slavery which
is made paramount 10 the provisions OF The
federal constitution and dismembermenl
Of the Union even is treated rs a matter 10
be invoked rather than its perpeluily should
prescn, barrier TO the spread OF that local
institution, for which lis friends claim The
right under the Constitution, beyond the
power OF Congress 10 plant il in any and
all the territories OF the government. This
new and startling doctrine is sought TO be
established rs the judgment OF the people
Of this country. II canno, be doubted that
Congress in its recent acton on the bill re-
fered 10 for the organization o! Nebraska
and Kansas, favored such extraordinary as
sumption. And what renders this agrees
i've movement the more alarming is the
eviden, completely Of the Chief Magistrate
Of the country, in open disregard and direct
violation Of voluntary assurance-given
to the people who had elevated him 10 that
high position, that no movement OF that
character should "shock the repose OF The
country, il in his power 10 avert it, during
his official ierm.'
Ern,, ih;s alarming. aciinn of CnnCresS