The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-09-28

Governor, Obtaining Tie nomination hy oa,
ly majority of six votes over The present
Governor, Hon. Henry w. Gardner, in a
poll of near nine hundred. The conven.
ton, though somewhat stormy during its
session, was enthusiastic OF its close.
Hon. r. H. Dana, from a committee APP
pointed for tina, purpose, reported The fol.
lowing address 10 The people:
TO THE PEOPLE OF MASSACHUSETTS.
IL all free countries, political principles
are represented by political parties. II par.
lies cease TO represent living principles,
they become factions, injurious to the high
es, interests of the State, il not fatal 10 lis
life. Fortunate is il for a republic, if its
citizens are found 10 have enough of virtue,
intelligence, and self.control, TO break the
ties OF associations, and the power OF names,
and 10 modify their political organizations
10 meet The real political question Of the
hour. A happy omen is il for our republic,
that The parties of The day are organizing
uncn The principles Of the day.
Slavery, in its national relations, is the
great political question Of our times
Slavery within the Slave States, is a matter
OF Stale control, for which we have no con.
troll, for which we have no constitutional
political responsibility. But an imperious
necessity has made Slavery in its relations
TO the nation and 10 The Free States, ques.
ton Of practical, immediate, and para.
mount Importance.
First. II is n paramount question:
Slavery and Freedom are inconsistent with
each other. Slavelabor and free labor cannot
cooperate. Slaves in this country have SO in
creased, that the number of slives now is
greater than the entire population Of the
country at The time Of the Revoluiion.-
AT the regular and probable rate OF increase,
in eighty years there will be as many slaves
as there are now inhabitants, bond and free
together. Al the adoption of the Consiiu.
ton there were bu; five States which were
practically slave States. There are now
fifteen. In 1887 all The national territory
was made free. IN 1920 half of Il was leii
open 10 slavery. Ia 1854 The whole was
opened 10 slavery. The experience Of The
last few years, and especially The repeal Of
The Missouri Compromise, has convinced
The most donbting tina, slavery is agrees.
i've, thai The Slave Power, IL no, repressed,
will advance-,ha, il Slavery is not prohb-
tied, il will prohibit Freedom. The Slave
Power controls every department Of the
Government. The question is not The
abolition OF Slavery, but the existence Of
Freedom--noi whether Slavery shall be
tolerated in the territories, but whether
there shall be foo,hold for Freedom
Either Slavery or Freedom must be- domin-
AMI in this republic. The republic itself
must be either Free Power or Slave
Power in the family Of nations.
Second. /, is a political question. II is
no longer question Of mere ethics, or OF
political abstraction. II entails political
contest, which may last ihrough This gener-
alion. II j. a contest which must he fought
at the polls. Slavery is 10 be repelled and
F,sssi6m made national, by putting into
executive office, men who will be faithful
to freedom. We must send 10 Congress
men who are faithful 10 Freedom. We
must fill the vacancies 10 the Judiciary
with men who will be faithful 10 Freedom.
No, only so but such prepondance Of po-
liical power must be established that they
may be kert faithful. Legislation for Free.
dom is required in The State as well as in
the National governments. These ends
can be secured only by political means, BY
united action OF men who think and feel
alike in short, BY the regular republican
method Of a political party.
Third. The ends are practicable. The
Flee States have The vast preponderance in
numbers, education, arts, sciences, manu-
iac,ures, commerce, wealth, and business.
Why shoclu their millions stand in the rela-
lion of political ,hraldom to any oligarchy
Of less than half million Of men who WELD
the power OF Slavery! II is not fit that we
bear the shame longer. -.
Fourth. The state Of other political
questions favorable 10 this movement.
The Wing party, formed on The idea Of re-
sis,ance 10 The increased Executive power
adopting from time 10 time positions on
The financial questions OF the day, questions
which are now settled or pissed by, can no
longer be said TO exist as political power
in the nalion. No hope can be entertained
at present, that The Democratic party will
be faithful on this issue, or that faithful men
can act edeclually through II in our cause.
The quest ion OF social reform, The problem
Of restrictive Legislation in aid Of Temper
ance, and the question OF foreign and ma
tive influence in the affairs Of the nation,
are felt even by the greater part Of those
interested in them, 10 present no just obs,a.
Gle 10 united action here. Everywhere are
indications of an uprising Of the heart and
mind OF The nation 10 meet this paramount
issue, an issue into which the Presidential
election Of the next year will sweep every
other.
.fhh. We offer no geographical or Sec
,onal issue. We adopt no principles which
have no, The sanction Of the Republic, in
all the State, North and South, Free or
Slave. We adopt no principles which
Washington, Jefferson and Patrick Henry
would not have gloried to see brought into
action. We adopt no principles which con.
scien,ious opponents oil the increase o,
Slavery from all paris Of the land, cannon
and ou2h, not 10 recognize. We ac' IN no
sectional spirit Us 10 men. We are ready
10 vote for men from any part OF The land
who will act with US. We know that With
in the area of The Slave States ihemse Ives,
are Zee men, not Shareholders, who sympa-
l,hize with us. We know there are slave
holders Who think as we do-,o say nothing
of The thee millions Of slaves themselves.
As 10 The le rilol les AMI The new b a'es, we
know no geographical limits. We desire
10 see all The fulp,e States free, North aud
South. Secure Fee States al the South.
west, and This will b1 no longer geosraPh-
ical issue. Had our ancestors been true in
/ ,ooo 49, ..o,Id b., Ma. hoon Fee Sfuiax nj