The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-01-25
GOVERNOR MORRILL,, OF MAINE.


Governor Morrill,, of Maine, in his recent
message to the Legislature of that State, pre-
sents the following just and manly views in
relation to Slavery. We call special attention
to the declaration, that "the Constitution of the
United States is Of itself an absolute law of i'm
partial liberty to the full extent of Federal juris-
diction. 1t authorizes no crime, permits no
oppression, but outside of State limits solemnly
guarantees the security of freedom to all human
beings under its exclusive authority"
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 in
crease OF population, enlargement of territory,
and addition OF States, must come a correspond.
| ing responsibility on those who administer the
| Government; thereby increasing the RESPONSE
bilty OF the millions whose free suffrages must
| determine on whom shall rest the honors and
| weight of official power. And while we are
| called upon, as men true to our country and
the Union, to sustain the honest efforts of those
intrusted with the power, to promote the best
interests OF the entire COnfederacv, we are I'M
der the strongest obligations to oppose any and
all action Of public men which has the remotest
tendency TO undermine the free institutions of
this Republic, by giving sAch construction to
the Constitution as shall permit the institution
of Slavery, with its whitening and increasing
evils, to spread over our Territories, and to ex-
tend such controlling influence over this Gov
ernment as shall finally install it over Freedom
throughout the Union. However DESTROYS a
large portion of the people of the North have
been to forbear to discuss or agitate the ques-
ton 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 great questions are wont to be
considered.
"T'his question is one of too much importance
to the whole country, TO the North as well as
the South, to suppress discussion only when it
is moved by the friends of Slavery, in order to
extend its jurisdiction, or obtain for the nsttu-
ton some new advantage over Freedom.
That the North has been too willingly
hushed into silence on this great question bv
the menaces of the South, cannot be denied; and
the unaniinity with which the two great political
parties acquiesced in the extraordinary Com
promises of 1850, shows anything but dispo-
the agitation of which the South SO loudly com
planned.
Notwithstanding that most eXceptionable,
and, as is believed, unconstitutional law, for the
rendition of fugitive slaves, forced upon the
North, compelling freemen TO aid, at their peril,
IN seiZng and returning to captivity persons
who are guilty OF no crime known to the Con
stitution of the United States and struggling
only for the rights of life, liberty, and the pur-
snit of happiness, the free States we're still dis
posed To resist a renewal of this agitation, which.
as was eontended. threatened ACKNOWLEDGMENT
of the Union. While this feeling pervaded the
North, the bill for organizing the Territories of
Nebraska and Kansas was brought before Con
gress, connected with scheme to extend Sla-
very over that vast region Of country north of
Be so, which had been solemnly dedicated to
Freedom ly the compact of 1920. This ag-
gressive movement, carried through Congress.
aided by a few Northern politicians, who have
been foremost i'll denouncing agitation, and the
loudest advocates of Compromises, has again
forced upon the country the consideration of
the question OF Negro Slavery.
10 attempt now to smother the sentiments
of the North, or to put down free speaking and
independent action, would not only be an una
vallng effort, but any attempt to turn the pub
lie mind away from the fullest contemplation of
the subject, and the most searching investiga-
ton into it, in its largest national aspect, its
relation to the whole country, socially, morally
and politically, would be an aflront to the intel
Igence of the people.
1.-The universal sentiment of the nation i'm its
early history was hostile to the existence of
Slavery, regarding it rs incompatible with
Justice, and dangerous To the spirit of Freedom
The policy OF the country was TO inhibit Slavery
l.. 4 Al
express and declared object being to prevent
the extension of that institution. This common
adherence Of Slavery distinctly shows itself in
the early legislation Of the country, and the dis
tinguished men of the nation of all parties
looked forward to the time when the system
itself should become extinct. This national
sentiment, pervading the slave as it did the free
States, has come to be reversed bv the South,
and In It's place has sprung up an attachment
and devotion to Slavery, which is made para
mount to the provisions of the Federal Consti-
tuition; and ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the Union
even is treated rs a matter to be invoked, rather
than its perpetuity should present barrier to
the spread of that local institution. for which
its friends claim the right under the Constitu-
ton, beyond the power of Congress, to plant it
in any and all the Territories of the Govern
ment.
"This new and startling doctrine is sought to
be established as the Judgment of the people OF
this country. 1t cannot be doubted that Con-
gress, In its recent action on the bill referred
to for the organization of Nebraska and Kansas
favored such extraordinary assumption. And
what renders this aggressive movement the
more alarming, is the evident completely of the
| Chief Magistrate of the country, in open dis
| regard and direct violation of voluntary as
Surance given to the people who had elevated
him to that high position, that no movement OF
that character should shock the repose of the
| country, if in his power to avert it, during his
| Official term
From this alarming action of Congress and
subserviency of men high in official power, we
turn with unusual satisfaction to the action OF
the people of the several States where popular
elections have recently taken place, and witness
the strong condemnation, by the honest and in
telligent masses, of that bold attempt to change
the original policy of the Government and give
nationality to an institution wholly local in its
character, and existing only by the power Of
municipal law.
| would recommend no action, nor would
| participate in any movement, that should
have the semblance of encroachment on the
| constitutional rights of the South. But we are
F, unworthy of being freemen, if we do not resist
| the unconstitutional advances of Slavery AND
as we love the Union, as We wish to perpetuats
the blessings of civil liberty, as we desire the
| prosperity Of the whole country, we are urged
to meet this crisis with manly frmness tina
shall say, in the most friendly yet decided man
| ner, we ask nothing but what is right, and shall
submit to nothing wrong.
| "The Constitution of the United States is o
itself AN absolute law of impartial liberty t,
the full extent of Federal jurisdiction. 1t au
thorizes no crime, it permits no oppression
i Int outside of State limits anlemnlv qua mite.