The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-08-10

Therefore, said he, let US go and speak agains
this intensified law, and tell them what temper
ance men we have been. SO much for the demo
cratic conventions and the democratic party.
A word now abou, Judge Wells. He (,he gov
ernor) respected the man, but he did not respect
his position. He Judge wells) addressed con
yeniioa in this (York) County on the 9TH Of July
Old democratic York was the County in which he
had though, j, most prudent to make his debut
He must come forward as a candidate for the dem
ocratic pary-as the man who was to strike down
the Maine Law. In the speech TO which he had
alluded, Judge Wells touched upon the Maine
Law. He referred to a speech in the Saco Demo
cra,, paper friendly 10 him. The reporter evi
IDENTIFY had not done him full justice, for il wa
quite clear he had favored him BY improving hi'
speech. Well, Judge Wells took the position in
brief, that the Maine Law was unconstitutional
that !, was barbarous, and tina, no law had been
passed by the American people since the revolu'
ton that was so barbarous as the Maine Law, and
on this statement he had appealed to the people
lie had advised the people to read the law line by
line and section by section, and take ii home and
review il, and they would see lis enormities. He
then attempted TO point them out.
Now Judge Wells was lawyer OF some dis.
lnciion. WHAT be said, therefore, il was suppos.
ed he said understandingly. He could not there
fore be supposed to make this statement Ignorant
ly; nevertheless he had made most serious mis-.
statement. He had declared that this law had no
parallel since the days OF the American revolution
tina, no such barbarous statute was on record
on the statute BOOK OF any civilized nation. Did
b. believe this' Assuming that he knew the pro-
Visions ofibai law aud OF other statutes, he Gov
Morrill) came TO the conclusion that he Judge
Wells did not believe one word Of what he said
and he declared 10 Judge Wells and his friends
there and everywhere, that if he would meet him
before the people Of this stale-thoush he was
but a simple farmer and made no pretensions--
he was not a lawyer nos the son Of lawyer-but
il he would make good his assertions, and prove
that the law was more barbarous than another
law he could point out 10 him-the fugitive slave
aw-lhen he would abandon the political field,
and would be the peoples standard bearer no
longer (G'ea, apPlause.) He challenged Judge
Wells on that position at any time or a, any place
hattie might hereafter appoint Now he took ii
for granted tina, as lawyer Judge Wells did not
,elieye one word Of what be said when he declar'
ID tina, this law had no parallel on the score OF
,arbariiy. Some gentlemen might say it was
liscourteous to speak thus Of an opposition candi-
late he thought not; he spoke the truth in sober
,amestness, and was willing TO confront Judge
Wells a, any time and make good his position
"a this same speech Judge Wells had declared
ha, democratic principles were os old as creation
Il that was 50 why was il that he had not embra.
ed them at a much earlier period Of bis life p
Laughier) He had fought against these pin
.pes until he wes gay headed and when he
ane i.om the wing into the democratic ranks,
ew years ago, he was looked upon with great
uspicions; il was troublesome 10 point him ou,,
md his (Gov. Ms impression vas that, TO ST.
cnce enquiry concerning him and his former p'io'
inciples, they wrote the word "DcmOcrat" upon
lis back with chalk. (LauShier) Up TO that
ime he bad not shrunk in those grca, principles OF
democracy, notwithstanding they were co-exiSient
With the sun ; aud he only found out their value
$ late as 1872 or lSi3. But he (Gov. Morr'lO
vas willing 10 le, him 90 as democrat Of 1873
lie was good enough for that. (Llugb,er) He
vas as good as the average, and perhaps grea,
cal better But he was an intelligent man and
lawyer, and he pronounced Judgment asains,
he Maine Law. Now he would ask bin l. he
ad read the law entitled the .'FGgitive Slave
4aw," which was endorsed in their convention Of
uue iasil Why, one man was actually ordered
ut Of that convention, because when he WIS cat
cbiSed he stated that he did not believe that afro
ous law 10 be constitutional. The endorsement
{ the Fugitive Slave Law was full aud complete.
lie would ask Judge Wells whether he had ever
cad that law before he undertook TO pronounce
Judgment against the Maine Lawl II he had
lot, he was miserable student and a miserable
udge, and had no business 10 so to York and tell
be democracy about the provisions of the Maine
.aw, if he did not understand the provisions Of
he Fugitive Slave Law, which his party had
herished, and he was fool.hardy to risk his rpu-
alton by having a speech published declaring
hat the Maine Law had no parallel in barbariIy
o be found in any statute passed since the revo-
uiion.
Amer denOuncing the Fugitive Slave Lsw in
Eloquent terms fnr the harshness orits provisions,
md especially for its suspension Of the writ Of
,aJsa, corpus in the case Of fugitives the Cover
Tor proceeded to say that Notwithstanding these
provisions the democratic candidate would tell the
,eople that to fine or sentence 10 Imprisonment
umseller who was poisoning the community, was
4 thing that was awlul-awfu! and at The same
lime he wonld see his fellow citizens dragged from
has Slate without a rial by jury, which was pro-
vided 70, by the constitulion-denied relief by
lLy other CORTLAND yet he had venlured 10 siand
up and say lhSt The liquor law had no parallel ia
barbar.'y ia the history Of enacimen;s Such was
The attitude OF the democratic candidate for the
;ubneniorial chair.
Now he had said that Judge Wells was law.
yer, anu that in this speech Of his he had enjoned
upon the people 10 read the law, line by liue aud
section by section. Very good; rud he Gov.
Morill) would enjoin upon the people TO read the
speech line by line, and see Whist lawyer, aner
careful and deliberate study, had said about the
Maine Law and yet in the face Of this, he came
before the people aud asked them 10 change he
Of the State, and give him the d.
eciiou OF their affairs. lie desired them TO read
a A Il -.