The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-12-21
10, tAs unisn Z Ea,t,,r Journal

For ns Union 4 Easfsrn Journal
The present deplorable condition Of poli,.
ical affairs in the Union, Is not the result Of
any sudden excilemeni-ii Is no mob DEM
onsira,lon-but rather the direct, inevitable
result Of an adhesioa, on the part Of the
supporters Of" The peculiar institution" 10
one idea and that idea has been tie prop.
agaiion, extension, aud support OF African
slavery. The friends Of freedom and equal
rights have not caused II, and can In no
way DO blamed for it. They bore until for
bsarance ceased TO DO n virtue. Ten years
ago great number Of the now mos, ardent
and uncompromisiny friends Of the slave,
cared little or nothing about the subjec, at
all. They said: LET them have slaves
down South for what care; il don't irou-
bio me so long as they mind their own bu.
siness, and 10, me alone" But when the
Fugitive Law was passed-lhal infamous
statute which made every Northern man q
slave catcher, and every NoIihern Stale q
Negro hunting ground-and which must
stand disgrace forever 10 the Republic
The people Of the North began to open
their eyes. They desired 10 know why
they were 10 be fined and imprisoned for
doing friendly act 10 brother man-why
they were 10 be taxed for tho return OF the
flying slave to his owner. Tha, act proba-
bly, made more anti slavery men than MI
the William Lloyd Garrsons ia chrislen-
dom, ever could have made.
Yet great majority Of Northern men did
not care to make issue with tho South
Especially rs every movement in that di.
rec'ion was denounced as step towards
disunion and anarchy. Many Of them ac-
quiesced, and would have been willing to
assist IN carrying back TO the South her iu-
gi'ives, provided agitation" could DO al.
layed. Southern politicians in The meaE-
time, were busy in forming new schemes.
They had taken the indifference Of the
North, for cowardicc, or else they judged
!. by the unjust standard OF the dough.
faces" whom they could buy at pleasure
Slap by step, the South advanced. Some
indeed saw The danger and warned us &C.
cordingly bu, not so The mass. Still her
assTessions, for she hal been The aggressor,
and no, the North, were KEEP, up. She was
not content, in compelling the North to re-
turn her fugiiives she was not conien, to
tax The North Cor wars and the acquisition
OF slave territory; she was no, content TOT
imprson northern fecmen aud then self
them TO pay their jail fees she was nO,l
con'en, to shoot those who dared TO speak
against the sin OF slavery on heI territory
she mus, nat onalize slavery-she must not
b, limited. True, she had made solemn
agreement, with the North, that slavery
should never 20 beyond a certain point; bu,
SHE had got all she expected by the bar.
gain, and might rs well throw !, up. VIVA,
cared she for compacts Sha, cared she
for compromises! Had no, The North al
ways jumped into the harness al her bid
ding and would she no, 10 Il again -
Would she put this "glolous Union" in
danger, by being obstinate and disobedicn,i
She had swallowed bitter pills. would she
not swallow more SO the Kansas Ne.
braska bill was passed and here we are
Some, | know, are willing TO excuse tho
South on the ground that The North has al.
ways aided her Northern doughfdoes"
have given their weigh, in her favor, but
not the northern people. The Nonh-lhat
is the people Of the North are no, response
BILE for tho "s,ew" in which The country is
now found. Well, what is to be done -
Arc we to give up The con,es,i Are we 10
say that !, is now too laie, or are we to re-
main under party drill and lci Satan rulcl
Freemen Of Maine answer this question:
answer it in tho negative. Shake your
selves from the rotten carcass Of democracy;
from the dry bones Of ,rhiggery, and be men.
Be men worthy Of The nineteenth century.
Men worthy OF n Republic whose proudes,
boas, has been "LiCeriy.n H.B. B.
Albion, Dec. II, 1855.