Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-08-23

Law waste the land with FIRE aud sword I or
shall we exert every power which God has
given to us, 10 stop the progress OF disnhion
When the constitution of the United States
was formed, slavery existed In most OF them,
but more especially 10 the South. There was
a perfect understanding on the subject. The
northern and middle States were not DESTROYS OF
lis continuance. Their soil and climate was
not coneenial to the African race, and its labor
was Improbable. Butthe South was more ia
vorable 10 the Developments Of negro power
and vIgor 1t chose 10 employ slave labor
Each State being free and Independent had a
right to determine for itself. Il was not the
province of one TO dictate TO another what
should be done, in its domestic relations, il
was not the question how the affairs OF the
States were conducted at home, nor what were
the local laws. But how shall the union be-
tween sovereign states be arranged, what will
they severally surrender and what demand
They did agree upon a constitution, its terms
and conditions were fixed and limited, the bar
gain was made, the contract completed, and the
government set in motion.
Now body of men have sprang up among
us, who say that certain part Of this cons,i-
,ition, and the laws enacted under it are not to
be regarded. That they are 10 violation Of lib
erty and should be resisted. These men have
been agi,ating, writing and speaking, for TWEEN
ty five years past, and what have they accom-
plishect Have they induced single slave
state to repeal or modify It's laws on this sub
ject have they changed the disposition of any
one, so as to induce him to emancipate his
slaves No, they say themselves in an agony
of imaginary suffering, that the slave power
has been growing stronger and stronger, and is
now stronger than ever. Common sense would
require them to cease their complaints and try
some other measures.
There are bet two ways BY which we can
separate from the South. One a peaceable
change of the constitution. The other disso-
luton of the union by force and violence
THERE'S not much prospect of the former. Bot
if the North should unite against the South,
the latter is inevitable. What other result
could follow than disruption of our civil pa
tions. The South would not submit to be ruled
by the North, nor the North by the South l.
must be government formed and prescribed hg
men from all sections. But suppose our north
ern agtators should succeed and produce sep
aration. Would not every sensible man say,
even then, that the best thing % be done weuld
be, again TO unite, and leave the question Of
slavery Just where il now is, leave each state
10 take care oil lis own AFFAIRS
But which party has offended the most
against each other! What has the South done
10 us! has it made war upon our institutions,
interfered with our domestic relations, and
pointed out to US what we should do, Is there
a single person in the State Of Maine, who can
discover any injury done him by STAKEHOLDER.
Has the South invaded us, or attempted to de-
prive US of property or liberties The
L.. E. e ~ A.
holding of slaves is contrary To our ideas of
what is right and proper, and it has been de-
sirOus in some cases 10 push lis limits into free
territory. Can we blame the Shareholders so
much for that, when their very existence has
been constantly threatened for the last quarter
of centxy They are struggling to main
tain their position, because the natural increase
of population has thrown them into a minority,
beconing smaller and smaller, and they fear
the weight Of heavy majority against them.
Hence their solcitude, and if we had as much
at stake as they have, our anxiety would be as
great, If not greater than theirs. We of the
North making all the profits out of this
business, BY carrying their productions no fu-
gilive slaves cume here, none has yet been ar
rested IN Maine; we did not make slavery,
and are not accountable for it. Some of our
exists against ii, have attained public favor,
and the people have been kept in constant
state Of agitation, in relation 10 subject which
they cannot control, cannot alter, without
bringing upon themselves and others, a greater
calamity, than they hope to remedy
Let us cease to persecute the people of the
South and treat them as brothers, inhablting
one common country, and united in one com
mon destiny.
But perhaps some of you were opposed to
the repeal Of the Missouri Compromise line
So was |, aud if had been in Congress, should
have voted against it. But surprising ii was
an objectionable measure, and does not meet
with our approval, are we for that reason To
turn against our country, and do all we can TO
destroy il Those men who make the most
noise about its repeal, were most obstinately
opposed To its establishment. And | doubt
whether the abolillonists would vote to-day TO
have it restored, for that would take away one
Of the principal instruments, by which they as
sail the South. That line being removed, the
North can object as well TO the extension OF
slavery into territory south as north of il. 1t
is now an open question. Bnt it will nndoubt-
eddy become the settled course of policy of the
Country, to allow each state and territory 10 de-
termine its own domestic institutions. This is
in accordance with our ideas of popular rights,
and with the principle Of a government by the
majority.
But the repeal spoken of is no test in the
democratic party, every one may believe as he
peases on that subject. But the union is a
test, and around il we rally. Our standard is
raised aloft, its ample fluids float in the breeze,
and soon our drums will beat the roll call Of
the suns of liberty. Let every man do his du-
| iy.