The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-08-31
Position Of the Democratic Party
A. Hanscom in 1849.

S0SlUOn Oh the uem0cfdtiC Raity' n
A. Hanscom in 1849.
We published las, week the resolution
adopted By The Democratic State COnveu-
ton in lS49, explicitly declaring that Con-
gress possessed /" adequate power TO prOhib-
il the existence Of Slavery in the territories
Of the Union,n and epjoining upon the
Maine delegation in Congress ito make
every exertiOn and employ all their influence
to procure the passage ola law forever ex-
GLIDING Slavery from the territories Of CAL
irornia and New Mexico" A. A. HASscox,
editor Of the Democrat, voted in State couyen-
ton for that resolve, and supported the doc
trines it expressed in the paper under his con-
troll, declaring ii to be true Democratic doc
trine, and such as the Democratic party must
sustain or be frowned down by the people.
For many months be was a fast and furious
friend Of tho WillmOt PrOvisO, going as far
or even farther than the original Supporters
themselves. Friendly as VIC had always
leen to the WilmO, Proviso, our efforts
were quite thrown into the shade by the
zealousness Of the Democrat. At that time
there,wOs pending before county measures
for the organizations Of the territories ac-
ouired from Mexico, nearly all Of which ter
ri,ory, with the exception OF a part Of Cal
irornia, was below 5000, the line of the
Missouri Compromise.
Although Cass had written his famous
Nicholson letter, declaring his non interven-
ton doctrine, the Democracy Of this State
repudiated his views, and stood broadly
upon the wilmot Proviso; with such abil-
ity as the editor ofthe Democrat possessed,
he supported and defended tho then Dem.
ocratic position, and his zeal was so gieat
that some Of his friends were at ono time
afraid he would rival " Garrison himself,n
in dissemination what they termed "aboli.
ton principles" His propensity for these
doctrines diminished little in 1850, 1851,
though not much until he was bitten by the
supplement little more than ycai aso.
BY that bite he was radically cured, and
il is not probable that in future he will give
any one an opportunity of charging him
with being again friendly to the prevalence
orfrecdom. As "reminiscences from the past
ore sometimes interesting, especially when
they serve to show Degeneration Of pOli,-
zeal parties and men, We have gathered to-
cethcr a few extracts from the columns OF
the Democrat, published in ls49, which we
commend 70 the attention OF our democratic
subscribers.
In 1870. tho Legislature Of the State, then
Democratic, passed resolves opposed to the
extension Of Slavery. Gov. Dana in his
message, backed down from the doctrines Of
these resolves, and Jnnc 8, lsi9, A. a.
HANSON, in an editorial published in the
Democrat, said;
UThe Democracy Of the State stand by
tbs nosition taken by the Legislature OF
lSls and we do dot doubt that the seuti-
nents OF the present legislature are quite as
strongly opposed TO the extension OF Slavery.
The sentiments expressed by the Governor
and Legislature lost year in opposition to
the extension orSlayery into free territories,
met hearty response from The people OF
The State. The Democracy Of Name hare
planted Themselves upon those PunaPtss as
on ;umorcable foundation, a platform SrSt
,ouesirtd in the hearts Of The people, and
,,seted in accordance tsiih hdr Icishes and
hs requirements Of eternal justice and right,
a foundation rkith GorROTs and LegiS!a-
tiyts. triieh neither one alone nor both united
can rernore."
Opposition to the extension Of Slavery
was then the 'immovablc foundation upon
which the Democracy Of Maine had planted
themselves. so declared \. a. HANsco&-I
Now we find him on precisely opposite
grounds. Again, in the same article, ho
says: i
ave can look upon his remarks in no
.,,or l;cht than ns RECOMMENDATION OF the
.h.oaonment Of the true and righteous po-
";,;o, Maine has taken in this controversy
.a,,san, 20 the establishment Of terrific
81 ,ovcrnmenls without any denial OF the
.Tsjccd rights Of the South to introduce
slavery into the free territories"
7, was then true and righteous position
OR Congress to deny to the South "the
,;,h, to introduce Slavery into the free ter
,;,or;ss." Is any less so now, Ma. HaneOm !
Ru. Ie, US look little further. Our ed.
tor snys. in concluding his article;
(. The Governor has abandoned, or seems
% have abandoned, the position which as
much ms any other, secured him the comb
Jsnce and support Of the people in our last
campairn. win the Legislature yield =
We hone Motive believe not. We think
,,s can safely speak Cor THE PEOPLE that
thsy will never Weld the main point; nor
,r;U thsv rdiiG any sophism ichich rhlIe
!, proSsses 10 rainiain :hs rights Of freedom.
in eta abdRdons thcm 10 sIdrCry."
THE PEOPLE, have no., nor DO we be-
lievc they will ra,iiy the sOPhism which
A. A. Hanscom speaks OF but what has he
done : only one bite Of the supplement,
was sufficient, to make him raiiy and con-
firm The sophism which while hproiesses
to maintain the rights Of freedom, in effect
abandons them 10 Slavery" We pity,
while We condemn such shameless dere-
lection from principle.
June i2, isl9. we find copied into the
DemOcrai,an article from the Augusta Age,
which then had Free Soil prOclivi'ies, and
declared the doctrine Of non-ex,ensiOn of