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

SA JUDGE WELLS SPEECH.
Mr.. President and gentlemen. am highly
gratified to meet you here to-day, and that we
are favored with pleasant weather; an August
sun is shining with unclouded brilliancy, while
his rays are tempered with soft and cooling
breezes. And wherever we tread, in whatev-
ever region of our State we may go, we see
the almost certain evidence of an abundant har-
vest, promising a rich reward to the labors OF
the husbandman. But what avails the boun-
ties of Providence and all the wealth which
you may possess, if you are not protected by a
wise and stable government Our fathers
fought the battles of the revolution, they
formed the constitution of the United States,
and those of most of the states, they made for
Is liberal and enlightened laws, and transmit
ted to us a republic, free and independent
But the soldiers of the revolution are dead
most Of them lie buried in their graves,
"Adorned with honors on their native Shore
Silent they sleep, and hear of wars no moreg
And notwithstanding all they have done. the
foundation which they laid for us, for our hap
piness and security in The glorious union Of
the states, an attempt is now making to form a
sectional party, composed of the north and
west, in order to array it against the south; a
party to be formed by geographical lines, and
whuse purpose is to overawe and control the
south. What would be the consequence if the
north and west should rush into such party ,
The south would become alarmed and take
measures for its own protection. 1t would
never submit to the dictaton of such a party.
Its wild threats and fanatical zeal might well
excite Just grounds of alarm in every sensible
mind.
This State is in reality in the hands of the
aboltionists they now control it. Although
they have never numbered but about ten thou
sand voters in their palmest days, and gener-
| ally much less, they have contrived to avail
themselves of various incidental questions, and
to obtain the aid of thousands, who are in re-
aity opposed TO their abolition sentiments
They have brought in to vote for their candi-
dates, some upon one ground, and some upon
another, and they now seek to bind them to-
gether by constantly exciting the national pref
udices, which exist in the minds of the people
of the free states against slavery. Maine is
now made their battle field, and several gen
tlemen, who have obtained notoriety by being
members OF the American Congress, and who
have solemnly sworn to protect the consttu-
! ton of the United States, are now endeavoring
| to establish a party, the direct tendency of
whose measures is, TO destroy that very insti-
tuition. Some of them may believe that when
they have attained political power, they can
stop the agitation, and the onward march to
civil war, and the dissolution of the govern
ment. But it is difficult to ride upon the
whirlwind and direct the storm. There is no
safety but in the path of honesty and the path
of patriotism. The Union can only be pre-
served by national party, composed of men
! in all parts Of the Union, men who can meet
together in the halls of legislation, and calmly
act, for the good of the whole.
The democratic party is the national party,
it is the party of union. Wherever its MEM
bers exist, whether in the cold regions of the
north, or the sunny south, their warm hearts
beat responsive to the union of the states, now
and forever Every democrat should be proud
that he is member Of this patriotic party, and
that he is unfolding those institutions which
have raised his country TO the highest pitch OF
renown. Without kings, without lords or no.
bles, the American people by their practical
ability, by their courage and fidelity, have
conducted their country through many trials
TO its present prosperous condition. Shall all
be lost by madness and folly, and The freest
nation upon~the earth become despotism
! There were very great difficulties in the
/ adoption of the constitution of the United
States. Some of the Southern States were
unwilling 10 relinquish the importation OF
slaves from Africa. Roger Sherman said, as
stated by Mr.. Madison, in his account of the
debates in the convention for forming the con-
stitution of the United States, that it would be
| better to yield that point, than to allow those
states to go off, which we're opposed to the re.
| linquishment. And he was unwilling to de-
l,lo .ta H. otl ell,
But suppose the provision now contained in
our constitution in relation TO the restoration 81
/ fugiives had not been adopted, what would
have been done, No one supposes that the
| slave states would have come into the Union
without some guaranty as to their property
And the mere declaration Of property in slaves
would have enabled them TO seize their proper
| ty in the free states, or have brought an action
| for it against any one who should deprive them
of il.
The first congress held under the Consliiu-
ton provided for the mode Of returning persons
held 10 service or labor. This act received the
sanction of Gen. Washington and other revolu-
tionary patriots. The fugitive slave law q
1850 is modification of the first act. not more
objectionable than such law in the nature o.
things must be, and as favorable to the slave a.
the act of 1898. The abolitionists have beer
accustomed to declare this law unconstitutional
and so has the Maine legislature. But the
courts of law, when it has been brought before
them, have decided otherwise. The grount
taken BY most Of Them who oppose ii, is thai
congress has no right TO legislaie at all on the
subject, but that the whole matter must stand
upon The naked provisions Of the Constitution.
There is nothing prohibi;ory in the Constitu
ton to such enactments as more fully and clear
ly explain the mode of Surrender and deliver.
ing up of the fugitive; nor is it a violation o
the ordinary course of Legislation in relation Il
the general provisions ofihc constitution, which
require minuter details in their practical opera
ton than could be conveniently embraced in
the Constitution.
Many Of those opposed to this law, are op
posed to all laws IN The subject, and profes:
their willingness 10 resist its execution by force
Of arms They disregard the idea that we arr
members of the Union, that we must take III,
pleasant with the unpleasant apperlaining to it
or else dissolve onr connection entirely. The,
are not willing to adhere 10 the contract, bu
TO break il, and to cast US ali upon a sea o
trouble, from which no rational man can dis
Germ passage of safety.
II we should dissolve our union with ths
south, because we do not like her institutions
should either we or the slaves be in any NOR.
favorable condition IL the south was moi
strong enough TO cope with US, she would form