The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-08-03
Position of the Democratic Party.--A
A. Hanscom in l849.

EOSlllOu Oh INC OcluOCtutiC E@ty.---n
A. Hanscom In lS4S.
We published las, week the resolution
adopted by the Democratic State Conven-
ton in is49, explicitly declaring that
Congress possessed adequate power 10 in
hibit the existence Of Slavery in the terri
tories Of the Union," and enjoining upon
the Maine delegation in Congress TO make
every exeriion and employ all their infu-
ence 10 procure the passage oil a law forever
excluding Slavery from the territories Of
California and New Mexico" A. A.
con, editor Of the Democrat, voted in
State Convention for ,ha, resolve, and sup
ported the doctrines j; expressed in the pa
per under his control, declaring il 10 be true
Democratic doctrine, and such as the Dem
ocra,ic party mus, sustain or DO frowned
down by the people. For many months
he was fas, and furious friend Of the Will
mo, ProvisO, going rs far or even farther
than the original supporters themselves
Friendly as wo had always been 10 the
Wilmo. PtoyisO, our efforts were quite
thrown into the shade by the zealousness
Of the Democrat. AT that time there was
pending before the country measures tor
the organization OF the territories acquitted
from Mexico, hearty all Of which territory,
with the exception Of part o! California,
was below 36o 80, the line OF the Missouri
Compromise.
Although Cass had written his famous
Nicholson letter, declaring his " non inter
lion" doctrine, the Democracy Of this State
repudiaied his views, and stood broadly up
on the Wilmo, Proviso; with such ability
rs the editor Of the Democrat possessed,
he supported and defended the then Demo-
cratic position, and his zeal was so great
,ha, some OF his friends were a, one time
afraid hewould rival Garrison himself" in
disseminating what they termed "aboliiion
principles" His propensity for these doc
,riues diminished little in 1850, 1851,
though no, much until he was bitten by
The supplement, a little more than a year
ago. BY iha, bite he was radically cured,
and i, is no, probable that in future ne will
give any one an opportunity ef charging
him with being again friendly TO the prev
alence OF freedom. As "reminiscences from
the pas, are sometimes interesting, especial
" when they serve 10 show de generation Of
political parties and men. we have gathered
together few extracts from the columns
of tho Democrat, published In 1919, which
we commend 10 the attention Of our demo-
cratic subscribers.
In ls4s, the Legislature OF t,he State,
then Democratic, passed resolves opposed
10 the extension Of Slavery. Gov. Dana
in his message, backed down from the doc
,rines Of these resolves, and June 5, isi9,
A. A. HASscoM, in an editorial published
in.,he Democrat, said:
aThe Democracy of,he State stand BY the
posi,ion taken by the Legislature Of iSiS,
and We do not doub, that the sentiments OF
the present legislature are quite as strongly
opposed 10 the extension OF Slavery. The
sentiments expressed by the Governor and
Legislature last year in opposition TO the ex-
tension OF Slavery into free territories, met
a hearty response from the people OF the
State. The Democracy Of Name hare
Al fkns Ice ne
an immorsabls foundation, platform yfrst
eoneeired ~ hs hearts Of The people, and
syeslsd IN aesoriines triik their triShSs and
me requirements Of eternal justice and righi,
a foundation trhick GotdRors and LsgisId-
farss. trhi6k neither one alone nor both
united can remore."
Opposition 10 the extension OF Slavery
wa, then the " immovable foundation" up
on which the Democracy Of Maine had
PLANTED themselves, so declared A. A.
H,Sscoa. Now we find him on precisely
opposite grounds. Again, in the same ar
ticle, he says:
awe can look upon his remarks in no
other light than rs a recommendation OF the
true and righteous position Maine has taken
in this controyersey-a consent to the es-
tablishmen, Of territorial governments with
on, any denial Of the alledged rights OF the
South to introduce Slavery into the Tree
territories"
I, was then true and righteous position
for Congress 10 deny TO the South "the night
10 introduce Slavery into the free territories"
Is any less so now, Mr.. Hanscomi
Bu, let US look little further. Our edit
or says, in concluding his article:
"The Governor has abandoned, or seems
TO have abandoned, the position which rs
much as any other, secured him the conf
dence and supper, Of the people in our last
campaign. Will the Legislature Weld -
We hope no,-we believe not. We think
we can safely speak Tor THE PEOPLE tha,
they will never yield the main point; nor
,syl they ratiry any ,ophism rhieh rIils /,
processes 10 MAINTAIN the righ, of ,1sedon,
IN sgset abandon, tam TO sldpsry."
THE PEOPLE, have not, nor do we be-
lieve they viii rally the sOphism which A.
A. Hanscom speaks Of; but wha, has n,
donei Only one bite Of the supplement
was sufficien, to make him ra,ify and con-
form the sophism (which while il Processes
to maintain the rights Of freedom, in effect