The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-07-20

burden of taxation for the support Of it,
psupers and its criminals moro crushing
ltbsn ever King George forced upon our fa-
thcs. It socks to control our political or
lgasi.ations any legislation our courts md
on, juries; to invade our fresides and fam
| lilies and there spread discord, poverty, and
luimo, and destroy their peace and happi.
| ness, and profane and break down tho very
| aliars Of religion. -.a-.....- s...,
+ In o word, it claims tho right to inaict
unmitigated evil upon society in all its
| Interests and ramifca,ions, aud, at the same
lino, denies tho power Of that society to ro-
! pei its invasions and protec, itself. Hero
the friends Of temperance and the Maine
law meet this claim, and join issue. This
ti,sue is moro fully, moro empha,ically mado
|up before tho people Of this state, this year.
dan ever before. It is true, that, in 1852,
tie Chandler movement presented quite a
formidable opposition, but it was denied and
$rspudiated by both the regular wing and
democratic parties; brought no strength into
Tho legislature, and finally proved abortiye.
IN 1853, through tho travail Of The Bangor
4 convention, tho democratic party nominated
! Albert Pillsbury, who was personally oppos-
ned to tho law but tho convention and the
: irty passed no resolutions against 1t nor
ssrc they in any other Way committed a.
lgainst it-but, on the contrary, the demo-
l cratic press denied their hostility to it,
And whatever Of opposition might be implied
from this nomination, was moro than coun-
lerbalancod by tho noble stand taken by
! Governor Morrill, and his friends. The
lwhig candidate Of that year was pledged to
that law by public letter, scattered broad
least over tho state. '.'
In 1854, neither tho candidate, tho con.
vontion nor the press Of the democrats was
committed against tho law-whilo both tho
candidate, tho convention, md tho press Of
tho wings, and tho Morrill, party, were COM
nittcd in its favor. Thus this question
has stood heretofore partially and equivocal-
" in issue. But how stands Che matter in
1855! On tho 2lst day Of June, tho demo-
CRITIC state convention was held at Angus.
Ia; nominated its candidate and laid down
its platform. And what are their position
on this question! Judge Wells has for
years has been openly opposed to tho princi-
pies OF the law, and never, in private con-
vcrsation, has hesitated to avow 1t and but
q short timo since, to the regret Of many Of
bis friends, suffered himself to preside ovor
tho rnm-mcoting, at Portland, that appoint
cd one committee to request Neal Dow 10
resign his Office and another to investigate
tho conduct of tho city government; but
said nothing about the conduct Of tho rum
mob and, this very day, there was reason
70 believe, no had been giving an cxtra.judi.
cial opinion, at Alfred, against the law
Look at the platform upon which tho party
stand-which is Cary's old ono Of last year,
endorsed over:
3. RESOLVED. that tho present intensified IL
quor law Of this State, being antagonistic to
these fundamental doctrines, in consequence
Of its unnecessary stringcncy, tho unlimited
power it places in tho hands Of its admins.
irators--tho sovcrites Of its penalties, COM
pared with tho magnitude Of the offence
lcommitted--its wanton destruction OF prop.
srty and violation OF tho most sacred rights
Of she citizen together with tho fearful
results arising from its execution, is well
calculated 70 alarm every candid mind J mud
has alarmed and aroused tho people Of this
Stato, TO demand ESSENTIAL NOTIFICATIONS oil
lie provisions.
4. RESOLVED, That tho present govern.
ment OF this State, Of which Arson p. Nor.
rill is the head. BY ITS ENACTMENT OF LII
QUoI LAW, WHICH MAS ITS PROTOTYPE ONLY
IN Tue STATUTES OF THE DARK AGES which
places the character aud the property OF the
! citizen, in the hands and at the mercy OF q
fanatical dark-lautcrn oligarchy," has
shown itself unworthy tho trust confded
to its keeping, and merits tho condemn tion
Of oil patriotic citizens.
Here We SEQ they demand. not modi6cati.
ons in the forms and administrative details
of the law, but in the essence, the iunda.
mental principles on which it is based. But
Iif any doubt worc left by tho resolutions
themselves, the character of tho cotempora-
neous speakers, and the tone Of tho demo
cratic press throughout the state, would rem
der assurance doubly sure, as they oil
breathe deadly hostility to tho vital princi'
pies of the law. The portion Of tho demo-
cratic party and its candidates, is therefore
clear and uncquivocal.
We now como to that other convention
held at Portland, on the 2Sth Of June
And what shall we call It! Was that q
whig conventions No, VIC will not dishonor
the memory Of the noble dead SO much as to
call It so. Was that resolution on the
Nsino law wing resolution No, for there
has never been day nor an hour, in the
history Of that party, where, in q state con.
vention or in convention Of q single county
in the state, such a resolution could have
boon passed. 1t was not the wing party Of
Maine assembled in council It was the fos.
sil remains, or rather the pOsthumous Of
ping Of the once glorious wing party;
and we ought all to rejoice to-day that the
poor mother did not survive to behold what
q hideous monster Il had given birth to.
Bot what was its position on tho Maine
law 7 Look at the speakers. George Evans,
John A. Poor, tho great unshot, Abram
Sanborn, w. S. Cochran, E. W. Farley
Tho position Of these gentlemen on this sub
| Jet is well known throughout tho state, aud
probably not ono Of them would DO under
| tho necessty of taking nm unfortunate bro-