The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-04-27

Jefferson and the Adamses, (which princi-
pies we find embodied in the Declaration Of
independence, and the CONSTITUTIONAL are
departed from, and the true spiri, Of liberty
dies ont, so far is the safety Of this republic
endangered.
But what are we 10 do with respect 10
this evil This is question that must be
me, by the people ofthe Free States. 1t is
no use TO attempt 10 evade it. The North
has no, the authority or the power 10 abolish
slavery in the South. Congress cannot do
this. Each State a, the South claims the
right according 10 The Constitution, Of con.
trolling its own internal affairs. The mos,
that can be done politically touching this
evil is, TO prerent its extension. Let slavery
be extended no farther. le, all the new
states admitted into the union be free states,
and thus keep The system where i, island
believe.i, would soon begin 10 dwindle.-
This Congress has power 10 do. The peo-
pie OF the North, as Christians and friends
OF freedom and humanity, should send men
10 the congress Of the nation, who will OPP
pSse the extension Of slavery in any new
States or territories. This they can do and
oush, 10 do. Had this been done, slavery
to-day would be very far from being as
strong as tits. II would, / believe, be fas, DE-.
CHUNG and dying out. We can, likewise,
disseminate light or the subject. We can
pray 10 God lha, The oppressed and down
lrodden may be set a, liberty 10 enjoy the
same privileges we are found with, know.
ing that the efiectual, ferven, prayer Of the
righteous availeth much.
Thsre is another source OF danger in this
country, which a, the present time is at.
tracing considerable attention; I refer 10
Romanism. There is no doubt but this
aims at the overthrow of our free insti,u-
lions, for in lis principles and spirit il is
directly opposed 10 them. It's, l believe
one ofihe most powerful engines employed
by Satan on earth, for building up his king
dom. II is nothing but SOFT Of modified
Pasanism, only vastly more cruel and
If possible. This system is now
making violen, struggle in our land. 1t
would, if it could, shut up every Protestant
church in the country, close the common
schools, collect all the Bibles end burn
them, put TO death in most cruel manner
all lis non.adherents il would, IL il could,
abolish our present government. and es,ab-
lish in its stead, an absolute, civil and &C.
clesiaslical monarchy. Romanism has mo-,
changed; il is the same to-day, in every
par, Of the world, in its principles and spir-
il, tina, il was in the days Of John Huss and
Martin Luther. 1t is the same j; was in
the days OF Queen Mary and the massacre
OF 81. Bartholomew. But what is our duty
in regard 10 this system Of iuiqui,y' We
shoald sustain our common schools; sustain
a free press and free speech, scatter Bibles
bJoadcas, among the people and make ev.
cry effort to spread evangelical truth ,hro'
the land. We should no, allow Journalists
10 vote, excep, under certain wholesome
restrictions; and firmly believe ,ha, no
Roman Catholic should, whether foreigner
or native, be permitted 10 hold any office !;
for every Romans, is bound by his religion
to be subject temporarily, as well os spirilu-
ally, 10 e. foreign polenla'e, and this being
The case, he can not consistently sustain
a true allegiance TO tho government, and
therefore il is not safe 10 inirust him with
any important office. We need not fear
Romanism, think, # we pussue The course
have jus, mentioned.
The las, dangerous evil in our country
which we shal! notice, is that Of inemper.
ance. Whatever tends 10 unfit men for
selfgovernment is dangerous. la,emper.
ance tends 10 bru,alize the man, and unfit,
him 10 &c, efficiently and inielliyenlly as q
member OF society. ], Supplies the mind
delhloncs the reason, and blinds the con.
science. Let this evil prevail generally,
and our downfall is certain. Nolwilhstand.
ing all tina, has been done. il sill prevails
10 gres, extent, There aIc, ,o-day,in this
land, 400, 900 habi,ual dfuukatds, besides
a large number who are becoming SUCH
20, 900 have, in all probability, fallen into
drunkssd's grave within the last twelve
months in this land. These two facts
should alarm and arouse US TO still more de
,ermined efforts for the removal Of the evil.
We rejoice that the Maine Law has been
enacted, and has been so efficiently carried
on, in this s,a,s, though there is much more
10 be done. This, believe, is the .,encly
for the suppression ol,h traffic in strong
drinking. Since this was passed, a new
and more suspicious era has dawned on The
reformation. II is kind Of
second declaration Of independence, and
Neal Dow may be regarded as sort Of Sec
ond Washington. This new declaration OF
independence has had 10 encounter violent
opposition. II was predicted, that being so
stringent, i, would soon defeat its own OBJ
jee,, tina, the people would not sustain it,
But thus far ii has been advancing in glori-
Gus triumph. A similar law has been en-
acted in several other states, and is becom-
ING mos, popula rwhere i, is best known
1t iriumPhs nowhere more than in its ma.