The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-01-11

with their expression, leaving LOT othefs
apply them to the state Of popular sentimc
and to determine what influence they shou
have over the legislation Of the countr
while tho true friends Of the constitute
might have regretted that we had PrC.idc'
who had 20 bad u theory, none could haV
complained Of his manner Of asserting IL.
We recognize the right of the Slave STATE
to manage the question Of Slavery in then
but not to extend tho evil, and when th
President Of the United States, not only dc
libcntcly proposes but argumenti,ely defend
the extension Of Il over all the rest OF thu
United States, and denounccs those who ar'
not willing to hayeit extended us disunionist
and traitors to the constitution, our respect
for official station is overcome by the con-
tempt we feel for one who has proved him
self a traitor to the principles Of our fathers
and foe to the government which they in
stituted. With this remark We pass to the|
other message.
The GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Governor Wells Message is about as COM
mon place one as has been ushcred forth in
to existence, in the Representative Hall for
many years. At the outset we are met with
what was found at the tail Of the Presidents
Message; long disquisition, or, talk about
Slavery. Considering that only State issues
were involved In the last election, as We
were told by the Strait whigs, this exposi-
ton Of Pro-Slavery opinions must be exceed
ingly palatable to the strait wing wing of
the new administration. We have looked
over this part Of the message, and find in it
nothing new or worthy Of comment. II is
a diluted specimen of the trash which has
been put forth by Pro-Slayery orators, and
Presses for some months past. If the strait
wings who, during the campaign, were such
stout opponents Of the Kansas outragcs, and
the Missouri incursions, are satisfied with
the mouth piece they have helped to elect,
we know of no reason why the Republicans
should complain. Their sale is nothing
moro than We expected, though II comes
perhaps more promptly than we anticipated.
In regard to the Liquor law, the Governor
enunciates such sentiments rs were the sta
pie of his speeches during the campaign.-
The Governor is for going back to the old
system of licences under which drunkenness
was lcgalized and dramsclling sanctioned by
statute law, only instead Of its being arranged
to sell rum on the democratic principle Of
every one obtaining a license who
could obtain money to pay therefor, tho
Governors idea is to have the laws formed
as to make liquor selling a monopoly, few
being privileged to make the necessary guam
tity Of drunkards, the. wants Of the commu.
nifty demand, and this too, Notwithstanding
his Exccllcncy believes that every man should
he the judge Of what It is proper for him to
cat or to drink. According to the Govern
or's theory, in our city tor example, mine
host of the Biddcford House should bc one Of
the privileged persons, together with per-
haps some Of the respectable apothccaries,
while all the Iadd's, Woodsum's, KnOx's,
and o 'Flannigan's, would be left out in tho
cold. No opportunity should be allowed for
them to make money even IN the respectable
business Of keeping shop in which the ar
dent could be dispensed to the people, who
are according to the Governors theory, able
to determine what is suitable for them to
drink, but not able to determine for them
selves where il is suitablcior them to obtain it.
They can drink as much as they please, but
they must buy only of the privileged CLASSES,
those who keep inns, or perhaps of those
who having already made n little fortune
out Of the business, have got into the aris:
tocrtic circles, and thus placed in situa-
ton to bc counted in the ranks Of the priv
legged classes and receive the license to sell
rum. There is remarkable degree Of consis-
tent inconsistency in all the Governor says
upon the Liquor question, which shows
most palpably that the difficulty Of framing
, liquor law so as to limit the evils Of intern,
perance, and yet please all, the would b.
and rumdrinkcn, Is hard TO Ia
got over. The Governor closes by leaving
the whole subject to the wisdom of the Leg
stature, and in this convenient receptacle
the whole matter is left.
After disposing Of the Liquor question,
Inc Governor refers to the organization Of
the Supreme Court, suggests that the pres
mt system is unconstitutional, and recon-
ncnds return to the old Court Of Common
Pleas. AS this is question which Lawyers
disagree, we make no other comment than
o say that as the system is one which was
originated by the present President Of the
'cnate, Hon. Lot Morrill,, II is perhaps right
o assume that there are two sides TO tho
uestion. There are some other matters
worthy Of brief notice, such as the statement
hat 90 the true policy Of the State is to en-
ournge the introduction Of foreign labor
Or what reason II il not stated. The only
Inference is that by such encouragement the
ompetition between our own and foreign