The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-07-04
A Word to Voters.

Tho subjoincd article was published In the
State Of Maine, the - ult. We ask that Il
may be read attcntiyely.
The following article Is taken from The
Richmond Enquirer, paper which has for
q long time been one Of the leading POLITICAL
journals Of the Southern States. Our read.
er will see that Il Is addressed exclusively
to the south, and doubtless the editor Of the
Enquirer would be quite satisfied II Il were
not read at all at the North. But whatever
may DO the wishes Of the author OF the or.
ticle, We think Il but fair that the citizens
ot the North as well ~ those OF the South,
should fully understand the true question
which 10 presented to the coming P,esiden-
tiai election. Al the article probably will
not lind It's way into tho papers that sup.
port the Cincinnati nomination and rlatform
we hope our readers will take some pains 20
make It known to their democratic friends:
"TnR tux ISSUE. The Democrats of the
South, In the pending canvas, cannot rely
on the oldgrosnds 81 apology and excuse for
slavery: for they seek not merely to retain
II where Il Ii, btf 10 erfend IL INFO regions
ichere IL is unknorn. Much los can they
rely on the mere constitutional guarantees
Of slavery, for such reliance is pregnant
with the admission that slavery IL wrong,
and but for the constitution should bc abol-
ished. This constitutional argument for
slavery, standing alone, fully jsfifts the
ultra aboiiiionisfs who propose to dissolve the
Union rather than be made the instruments
to uphold an Ubiquitous institution. They
AZ. al..a 81, rf..kk ~ Il. 4
wrong, f'r to get rid Of it under the consti.
tuition. is confessedly impnctie,ble. In
truth, the constitution clnnot help slavery
fit be violation Of the laws of God and
Of morality. In that case, the constitution
should be changed, or the Free States should
secede, rather than continue to guarantee
what they consider immoral and profane.
The constitution cannot help slavery for an-
other reason. That institution, extending
through fifteen States, and interuml6ed
with the interests, the feelings, and the very
existence Of many millions Of men, Is much
stronger than the constitution. 1t would
be far easier to change or violate the con-
sttution, than to abolish sl.yery. Besides,
slavery is older than the constitution, exist
I'd before 1t, and indepcnd ntly of Il. We
derive no right to our slaves from II, pa
weaken our cause by seeming to rely e., 4,
Nor will It avail US aught u show that tho
negro is most happily and best situated in
the condition Of slavery, IL ,Se .ton there
We weaken our CAUSE by y a yerv or.,,nsn,
Intended to advance It.; for ice propose 10
introduce info nes Territory human bang,
rhom 'ce assert 10 be unfit for Liberty, sell:
government dri equal association niih Other
men. we must 20 q step farther. We
must show that African slavery is a moral,
religious, natural, and probably in hhe genu.
al, necessary institution of society. This
is the only line Of argument that will en-
able SOuthcrncrs 81 maintain the doctrines
OF State equality and slavery extension.
For IL slavery be not legitimate, useful,
moral and expedient institution, we cannot,
without reproof Of conscience and the blush
Of shame, seek to extend It. or assert our
quality with those States having nossuch
institution"
The writer then goes on to say that " our
Northern friends need not 90 50 far''-as
much rs To say that the democratic North
crn papers need not re-publish that part OF
the article which we have copied and. he
then proceeds to say, give them soGe pru.
dent judicious advice, we leave that part
which is intended for them w re-published
at their leisure. but We will copy few
words from the clos, of the article :" We
know that we Ittcr bold truths, but the
time has arrived when their u'tcnnce can
no lonscr DO Suppressed. The true issue
st.ouH stand out IN bold relief 50 that none
may mistake u"
These Z" bold truths, the writer doubtless
thinks are too strong for the Democrats Of
the North, who have not been initiated into
the inner mysteries Of the party. lie would
therefore, give milk TO the babes of tho
North, and reserve strong meat for the full.
grown men of the South.
Ii will DO observed that the name OF the
candidate for President Is not mentioned IN
this article. The Platform of the Cincinna.
u Convention is not alluded to. Both wero
unnecessary. The articl. contains in plain
and Ineligible language the sense Of the
platform, free from the obscunties and gen.
eralities IN which the Convention thought II
prudent TO involve their meaning; and II 10
wholly immaterial who the candidate Is.
Hence the principles which are to be carried
out In this administration or rather there
is but one grand principle, which is to gov
ern his administration. IL Is the extension
of slavery over territory now free. A vote
for the Cincinnati candidate Is practically q
vote to extend slavery into all the territory
Of the United States.
We present, then, this question to tho
whIgs-can they vote for Mr.. Buchanan?
Tf they do so, they must forswar the most
cherished political principles they have at
all times heretofore maintained. If they
do, as a party, they commit political suicide,
they vote tho party dead. They annoup,,e
to the people OF the country that thew ,.ye
no political principles, and the 500. ,er thew
can bring an entire oblivion owe. ,bs;, nayty
name, the sooner they will }, q rid Of a load
Of shame.
This question need : .ot be proposed to tho
republican party. they are already plede.
81 against the O. ndidate. II Is USELESS TO
prop 50 u 20 ne most orthodox democrats.
iheir de'eT .nination Is also made; but Il
may no.. be useless to put the question TO
he ,.eat mass OF voters who have heretofore
'o.iowed the lead of the democratic caucus
! - and supported their nominations. A
srea portion Of the Industrious and laboring
people Of the free States have heretofore
acted with the democratic party, In the be-
lief that the lenders Of that party were gen.
orally moro favorable to the working classes,
aud, that their principles were more Gyora.
bio to universal liberty and equality than
those of any other political party. Human
rights, the greatest good Of the greatest
number, liberty and equality have always
been the watchwords Of the party leaders.
Now we ask the voters, and not the leaders,
IL IL be consistent with this liberal and phi
lanthropic profession to unite with thes ave
holders OF the South In order TO give TO tho
Institution of slavery the greatest possible
cxtensionand thereby to forti y and strength.
en- il, 30 rs TO render it lasting and pcrpet-
ual? This beyond oil controversy Is the
object Of the Cincinnati platform, and this
policy Is intended TO be carried out by that
convention; and they selected candidate
with whom, all circumstances being taken
- Al.