The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-02-15
TIL e UNION
JOURNAL.
FRIDAY MORNING, FEB. Is, 1856.

- - AsAN " ~ 49, -
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FRIDAY MORNING, FEB. Is, 1856.
The Anti.Administration Meeting.
The movement made in this place of GER
tain persons acting under call for meet
ing Of the legal voters OF Biddeford I" oppos-
ed to the administration ofFanklin Pierce"
(see notice Of Their proceedings in another
part of this paper) demandsa passing notice.
We were not cognizant Of its getting up,
and only understand its nature through the
proceedings Of the meeting and by the char
acter of the men who took part when it was
held. The terms Of the invitation were
broad enough to take us in, and 30 we made
one Of the respectable assembly which filed
Beethoven Hall on the occasion. We heard
the resolutions read, and should have been
glad to have published them, had a copy
been furnished and so far as we could under
stand them from hearing them read in the
meeting, we concur in their general scope
and tenor. We are not advised Of the plan
Of operations proposed, or do we know what
is to be gained by a movement predicated
simply upon the general ground of opposi-
ton to the administration and saying moth
ing Of opposition to the State administration,
but il is due to fankness for US to say, that
any movement which docs not include with
in its scope opposition to the State, as well
as the National administration is in our
judgement, open to objection. There is
wickedness enough in both, differing only in
degree and in the power for mischief, and
the republican party will direct its efforts
against both.
Attached as we are to the Republican or
ganization and not looking beyond its or
ganization for instrumentalties to weaken
the cause Of Pierce Democracy now in the
aseendent in State and Nation, while we are
glad to welcome any help coming from what
quarter it may, in the work Of preventing
the spread of slavery, and for the promotion
of sound principles generally, we aredistrust-
full of all movements which are apparently
or really outside of the Republican organiza-
ton, and which are not broad enough to
cover the whole ground occupied by the re-
publican party. OF course it will be under
stood that our ground of objection to this
movement is that it does not on its face
make opposition to the State government as
basis of action, proposing only to act with
reference to national matters. Should it
happen that this movement at some future
time would prove stumbling block in the
path Of the Republican party here, as it
might be made, it would have been better il
it had never been made.
We are not very much inclined to the
policy Of side movements, however honestly
undertaken, regarding them generally as
mistakes. We prefer old, to new and UNI
tried paths, and while satisfied with the
principles ola party, as we certainly are
with the Republican, we prefer to abide by
its organization and this, too, though some
thing looking in part to the same practical
end may DO offered tor our support. These
remarks are made in no faultfnding spirit
or with any wish to censurc those Of our
friends who have participated in this move
ment, nor do we wish them to be taken as
indicating any persons opinion but our own.
We have put them on paper without con-
sultation with any one, and whether wise
or otherwise, we alone are responsible for
them.
We most certainly desire to see the adj
mistation of franklin Pierce become as
noisome to Others as it is TO us, and we would
sacrifice much to make il so-make all rcas-
enable conccssions-do anything except to
turn our hack upon principle, to bring
about 80 desirable result. As local mat
ter, we have looked and still look upon all
the operations Of the leaders Of the Biddeford
Association as cunningly devised schemes to
inure to the benefit Of the Pierce democracy,
50 intended from the first, and operating in
that direction. We confess to hearty dc.
sire to foil these arch intrigues, who hope
to hoodwink those who are in sentiment
really opposed to the Pierce democracy, and
are not particularly chary Of the steps, pro-
yided they are honest and fair, taken to
overthrow them. Unless something should
change our purpose we shall probably sup
port, at the coming municipal election, the
ticket which is to be brought forward under
the auspices of the meeting at Beethoven
Hall, as we do not know as any other ticket
in opposition to the Democratic, will be
voted for. Others Of course will do as they
please, yetwe cannot forbcar saying to those
who like us, have their misgivings as to the
the ultimate benefit Of this movement, ifany
there be, that while holding ourselves in
readiness to mect'in the spirit of concession
those who profess to be working in the same
direction, we should not be unmindful ofthc
future, and the influences which present nc
ton may have in shaping events in which
we, as Republicans, have an interest.
Matters at Augusta
Last week We made flying visit to the
Capitol. While there, we looked about,