The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-01-25
Mr., Douglass Lecture.

W INC Inst cicCtiOn.
Mr.. Douglass Lecture.
We have not been able to find time TO
make an extended report of the able lecture
given by Frederick Douglass at Central Hall,
on Thursday evening of last week. THERE'S
characteristic notice of it in this weeks
Democrat, in which the editor of that paper,
after stating that Douglass argument pro-
cccded upon the supposition that the consti-
tuition of the United States does not in any
manner " countenance Slavery" or impose
the necessity of defending it, says the argu-
ments were weaker than a spiders Web"
and such " incendiary doctrines" MS he ut
tered ought to make " one blush that New
England audience could be found to hear and
approve them" Ifwcarc correctly inform
ed the editor of the Democrat, did blush and
almost to blackness, when Mr.. Douglass, 30
quietly, yet so effectively answered the SLAM
der which he had uttered against him in the
Democrat the week before, in relation to
declarations said to have been uttered by him
in Dover.
In all our experience we never heard a
SANDER 50 fully repcllcd and at the same
time, an impression left that the slandercr
was so little worth the notice Of any man.
The Democrat in its reference to it consider
ing the effectiveness of the answer, may al
most be pardoned fornot doing Mr.. Douglass
justice by stating his full denial that he
never uttered in Dover the declaration at
tributed to him, and his explanation Of the
circumstances under which he did utter
something of the kind, not "sereral, "
as the Democrat has it, but eight years ago
before he had studied the constitution and
was enabled to judge for himself of its pro-
visions.
The Democrat states Mr.. Douglass argu-
ments to be this:
His argument, was substantially this {:
|. The Constitution, 40 far from defending or
upholding slavery, does not even mention
the name of slavery, does not even mention
the name of slave or speak of color, black or
white; all the terms of that instrument
which have been understood to refer to slaves,
do not refer to them, and were not intended
to refer to them. .. If anything in the Con-
stitution did refer to slaves or uphold slave
ry, such parts were not in keeping with the
avowed purpose of the instrument rs set
forth in the preamble" to secure the blcs-
sings Of liberty''-and consequently should
be rejected. 3. If the Constitution docs in
any manner countenance slavery, such pro-
visions are void, because contrary to justice
and moral law"
Every position taken by Mr.. Douglasswas
sustained by reference to the decisions Of the
Supreme Court ofthe United States, acknowl-
edged legal principles, and to the authority
of the men who formed the Constitution
1t was close compact argument in support
of the propositions set forth and although
the Democrat says it was "weaker thara
spiders Web" it is not in the power of its
editor to refute it, or to make one that will
bear any comparison to it in closeness or
ability, and we say this without saying that
we assent to its correctness in every particu-
lar. According to the Democrat the views
expressed by Mr.. Douglass are " inccndiary"
=" incendiary doctrines" it says. Will 1t
be kind enough to state in what particular.
Mr.. Douglass gave his views of the constitu-
ton which he thought did not uphold and
defend Slavery, demand its extension, or au-
thorize such infamous laws rs the fugitive
Slave law. lie gave his reasons therefor
calmly, quietly, and for this the Democrat
talks about his " inccndiary doctrines.'-
In the view of the Democrat it is probably
incendiary to speak of freedom at all? We
agree that if it is not inccndiary, it is cert
tainly anti-democntic, according to the
Democrats notions of democracy, or even to
have thought or an ASPIRATION for freedom.
The Constitution according to the Demo-
Gratis notions was formed solely to extend
and perpetuate Slavery, and to COMPEL the
people of the free States to catch niggcrs for
the privilcdged classes down South. We
are glad the enquiry that is abroad is
gradually driving the northern supporters
of Slavery to take ground in its defence, and
unkcnnelling them. Day by day the editor
of the Democrat is revealing himself, and
showing, as he does in this notice of Mr..
Douglass lecture, that he only wants the
courage and opportunity to prove himself a
Legrce.
But our space is of too much value to give
it, to any further notice Of the spleen and
prejudice which the Democrat has expended
on this lecture - and we conclude by saying
that probably the editor of the Democrat, of
the large and respectable audience, number
ing at least thousand who heard Mr.. Dom
glass, was the only one who was not satisfied
with the general correctness Of his positions,
and pleased with this manner of sustaining
them. The community must endeavor to
bear as patiently as they can the thought
that it was not satisfactory to the great con-
lawyer who controls the Demo-
cat.
The Voice Of Friendship.
Our Strait-whig friends have sometimes
been very indignant that we should intimate