The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-06-06
B1DDEFoRD, MAINE, FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 1856.

Buren. In 1910, the democracy Of Maine
after terrible fight, was beaten only by
few hundreds. Hard cider, log cabins, ant
gold spoons,' were too much for her. Blu
New Hampshire, firm as her "granite hills,
breasted the storm, withstood the shock, ant
gave her seven electoral votes for Van Buren,
In 1874, both States went for James K
Polk; in lS4S, both voted for General Cass
and in 1852, both, by overwhelming major
ities, chose electors for franklin Pierce.
With this clean democratic record, whers
has the democ attic party in these State'
stood upon the question Of slavery prohibi.
tion In the territories ? | answer, just where
the Republican party now stand; and will
proceed to prove 1t.
The Democratic State Committee of New
Hampshire, in October, ls47, passed the
following resolution:
Resolved, That we declare it our solemn
conviction, as the Democratic party have
heretofore done, that neither slavery nor in
voluntary servitude should hereafter exist in
any territory which may be acquired by or
annexed to the United States (; and that we
approve Of the votes of our delegation in
Congress in favor Of the Wilmot Proviso. +"
In ls4s, the Legislature Of that State,
which had an overwhelming Dcmocratic
majority, resolved as follows:
"Resolved by the Senate and House Of
Representatives in General Court convened,
That we are in favor Of the passage Of q
law, by Congress, forever prohibiting Sla-
very in New Mexico and California, and in
all other Territories now acquired, or here
after to be acquired, by the United States,
in which slavery does not exist at the time
of such acquisition"
And in lS49, the New Hampshire Legis-
laturc, still strongly democratic, unanim-
ously adopted the following resolutions:
"Rcsolved by the Senate and House Of
Representatives in General Court convened,
That, opposed to every form of oppression,
the people of New Hampshire have ever
viewed with deep regret the existence Of
slavery in this Union that while they have
steadhstly supported oil sections in their
constitutional rights, they have not only Ia
mented its existence Us great social evil,
but regarded 1t as fraught, with danger 10
the peace and welfare Of the nation.
Resolved, That while we respect the rights
of the slaveholding as well rs the free por-
tions of this Union-while we will not will
ingly consent that wrong be done to any
member OF the glorious Confederacy to which
we belong, we are firmly and unalterably
opposed to the extension Of slavery over any
portion of American soil now free.
"Resolved, That, in our opinion, Congress
has the constitutional power to abolish the
slave trade and slavery in the District of CO.
lumbia and that our Senators be instruct
ed, and our Representatives be requested, to
take all constitutional measures to accom-
plish these objccts.-[See speech of Senator
Hale.
But how have the Democratic "veterans
of an hundred battles" IN Maine stood upon
this question? We will SEQ?
In lS47. Hon. John w. Dana was Cover
nor of Maine, and tho Legislature was
strongly Democratic. In his annual mes
sage Governor Dana said
"The territory which We may acquire as
indemnity for claims upon Mexico, is free |;
shall ii be made slave territory? The senti-
ment of the free States is profound, sincere,
and almost universal, that the influence of
slavery upon productive energy is like the
blight Of mildew,-that II is a moral and
social evil that it does violence to the
rights Of man, as thinking, reasoning, and
responsible being that its existence in this
territory will shut out free labor, because
the free man will not submit himself to the
degradation which attaches to labor wher.
ever slavery exists. Influenced by such con-
siderations, the free States will oppose the
introduction Of slavery into the territory
which may be acquired"
In speaking Of the right Of shareholders
to hold their slaves in the Territories Of the
United States, he further said -
"0n the other hand, theslave States claim
that this territory will bo acquired, ifac-
quircd at oil, by the blood and treasure OF
all the States of the Union, to become the
joint property of all; to be held for the BEN
eft Of oil. And they emphatically ask is
it consistent with jusiice2 His right to nc
qure and possess property is one of the in
herent rights Of man, independent Of laws
and constitutions. Not so with the right to
his slave that is an unnatural, an artificial,
statute right and when ho voluntarily
passes with a slave to I erritory, when the
tatute recognizing the right does not exist,
hen at once the right cca ses to exist. The
slave becomes free man, with just as much
right to claim the master, as the master to
claim the slave"
This is precisely where the Republican
party now stands. And who is Governor
Dana? Now Minister to Bolivia, and ap-
pointed by President Pierce.
The Legislature responded, and passed the
following resolutions, with only six nays in
the House, and bya largo majority in the
Senate:
"Res0lyed, That the Sentiment OF this
State is profound, sincere, and almost uni
veral, that tho influence Of slavery upon
productive energy is like the blight Of mil
dew; that 1t is moral and social evil -
that it does violence to the rights of man,
as thinking, reasonable, and responsible
being. Influenced by such considerations,
this State will oppose the introduction OF
slavery into any Territory which may be
acquired Us an indemnity for claims upon
Mexico.
Resolved, That in the acquisition of any
free territory, whether by purchase or other
wise, we deem It the duty Of the General
Government to extend over tho same the or
dinance of seventeen hundred and eighty.
seven, with all its rights and privileges, con.
ditions and immunities."
Resolved, That our Senators be instruct.
cd, and our Representatives requested, Ia
support and carry out the principles Of the
foregoing resolutions"
August 9, ls4s, the Legislature Of Maine
still strongly DcmOcntic, passed the follow
ing resolutions relating to the extension O