The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-08-15

"'AN tuNNhy hOANaAsch, AZ lhciV ""'
If explanation, manifestly, ii should have
como from Mr.. Haines, AMI not from Mr.
Ilamlin. We torbcar further remark on this
point, as it is a private rather than pub
lie matter, and only made of Importance by
the doubtful taste of Mr.. Haines in making
allusion to it in public meeting.
We propose now to put the inquiry sug- |
gested by Mr.. Haines, 50 far as to ask and
answer these questions. What is the trea-
son? and who is the traitor?
Flrst-what is the treason? In 1919, the
Legislature of this State, then democratic
passed resolves, by almost unanimous vote
in both branches, Of the following charae-
ter -
"ResOlred, That we hereby declare for our
selves and in behalf of tho people OF this
State, our uncompromising opposition TO
the extension Of slavery into any territory
Of the United States which is now free.
RssOlred, That in organizing govern
nents for New Mexico and California, the
introduction and existence OF slavery In
these terri ories should DO positively pro-
hibited by an act Of Congress.
Resolved, That our Senator's in Congress
arc hereby instructed, and our Representa-
tives requested, to vote against any act es-
tablishing governments for said territories
that does not contain an express prohibition
of s,GrTy.
ResoIrsd, That the Governor be requested
to forward copies of the foregoing resolu-
tions to each Of our Senator's and Represent
ativcs in Congress, and to each Of the Gov
errors Of the several States OF the I'm
icn."
That same Legislature elected Hannibal
EIamlin U. S. Senator. These resolves, no
doubt, expressed the universal sentiment OF
the people Of Maine, and were in express
aecoidance and harmony with tho resolu-
tions Of the democratic State Convention Of
that year, and the position thus assumed by
the democratic Legislature of 1919, was de-
clarcd to be the position Of the democratic
party of Maine upon the slavery question.
As a Senator in Congress, guided by his
own convictions of duty, and in obedience
to the sentiment upon which he was elected,
Mr.. IIamlin, in the discharge of his duty,
us Representative Of Maine, in the Senate
invariably, both by vote and speech, was
governed by the doctrines set forth in these
resolves. lie did not vote for what was
termed the compromises Of 1850, any one of
the measures, except the admission of Cali
fornia, although he did not think it to be
his duty, after their passage, to resist them.
In 1854, the South, not content with the
advantage it gained in 1850, through a
Northern Senator, whose treichery has well
been compared to that of IN Arnold, pro-
posed the repeal OF the Missouri Compro-
mise-l measure, asked for by no petit
ton from the people, which violated COM
pact which even the proposar for its repeal,
Mr.. Stephen Arnold Douglas, saidat Spring
field, in public sps,ch in 1919, Z" had De-
come easHoai-ed in the hearts Of The Ameri-
can people, as sacred thing, rhieh no ruth
less hand wouH be CrCr reckless enough TO
DISTURB" Inso doing, Mr.. II. was faithful to
his own conscience, to the sentiments Of the
Legislature that elected him, and also obeycd
the Instructions of the Legislature of 1851,
which passed, one vote alone dissenting in
the Senate, and with five dissenting votes in
the House, these res1lves;-
"Resolrsd, That the Senator's in Congress
from Maine be instructed, and the Repre-
senta,ives requested to oppose IN every prac-
tic.ble way, the passage of the Nebraska
Bill, 50 called, 50 long Us it shOll contain
any provision repeating, abr eating, re-
scindins, or in any way invalldating the
provision of the act Of Congress, approved
March 9TH 1920, commonly called the Mis-
sOuri COMPROMISE.
ReS0lrcd, That the Governor be requested
to forward copy of the above resolution
to each Of our Senators and Representatives
at Washington"
la June, 1856, the delegates of the DEM
Ocratic party met in Convention at Cincin-
niti, nominated Mr.. Buchanan for Presi-
dent, and IN ITS platform Of principles re-
pudated the sentiments expressed in the re.
solves we have otci,-under which Mr..
Hamlin acted, and which had the sanction
of his acknowledgement Of the repeal Of
the Missouri Compromise, and declared that
the doctrines Of the bill which contained
the repeal "whcrc rishtfully applied in the
organization Of the territories in ISL
Mr.. Hamlin,-true to the convictions of his
conscience, in strict accordance with the
principles OF the Legislature that elected
him, aud with successive legislation, and 20
the ideas which the people Of Maine have
always maintained, and faithful to the prac-
ticc OF the government for 60 years,-in a
manly speech in the United States Senate,
denounced the proceedings of the conven-
ton, and declared that he would not sup
port It's nominee or give his adhesion to
doctrines which were at variance with those
upon which he was elected. and with those
which had had his support uniformly thro'
life. He chose to be faithful to principles
rather than to follow party that had aban-
doned principle. lie chose to be man
insteId Of being mere follower OF party.
This, then, is the treason he has committed
If treason consists in an unshrinking adj
herencc to principle, in spite of all the
temptations to depart from it, then is Mr..
llamlin traitor, but not otherwise. Now,
who is the traitor?
There Is a chapter in this history of Mr..
llamlin. connected with Mr.. Haines. which
we are about to relate, which we should
think would have brought the crimson
blush to the cheeks Of Mr.. Haine.. when
speakin: Of Mr.. Hamlin us traitor. We