The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-06-06


laws OF nature, It exists, and can only ex
ist, through municipal regulation. ."-(Harr..
vs.. Decker; Walkers Reports, AZ.
The next authority which / read is from
2 Martens Louisiana Reports, 402, 2,403:
"The relation of owner and slave is, II
the States of this Union in which II has ,
legal existence, a creature Of municipal la,r.
will cite one other authority to thi
point out Of the many that are found in th'
Reports read from the case Of Rankin vs.
Lydia, 2 Manhall's Kentucky Reports, il
which the Court say.
"Slavery is sanctioned by tho laws Of thi,
State, (Kentucky,) and the right to hole
them under our municipal regulations Is un'
questionable. But we view this as q righ,
existing nv positive law Of municipal char
actcr, without foundation in the law of ma.
ture, or the unwritten and common law"
Chattel slavery has no existence except in
one section of the country; therefore, any
political party which favor slavery, or in
any way lends its influence to spread 1t, fa.
vors one section Of the country at the ex'
pense Of the other, and is most emphatically
sectional party. A party whose leading
object is to favor the peculiar institutions
of the South, can have no element Of nation.
ality about it.
have already remarked that the demo-
cratic party ras once national party
The leading men of the party, until within
few years, held that Congress had iconsti.
tutional power to prohibit slavery in the
territories, and that it is expedient to excr-
else this power. I have already spoken Of
the position of leading democrats in the ear
ly history of the country. So we'll settled
was this principle, that when the Wilmot
proviso was first introduced into Congress
in ls47, only two democratic members from
the free States voted against it. Among
those who voted for it, were the Hon Rob-
ert McLelland, now Secretary of the Interi-
or; Senator Brodhead, Of Pennsylvania ;
Ex-Governor Dunlap, Of Maine; and the
late Senator Norris, of New Hampshire
The late lamented Silas Wright, General
Dix, of New York, and other leading demo-
Gratis oil over the country, favored the mea-
sure. The leading papers Of the democratic
press came out for it. The Eastern Argus,
the leading democratic paper in Maine, and
the New Hampshire Patriot, the leading
democratic paper in New Hampshire, both
took strong ground for the proviso. More
than this, majority Of the free states of the
Union passed resolutions instructing their
Senator's in Congress to 20 for the measure ;
and in majority of these States the demo-
cratic party held the political control. In
ls4s, the following, among other dsmocrat-
ic members, voted for the bill organizing the
territory Of Oregon with proviso forever
prohibiting slavery; Messrs. Allen, of Ohio;
Benton, Of Missouri; Bright and Brecse, Of
Indiana; Douglas, of Illinois Dodge, Of
Wisconsin; Dix and Dickerson, of New
York; and Houston, of Texas. (Congres-
sional Globe.)
President Pierce himself, ut meeting
held at Concord, New Hampshire, June II,
ls45, as reported in the New Hampshire
Patriot, in reply to Senator Hale, said:
"He had only to say now, what he had
always said, that he regarded slavery rs one
of the greatest moral and social evils "A
curse upon the whole country; and that he
believed to be the sentiment of all parties ut
the North. Mr.. p. was free to admit that
he had himself approached this subject OF
annexation [of Texasl with all his prcjudi-
ces and prcpossesslons against 1t, and on
one ground alone-its slavery feature. His
convictions on this subject were, us he had
stated, strong-not tho result of any new
light, but deeply fixed and abiding. The
only difficulty in his mind ever had been
that of q recognition by any act of our Gov
ernment of the institution Of domestic slave
ry; and he had fonnd it extremely difficult
to bring his mind to condition impartially
to weigh the argument for and against the
measure"
In 1851, General Pierce, in the conven-
ton of New Hampshire for revising the
Constitution, left the chair, made speech
which was reported in the New Hampshire
Patriot. and among other things said
al would take the ground of the non-ex.
TENSION of slavery-that slavery should not
become stronger. But Congress have only
re-enacted the old law Of 1903. Union.lov-
ing men, desiring peace and loving their
country, conceded that point-unwillingly
conceded it-and, planting themselves upon
this law against the outbursts of popular
feeling, resisted the agitation which is as
saulting all who stand up for their country.
But the gentleman says the law is obnoxious.
What single thing is there connected with
slavery that is not obnoxious? Even the
gentleman from Marlborough, (Dr. Batch
elder) cannot feel more deeply than do on
the subject
New Hampshire and Maine have hereto.
fore been the two leading democratic States
not only in New England but the Union
The democratic party in these two Statc'
were the very last to falter, and the last tc
be conquered; for they, like General Taylor
"ncver surrendered" AS long ag0as 1888
the County Of Cumberland, in Maine, the
larger portion Of which is in my district
SOLITARY and alone" in oil New England
gave her electoral vote to Andrew jackson
For this act Of fidelity to the gallant old
hero, this county was long known as th'
"Star in the East;" and the now venerable
James @. Churchill, who was the standard
bearer Of the "unterrifed" in that grea
fight Is now an honored member Of the Re
publican party. have seen letter writ
ten by him, dated Portland, March 81, 1856
in answer to an invitation from the "Amer
ican Republicans" Of Dover, n. H., to NEE
with them and celebrate the late gloriou
victory in that State, in which he says;
j al congmtulate YOU most heartily an