The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-08-08
National Convention, as did the representa-

OF MrsSissippi luen. Qultman) unoiu'o
ly recommended dinnion in messages to the
legislature Of that State.
Pilfering rogues sometimes escapeby rais-
ing the cry Of" Stop thief" II is an old
trick, but one that will not serve the au-
thors OF this lying handful, or the few score
of men. who by assembling at Pioneer Hal
and participating in tho meeting there, be-
came parties to what they knew to DO an
insult and calumny upon large majority
of the citizens Of the community in which
they reside.
Until this handful appeared, the canvass
has been conducted here by the Republicans
and by their opponents who have either been
unable or unwilling to get up an interest on
their side, without offensive or irritating in
dividual or general ccnsure. last year the
republicans were charged, we think, unjust
ly, with unfortunately censuring their
opponents. There was a great deal of I'M
pleasant irritation, perhaps there was fault
ON both sides, such Us naturally grows out
f a heated canvass. Ii was matter OF re-
gret to us, Us we know it was to Others OF
like political sentiments. Our opponents
we do not mean the heated, jealous men who
have an excess Of zeal, but those who claim
to have influence here, said they wanted
peace and freedom from personal controyer-
sy. We had hoped that such would be the
ease. We have in our paper, and our
friends have in discussion, studiously avoid
ed the use of irritating and offensive Ian
guagc, and We expected for tho present and
at least until the heat Of the canvass was
upon us, that we should Be met in the same
spirit. THIS handful couehed in most Of
fensiye language, and black with party slang
commences the canvass on the part of our
opponents. 1t is their FIRST gun IN favor of
peace, loaded with the kindly charities OF
expression and the mild and benignant forms
Of gentle admonitiOn. flour opponents are
thus mildly disposed on entering upon the
canvass, have we not reason to expect that
before the canvass closes they will initiate
the mild and persuasive virtues of their po-
litical brethren in Congress, the Brooks, the
Keitts and the Rusts and the Herberts.-
That GrrrA PERcuA and revolvers instead of
small plea type will be used, to convince the
black republicans of their " destructive and
reasonable designs" Ifsuch are the ar
Suments our opponents propose to use, much
as the Republicans desire to avoid irritating
and unnecessary controversy, ayerse as they
have been to elimination and re-crimina-
ton, they will not shrink from the path Of
duty. The crack of the slave drivers lash
whether welded by the men Of the South,
or by sympathining friends at the north, car,
rics with ITS sound no fear to brave men re-
solved to act in obedience to their conscience
and their convictions Of constitutional re,
quiement. Despising alike, their calumni
ators as well as the e,lumny, holding il
cheap estimation blaeksuard expression, anC
gutta percha violence, and not using tn,
one or caring for the other, they will stanC
by their principles whenever or wherever
aSSailcd.
We might have passed this handbil
by in silent contempt with a feeling o
pity for the stupidity or knavery oft au
thors, bat it was our duty nanifesily, ate
its blackguarlism had been endorsed by tn
holding ofa meeting under it, to put OF
record the evidence of a studied purpose oil
the part Of some of our opponents to max
this canvass, if possible, as bitterly irritat
ins and personally acrimonious as that @
last year. ltcannot now be i'd whateyerma
turn up, how much socver the public min
may be inilimcd, that the republicans wer
the iirst agsrcs .ors. In all that our friend
, have done, thus far, they have been court,
ous TO their Opponants, their call for publ
meetings have been wOrded 80 as to give n
just cause for offence, they have neither i'm
pcached the honesty nor the patriotism {
their opponents, they have calmly state
facts, and dedueed therelrom, conclusion
which they thought the facts justified, the
have not accused their opponents oil" trea,
oRaJie designs" for such an accusation
would imply wilful criminality, and it the
, have spoken Of the measures of their oppO
ncns as being F" destructive" it has bee
because they honestly believed that sue
: measures were subyersiye Of the true prin
T ciples Of the government and destructive q
the peace, the prosperity, and the happincs
OF the people. In the sense they hayespok
en-, they will continue to have obstructive
designs against the party and the men VIII
have made war on the principles of tn
constitution, renewed the fires Of agitation
, lit up the torch of intereine war, attacks
the rights Of free debate, and these design
| they will continue until they accomplish tn
} destruction of the policy which now obtain
, n, Washington, and with 1t the political de
struetion of the men who, arraigned befor
the bar of the country, arc ON trial for con
ceiying that policy, and who are responsible
for its results. This they are bound to do
and their opponents may understand this a
the outset, and learn that neither opprobri
Gus cpi,het, nor false accusation viii sery,
any other purpose, except to excite renew
ell and increased effort to maintain the prin
ciples ON which alone the union Of thes'
States is founded, and which are dear L
the hearts Of all true Republicans.
Another Flag.
Another, and the handsomcst ilas which
floats upon the breeze in our city, bearing
upon it the inspiriting names Of Fremont