Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1856-08-29

Of Chief Justice Of the Supreme Judicia
Court
The Hon Enoch Lincoln, who represented
Oxford District, voted with Judge Whit
man, and died in carly manhood, filling th'
Office Of Governor Of Maine.
Senator benjamin should know better thar
thus to insult the memory Of the dead, and III,
opinions Of the living. lIc knows that The
foundation Of the Constitution rests on the
doctrine Of the exclusion Of slavery from th,
common territory Of thccoun,ry. lie know.
that this doctrine has always characterized
the Whis party, with which he formerly
nctcd-and that Daniel Webster, whom he
50 generously applaudcd, maintained that
doctrine TO the end Of his illustrious life.
lie knows, too, that the extension oi
slavery into territories now free can only be-
done by permission Of Congress, and that he
himself ha. voted for bill that denies to
the people Of the territory Of Kansas the
making Of tlcir own laws. Knowing oil
this, how be could have assurance 10 come
into Maine and proclaim such doctrines, Is
more than we can comprehend.
II the argument Of senator benjamin Is
anything it is this that tho Union wa.
formed for the protection Of negro slavery,
at the South. lIc talk. about the rights Of
the South, and SAYS that the giving up of
tho common territory of the country to the
North !. good caus, for dis,olvins the
Union.
10 say nothing Of the infamous character
Of such statement, more palpablc Tcr.
version Of historic truth was, as fr as We
know, never before attempted. The Union
was formed " a. establish justice, insure do
mc.iic tranquility. provide for the common
defence, promote the general welfare, aud
SECURE the blessings Of hioiy to ourselves
anl our prostcri,y," not 70 crieHd human
bondage. lfior moment any man had in.
sisted on any such provisions as those S'na-
tor Bcnpmin contend. ior as tho basis Of the
Union, it never should have been formed a,
all.
The constitution remains unaltcr1l. 1t
wa, no, changed by the purchase Of Ioui'i.
ana, the annexation of Texas, OF the con.
quest Of Mexico. The right to exclude
slavery from our common territory was a
principle recognized by th5 constitution,
which remains in all its original fore,
slavery i.a creature oflocll law only, against
the law of nature and against the law of ma
tious. It is against the law Of reason and
the law Of God. Il i'asinst the rrinci-
pies of our Declaration Of Independence, and
the .pirii Of Ia, Constitution VI the United
States.
Vet Mr.. Benjamin contends that II the
North exclude slavery from the common ter.
ri,ory, "hc Uai1u canHoi stand" In the
name Of all that is honest ani patriotic, let
Ms ask why not? Ir the South chooses %
rebel, seccIc, nulliy or retire from the
Uulon for this cause, a second Andrew Jack
son could easily ho found, To test their gal
lantry. ." ! hold anil me SOUTH bold" sail
senator Bcnpmln on the oh Of July 1856,
in the Senate, "that il the South that is
slavcry-"is is 10 b. excluded from the com
mon territory ,ihs UaioH cannot stand" Such
language Is not only reasonable, but inhu-
man aud a,rocijus. Slow US the cladsc in
the Constitution that makes tho common
territory a slave kennel Show Us the pas
sage in that grcat Charter Of Freedom that
authorizes Congress to provide chains and
ic,tcrs for the manaeline Of human limbs :
1t is a cruel libel to pretend that there is any
warrant Of authority for any such doctrine
in the Constitution Of the United States
Territory acquired subsequent to the adop-
ton Of the constitution, came into the Union
under it. IN accordance with Its provisions,
it is to be disposed Of in the same manncras
the Common Territory was disposed Of prior
to the purchase or acquisition. The rule
was fixed, established, pacticcd upon, and
the claim Of the Shareholders subsequently,
st up, to carry slaves into the territory was
a plain, palrable and positive iniraction Of
the spirit Of the constitution.
This claim of the Shareholders, the free
voters Of the country resist. Mr.. Benjamin
saws you thereby ondaugcr the Union. How,
and IN what way, "You drive us into dis
union, YOU refuse to let US share the common
property, and compel us TO retire or submit
to UNJUST terms"
We deny il all. We deny the right Of
Congress to acquire territory for the pur-
pose Of making slave States. We deny the
right Of the Southern States to carry their
accurscd system one inch beyond their Dor.
dcrs. With il rs State institution we
have nothing TO do. There let II putriiy
and decay. Let the peculiar institution
be confined to its original limits, and let th"
sturly arms of free labor teach Southern
Shareholders the advantage Of patience aud
resignation.
In the afternoon Of orr'Aurslay, Mr. c. Levi
Woodbury. said the South "wan,cd Kansas"
buthal no claims on Nebraska or Minnesota.
In the evening Mr.. Benjamin assumed (for
the sake orargument) that Kansas was theirs,
and he attempted to show how much mere
free territory the North It'll have, than they.
Shall we have justice ?" asked Mr.. Benh.
- - LII. Al. 81