Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1856-04-04

being in accordance wi the sentiments
and views. in which, down 10 that time,
all sections of the Democratic party had
concurred, and especially as being in ac-
cordance with resolutions passed in the
Legislature of lS47, by the friends OF
Gov. Dana. and framed in the exact words
of Gov Dana's message of that year
The managers of the Bangor Democrat,
two years ago, re-publishing a letter of
mine in opposition to the Nebraska bill.
added as a commentary and with the view
Of impairing its force, that | had been a
supporter of the principle of the Wilmot
Proviso. This statement. made at the
place OF my residence. and where my po-
litical views were well known, was true,
and was acquiesced in by me as such.
l repeat, therefore, that in the action of
the democratic party of Maine from ls47
to 1850, concurred with my political
associates in principle and in substance, in
unfolding the complete power of Con.
gress over the Territories. and. jim INSISTING
upon the exercise of this po.str in appro-
pirate cases. Frankness obliges me to
say, that was far from concur,ing in all
the measures taken. or in all the language
used, in reference to those positions, sound
In the main as | always believed them to
be. They were popular as well as sound,
and as will always happen in such cases, a
swarm Of demagogues rallied in their ia
vor and pushed them to extremes, and
even when they did not push them to ex-
'remes. made them the pretex;s Of needless
agitation for personal purp ses. \ large
proportion OF the merely Sc ish asitators-
of that period, have already sisnalized
their insinceri;y, by acquiesoing in the
legislation of 1854.
1t would crafty me to suppose that in
these opinions. or in any Of them, agreed
with one, to whose riper years, longer ex-
pegieaee in public affairs ana sounder
Judgment, l have been long accustomed
II defer.
Whatever consistency you may claim
for yourself. and an sure you will claim
none to which you are not entitled, YOU
cannot possibly claim any consistency, or
show Of consistency, for the party with
which you act.
When the present Chief Magistrate of
the republic was seen TO prostitute the
power AMI patronage o: his hi,h place. 10
etfec. the destruction OF the fundamental
which brought Missouri into ths
Union; when, OF eigA,y democratic mem
bers OF the House of Representatives from
thu Moth. one halt were found ready to
accep: the brides which he osten:atio2s-
y held out 10 them; deeply a, ". deplor-
ed these occurrences, they !n.o.vcd only
the degradation Q. individuals, few in
and Tor the most part, already
desperate in political fortune and caafac-
ter. The forty gentleman from the
North, whose votes carried the Nebraska
Bill, nigh, nave b2ea left, wi hoat regret,
70 sink in'o charitable oblivion. /, was
even consoiins to know, that while one
half OF our representatives ,ielded to
another half resisted Il: and
Il was o. little political moment. whether
this resistance sprung from sincere co1
sic,lons, or from deco,ous regard 10
character and publ:e opinion. VIVA, we
have to deplore is greater misch:e. ,Aan
the folly o. President, I. the venali;y
81 legislators no less pos,en;oas mis-
,hse! indeed, than the disgrace and pros
tuition OF party, effected BY means and
under circumstances which b-iu, polit;-
al virtue into lidicule, and dapraye the
public mind by tamiliasizing !, with the
worst forms Of corruption and sycophan-
y. The democratic party OF ,Aa North
9t this day las adopted the policy OF he
Nebraska Bill as part Of its creed, after
'epudiasing i, almos, universally within
ess than the Snort period of two years ; /
has adopted it alter al in,es,ude O. PIE.
'ariea'ion. IN Itself hope.essly nesa,ivins
ny presumption @: IN homes, change OF
opinion; has adopted i, after tim. has
the .alsi,y Q! every proies-
a0n oy which it was originally attempted .
o De justified; has adopted i, in ane. att.
n already gathered harvest OF lis mis-
'hie!s, sowa il madness and reaped in
1iolence and blood, has outstrppei the
yors, predictions Of its most determined
'nemies, Such spectacle may. perhaps.
ind precedent in the history OF the Act
II Union which destroyed "a, one blow,
he independence OF Ireland 81 nd the hon
II OF her public men but i, lar slrpas-
'es that precedent in the number o: Der.