Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1856-01-11
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Gnilcmcg ofiis SHdie
and Hgnf Of Rpresrnlaiires.

and Hgust ~ Representatives,.
We assemble together by the benefit Of
divine Providence from who's, bencfccnt
hands we rc'civc all our possessions. Our
hearts should expand with grateful emo
ton to lin for the abundant products
Of the earth. Tor exemption from pr-tilcncc
and especially Cor the blessing, " free GOV.
eminent, "A government ol the people, with
out kings, Lords or mobiles, and in which there
Is ample scope for every industrial pursuit
incident ~ man.
But although our government y founded
upon the principle Of representation. in u
more perfect form than was ever before I'M
dcrstoud hy any nation, ancient or modern.
il cannot h. preserved without honesty and
sincerely ~ puTpuss, and practical ability
which justly appreciates the true mode OF
conducting public affairs II We are mex.
li,cnt Of our political rights. and ID not cS-
crciss over them perpetual and constant
care We NAV find when W. awake b. our true
condition, that Il IL too late. and all is lost
by our upincucs. aud inatt,nt.Du.
The suhrct ut slavery in the southern
States aud territories continues 81 cncruss
large share Of the public mind ~ the north.
Although We are happily relieved relieved
from the existence Il slavery among ", vet
many Of our citizens hrc more engaged mex
aiming and discussing H. policy ard merits
than ans Other question at public nature.
IN our estimation slavery 4 a great evil, the
removal uf which from the limit. Of our com.
mon country would b. highly gratifying IN
every patriotic citizen Hut il d, not the
part ~ wisdom Ia order o. rrmosr one evil.
o. hr.n. mon ourselves on avalanche OF
evils. The true law Of Urugrrs. /, slow, hut
sure AMI certain. not destructive but h.naf-
cinl in its operations and results Byapru-
dent Observance and willing obedience 4, this
law, our government has been preserved.
and there e., not been q period since its In
stitutiun, when 10 was in q moro vigorous
condition, and when the American r,uple
wrrc mora powerful aud aluuudlns IN an
o., clements Ut wealth anil strength. than
az tho present moment When the people
uf che Uult,i States adopted their cunstiiu-
ton, they wsrc thirtcrn feeble colonies, 'ust
come uut of long and harn~lue war !.
t.rg wrrn literally poor. large portion pf
their property m,u. heru sp#ut o. srur
their .ulsTrul.ucc. Now w. have thirty
one State. extending from thr - john o.
the lsiI GnuIc, aud from tIU Atlantic On
thg Pacific Ocean, Ius,.~sIu. immCUs" ~
sources and ~ tho means ul greatness Nur
1-r rF.m,'.y, virtue aul courage and apti-
tgde lIr ''''a'a'rnc' w1utiu.
Toe dileru. state, should Do bound to-
-r.A.y Boo T.r...t friendship and amiiy. like
iHr members No one common family. n rH-
r-.1rI and ,.nrsniilu aye bestowed upon
,scb other, sreI language wall In the end
pr.lur. o. legitimate effects, ruErulorIug
hatred auI 90 win, AMI 20 length breaking
.ut iu destructive action.
AI. thr CrI.u,r, participated iu hshtn:
tIU battles no iHr revolution The rlir'H'-
who bad haHri7l tHcig lives ca defence ui
liberty, after ..r war was over, ,lt IIsu
together and framed ihn Constitution Slave
rrv 'trn existed i1 u.T'y H.Hy colony.
l-,eh state hr,ns sovereign bul independent,
was under uu Obligation, bur ilTsr oi Iat-
u.i..m O.. cIur into thr c.u'ulrugy. They
P.s--. rUr i..lt to rr-IIn" 'arir own
IHm,siir institutions without Interference of
au, ono, and f tlis independence ~ indie
yitaHi States bad not l-n conceded, The
Constitution could not have L.rn formed,
and Oh bon" Hi ire anil enlightened .Hr-
rnmrut a. DE r,nr'r. uu tN.- continent,
would h,vo cgrir,d Tho siBr" rHruhiiru
80 that tune. a,at urssut, constituted about
oar-siA,h I,rt nf AL the inhabitants.
I, ws undoubtedly expected in the early
Day. ol Ihc rrubIr that slavery w1uM not
continue many y"Irs Aul there hlyr Hru
pgTinHs when there WIS prospect or t'e
adoption Ui measures O. accomplish Its re-
m.f.l Bui We have reason tu h.iir,u i.at
d; has lsan 'Hrn retarded hy Che agitation
Hf f.r subject bon tlr irrc state. \ rl4s, ui
persons have lshHrrl ae-iiuuu.Iy iur quar-
or u! % ru.ury tp excite Oh" feeling anil
prejudice u. Che people against iaH South
.uI DO. installations. InHy hrr enlisted t.u
slmI.fHi3. ~ OH UlYu-r Ir0Iunt u' 'n"
,rur condition ul thr slaves. and HG'7nIzI
political nril.s with tur ayps.I Uuru.,r
generally ul acquiring power 30 am..,ar,tr
i'.Ig condition, auI without luy distinct
% practical character Too N.s'Iry.. iH.ir
,lTr', dampn.,'4l, tfr weakness and iu-
utility ul them They have liberated hut
.,v. IL ANY, slaves, ana have not removed
slavery from q single rYd Il territory. ps.
erection would iuilrlica change Ui measures,
tae cultivation Dl charity JnI kindness, and
broader range % social uuu., toward
those who. political welfare and destiny
are 50 closely united with cure.
n tir owners ug slave. should hs willing
90 rmlurlRtg them, IrD,,le, thHy rrsll Doc
distributed among ;hr several state, iu Ir1-
portion 20 their population, IL would give
600. -Ia'r g. every SIX 90 s', "a irc Isr,'as.
Many uG tHH slaves would Dr iuAT.h.eul
labor through a.s, iuarm.'y and childhood,
AMI would rpuirr support u.s. Vpur'rs. The
residue would hc 40 lp.rty Oh ,res such SUBJ
-rtrucr as their vans might demand, lu
ths same manner "a, frrs black, usually d1.
The inhabitants ~ the North and Wot
would MT o. benefited by an accession -
their population of their proportion ui three
aud halt millions Ut blacks. II rcquirr'
90 great degree ul foresight o. perceive that
nearly every city AMI town iu ihe is,. states
would rr,us, their admitiaucs.
When those Who aye most deeply interest.
"a in negro slavery and have relytcd meet
upon do, subject shall desire tprelr'c them
,elyc, 90 10, tbry will probably aIrrta grub-
ual mod, Of ,maneiIaliYu ILerrlytipu Dee
tween master aud slave cannot b' suddenly
dissolved vlth safety % rltlcr, while The
number 81 sliv,~ b. ~ large. They might
b. lrrcd after having arrived at = crriain
age. and cent O. Africa. the hud ct their
origin, with habits OF industry and a de-
cru II knowledge aud civilization which
incv never could have obtained in their ma
tive country. IL the negro race !. capable
of s.lEguy,rnmsnt, and POSSESSES the inhc'
rent power OF advancement in srli culture.
ample ,copr /. now presented for the exercise
Of il On the continent Of Africa. " e'i-
drnce Of highly satisfactory character that
ncgrO,, DO possess this power, IL j. already