The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-08-01
Letter from hon. Z. y. Morrill,.


Your journal of the 26th ult., introduces
my name to the public, and charges that ]
am now "in favor Of tho prohibition Of
slavery in all the territories" and "in 1913
had no difficulty in standing upon the plat
form declaring that oil efforts Of the abol-
itionists, and Others, made to induce Con.
grcss to interfere with questions of slavery
ought not to DO countenanced," and II is
also added, "in 1852 he could ratify the
same platform" There Is evinccd here a
purpose to exhibit me as holding to political
opinions in 1913 and 1852 different from,
and inconsistent with, those assigned me at
the present time, and the above quotations,
from the resolutions Of the Democratic Ma
tional Convention, are relied upon for the
charges and the proof.
If the testimony introduced to support
these charges had been presented in unmu.
tiiaied form, il would have been unnecessary
for me to reply to it.
The resolution to which you refer, adopt
ed in 1913, made no ailusion 10 slapery in
The territories, but was confined to the sub
ject Of interference with slarry in the STATES.
II reads as follows:
"Resolred, That Congress has no power
under the Constitution To interfere with, or
control, the domestic institutions Of the
several States, and that such States are the
sole and proper judges Of every thing apper-
tanning to their own affairs, not prohibited
by the Constitution. That all efforts of the
abolitionists, and Others, to induce Congress
to interfere with questions of slavery, or to
take incipient steps in relation thereto, are
calculated to lead to the most dangerous and
alarming consequences and that allsuch eff
forts have IN inevitable tendency TO dimip-
ish the happiness of the people. and cndan-
ger the stability and permanency OF the
Union, and ought not to be countenanced by
any friend of our political institutions.
In 1852, two years after the adjustment
which fixed by compromise the domestic con-
dition OF oil tho territories, and left what is
now Kansas and Nebraska devoted to Free
dom under the operation Of the Missouri
Compromise, the Convention at Baltimore
re-affrmed the resolution of l84S, and for
the purpose of sanctioning the fixed charac-
ter of the territories derived from prior COM
promises, added the following resolutions to
that of 1913:
"Pe,olred, That the foregoing proposition
covers, and was intended to embrace, the
whole subject Of slavery agitation in Con-
gress and therefore the democratic party
of the Union, standing on this national
platform, will abide by and adhere toa faith
iul execution Of the acts known as the Com
promise Measures, settled by the last Con-
gress."
"Resoired, That the Democratic party
will resist all attempts at renewing in Con-
gress or out of 1t, the agitation Of the slave.
ry question, under whatever shape or color
the attempt may be made"
Now, how stands tho matter upon the
charge and proof? In ls4S | was opposed
to interference with slavery in the States.
Was this position Incompatible with the
desire and the effort to conline slavery to the
States where it exists? In 1852 yielded
to the adjustment of 1850, which, although
it did not, in terms. prohibit slavery in all
the territories, nevertheless, repeat, left all
the territories safe as against slavery, and
particularly left what is now Kansas and
Nebraska under the protection against slave
, ry of 1920. WAS this position i''''"f"'fpie
.-'.i. A. ----i-.;--. --L;eh deprccatcs sat
tempts at renewing in Congress, or out Of
it, the agitation of the slavery question ?"
1t is presisely that renewal, under the form
of repeating the Missouri Compromise,
which resisted, and which now condemn,
as violation, not only Of public faith, but
of the very terms Of the democratic creed
and covenant. For maintaining to the let
ter, this covenant, ] am denounced in The
Age as dcserter from democratic principles,
|, and this charge is attempted to be sustained
by the production Of garblcd record. Can
The Age in no better mode illustrate the
|, maxim it quotes, that "honesty is the best
! policy"
And let me say to The Age, when in its
new born zeal for democratic principles (!)
, il undertakes to discredit all who do not
come up to the standard required by the new
dogmas upon questions Of slavery in the ter
ritorics, that not only the aitecedents of
that Journal are unfavorable to its success,
but the entire record of the democratic par
ty in this State, and that Of oil its public
men, down to 1851 the period of departure
from sound, uniform, and we'll established
principles and practices upon this subject,
and entrance upon, and adoption Of, the
norel and sectional slavery dogmas of the
South-has not only to be garbled, but an
nuiled and reversed.
You say, "thc handwriting. is on the
wall" Is it possible you have seen it, and
IRE so insensible to its meaning2 If you
have read it, re-read it, and disabuse yourself
of the false and crude notions you entertain
of it.
"Resoired, That the institution OF human
slavery is at variance with The theory of our
government, abhorrent to the common sen.
timent Of mankind, and fraught with danger
to oil who come within the sphere Of its in
huence. That the federal government pos
sesscs adequate poirer 10 inhiht its existence
in The territories efthe Union; that tho con-
sttutionality Of this power has been settled
by judicial construction, by contemporaries
GUS exposition, and by repeated acts Of leg |
islation," &c.
This the language of the Democratic State
Convention Of ls49, adopted as the platform
of the party upon that subject, and was
backed up by an address, language quito as
unequivocal, and upon which the canvass Of
that year was conducted, and in which the
Marty triumphcd,