The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-01-16
B1DDEFoRD NAME FRIDAY, JANUARY ls.lss7.

prosecuted, and the Constitution adopted.
Slavery, IL 10 true, existed In most Of the
States, a 1t had been forced upon the colo
nies BY Great Britain against their earnest
and eloquent remonstranoes. The fact was
set forth in the original Draft Of the Dec
laration Of Independence, - ono Of the
causes Of the Revolution, whenit came from
the hand and psn Of Jefsnon. After our
Independence bad been finally achieved, tho
institution was regarded % one Of temporary
character, and IL not even named in the
Constitution. The acts Of the men Of that
day show the sincerity ii their intsntiou.-
They did not desire TO found government
upon moral, social, and political wrong
The history Of ell the past warned them It
could not be done. Their reooried acts
prove indisputably what they did mean
Before tho Constitution was framed or
adopted, and In Congros acting under the
articles Of confederation, Mr.. Jefferson TO
ported, in . bill for the government Of the
Territories, the following clause, w.: "That
after the year 1900 Of the Christian Era,
there shall bs neither slavery nor iuvolunta-
ry servitude in any Of said States, otherwise
than in the punishment Of crimes whereof
tho parties shall have been convicted to have
been personally guilty.
This provision applied to oil the territory
belonging to the United States at that time,
and out Of which tho States referred 70 were
to be formed. That provision failed to BE-
come law, for the want Of single vote,
and by the absence Of single member. In
1887 an ordinance for the government Of the
territories was ad pied, and In that was In
Guided an article forever excluding slavery
from oil the territories Of the United States,
with the addition that persons held to SER
vice in any State, under the ldics thereof, and
escaping into the territories, should be de-
livered up-the same provision having been
Incorporated into the Constitution BY the
convention then IN session.
In 1889, after the adoption Of the Consti.
tuition by the States, the question necessarily
arose whether that did not abrogate or an.
nul the ordinance Of 49,. To remove all
doubt, or to make oil certain, Congress, at
It's first session under the Constitution, In
1899, affirmed and made valid that ordi.
nance. and the law was approved BY Geors
Washington. Such, briefly, u the early his
tory of this government; and It proves be-
yond oil doubt that the men Of that day do.
signed and expected that the extension Of
slavery should be prevented by the govern
ment. Such Is just what Ia now proposed
70 follow the lights Of their counsel, and by
excluding slavery from the territories Of the
United States, make them the homes OF FREQ
men.
Such are the prominent acts Of tho men
who laid the foundations OF our govern.
ment, and who may be Justly supposed to
know what they intended. Could any
doubt exist, a. there cannot, an examina-
ton of the debates and the history Of tho
times render 1t more certain and clear a. TO
what were their purposes. The opinions OF
that day were concurred in by the promi-
ucnt men of the South. They were eloquent
in depicting the wrongs and injuries which
slavery inflicted upon both the colored and
the white man. The sad evils connected
with 1t, in all thoir relations, were portray
ed by them in vivid colors. They saw, felt,
and acknowledged its withering effect. But
now oil this is changed. In the Southern
States It has becn boldly and fearlsssly avow-
cd that they must have the right to people
the territories wi b their slaves, who are
made such, lin tho language Of the Con-
stitution, referring to the States where slave
ry existed } under the iaucs thereof"-thus
seeking to control and regulate the terrific
ries by virtue OF State laws. II has also
been asserted that slavery is right-that IL
is the normal condition Of the laboring man,
and not confined to nce or color. Princi'
ples and objects like these strike OF the very
foundation Of our government. To pro
serve that government, and to have Is I'D.
ministered as designed by our fathers, should
ever remain tho purpose Of all who cherish
our free institutions.
In 1890, when Missouri, as q part Of the
Louisiana purchase. sought admission as q
State into the Union, and just preceding
that time, the question OF restricting slavery
in the territories, again arose, and agiated
the country. After much controversy. q
nroposition was submitted and supported
almost unanimously by the South. and ap'
proved by President Munroc and his cabl'
net, prohibiting slavery in all the territory
North of the parallel Of SO degrees 80 min
utes north latitude. but South Of that line
lsaving,it unprohibitsd by law. The prop.
osition was at tho time resisted by the North
for the reason that il did not exclude slave
~ from all the territory. As compromise
It was however adopted, and good faith re-
ou,red that It should not be disturbed or vi
Olsted.
1t 30 remained for moro than third oi
q century and after all the territory South
Of that line had been admitted Rs Slave
States into the Union, except q small por'
ton reserved as Indian possessions, then, In
utter violation Of good faith, and at q time
when quiet and peace had been restored II
the country, II was ruthlessly violated and
repealed. From that repeal has arisen the
angry discussions In the country.
The object Of the repeal, as frankly I'D:
mitted and affirmed by some, and as could
well DO seen by all, was solely to extend
slavery.
The acts of men are matters Of just criti.
cism, and we have rigAt to suppose and
believe that men intend what Is the fair and
necessary result OF their acts. lfsuch were
not tho object, the repeal was useless. The
facts that Slavery Was prohibited-that II
has since been forced into tho territory-that
disgraceful and odious laws, repugnant to
humanity and the age in which we live,
have been enacted in Kansas by Legisla-
ture elected by persons who invaded the ter
ritory from q neighboring SsAte-and all
the scenes Of anarchy and bloodshed, which
have there transpircd, with the completely,
II not the direct aid Of the general govern.
ment. it would seem, can leave no room for
doubt or controversy as to the object intend
I'd to DO accomplished. Those who did that
act are justly chargeable with oil the dis
cussion and excitement with which the pub
lie mind has bcen agitated-an agitation
which cannot and will not ccase until Slave
~ Is confined 10 the States where II belongs.
Dspotlsm is always aggressive, but frcemcn
cannot submit TO the asgrossions Of slavery,
and will not bs excluded from our terrific.
ries. Quietly to submit to It's despotic ag-
erosion, and ib supremacy, would make
slaves Of our posterity. while we should do
serve no better fate ourselves.
With slavery in the States We have moth
inc In do. For its extension or continuance