The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-01-12

Providence for saving us from the last extremity.
Shall it ever occur? Will the republic ever again be
put in such peril? Is the last hope Of men for free
dom ever again almost to expirel Will our Union
be dissolved in the blood of civil war; Is our VIC
tory respite only, or Rusrav tea warning to be
needed for all time? May Heaven bless and save
the whole country. HENRY A. WISE.
Messages Of the Governors Of States.
MAINE.
The following are Governor Hannibal Hamlins
views on the late Presidential election Kansas and
the slave question presented in his message re-
Gently presented to the Legislature Of Maine -
Whatever relates to the whole country interests
and affects the people of Maine as they constitute
part thereof. The country have just emerged from
an important and ex itng Presidential election;
more important perhaps than any which has pre-
cede6 it. In the issues involved in that contest,
Maine, as one of the States of the Union, had in
common with all the others, deep aud direct inte
rest. The general result was different from what
was desired and hoped by large majority OF the
people of the State, and fro what they believed to
be for the welfare of the whole country, and what
they earnestly sought to accomplish Still, 1t FUR
nshes the highest hope for the future, and fore
tells with unerrng certsintv, the ultimate triumph
Of that great principle for which have struggled
Ten other States have coDcurred with Maine in the
effort to restore the government, OF the United States
to what its wise and patriotic founders designated
and intended il should he.
New England stood the contest substantially
where she was in the struggle of the Revolution.
That was an effort TO establish free government,
and she was pre- eminent in her sacrifices and devo
ton to accomplish that object she is nOH to pre-
serve and perpetuate wat WAS then accomplished.
The true question involved in the late election was
substantially whether the advancement OF human
freedom should continue to be fundamental princi
pie and pre- eminent object of our national govern
ment, within the line marked out by the cOnstitu-
ton, OF whether its should re perverted to
the extension of slavery. This 1t was that under
Laid all a<LA kou 9TH
mingled with it, or whatever may be the results that
shall come ont of it, 1t was an effort side to
make the government of the United States, either
by its direct acts or its acquiesence, or its simpl
city, aid in spreading The evils Of slavery terri
tories where it did not exist but from which it had
been excluded bv positive Law.
The history of the government. shows conclusvely
that the wise and good men who Instituted and laid
its foundation, and those who framed our cOnstitu
ton designed and expected that it should be Of
freedom, and not Of slavery. Is was upon this idea
that the revolutionary war was successfully prose
cuted, and the constitution adopted.
Slavery II is true, existed ir most Of the States,
as it had been forced upon the colonies by Great
Britain against their earnest and eloquent remon.
straDces. The fact was set forth in the original
draft CT the Declaration of Independence, as one OF
the causes of the revolution, whea 1t came from che
hand and pen Of Jefferson. After our independence
had been fioally achieved. the institution was re
garded as one of temporary character, and is not
even named in the constitution. The acts OF the
ton. They did not desire to found government
upon moral social and political wrong. The his
tory OF all The past warned them it uld not be
done. Their reco ded acts prove indispufably what
they did mean.
Before the const tuition was framed or adopted
and in Congrt rs acting under the articles of con-
federation. Nj. jefferson reported, in bill for the
government Of the territories, the following clause
viz: THAT in the year $500 Of the Christian era,
there shall be neither slavery nor involuntary serv-
tude in any of said States, otherwise than in pun
ishment Of crimes whereof the parties shall have
been COW icted TO ave been personally guilty"
This provision applied 10 all the territory belong
ing TO the United States at that time, and out of
which the States referred to were TO he formed.
That provision tailed to become q law for the want
OF sirgle vote and by the absence OF single mber
In 1857 ordinance for the government OF the ter
rito'ies was adopted, and n that was included an
article forever excluding slavery from all The terri
tories Of the United States with the addition That
persons held to service in any State, under the laws
thereof and escaping into the territories should be
delivered up-tbe same provision having been in
corporated into the constitution by the convention
then in session.
In 1883, AFTER the adoption Of the constitution by
the States, the question necessarily arose whether
that did not abroqate or annul the ordinance OF 81.
To remove all doubt or 10 make all certain, Con-
gress at its first session under the constitution IN
1899. affirmed and made valid that ordinance, and
Such briefly is The early history of the government
and IL proves beyond all doubt that the men OF tina.
day designed and expected that the extension Of
slavery should be prevented by the government.
lights Of their counsel and by excluding slavery
from the Territories Of the United States make
them the homes OF free men.
Such are the prominent acts Of the men who laid
the foundation of our government, snd who may
he Justly supposed TO know Shat they intended.
Could any doubt exist, IA there cannot, an ex-
animation of the debates and the history Of the
times render II more certIin and clear rs to what
%r their bv ne o
of the South. They were eloquent in depict
ing the wrongs and Injuries which slavery inflct-
ed upon both by the colored and white man. The
sad evils connected with it, in all their relations,
were portrayed by them in vivid coors. They saw,
felt, and acknowledged its xithering effect
But now all this Ia changed. In the Southern
States II has been boldly and fearlessy avowed that
they must have the right TO people the Territories
with their slaves, who are mace such Tin the Ian
guaRe Of the constitution, referring TO the States
where <lavery existed) under the laws thereof, v
thus seeking 10 control and regulate the Territories
that slavery Is rgbt-thst IL is the normal condition
Of the laboring man, and not confined TO race OF
color. Principles and objects like these strike al
the very foundation OF our government. To pre-.
serve that government. and 10 have 1t administered
as designed by our fathers should ever remain the
purpose oil all who cherish our free institutions.
In 1870, when Mis- ouri M part Of the Louisiana
purchase, sought admission a state into the Union
and Just preceding that time, the queSuon OF re0fc
ing slavery In the Territories again and agtatcd
the country. After much controversy, proposition
was submitted and supported almost unanimously by
the South, and approved by President Monroe and
his Cabinet prohibiting slavery in the territory north
Of 80 deg. 30 min north latitude, but south OF that
line leaving II unprohbited by law. The proposition
was at the time resisted by the North for the reason
that did not exclude slavery from all the territory
ksa compromise II was however adopted. and good
faith required that IL should not be disturbed or VIC
lated.
II 20 remained for more than third Of a century
and after all OF the territory south OF that line had
been admitted az slave states into the Union, exoep,
small portion reserved as Indian possessions, then
In utter violation Of good faith, and at time wbcr
quiet and peace bsd been restored 70 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 admitted and
affirmed 10y some, and as could well lie seen by all
was solely 70 extend slavery.
The acts of men are matters of lust criticism and