Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1857-01-16

H'ust oe ny the alu OF acquleScence OF the
General Government. of which we are a
part. | can see no difference, morally.
between doing wrong directly, and al
lowing it to b done when we have the
power. and it is our duty to prevent it..
There can be no distinction. We are
alike responsible in each. A cheerful
acquiescence by all the States in the ex.
ercise of all the rights that belong to
each is our constitutional duty. A
prompt demand of the rights that belong
to us, aand fearless assertion Of that is
also equa ally our duty.
While Maine, as one of the States of
the Union, should, at all times remain
loyal to the Constitution and the Union,
and be ready to maintain all the rights
secured them to the other States, and
while her citizens should manifest fra
ternal regard for the citizens of each of
the States she should also be true to
that freedom ana those principles which
the Constitution was formed to preserve
and perpetuate.
This is the object which has so cordi-
ally united our people. to an extent be-.
fore unknown, but upon principle on
which they have always had uniformi-
ty of opinion. To accomplish so great
and desirable a good, and of such vital
importance, prudence will dictate that
our counsels shall not be disturbed by
matters of less moment. The great
question which underlics all others
should be kept steadily in view by all.
and success will be the sure and final re :.
ward. What we purpose is neither Sec
t.onal or fanatical, has the greatest good
of the whole country for its basis. is in
accordance with the practice of the Gov
ernment for more than sixty years. and
is worthy of the patriotic efforts of all.
The time now is, and will continue, when
all who agree in the great Importance of
restoring the government to what it was
under Washington and jefferson, must
cordially unite in undivided ranks for
that purpose. What will be the line of
policy adopted by the incoming admin
lstration Of the general government. and
how far it will be affected, under the cir
cumstances which surround it, by the re-
cent demonstration of public opinion in
the free states. arc questions to be solv-
ed in the future. To that future also
must lis own exigences be left, and
wha. those exigcncies may demand
You cannot however. have failed to no.
tice somewhat ominous foresh Allowing
in the claim of constitutional doctrine
recently put forth, viz: That as the in
sti.ution of Slavery is, by virtue Of GER
tain constitutional provisions, made an
element of political power, it is there
fore entitled to an expansion and in
crease, outside of the States where it ex-
lists.
Whether the incoming administration
will adopt and sanction doctrine 50 ut
terly untcnahle, as part of its policy
remains to be seen. Our duty is plain
in any event. 1t is to maintain the
rights Of Freedom. by opposing, in ev-
cry legal mode. the extension of Slavery
over the territory of the United States,
and by persevering in that effort, firmly
and consistently to the end.
Our KANSAS EMIGRANTs.
The state of affairs which has existed
in the Territory Of Kansas, growing out
of the repeal of the Missouri Compromise
line of 1920. furnishes only true exhi-
bition of what results from attempts to
establish and extend Slavery. 1t pre-.
scnts a deplorable spectacle, and one
which makes what is called free gov.
crnment miserable mockery. The free
navigation of great public river has
been impeded. or prevented. A Legis-
ature has been elected by armed mobs
from an adjoining State. The rights
guaranteed by the Constit, on to the ci-
tizens of each State have been disregard.
ed. Laws have been passed by a Legis.
lature thus fradulently elected, which
are unequalled in their attrocity in any
civilized country in the world, which vir.
tually deny the right Of trial by jury
abolish the freedom Of the press and o.
speech, and which do not allow citlzer
to participate in the Government with.
out first taking an oath repugnant to and
in violation of the Constitution. All
these wrongs have been sustained bv the
Government, and Judiciary in the ter.
ritory which has added to the oppression
otherwise existing. Honest itizens have
been murdered, and dwellings burned
and the laborer interrupted in or driver
from his pursuits, instead of receiving
that protection in his rights and person
to which he was justly as we'll as consti
tutionally entitled. From this sad state
of things produced, it would seem to b'
the duty of our State to furnish the citi
zens of Maine, who have gone into tha
territory, with such aid and assistance al
may be in its power. When the Govern
ment of the United States shall become
remiss in, or shall neglect its plain duty
it becomes the State to act. There car
be no doubt that there is actual and Sc
we're suffering in that territory by thos'
who have been prevented from pursuing
their ordinary Industrial avocations.
therefore suggest, should the existing stat
of things continue in that tirritory, b.
the remissness or neglect Of the Gener
al Government, liberal appropriation
for the relief, in food and clothing. o
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