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

| government OF which we are part. / can see no
difference morally between doing wrong directly.
| and in allowing II to be 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.
cheerful acquiescence by all the States in the
ercse Of all the rights that belong to each is
stitutional duty. A prompt demand Of the rights
which belong to us, and fearless assertion Of TEEN
is also equally our duty.
While Maine, as one OF the states OF the Union,
should ut ali times remain loyal to the constitution
| and the Union, and be ready to maintain al the
rights secured by them to all the other States, and
| while her citizens should maintain fraterna regard
also be true to that freedom and those principles
which the constitution was formed to preserve and
perpetuate
our people 70 extent before unknown, but upon q
principle upon which they have always had a uni
| formity Of opinion. To accomplish so great and
desirable good add of such vital importance, pru-
derce will dictate that our cOunsels shall not be dis
turbed by matters of less moment. The great ques.
ton which underies all others should be kept steadily
in view by all and success will be the sure and final
reward. What we purpose is neither sectional or
fanatcsl, has the greatest good of the whole coun-
try TO- it's basis, is in accordance with the practice
of the government for more than sixty years, and is
worthy of the sincere and patriotic efforts Of all.
The time now is and will continue when ail who
sgree in the great Importance Of restoring the coun
try to what it under Washington and Jefferson,
must cordially uuie in undivided ranks for that pur
pose What will be the line Of policy adopted by the
| and how far it will be affected by all the circum-
stances which surround it, by the recent demonstra
ton of public opinion in the free States, ques
tons to be solved in the future. To that future.
also, must its own exgencies be left and what those
| eXigencies may demand. You cannot however,
have failed to notice some What ominous fOresha-
downing in the claim of constitutional doctrine re-
| Gently put forth, viz That as the institution OF
slavery Is by virtue of certain constitutional prov
sion, made element of political pc wer it is there
fore EMIT cd to an expansion and increase outside Of
| the States where 1t exists.
| Whether the incoming administration will adopt
and sanction policy utterly. untenable as part
Of its policy, remains to be seen. Our duty is PLAIN,
in any event 1t is to maintain the rights of freedom,
slavery the territory of the United States and
by perseverng in that effort, firmly and consistently,
| to the end.
The state of affairs which has existed in the Ter.
rtory of Kansas, growing out of the repeal of the
| Missouri compromise line of 1920, furnishes only
true exhibition of what results from attempts to
establish and extend slavery. II presents de-
plorsble spectacle, and makes what is called free
government miserable mOckery. The free navi.
cation of public river has been impeded or pre-.
| vented. A Legislature has been elected Dy armed
mobs from an adjoining state; The rights guar
anteed by the constitution to the citizens of each
| State have been disegarded. Laws have been
passed by Legislature thus frauduently elected,
which are unequalled in their atrOcity in any civil
| lzed country in the world which virtually deny the
right of trial by jury, abolish the freedom Of the
| press and Of speech, and which do not allow citi-
zen to participate in the government without first
making an oath repugnant to and in violation OF the
constitution All these wrongs have been sustained
by the government, and Judiciary in the territory
which has added to the oppression otherwise exist
| ing. Honest citizens have been murdered, and
dwellings burned and the laborer interrupted In. or
driven from, his pursuits, instead of receiving that
protection in his rights and person to which he was
justly as well as cODsttutoDay entitled.
From this sad state of things produced, it would
seem to be the du'y of State to furnish the cit
zens Of Maine, who have gone into that Territory,
with such cid and assistance may be in its power.
When the government Of the United States shall
become remss in, or shall neglect its plain duty, it
becomes the State to act. There can be no doubt
that is actual and severe suffering in that Ter
ritory by those who have been prev cnted from pur.
surg their ordinary industrial .yocations. ! would
therefore - stpuldftG existing state of things
continue II Territory by the remissness or
neglect Of general government, liberal aPpro-
p,iation for me relief food and clothing OF the
citizens os pe in the territory Of Kansas, under
| such limitations as you may deem necessary Ii Is
| cue as an act Of humanity and II the government
OF the United States snail fail in its duty to them
ana has neglected is plain constitutional obligations
they should know and feel that they are still cared
for in the State from which they went to establish
new homes, and extend liberty and civilization in
| the West.
MASSACHUSETTS.
Gov. Henry j. Gardner in his last annual mes
sage to the Legislature Of Massachusetts, devotes
large portion of his address to the consideration OF
the late Presidential election, Know Nothingisn
foreigners naturalization laws the Kansas question:
State resolutions &c. We give the following ex.
tracts touching the above subjects
Our nation has just passed through another Presi,
| dental contest, under circumstances which would
have imIerilled the existence Of any other govern
ment ON the globe; and yet, so admirably harmonious
are the workings Of our system, and so readily
obedient people TO the will Of the majority
that stranger among would hardly suppose so
| momentous an event had transpred as the struggle
| between antagonistc theories concerning the ad
ministraton OF our government, which, though
liz forf bQ farm nj four
may tell upon its policy and destiny for geue
nations. And though nowhere was the result
70 great disappointment TO 80 large
proportion Of our citizens as In Massa thu.
sets, and nowhere was the real magnitude OF
the issue more fully appreciated, and hopes OF
different termination more earnestly indulged yet
here, with firm reliance on the ultimate triumph
| Of the great principles we cherish, our people &C
quiesce in the result in the proper spirit OF our nst
tutions. Yet, though as patriots and good citizens
we submit to the will ofthe majority, II is not only
our right but ourduty 10 examine thoroughly toe
ses which produced 70 unfayorabe result-a result
not only preudical, we fear, to the cause Of free
| dom, bat poreDding evil 70 the integrity Of our
UDiop-snd to strive, as far as we may, legally,
justly and bonorably, TO them for the future.
The issue involved in this great struggle was
declared 10 be- both while il was pending and
since its termination, directly or more remotely,
| not only whether freedom or slavery should be
established in the Territory Of Kansas, but whether
| foreign nations should be absorbed and Cuba,
| Mexico and Central America annexed TO our
Southern borders; not only whether the powers Of
the executive and the legislation Of Congress should
he prostituted 10 the establishment Of serfdom in
ATTITUDES once free; but also whether the extension
| Of the area Of slavery oy diplomacy. by conquest
and by purchase, was not 70 be- and TO continue 10
lie, the established policy Of our government.
| Although 1t was freely asserted and widely be-
lieved that the question Of freedom or slavery in
Kansas would hinge upon the result OF this election,
and although, had II terminated in different man
| nsr, the probability Of her early admission into
| the Union as a free State would have been ma
teriay strengthened, yet recent Developments
give strong hopes that the present chief execu-
tive officer of that Territory, in contrsdistinc-
ton TO his predecessor, will administer the laws
fairly and impartisy viii protect the actual set
tiers in their lust right and will resist the intru-
sion of nonresidents for illegal purposes. Such
are the convictions Of those the spot most cspa-
bic of Judging and most effectively aiding in the
accomplishment of these desired purposes. II So