The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-09-11


never notified Of his nomination, and was
elected. lie was elected President OF the
Senate Of 1856, with the perfect knowledge
that no never would recede from the posi-
ton on the slavery question, which the
Democratic party in Maine had occupied.
and with a like certainty that he would
abandon the organization, IL the national
Democratic Consention should endorse
the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, AID
sanction the Internal principles contained
in the Kansas Nebraska act. Mr. Morrill,
then occupied the important place of Chair
man Of the State Democratic Committee, he
was appealed to by the earnestness Of politi-
cal friends.and had he chosen to sacrifice his
convictions to Official preferment, President
Pierce's administration stood ready TO be-
stow upon him Office. But he was unpur
chaseable, and when the Cincinnati Conven-
ton sanctioned the outrage, and advanced
doctrines which committed the party to un'
limited extension Of slavery, aud to which no
man occupying his position, could have
consented without sell degradation, he
did not wait. but the mex. day after the pro-
ceeding> Of tho Convention were known in
Augusta, he resigned his place on the Dem
ocratic State Committee and notified those
who had been with him on il, that he should
no longer support such an organization.-
Fellow republicans. said Mr.. c., this Is a
PLAIN statement Of facts. There are some
things IN the history OF Mr.. Morrill, for
which we, as republicans. should especially
honor him. When the partizan madness Of
Gov Wells demanded the sacrifice OF Judge
Davis. he refused to lend helping hand
When the Wells liquor law was introduced
in 1856, he denounced it, and in speech Of
unanswerable power, demonstrated its error
in principle, and its defects in detail. When
some Of those who had voted for him came to
him with their complaints charging that he
had been derslict in not following the party.
he answered that he was elected without his
solicitation. with perfect knowledge
Of his principles, and had never gwen them
the leas, reason for supposiug he would sac
rifce his convictions for poor partizan pur-
poses. SAID Mr.. C,wan, he honored Mr..
Morrill, for his fidelity to principle. Ii was
rare thing in these days Of political dcgen
eracy, to find man standing as does Mr.
Morrill,, unawed by threats, unscduccd by
temptations, with unbonding integrity by
his political and moral convictions. lie was
tried and not found wanting and true to
that unblemishcd moral character, which
is without spot or stlin, he will stand and
endure to the end. This is the man whom
tn, mann,ss ola pstty soul s;isnitissl Us
traitor.
Having now stated thes, things, he might
stop, but his proposed work would not be
complsted. Hs had 4 word to say Of the
coiner of these stupid charges, and he should
not spare him.
IL was only few short years ago that he
knew him rs out-lIeroding Herod in his zeal
for the prohibition Of slavery, knew him as
the signer Of Democratic State Address,
taking the strongest ground against the ex'
tension Of slavery. At that time, being
pressed by che Hunkers in his own ranks, 50
deep wore his griefs. that not being able to
find full sympathy in his own political
circles, no went whlmpering and simPerinS
through the streets, sneakins into this store
and that, wherever he could find a listener,
and poured into the bosom OF political OPP
ponents rs well Us friends, the story of the
wrongs that the pro.slavery Huukers were
INJECTING upon him, and his fears that they
would sell the party over to slavery. This
is the man who charges Mr.. Morrill, with be-
Ing traitor; this is the man, his own words
being the Judge, who has u record OF iniamy
on the slavery question which ought to
make him to blush to meet an honest man
who knows what it is, in the streets. This
Is the man who calls Others Benedict Arnold,
when he has in his pocket the price of the
purchase money Tor which he sold himself,
and the principles which he cherished, hav-
Ing agreed to give his support to doctrines
more reasonable to his principles OF free in
situations and To the constitution, than was
Arnold's treason to the principles. OF our Ia
theirs.
Resolutions and extracts showing the 20.
sition of the Democratic party in Maine ON
the slavery question in times past, and re-
fcrrel to by Mr.. Cowan.
Rssolrsd, That the institution OF human
Slavery il ut variance with the theory OF our
government, abhUrrent to the common sen
t,msnt OF mankind, aud iraught with d.n
ger o. all who come within the sphere OF It's
influence; that the federal yor,rHmeHI Poss
e,,ss ADEQUATE pOIccr % Hhibn ns cIiasRoe an
me fsrr,forieS Of me Union; That ths ooHsii.
fuiioaa!iiy of this p0rer has been settled by
judicial construction, BY ooienPOrdasous erpo
siioas, and BIZ repeated acts Of icg'sidiioH:
and that we eniOin upon our Senators ana
Representatives in Congress 10 make every
exsr.ion. and employ all their influence 10
procure the passage of a law forever exclu-
din, Slavery from the territories OF CaliiOr-
MIA and New Mexico.
Resolve adopted by Democratic State Con-
yention 1919.
Rcsoicsd That we hereby declare for our.
selves and in behalf Of this State, our un-
compromising opposition to the extension OF
Slavery into any territory OF the United
States which is NV free.
PexoIred That in ORGANIZING governments
for New Mexico and California, the intro
ducton and existence of Slavery in those
territories should be positively prohibited by
an act of Congress.
Resolred, That our Senators in Consrvss
are hereby instructed, and our Representa-
tiyes requested to vote against any act es-
tablshins Nernments Tor said territories
that dOcs not contain an express Prohib'ti0H