Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-07-09
Governor Morrill,, Speech a, Augusta

made by Gov. Morrill, at the Republican
State convention is furnished by reporter
Of the Boston Traveller:
"TIe embraced with alacr,ty the opporiu-
nifty to meet the convention, and TO tender
his grateful acknowledgements for this re-
newed expression Of their confidence. Not
inseusible to the elevation Of his position
he accepted Il, aware Of ITS responsibilities.
In the general purpose Of the convention he
expressed his hearty concurrence, and his
purpose Of cordial corporation. sympa-
thisc (said the Governor) with your sen,i-
ment Of attachment TO our beloved state and
its interests, and your desire to make Il,
that prosperous Commonwealth for which
I I, is fitted, and shall always cooperate in
all measures calculated TO stimulate It's in
dus,ry and develope its resources. Never
unmindfdl Of our allegiance to the Nation
al confederacy, our immediate and mos, ur-
gent duty i TO the State. There can be
no real Independence 50 long rs the State
look. for favor or support from abroad-no
substantial prosperity except from the peo-
rle. The law Of success with the States,
q. with men IL self reliance. Agriculture
commerce. navigation. industrial ar's-to
developc and stimulate these, Is TO consult
the highest interest 81 the State. ! cannot
forbear an expression Of sympathy for that
sentiment Of devotion 20 the country. which
is the foundation Of tho Republican party
Of the nation. Never was il more imper.
alive duty to see tina, in the grea, struggle
for free labor again', slavery, the influence
Of each State shall he on the right side.
Whatever doubts have heretofore been felt
as to the purposes Of tho government. there
can be no doubt now that IL has entered up
on career incompatible with the best
hope. OF the people and the welfare Of the
. free States. whose fundamental element OF
progress is free, untrammellcd, iully'com.
rcn'a,cd labor.
The repeal Of the Missouri Compromise
the completely Of the Government in the
efforts to plan, slavery in Kansas, the dieia
Of tho Federal Judges that the Constitution
guarantees property IN slaves, the declara-
ton OF the President tina, slavery exists in
Kansa. under the constitution, the effort.
to force on the people Of that Territory a
constitution which they never framed or as
sented to-all show to wha, depths the gov
eminent has Descended, and how WIDE is It's
departure from the policy Of tho fathers Of
the country. While by the willingness OF
the Executive department, slavery has been
carried into kansas, the opinion OF the SUI
irene Court would carry i. into tho eoun-
try at large. 50 that the practical question
Is whether there shall DO seryi,ude outside
Of the Slave States. Tho country began
with the policy Of limita,ion-now the poll
icy /. to give slavery free play. Once the
country vas united in limiting IL. now It
~ dlNlucls Nc tlaN'HVsN''H '''' ''"''''''
ing states. backed up by government, are
for slavery but the people, God be thank
ed are opposed to il. Once it was national
patriotic, and at any rate constitutional,
70 limit slavery now 4, is unpa,riotic, sec
tional. and unconstitutional. For half a
century no man doubted the power Of Con-
crrss over the territories; every man held
that slavery had no RICH, outside the local
law. now 1t is held that neither Congrc-.
nor people can stop it, extension. OurSIo
~ once was in ~, and compensated labor /.
now it Is maintained that free laborers arr
the " mud sill." Of society, and that slavery
and that slavery is the corner stone Of the
Republican cdifcc. The government Is
fully committed to slavery extension, sla'
very by and under the constitution. and Ella.
very above and triumphant over Congress
and the people. And Lecompton is the
test viii patriotic and sensible men shut
their eyes &c tho danger Of such wide de-
parturc from the original principle. OF the
government, or will they unite TO pa, down
a policy which invests a barbarou' ins,itu.
ton with power aud prcrogn,ives above the
the people? know the strength OF party
attachment; honor AZ much as any man
party fidelity, but dare any man insult high
Heaven by saying that he will maintain
party at the expense Of right? Will any
man deny tina. i, is his duty to break the
bonds Of party, and trampling them under
his feet, assume the attitude Of an independ-
ent eitiren' You End party doing ,io'
lence to the constitution, fostering a spirit
of corruption and abuse, pluneins into eH'
trayagance and rushing on 10 Bankruptcy.
wha, Is tho duty Of the patriot? SupInely
to acquiesce, or vote according to your con-
victim like men2 1t is obvious that the
free states must unitl for the preservation
of the constitution and Union, As well as
I Tor their own dearest rights. Slavery has
60, bodily possession Of the government.
/, controls legislation. 1t not only iyrani-
res over Kansas, but enters tho Senate
thank God we meet it there and with
Characteristic hatred Of free iaborcrs, hurls
its thunderbolts agains, the fshermen.-
Then it proposes to repeal the navigation
laws. and revive the American slave trade.
So low has tho government gone in the
scale Of decentralization that slavery now
claims that the prospective inhibition OF
the slave trade was unwlsc and unjust, and
e1pec, that when the question is submit