Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-12-31
Union. Disunion.- and the Pro.slayery
Democracy.

Un.on--. DisuniOn.- and the Pro.slayery
Democracy.
Ever since the union was formed. there
ha. been mere ~ lc.s said in political cir.
cl,.. ahlu, di.uu.on. Lyaliy 10 the union
ba, t,.p considered tscte.t Of patriotism
Nor than forty years ago, ,h,ro was con.
,cn'ion holden a, Hartford. Connecticut, 20
take INTO consideration the then existing
state Of political Affairs IN the country.
Tl.v - with closed dolr., and what was
said spi done Va. i,r long imc matter
of conjecture They wrr at the time
charged by the Madison war party, with
treason. ,a,allre-l they contemplated
a dissolution ofthc union. Whether they
vgr- cail,y or NO.. or any ell design
against thc government. - much suspicion
attached To their preceding, tina, about
every member OF that convention was ever
alter ms connection with the meeting. po-
husaUy dad
TIE late venerable Stephen Lnusicl'oW,
OF Portland. Who - long held Crit rank
At The b.r in New England, vas a member
o. thi, convention. aud he connection with
The sane alone prevented HI. appointment,
o. thr bench or trc Surryme Judic'al Court,
AZ ,hc Grst organization Of the judiciary De.
rar'mru,, after our SEPARATION from Misa.
cbu,s,ts
Nrarly every other man vho participated
IN ,hr rryc,,.drrs. ot the Hartford couveu-
tom, vent down under the tide u popular
indignation. auI ever after disappeared
from tie political .isrr Whenever the
lcmo,r,ti, party in time. pet, sought Tor
oprra'r.nu. rr,,he;. 90 arrly to political
opponent, tie charge Of Hartford Con.
,sut,la fclsrali,,, was a regular knock
down argument.
Bot W. q, ut rc'crto the Hartford con.
,suuau, for ,hr rurp,.e II o,crlr,ulins it.
proceeding, 20 reviewing Is action fIr IN,
nine l-uIreI and ninety ninth tine, bu,
simply 10 show bow sensitive the American
Jeurl, W,r, thirty or loriy yc,r, ago. upon
tie question o., di.uuion. How - It nov
y, che people love the AMEN now n. they
dlI tl-u2 We believe az overwhelming
majority ~ the rank and i,e Of the pr'yls.
are sincere. devoted friends O. the union
and they wsuh never Knowingly commit
any act. which vsuld tend 20 its dis.olu.
,i,u. But ws canul, help here noticing
the part that tas been PLAYED ~ certain
politicians. IN c1ruectipu with this qucs-
ton. within the lat fifteen or twenty years
For quite a period - Ins after the adup-
tipu e th, federal constitution, when our
public mon talked In public or private Of
TIE Importance and value Of the union, iLsy
msuui rkai ti,y ,r,d. The people a. CON-
,dsrcd H. But few ras; years have
wrought cut an astonishing change in this
rnrticulU. Even since the slavery element
las srir,i the rcins ~ government, and con-
tr1lled 90, AFFAIR.". IL has made Use OF this
question icr a very different purpose Ii
has raised the CIV q ur'on. for the secret
purpose Of bringing lhou, dirH'cg. Tie
i.,uui,u.si. have Away. been at tire south.
Nobody at the north, excepting few Gar
ri-on fanatics, ever dreamed Of iayorIng dis
union.
John c. Calhoun was the great leading
spirit, Of the friend. OF disuuion in this
country. After BIZ. di-aec,ion with the
administration 81 General Jackson, he turn.
"a his attention in this direction. lie was
the father Of notification in Sonih CARROLL.
IA. when that State undertook % rebel
against the general government. The idea
Of great southern eoniederacy, here BE-
came leading idea in his master mind, and
f,r this be laborcd up 10 the day Of bis
death.
Tbi. idea stood out prominently in his
Official action, as Secretary Of State under
John Tylrr's administration. The plo, to
annex Texas vas by him boldly advocated,
as a scheme 90 spread and strengthen the
slave rover Mr.. Calhoun followed up
thi. idea t. nj. death. Ills last speech in
the American Sgna,c, read ~ Mr. Mason,
Of Virginia. when its author was too weak
aud feeble To deliver u, contained rank dis
union sentiments. TAe-s were not attempt
"a 10 b. disguised by theIr Distinguished ou-
thor. Mr.. Calhouu's las, efforts in favor
of disunion hurried him 90 bis long home.
aud the venerable, distinguished South Car
oliua statesman, passed away to the tomb.
Bot the seeds BY him sovn. took deep roo,
wherever his influence was felt.
CaiAoua dimaiOnis,s control he ,o-oallsd
democratic party at ne south, and tAs south
rn ring controls ne party in he UHiOn.
For tbi. reason, the party now in power In
the genera government, is a GisuHi0n party.
The whole policy Of Franklin Pierce and