The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-07-13
LOUIS O. CoWAN,
VOLUME XVI.

ter abandoned the policy upon which both
had neen agreed-not until the claims Of the
south were seen to DO Inconsistent with the
rights Of the North. But even then thest
claims were not asserted upon the ground oI
the absolute rightfulnes Of slavery, but up
ON considerations Of convenience, temporary
expediency, and good neighborhood. Slave
nv, il was conceded, was not right in the ab'
stract il was not to exist always il wa,
an evil undoubtedly, and in the good Proyi'
deuce Of Heaven some way would be found
by-and-by for its removal. Meanwhile, so II
was urged, ii must be tolerated, it must moi
be warred upon, and northern people werC
informed that, however they might dislike it
and very properly. dislike IL, they must b
careful not to oppose il by any means moi
clearly legitimate and constitutional. We
do not affirm, said the South, that slavery ]:
q good thing in itself, but we do insist that
under the Constitution, Congress has nc
power to exclude il from the common domain
Of the country, and we demand that the peo'
pie Of the free States shall employ no unlaw'
iul means TO prevent its expansion; whatev'
er you Of the North may properly do, under
the Constitution. we shall not object to; II
slavery be an evil, il does not lie with US, OF
with anybody, TO complain If you attempt to
restrict and cripple il; this Is your right and
duty; but you must not attempt its inhibi.
tiOn or injury by any methods not warranted
by the Constitution.
The political party which for many year.
had held possession of the Government, and
controlled the legislation Of the country, was,
for this reason, and with q large foresight,
regarded by the shareholders Us the organiza-
ton throug gh which they could obtain better
protection to their peculiar claims and de-
mands than through any other and 50 we
find that they attached themselves 50 gener-
ally to the Democratic party, that, in the
course of a few years the seat of its great and
strength was established in the
slave States; and these, not unpaturally,
were permitted TO make its issues, shape its
policy, and name its candidates for the prin-
,ipal Offices in the Republic. Thus, when
The Shareholders, some twelve OF fifteen years
lgo, and for the first time since the organiza-
lion of Government, formally proclaimed the
that Congress had no power TO pro-
iibit slavery in the Territories, its northern
,hieftain General Cass) hurried to acceptit,
adding, for the benefit Of party friends in his
own section, that this power resided only
with the people of the Territories, and that
they had ap undoubted right to form and
regulate their domestic institutions, includ-
ing slavery, in their own way. AS it was
by the Shareholders that the doc
trine, with this qualification, was all that
would be necessary for the extension Of their
system into the Territories, they were con-
tented 10 receive il without objection, al
though they did not aiirmatiyely adopt it.
Ii was generally recognized, however, as the
true democratic doctrine, and was acted up
on in 1850, in the organization Of the Terri
tories of New Mexico and Utah; in 1852, it
was affirmed in the national Democratic con-
vention; and in 1854, when the territories
,f Kansas and Nebraska were organized, IL
was - distinctly dogma Of the democratic
party, that il did not hesitate 10 abrogate u
aw for the prohibition Of slavery, which
had stood for moro than thirty years upon
the statute book, and which, from the cir
,umstances OF its enactment, had been uni
yersally regarded rs hedged around with oil
the sacredncss of a compact. But this time
honored restriction was made to give way be-
fore the ..great principle OF popular sover-
signty.'" Nevertheless, the "great princi-
ple" failed to accomplish the end whereunto
L was directed. Kansas was made free
State, the invention OF popular sovereign
ty" was discarded rs worthless, and its pat
,ntees, the present Secretary of State, (Gen-
raj CASH. and the Senator from Illinois,
Mr.. Douglas)-that their title is joint
me, is confirmed by the fortune that has at
iended them-were left to console themselves
with the reflection, that the rascally machine
iad wrought even greater harm to those for
whom they contriyed it than it had to them
'elves
Finding, at last, after many experiments
md trials, that the practice Of slavery was
rot 20 be extended and promoted by any
measures or through any policy founded up
IN, or consistent with the admission that IL
$ an evil-discovering the futility Of all eff
orts to advance and strengthen il from this
tarting point-the shareholders, abandoning
he policy which they had hitherto pursued,
enying and scouting the opinions Of their
all the men in the South,
own to period comparatively recent-now
Ieclare that slavery is not an evil, is not
wrong, but is wise, just, expedient, humane,
llyine that il is established in natural law,
Nd has the sanction and benedictions Of Al
mighty God. And, sir, such is their inau-
nee and authority in the democratic party,
hat it has, at their demand, accepted these
ltrocious dOgmas as eternal yerities, and
made them the distinctive and all-essential
part Of its platform, as will be seen hereafter.
Thus, Mr.. Chairman, havcSadeavored to
show, briefly, how il has happened, that
within little more than seventy years after
the formation of the Constitution, in which
was embodied the principles of the Revolu-
lion, we find ourselves brought TO n reconsid-
ration OF those principles, and to an inqui-
y in regard to the foundations upon which
hey rost.
In matters of Government and politics, IL
s fortunate, perhaps, that at periods not
greatly removed frop each other, the attcn-
ion OF men is arrested by the enunciation of
trange and monstrous doctrines, and their
,uiet disturbed by the assertion OF. claims
md purposes Of the most dangerous and
alarming character, for in this way they are
brought to consideration of the reason and
ogic of things, of elementary truths, of prin-
iples. Thus they are led TO explore the
ources Of power, to discover and define its
ondi,ions and boundaries, and renew its
andnarks. Gathering strength and inspira-
ion from the great soul OF Truth, to which
hey bring themselves near, their voice be-
ONES the voice Of God. They arouse and
nform the public mind, they quicken the
public heart: the banner Of controversy is
nnrolled, and the end is, that the wrong is
o'erthrown and the right indicated, and
people ieel that henceforward,
noble thought shall be frrer under the sun.
And the heart Of people beat with one desire"
Mr.. Chairman, there can be little doubt
that the democratic party, as il is called,
ieting under the guidance Of the oligarchy
,f southern Shareholders, has succeeded in
thoroughly alarming the public mind by the
doctrines it proclaims and the designs II
ayows.
Thus, sir, am brought to an examinatio
a. ~ Al =