The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-07-20


and his opponents Is, that wbile the latter
ask that the Democratic platform shall ex-
press clearly tho logical results OF tho Dred
Scott decision, he desires that II shall endorse
the decision In general terms, leaving. 1t open
to such Interpretation In tho North a ho
and his friends may wish to give II. That
somebody 10 TO DO cheated by tho political
thimble-rigging now being played by tho
Democratic lenders, Is certain and u Is quito
manifest who Il will not DO. II will not DO
the Southern propagandists or Mr. Doug.
las, for the latter, In tho speech TO which, l
have jast referred, suggests TO his Southern
friends that, of oil tho doctrines now adyo.
Gated, his are tho best and surcst for their
interests. ,-...
Ho tells them that II Is TO the operation
Of the principle of squattcr sovereignty that
slavery has possession Of New Mexico. and
Of every inch Of territory outside Of tho
States that II now occupies, aud ho asks
whether II will not DO likely to give them
more by-aud.by, when portions Of Mexico
shall bc acquired.
| repeat, sir, for the point cannot b. made
too promincnt-thc Dred Scott decision. with
It's Just deductions. covers the whole ground
Of difference in principle and in policy 10.
tween the parties. Whoever accepts II, and
acknowledges It's authority as q settlemcntof
political question, Is, and OF right ought
10 be, member of tho so-called Democratic
party; and whoever rejects II as such Get.
Element is Republican, and can consistent
ly act with no other party.
Mr.. Chairman, the prompt and faclo sur
yitor Of slavery, the Democratic party, res
poets no other interest and knows no other
love. It's national conventions, its Federal
administrations, and It's Congressional ma
joritles, are occupied exclusively with the
wants, claims and cxactions OF single In
tcrcst-the interest of capital invested In
men, women and children, as articles Of own
erhip, bargain and sale. Pray tell me, sir,
what Is there in oil this broad land, or be-
meath tho sun, for which this party labors
or cares, for which It thinks, or speaks, or
lcgislstes, except tho advantage, the pcrpetu-
ity, and the universally Of this thingof hui
man slavery7 Turn to the records Of this
and the other House, and show me what pol
icics, what acts OF legislation, what meas
urcs of wisdom and bene6ccncc, il inaugur-
ates or introduces for the benefit Of tho coun-
try at large, and in behalf Of all the src-
tions; and especially, what solicitude itevc
manifests for the interests Of freedom, It's
agriculture, manufactures and commerce, its
farms and shops and ships! No; II will
pay hundreds Of millions for Cuba and an
aristocracy Of planters, but to furnish homes
for the homeless, whether of the North, the
South, the East, the West, or FROM other
lands, TO encourage the aspirations Of honest
labor, 1t will not give an acre Of our bound.
less possessions. Reckless of the noble OBJ
jccts Of government, false to tho true mission
Of political party, deaf to the calls Of pat
riotism and nationality, II projects the trans
formation Of our. political political system
from nepublic d -frccmcn tD an 0llgarchy
Of shareholders; II derides the faith Of tho
fathers II assai.s tho Legislative and EIccu-
two departments with tho arts and ins,ru-
mcnts OF corruption 1t subsidies the judi.
cial tribunals and erects within its own
confines an iron despotism, which strikes
down those Of It's members who would qucs-
ticn the infullibility or check the arrps,nco
Of its master.
Mr.. Chairman, II Is in this unprecedented
and alarming condition Of the country, and
against combinations and purposes such as I
have described, that the Republican party
enters upon the camraisn Of 1860. Tho
successor and faithful representative Of tho
Of other days, Il becomes tho
immediate and positive enemy of the modern
Democratic party. II is the only organlza.
tion in the country which recognizes the no.
ccssity and acknowledges the duty Of resist.
Ing 10 the utmost tho new and dangerous
schemes and dogmas Of tho party which has
been 80 long in possession of the Govern
mont. Unlike another political orsanila.
ton, II perceivcs clearly that the time has
come when decisive and uncompronlising
stand must be taken against the agsrcs-ions
of the slave power and il feels that ii tliera
is not a party now prepared to say 10 this
power, "No farther" il will be hopeless to
expect that one faithful and brave enough To
do this will arise hereafter upon any sum.
mons that may be issued. Il secs that IL tho
true and loyal patriots Of tho country arc
not justified In resisting the claims and cxac-
tions now made, nothing can DO suggested.
nothing attempted. nothing accomplished
hereafter, which would render II their duty
To make such resistance (; and that they may
confess and declare that hencclorward there
is to be no opposition to any doctrine that
nav be asserted, or any injustice that may
be practiced, however false and fatal they
may be.
What is the obvious and unquestionabls
duty Of the republican party In this cxigen-
cyl It declares that Its purpose Is To resist
the extension Of slavery; to maintain tho
Constitution and preserve tho Union, by nd.
herring faithfully to tho opinions and sus.
tanning the policy Of tho great men who laid
80 wisely the foundations Of our institutions,
by "restoring the government to the prinei.
pies Of Washington and Jefferson" by re-
sisting legally. but with unia!tering pur-
pose, the Efforts that arc being made to con.
vert this faircst fabric OF Freedom that the
round earth supports, into q governments
whose cardinal policy and highcstduty Is tho
protection Of slavery.
II declares that, while seeking nothing Tor
which Il has not the express and certain war
rant of Washington, Adams, JeG rson, Mad
lam. and all the great men OF the heroic cn,
40 ,vh;cb tbey arc not dircctcd and enjoinod
Nv them. and for which they have the plain
and admirable chart OF the Constitution.
md 10 which they arc not drawn by the 6xed
and eternal polar star Of the Declaration OF
Independence, II will submit TO nothing
wrong, and least of all to that change 10 our
Government prophesied and attempted BY
the Dred Scott decision.
The plain and imperative duty Of the Re.
publican party Is to live up In all prudence
and wisdom, and In all fidelity, ~ these dec
laratious-to be cArfal TO overtep 10 no wise
the boundaries OF constitutional authority,
and In all ways to respect tho rights OF tho
various sections and intercsts-to keep tho
word Of honor and good faith not to tho ear
only bat to tho hope; to show how fair,
manly, and trustworthy men may 10 who
are sincere and honest, how safe and wise
those who have faith In eternal truths. and
who will not, for party or oikcc. surrender
Tho deep convictions OF their minds. but will
maintain them TO the end. against MI entrca-
lies, all threats, and oil compromises. This,