The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-06-29

In ~ a.
ing 20 from this relation could justly boast
~ h,;nr the highest type OF civiii,ation.
s, ne manner OF doubt that this novel,
Ia IN me. shocking doctrine, always nas
S.sn and /. vet rcpudiated BY numbers Oh the
-. - and ,6e best OF the slaveholding States,
W., =. !, ~a. rejected by Washington and
Jefferson, BY Madison and Mason Is,nla
can boast no greater namesl, IN 'ne es,y,
sua III lint they find themselves power
les against the progress OF an idea that
seems to relieve people from the necessity OF
eIcu,ing wrong which they are at all events
dctermined 70 commit. It's much easier to
turn the doubtful act into q positive merit,
and claim credit as a virtue for steady pesc-
yerance in what they desire to do.
Be this rs il may, IL is this change which
has brought the country into its present diff.
icult situation. For just 30 long as slavery
was understood TO be an evil in the'social
system, just 50 long was IL unreasonable to
demand its establishment in regions where il
had never existed. The law OF liberty rs an
acknowledged blessing was then the rule, and
slavery was only tolerated as an exception,
from the necessity OF the case. in countries
from which it could not be safely eradicated.
But 50 soon as this theory was exploded, and
the notion that slavery was positive adyan-
tagc, not only 10 both master and slave but
TO all the members Of civilized community,
became prevalent in its place, another set Of
duties immediately devolved upon the consci-
entiors believers Of the new faith. The right
10 expand became no less clear than the obi
cation grow imperative. The question no
longer remains confined within the borders OF
actual aveholding States. Ii spreads itself
abroad, not merely over tho plains yet uu-
trodden by the foot Of the settler, but into
congratulated and populou, communities
which 10 not yet see the light Of conviction
on this point. II becomes the great discoy-
cry Of the age. II. indeed. the proposition
be once admitted rs sound, cannot, for my
Part, understand why IL does not legitimately
follow that every frcc State in the Union
nav, every free State in the worlds not do
ing itself positive injury by refusing to
haroor the blessed institution in its bosom
II slavery b, good in itself, why no, ditiass
1t as universally US possible?
Here, then, we sse the practical conse-
cnencc of the Abandonment OF the funda-
mental principle OF the Declaration Of lnde-
pendencc: and hero we SEQ the absolute ne
ccssity Tor toe establishment OF an associated
Organization which shall be potent enough
to overthrow this false doctrine, and to resist
every practical form OF its development. i
cav Il not in any spirit Of menace or Of I'M
kindness to those who disagree with me in /
this matter, but because feel II to DO a SOL /
cum duty incumbent upon me as a Represent
alive Of State pledged by all its past his
tory 20 maintain the cause OF freedom and
free institutions. There can Be no eompro-
muse 9haterr on this issue. So long as 1t re-
mains undetermined-and that is equivalent
to saving, so long as the people Of these
States remain themselves free-so long an
organized party will continue in the field,
having for its main object the restoration, Us
a cardinal prin, iplc Of the Federal Govern
,uent, Of ths ancient doctrine OF the inalien-
able rights Of man. If this be q standing
menace to the people Of the slayeholding
States, ~ b il. We may regret that they
10 regard IL, and love them too, but we must
love liberty moro. So said Brutus and Cas-
sius in their hour Of peril, to Mark Antony,
when he WIS dcserting the sacred cause they
had sworn to support Yooemus te adj nul-
las iaimicitias; scd tamcn pliUis ROsiran hb-
The party thus associated has no purposes
which IL seeks to conceal. Ii harbors no
hostile designs against the rights of any OF
the States. Its leading idea is Reform, total
and fundamental, in the spirit in which the
government has Of late years been admins
i,red-rsiUsln, also, in the details, which APP
par Of lata to have been suffered to run into
many grave abuses. IL is is not to DO con-
calc,l. that all over the country there is a
well-defncd impression that, for the sake Of
retaining power, corruption has been tolera-
tel, IL not actively encouraged, in high pla.
ecs: and the various efforts ut Investigation
made within few years, 50 Ear from remoy-
iuc that uroasiness, have gone far to increase
IL. Without undertaking to judge OF the
truth or ths error at the bottom of the feel
ing. do vt maintain that, for the honor Of
the cuuntry and Of all who may be concerned
in the administration of the government,
there is an oyerruling necessity for q COM
plete change Of the persons now responsible
Tor its direction. The reform must be cide
on,ugh to restore freedom as the guide Of the
Federal policy, and to pull down the idol
which has usurpcd her throne. Ii must be
dep enough to reinstate honesty above sus-
picion in the dispensation OF the pecuniary
contracts incident TO the possession OF great
place. II the execution Of such policy as
this constitutes good ground for resort to
extreme measures OF resistance by any por-
iion OF the people OF these States, then Is
there no hope OF further harmony in Amer
ia for tbs evils which would ensue TO us,
n VIZ were deferred from action by such con-
alterations, would be far more fatal to the
public peace and prosperity, in the ultimate
result. than any which could grow out Of
perseverance, against unreasonable demands.
Once more may the words Of the great Ro-
man PATRIOTS he appealed to {: "NRlla snin
naiadatis az toritas Gpud liberos est
And the mrdy is secession, or, in palmer
words, a dissolution Of the Union and dis
rup,ion of the Constitution! So we are
told In word, the people who defy US to
pu, the gro GU, Of this Hall who claim
thai, by virtue of that negro. twenty Of their
numbcr stand upon this door; who hold a
majority Of the STATS on the bench Of the
Supreme Court; who have time out OF mind
welded in their own favor the executive in
luenee Of the Federal Government, imagine
that they arc about to better their condition
by abandoning all these enormous privileges,
aud by setting up another government, with
out any similar advantages, among them
selves. Perhaps there might be some plaus-
Utility in this idea, II you could fence your
selyes all round with high wall, and pro-
claim q complete non-intercourse with the
world outside. But the day for these fancics
IL passing of, even with the Chinese and
Japanese, " no have held to them the longest.
Your slaves viii not 30 made safer at home,
or less aggressive when abroad, by the with
drawal Of the power Of reclamation neither
will your internal condition be less an object
Of anxiety to your neighbors than it is now.
The mere fact Of the existence or the nom
existence of n common bond Of government