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

the promise Of some exhibition Of popular in
terest. This Is our feeling. and We are quite
sure that Republicans generally entertain sim
liar one.
Reserving for future occasion oil remarks
on the adoption Of that resolution by the con-
yention offered by Mr.. wicklias Of Louisiana,
which throttles and strangles at one fell swoop
Mr.. Douglas doctrines Of popular sovereign
~ and leaves him with only the Jefferson dis
car,led plank Of Court Sovereignty to stand
upon, we come to speak Of Mr.. Douglas aside
from the action of the battered, and tattered
convention that presented him.
There is no deadlier foe TO human freedom,
IL history speaks truly. than Stephen Arnold
Douglas. There is none among the living pub
lie men Of the nation whose present acknowl-
edged principles so plainly contradict the first
IDEAS which lilo at the foundation Of free gov
eminent as does Mr.. Douglas, and there Is no
public man of our country who so commingles
great ability with great disposition to commit
sins oflarge or small dimensions to secure the
coveted fruits OF an inoriinatc and selfish am
bition, as does this same Mr.. Douglas. we
confess to curiosity to know what freemen OF
free States, liberty loving men who breathe
free air, and who have learned to love free prin-
cip!cs for their life growing fruits will DO ior
Mr.. Douglas. We have faith that they Will
rccollect his history, will renew their abhor-
renee of his tergiversations, will recxamine
his sophistries. will puncture his professions.
What is his history!
Suppose we dwell briefly upon 1t. In 1913
we find him on the stump at Springfield, ILL
nois, declaring his unqualified appreciation OF
the Missouri Compromise, saying "that 1t was
measure canonized in the hearts Of the
American people and akin to the Constitu-
ton" and calling down anathemas on those
who should attempt to destroy 1t; we find him
at Washington voting for Congressional inter-
vention to prevent slavery extension in Ore
con, for the extension Of the Missouri prohibi-
ton line to the Pacific. Now where does he
stand, A memorable monument OF inconsistent
cy such as no public man in this country and
we believe in no other country ever presented.
IL was his "ruthless hand'' that struck down
that measure which he told the assembled free
men of Illinois "was framed in wisdom and
canonized in the hearts OF the American peo-
ple," making himself by this parricidal act,
the guilty author of all the agitation of the
slavery question which has ccnyulsed the ma
ton since 1884. Before God and tho American
people he is responsible for this slavery agita-
ton with all its bitter fruits, of sectional ami
mostly and its harvest Of territorial troubles
The deadly crimes that were perretrated
against the hunted, injured people Of Kansas,
and which he never had the manliness to de-
nounce in his place in the Senate, lie at his
door. Lighting with his incendiary torch
flame beyond his power to extinguish, to-day
Kansas is denied admission to the Union, and
is subjected to the perils of having hated in
stitution forced upon her through the workings
of that infamous act which originated in his
brain. No specious talk about popular sover-
eighty can delude the people. On him the res
possibility rests. and the people will hold him
to II strictly. His nomination, no matter how
made or by whom supported. will bring afresh
before the people the infamy of his Kansas Ne
braska Act, and the long train Of evils that
have proceeded therefrom, and as the justice OF
God does not sleep forever, SO surely will he
meet retributlve justice in a righteous rejection
at the hands Of the people.
Then again, the people ofthe free States
while they have no disposition to interfere, po-
ltically with Slavery in the States where 1t ex-
lists, have lively sense Of its injustice, are con-
yinced OF its pernicous influence over the pub
lie prosperity in the States where II exists,
perceive that IL affects injuriously the best in
terests Of the Free States by itsconnection with
federal legislation, and know that 1t is in pal
pable contradiction with the fundamental ideas
on which our government rests, and We do not
misconceiyc their character when We say they
will turn with GOODNESS, ifnot contempt from
any man however exalted his position, who de-
clares his indifference to its extension into the
territories. Its their right, ii is their duty,
TO preserve the territories, yet untrodden by
the foot Of Slavery, for free labor. The Instincts
Of humanity. the precepts Of that radiant
christianity which proceeded from the mouth
Of him who spoke as never man spake, the most
careful regard for interests periled always by
the spread Of slavery, will conspirc to blast
the public man who has shown, by speech or
by act, his heartlessness, by declaring his in
difference to its spread. Mr.. Douglas with oil
the blessings which the adoption Of the rule
of freedom has conferred on his adopted
State in full view; with ample opportunity
to contrast and note the difference in the prog
ress to national greatness between free and
slave State with a full knowledge OF the
barbaric cruelties Of slavery, in this nine
nineteenth century with the lights Off civilira-
ton which has been constantly perfecting by
the busy brain and active hand Of free labor,
with an indifference to the pulsations OF COM
mon humanity as surprising as 1t Is odious,
and which can only be accounted for on the
supposition that his receipts from the unre-
Quilted toll Of the bondmen on his Mississippi
plantation has hardened his heart, has not hes.
itated to declare, again and again, in his
public and private speeches that he does notcare
whether slavery is voted up or down. and the
most careful searcher of his speeches will not
find either an express or an implied declaration
that he looks upon slavery as wrong, and
scarcely q faint remark that II Is anywhere an
evil.
The father his country, George Washing
ton. forever honored be his memory. in let
ter to John +. Mercer dated Sept 9th, l7s6,
says, cit is among my first wishes to see some
plan adopted by which slavery in this country
may be abolished by law" Mr.. Douglas says
he does not care whether slavery is voted up
or down - Which is preferable, the lively in
terest which Washington expressed for the e1-
tinction Of slavery, or the GOODNESS OF Mr..