Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1860-01-13


~. that Congress has no power 90 inhibit
slavery In the Federal territories, that un-
der the Federal constitution slaves are prob
orty. that by force Of IL slavery exists In the
territories. and that under u the master
may carry his slave into these terrific.
riSs. and there bold him as property. and
that IL 10 the duty OF the government 10
prolect u. Upon ths whole subiec, public
sentiment aud opinion In tho South have
undergone thorough rrvulsion, until ev-
cry other political consideration !. merged
in The advocacy and defence Of slavery.
The experiment of giving force 20 these
new sentiments and opinions in the policy |
Of tho government was first made IN the at. |
tempt to force slavery into territory where
IL had been inhibited by the nation. The !
conaie, that has since c,hvuls,d the cum.
try. and the present disorder. came na,u.
rally and necessarily OF this most extraor-
binary measure. Ii was signal for the.
violation Of compicts between the sections
for the reversal Of the settled policy Of the
country. and an unprovoked assault upon
the sentiment. and opinions of tho gree
body Of the people of the free States. The
extraordinary character of the act was cal.
culaied % initiate the Nation aud sul-e.
Qucnt events connected with il and in illus
iration OF IL, have not hecn OF q character
10 allay the tumult Of the passions naturally
excited. I, precipitated and provoked u
slavery controversy under circumstances
wherein the free States must leel the indig.
nation Of an assailed party, and in which
the moving party had no right 10 expect
triumph bat BY the force OF numbers, Al.
though Kansas, upon assumption, Z" i. -
much a Save State ne South Carolina" IL |
!. In fact A. free As Maine.
The policy now demanded - non.inier.
ycntion by Congrss 10 preven, the spread
ut slavery, interv,ntion by Congress Tor It's
protection; non.intervention 10 place sla-
yerv and freedom m a condition OF equality
in the federal territories. Intervention 90
give slavery special protection and guAran-
" therein. Agains, ihi. policy the moral
sentiment II the North rcvolts: in contem.
plltion OF il, it, social and industrial inter.
ct. are shocked. Freclom. in this age, is
the dominating idea among the civilized ma
tons oi the carth-seridom yAssalagc and
slavery everywhere giving away before IL.
The idea OF Universal Liberty underlai q
the movement Of the American Revolution.
presided at the formation Of the Cons,iiu.
ton aud organization Of the government,
has hecn the central force of all government
m this nation, strunger than all forms OF
monopoly or exclusion. The Institution OF
slavery necessarily arms against itself the
natural instincts OF mankind IL. doom is
certain and inevitable whenever 10 foolishly
and wickc!ly confrunts In op,n field. the
honest aud re,crcnt conviction, ~ the ma.
ton. IL can show M title 20 national su.
premacy. and o'li'. % absurd and IRA.
iional as it, att .mI' 20 iurcc a recognition
Of its legitimacy ~ the nation.
10 j. tot denied that il has a dominion
and its supremacy within the limits Of is
jurisdiction ]. no, the question. The right
20 invade it there il not pretended. With.
M all tho vast area oi IL. extended limits u
!. secure fror uyasion or molss,aiion from
State ~ nation nor dos apprehension e
insecurity therein constitute an elemrn, ia
the present strife. The people ol this state
uniic,ily condemn all attempts ~ interfere
with slavery m the State. Toy deplore
the criminal attack Of hand Of iAna,ical
men at Ilarpcr's Ferry. to inciie scrvile
iusurrrct,on m q sovereign State. Scrvile
in.urrcCtion i,r an individual or State - no,
q remedy under any conceivable circum.
stances, hut crime under any and all.
Mapprehension OF The purposes OF tie free
states 10 needles. They are naturally op.
posed o. slavery They ,cnerate tree labor,
iradionally. rcugiously. and claim the night
on their own ground, 90 maintain their sen
iimcni- sud opinion. Of it. as an evil. and
Of hee labor Esa boon and they a. EN-.
phatcaliy dIsciaim the risht or wish, pur.
pose ur intsni. o. interfere with it IN the
States where 10 exists. Whatever legal OF
constitutional rights 'eloug 90 Il the PEG.
pie OF Name will fully accord Bot u
should not attempt 20 carry the public cit
adel by assault uor take the popular heart
by violence IL were better. Ia great con-
te.t for the supremacy ofopinions, that the
terrible energies Of civil siiife should not
b. invoked hy menace. The only terms
that the case admit, Of. arr a full. ire. IN.
restricted crIym,nt Of all it, rights and
immuuitirs within It's locality, with certain
opposition 90 all attempts 90 extend 90 free
communities. The slave Statc- know full
we'll that what j. now demanded. through
wholly Inconsistent with the interests, and
at variance with the settled opinions IT the
nation. IL requires NJ small share Of Ia.
trepidity % press such claims upon re-
l1ciani PEOPLE. IL ). needless 70 say tina,
the iree States can never weld 90 such DO.
mands tradition, religion. education, in.
dustrial Interests. forbid IL. Opposition un.
der such Ct rcumstsnccs is not to b. con.
s,rucd into hostility TO States and commu-
mites, IL - bot the expression Of q natural
aversion known % exist between the white
and black races and between free and slave
labor. While the people of this State un.
itedly deplore the INVASION OF a sovereign
State % inei,c servilc resurrection therein.
no, lc.. threatening DO they regard the as.
sumcd attitude of assault upon the Union.
upon contingency which mry properly
gri-' under the constitution. The loyalty
Ol this State TO the constitution and union
depends upon no contingency. Her people
contemplate the protection and future pros
poets Of the nation. in the spirit OF deyo-
ton which will make her faithful even II
her opinion should DO oSerrulsd by The Am-
ericau people.
Now, IA this hour OF disorder IN the ma.
tional councils, what public pledge is de-
manjed Of the people OF Maine Tor pacifca.
ton? IL is required tina, they should tx
more altogether, the portsntious fac, Of the
existence, ~ a section Of this Republic, OF
four millions Vt bondmen and shu, their
ewes 10 what oil history teaches, that the
relation Of master and slave tends 20 the GER
tain degradation OF the dominant. while IL
rarely benefits the s-Tyile race? tia, the
mixture OF thesf race. Is evil. and that am.
algimation Is the cure result Of seryitude F?
l. ii expected that they will suhs their hoa.
est sentiments and convictions Of the char
aeter Of slavery, us an element. Of power in
our civilization that they will pat On and
put Oh their opinions TO suit the shifting
temper Of the timer that they will give
their assent % the assumption, &" Of the Il.