Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1860-12-28
For The Oxford Democrat.
Shall We have q Union and Constitu-
ton

ton
The erca, question which at this moment
ab.orss aud transcends all Others. 10 the
title Of this article. Eighty years ago !,
occupied the serious attention and anxious
.olici,ude o: oil the patriots and statesmen
men Of ,ha, period. Amidst q political
conflict. in which the greatest and pure't
mind. Of the Revolution took part, enter
tanning fundamentally different opinions.
the present Union and Constitution had it,
origin and brih. IL finally, after ample
time Tor reflection and investigation, TO-
ceiyed the sanction Of the old thirteen States.
in conventions called by each, aud became
known throughout the earth as the Union
and Constitution Of the United States OF
America. We can safely declare, on the
faith Of history, that the Constitution then
made was the result, OF IN liberation. reason.
wisdom and forbcarance and we can n.
safely declare now or then, that the oppO-
site quali,ic.-prccipiia'ion. passion, preja.
dice and reerimiuatiou. would have defeated
such q measure.
In the course Of eighty years. one period
has occurred when patriots and statesmen
began to di.iru., the perpetuiiy Of the
Union. II was in 1920. In 1850 some
alarm was fell, in the same direction, yet IL
passed wi,hou, serious apprehension. But
in lseO. the slave and ireo States had their
FIRST rival contest. l, was an important,
contest. II was angry and earnest. The
ba.p Of tie contest was q determination TO
have A. many slave as FREQ States. IL re-
suited at last in the admission OF on, slave
and ono FREQ S,at,.-ths latter beng tina,
OF Maine. The admission OF these States
was coupled with the same provi.o In rela-
ton % all the then Territories Of the United
States which had BEEN Incorporated into the
ordinance Of all tho Territory Owned by the
United States when the Government was -,
IN motion. via &" That slavery or iuSolun.
tary .erviiude should not b. allowed north
Of 90 degrees 80 minute, north latitude In
any territories Of the United States, except
As punishment, for crime" This was
compounds Of conflicting interest, and 'ei-
tied question Of the creates, magnitude, by
securing To each party In the dispute, right
and guarantee. necessary 20 national peace
and tranquility.
Th, compromise-ths result Of grea, and
mutual .aerhco and eoncc.siou-was hailed
by the people OF tho nation al wise meas
uro and Pro'iien,ial blessing aud such
was thu magnitude q tho interests a, stake,
tha, immediately thereafter. Niles Register.
patriotic journal Of the time, predicted
aud I,c!arci that the pcrps,ui,y aud peace
the United State, depended upon il. faith.
iul maintenance. And still later, s,aios.
men Of high ambition, great services and
most eminent fame. have proclaimed in tie
most public manner that ,hi. Compromi.e
va. sauc,i6cd IN the estimation Of the peo.
pie OF the United States, and prayed that no
rude hand should b reckless enough TO de..
troy u,
Thirty year, pA..el In domestic peace IN.
der ,hi, Compromise. I, allaycd all do
nestle sources Of strife and rivalry At the
end Of that period i, was repealed. In an
evil hour tor tbi, republic ,hi. calamity
was sprung upon the nation. II was ter.
rble blow. IL hAtchci d1rman, riValrie-
into being which IT. passage had allayed.
IL 1T the two sectional interests face to face,
and bid them quarrel their way 10 power.
from territories 10 States. through dispu,e,
wTanglc. civil strife, murder and civil war.
The prophet, OF $50 haze been found true
ones and their predictions ought TO have
become the settled conviction Of tho nation.
Thu. compounds violated has threatened
and nov threatens the porpetui'y Of the
government.
Who caused the repeal Of this Compro-
miss with all it, dire eifects. will not ask
or answer. What party or parties did IL
should not DO an inquiry now. The deed
wa. done. I, has become history. IL 10
pas, recall. They who did IL know them
selves. and both they and their assistants.
advisers and Abs,tors. instead Of claiming
that they are the only patriots in the lard.
and charge those who derreSate tho repeal
with .ecuonali.m and treason. should hum.
Die themselves before Almighty God, and
Frustrating themselves before his altar and
the Throne Of right, they should cry Un'
clean. Unelcan-" We have sinned again',
Heaven and in Thy sight"
The TELEGRAPH, the Senator, tho Presi.
dent. the Representative, the journalist.
and the scec.-ioni., are a. this moment all
engaged in enquiripg and answering tho
questions: A" What ought We to DO To unite
and save the nation ?" With great anxiety
each is seemingly engaged in laudable ef-
fort to restore unity, harmony and peace
The statesmen Of the South desire peace
with their conditions. The statesmen VI
the North wan, peace with their conditions.
The conditions differ. aud like tho Gordian
knot ore q hardened mas, OF intricate prop.
osi,ions. We all hope and sincerely desire
tina, thi, knot may yo, be united without ro'
sorting to AleIander's method; and II we
have any patriotism in this nation-if we
are not all sordid, incorporate, aud dlled
with passion, prejudice, and wrath, we
can certainly cacc, peaceablc solution Of
this question.
have desire with others, to say word
about the questions now exciting the public