The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1860-08-25
1)olitiral.
ADDRESS
National Executive Committee
OF THE
CONSTITUTIONAL UNION PARTY
THE
PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES.
ADDRESS
RooMs OF THE NAT. Ex. COMMITTEE.
~ II lSrn

WAsnINGToN. d. C.. Aug. |, 1850.
FELLOW CITIZENS We beg leave to pre-
sent 10 you for your consideration, few of
the reasons which in our Judgment, make it
the imperative duty of the rejecting and
patriotic voters Of the United States to cast
their suilrag,s at the coming Presidential
election for John Bell and Edward Everett,
the candidates OF the Constitutional Union
party. All men, whatever be their political
convictions, and in whatever parts Of the
country they may live, must admit that our
political condition at this time is at once
unnatural and alarming. In all free countries
governed 10y representative bodies, there are.
and ever must be, political parties. The
natural division Of these parties is i'll confor-
nifty with certain original principles in
humanity itself One party represents per-
manency, and one progression one the pro.
polling and one the guiding principle. The
prosperity and hca lihy growth of free coull-
tries depend upon The adjustment and pro-
portion of the forces represented by these
two parties, moving within the sphere of the
Constitution, and alike inspired by patriotic
impulse. The parties which, under various
names have until few years past divided the
Country, have represented or profeSscd to
represent, these principles, though it has
often happened that the particular issues on
which they were opposed were accidental.
and not essential.
THE SLAVERY QUESTION.
But recently change has come over the
spirit of our politics. and the natural antago-
nism of parties has been disturbed. In tif-
teen of the thrty.three States which now
comprise our Confcdracy, the institution of
African slavery exists: and all admit. that,
within these States it is entirely beyond the
sphere and jurisdiction Of the National Gov
eminent. At the time of the forma ton of
the Constitution it had a legal existence. at
least, in nearly all the States From that
time to this it has been subject powerfully
moving the sympathcs and passions Of "a por,
ton of the community, and it cannot lie
denied that it has considerably enhanced
the difficulty Of governing and administer
ing the country. But the grave questions
which grew out Of the existence of slavery
were always met with that wisdom and
patriotism which were requisite for their
adjustment and solution. The constitution
itself was the birth of spirit Of generous
concession and magnanimous compromise
and in like spirit the country was long
governed One crisis of more than common
magnitude and peril occurred in 1920, upon
the admission of Missouri; and another in
1850, upon the admlsson-of California but
both were happily passed, and in ho'h cases,
after some moments of anxious suspense, the
Goals Of strife were qucnchcd, and harmony
was restored.
At the adjournment Of Congress in 1850.
the country was at peace. There was no
portion Of the territory of the United States
which had not its condition fixed by positive,
and as was supposed. irrcpeaable law. The
auti-slavery agitation had been mainly con.
fined to a few over-zealous persons in certain
localities. 1t had excited disturbing force
in the politics OF some of the States; it had
sent some ardent partisans 10 the national
legislature; but it had no marked influence
upon the politics of the nation. No better
proof can be aduced in support of this position
than the fact, that at the Presidential cleo
ton in the autumn Of 1852, Mr.. Hale, the
candidate of the Frce-sol party, received but
1913, l23 votes, to Mr.. Pierce's 500 ,395, and
General SCOTS ,305, 0S9.
REPEAL OF TIE MISSOURI COMPROMISE.
But this suspicious calm was disturbed.
and all the winds of sectional strife were let
loose by events occurring between the Presi.
DENTAL election OF 1852, and that of 1856. -
Prominent among these were the untoward
abrogation of the Missouri Compromise in
1884, the acts Of violence which occurred in
Kansas, and the persistent efforts of the
Federal Administration to force that Territory
in the Union. So great was the effect pro-
duccd ny these causes. that instead of Mr.
JIale's meagre vote of 1913 1873 Col Fremont,
the Republican candidate had I 34l .5.4, to
Mr.. Buchanan's S3S, 1872 and Mr.. Fillmore s
S74, 7O7. Since that time the Republican
party has maintained its irnpo sing character
and now presents as formidable front be.
fore the country asit ever did.
REPEAL OF THE MISSOURI COMPROMISE A
DEMOCRATIC MEASURE.
Great pains have been taken in the North.