The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-03-01

lou say ~ II mere npcuaos'o" -
we are contending, because slavery cannc'
posably 90 there. And yet you REGARD TINS
abstraction Of 80 much Importance To you
that YOU say you arc willing to dissolve the
Union and plunge the country into civil war
10 secure it. lit is an abstraction with Us,
of course it must be an abstraction with you.
But you say you have gone 50 far in the
secession scheme that il would be humllia-
ting to be compelled to retract /; and there
fore We must do something, IL il is only a
semblancc Of concession. admire the cool
ness of this proposition more than the JUS
tice of il. You who are for disunion nave
turned traitors to the Goyernment-stoieh
the forts and arsenals-a and now you come
to us and insist that we must get up sham
and chez in order that you may escape the
gallows without furnishing your honor or
humiliating your pride. =
Ii is true the North has been condcscend-
ing and generous towards the South, and
have no doubt will continue To be. 50 longas
the Union shall last. Ii Is natural for In
telligent and honest communities to be more
generous than Just, especially toward the
weak and errinS but when criminals come
to such people and demand that their
crimes shall be endorsed, instead OF being
paadoned, | think it rather moro than they
will consent TO. And although few men,
btrs OF Congress, representing n generous
people. may DO induced TO stand god-fathers
10 traitors, and become accessories to treason,
after the fact, | feel confident that their con-
stitucnts will hang them higher on the tree
Of public scurn than Hannah or Jodas hung
let me say to gentlemen of the border
slave States, 1T YOU would be protected by the
Federal Government against instructions I;
il You would have slavery still tolerated and
your firesides respected IL you would escape
the torch and the assissin's knife !; | beseeeh
YOU in all candor and frankness, accept the
all and cooperation Of yoI r best friends; ally
yours,ke. with the North, and let the cot
ton States fight their own battles. Ac-
knowledge the rightfulness OF the doctrine OF
freedom, education, and elevation which
now obtains in all the free States .disenchant
Yourselves of the influence of that which, in
your hearts, you would gladly be rid Of, and
the North will assist you. Gentlemen may
scout the idea OF emancipation, but 1t issoon
to come. God and humanity have decreed
il. Empty compromises cannot prevent it..
III the slave holders are honest i'm declaring
that they arc afraid that the people ct the
North will interfere with slavery, and des-
troy it altogether, and that these fears arc
founded upon the increasing anti-slayery SEN
timent and political strength Of the North,
wOulk il not DO well Tor them TO treat this
Northern power with consideration, and
would il not be wise to cOnciliate?
know that gentlemen have reason to
laugh at this when they look upon the past
history of Northern political parties but
can assure you that u new order OF things
has taken possession of the Northern mind,
and desire TO state To gentlemen ON both
sides of the House that the North has awak-
ened to the practical consideration Of these
issues. and il tho Southern States persist in
keeping up the present warfare against the
rights of citizens who are compelled from
business relations to travel South on peace
full missions il they insist that the North
shall regard the Constitution in letter and
spirit as u sacred instrument, and yet they
themselves, treat il us though it were but 80
much blank parchment; il they mob and
hang men and women who are guilty OF
nothing but having been born in the tree
States il they continue 10 rob the Govern
ment TO aid them in Carrying out their trca-
sonable designs, they will soon find the
whole people Of the North becoming aboli-
tiOnized and consolidated in one great and
powerful party. | say this not in spirit
of mcanace; but desire to state the truth.
They have borne and forborne until " for
bz,rancc ceases TO be u virtue" They have
been constantly yielding to the demands of
the slave power for the sake of peace, until
neither piece nor justice are to be found.
Aud now warn the South, that unless 1t
rctrlcts at once from its reasonable opera
tons aud commences system OF Cancellation
toward the North, il may make up its mind
that slavery in the States will date its down.
fall from the day the first net of treason was
committed, and in u few years 1t will 80 out
in blood. | warn you not 10 take the Him
~ compromises which some few gentlemen
ON this side OF the House would oler you.
They do not represent the sentiment OF the
North the North will repudiatc any CON-
promise, such rs has been proposed, and the
Iarty that makes it. Let US look this ques-
ton squarcly in the face, and grapple with
il as it is. lot us not attempt to deceive
ourselves or cheat Others. In crisis like
this, we should be men, do our duty, and
take the consequences.
Would YOU compromise with a burglar
who had entered your dwelling, by giving
him the key to your siie when you had the
means to put him out 7 What would you
think ola officer who should make return
on his warrant that he found the thief he
was ordered to arrest, but that said thief
had declared that he had seeded from the
laws. and that he should regard an arrest us
coercion ON the part Of the officer!
The border States are between two Ores |;
what can they do to cxtricatc themselves
from this dilemma repeat, conciliate the
free States first, by conscnting to the alb
clifton OF slavery in the District Of Column
bia. the dockyards and arsenals, ON basis
which shall b. just TO the Shareholder and
second, to a system Of gradual emancipation
in the Border States, and allowing your peo-
pie, within your own borders, the right
which the Constitution guarantees them, to
discuss the subject of slavery.
Consent to this and the North will aid
YOU in any reasonable endcayor to protect
yourselves and property, and the whole civ
ilized world win applaud YOU in SO humane
an undertaking. Twill not advise us to the
particular mode Of emancipation. Free dis
cussiOn among yourselves will lead TO a
peace.ble and equitable solution Of the
whole Subject. All the natural advantages
OF your beautiful country will at once bcgin
to Develop themselves. Your abundant wa
ter-power with brought into requisition.
Manufacturing cities will suddenly spring
up, opening home markets for the products
OF your soil under the inyigorating ard in
spring influence of free labor, which will
increase your wealth and importance thou
sand fold. You may thus save that which
you now have, or its full value, and gain
that which, while slavery exists as the con-
trolling influence Of your social and political
system, YOU can never receive. need not
recount in detail the happy effects of the in