Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1861-03-15

President Lincoln's Address.

President Lincoln's Address.
We did not have the time or spac. to speak
Of Mr. Lincoln's ADDRESS in our last issue as
its great Importance required. 1t will not
be denied that no sta tie paper was ever so ca
gcrly sought for, or was more anxiously Pc
ruscd. Many supposed that it was to be
the arbitcr Of peace or war and would set
tic the question whether there was a United
States, and an American Government, OF
not. 1t was to be a new starting point in
the nations history,-a recurring to first
principles and the original doctrines and
practices OF the earlier statesmen of the ma
ton, or else it would b',--as tie enemies Of
the President and Of the party which placed
him in power desired ana PREDICTED, a com
mon place affair, abounding III tie mcres.
platltudls 1t is no stretch Of tie truth, t.
say that the admirers Of the man are abund-
antly satisfied with the message, while those
who were hoping fora failure are disappoint-
Il and chagrined.
1t Is necc sary, to fully comprehend tins
manifest t. recall tie current history OF
the day TO fully appreciate what is said
and what is wisely lift unsaid We must 2rasl
the drift Of the parties and OF the men who
have played SO important part III the ma
ton S history for the past decade. In Lot
the Compromise Measures were passed after
heated debate and many thrcatenings against
the Uni1n. The Wilmot Proylso, which had
been endorsed by all parties in the North
was killed beyond resurrection, and the de-
nand Of the Slave power to have Texas made
into four Save States at some future time
was complied with. California was admit
ted IS a free State, after the most bitter hos
tilitv, because it did not recognize Slavery.
The Slave p wer assumed head and shape,
and one t. be always consulted aud obeyed,
1t had gained strength and aGdaeity by its
successes. aud the backing down Of the Dem
ocratic party. When the country had set
tied down into comparative quiet, and the
natural ehafngs and irritations from the
harsh features Of the Fugitive slave law
/ hal become sottened or me.lowed by time,
another advance must be made by this lns..-
tiable power. u get possession of the re-
mining territo.ies was the next effort di-
reetcd. Mr. Douglas as chairman Of the
Senate Committee on Territories, aft many
iuaniralttions and changes, brought in a
bin organizing the trrrityry Of Karsls and
Nebraska, repeating the Missouri Compr5.
nisc,-wiicb h.dsett!ed TIE character Of thi,
large tract as free territory. permitting
,lucrz t. compete f1r Is possession with th5
odds in IL favor, b-cluse the government
offices and the patronage AID influence Of a
seTylle aIuiH.strati N WIS on It's side This
opened the h1od gates Of passion ill-will and
heat,d anime>ites, IInceforth there was
to &c trial fr TIE pJss sSiln Of what Vas
IF cl5m hy riLAt and the contest lnmeac-
ell and it has continued for six years III,
princif les Involved in the cont Il brought
into being new far Y which coutcndcd. al.
most suce ssfaily with the proud and defiant
Democratic party Of id, for the possession
Of the government. TIC gillaat Repuf ii
can party with it. gallant and Diet rmn {
leaders went int tAec5ntcst in ISj6 Will
an eanestnc,s and discrimination nayn
surpassed. The influence Of money and Ex
ecatiyc p1w-r oyarpawerri it. bat dil 30
crash it nut. It has liyei aud thr,yel unit
success mas crowned its efprts When til,
INV exe.rltei Blchln4n. then called tn
:. Sage OF Waeatland" assumed tie rims u
slyernm ut, be said in his Inaag raj
y difference Of opinion has arisen il
regard % TIE time when the people OF ii ter
rit3ry shall decide this question Tor them
selves, ttae slavery question: This, happi
ly is matter of but little practical impar
tance and besides, it is a judicial question
which lcEitimltcly belongs t. the SuPrcm
Court of the Uuitel States. before whom i
is now pending and Will. it is understood. b
speedily and finally settled. F. their deei
sion shall che4r.ul!y submit &c :
Here Wa the slladowlRg forth Of the Dire
Scott opinion. which purposely was to b
made, and which without doubt. was par
of tie programme for changin. tie Who'll
policy Of the government On this qucSti n
The Supreme Court was to decide politics
questions. Up to this time Political que,
tions were Seeiled primarily y the people
and secondly by their agents, the law max
ing power. Bat ever since the famous Dire
Scott opinion, the heresy has been Tcr;ma
ciously held to, an urgcl on the country
that the Supreme Court who are appointc
for life and who are beyond the reach Of .l
people, are u decide for all time, grave pl
itieal questions
Mr.. Buchanan gave in his ADHESION t
this doctrine. The party adopted this view
and henceforth, this august tribunal foun
themselves rather roughly handled. Ito,
pat and fitting, then does the following par
agraph from Mr.. Lincoln Inaugural, hi
this heresy on the head
At tie same time. the candid citizen mus
confess that if the policy Of the government
upon vittl questions affecting the whole pee
pie is 10 be irrcyocably fixed by the decision
Of the Supreme Court. the instant they ar
made in ordinary litigation between partic
IN personal actions the people Will have Gear