The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-04-19
10,

agreements. for I presume, Of course. they
understood the matter differently, but must
express my profound regret that any misap-
prehcnsion Of this character should have oc-
Cured. In making the agreement. no gen.
tlcman was asked to sacrifice principle, con-
viction, or even feeling. because the para
mount duty being to obey the Constitution
Of tho United States, II was adiudged on all
hands that this State law should bc repealed,
IL 1t was declared to be in conflict with a
higher idp. When the judgment OF the SUI
preme Judicial tribunal Is authoritatiyely
pronounced, personal opinions must giyew
and whatever my judgment was two months
ago, us an individual. have to-day but one
duty us o legislator: and that duty Is to
make the statutes conform TO the Constitu-
ton. And. Mr.. Chairman, | envy not the
position Of those gentlemen who ayow to-day
their willingness to see nothing done at all,
If they cannot have their particular mode OF
amendment adopted. Such position is one
OF disloyalty to the party that placed them
on this lloor. for the Republican party claims
to be, and of right is, q Union.lovipg, Com.
pact.kecping, Constitution-obserying body of
men. Such position is one Of disloyalty
to the State Of Maine, for 1t exposes her un.
Justly to the reproach Of her sister States,
with whom she would iain be. as she Always
has been, at peace. Such position is one
Of disloyalty to the Federal Constitution.
which Is the very palladium of our civil and
personal liberty, and to maintain which, is
the all-cngrossing, paramount duty OF every
true American heart, and every deyout lover
of freedom and free institutions.
But, Mr.. Chairman, whilst avowing this
willingness to adjourn without in any way
clearing tho law Of its conceded unconstitu-
tionality, these gentlemen express the hope
that the Senate may recede from its position
and agree to an amendment instead Of re-
peal. Well, this may be so, but if the Sem
ate acts as unreasonably as do the gentle
men of the House who assume this position,
there is little prospect Of such conclusion
But without tarryiug to dwell on the proba.
bilities for or against such a result, will
hazard the opinion that the amendment,
which these gentlemen propose, is one which,
if II makes tho law constitutional, will at
the same time make II silly, and such legis-
latiop is, in my judgment, poor business
for grown-up men to engage in. l repeat,
that il tho law is amended as is pro-
posed, il may be made constitutional, but
at the same time be made silly, and before a
year expires, those engaged in the matter
will be ashamedt to look their work in the face.
When law can only be made to conform
to the Constitution by making il possibly
good, common sense suggests that II had
better be removed from our State Book.
These gentlemen who think that amendments
of this character will be grateful to the feel
ings of the more thoroughly pronounced An
Ii Slavery men Of the Republican party. are
in my judgment very grayely mistaken. Men
of that type are not tickled with straws, nor
pleased with toys. They arc men Of earnest
and deep convictions, and the issues which
they love are those which involve the grand
elemental principles of human liberty, and
which strike directly at the root Of the great
matters in controversy before the nation. To
talk of such men desiring an issue on such
point as Is proposed in these amendments,
is to suppose them as once stripped OF that
tough logic, that deep conviction and that
invincble purpose which made them moral
power. in the land before they were even or
ganized az potential element in our elections.
But, Mr.. Chairman, ! shall not prolong
my remarks. We stand here to-day with
the law pronounced unconstitutional by our
Supreme Judicial Court-a Court not pro-
disposed, one would readily say, to reach
such conclusion. When so consistent, -
uniform, and 80 straightforward Republican
as Daniel Goodenow, and 80 radical u Free
Soiler as Seth May, tell you that law ON
this subject is unconstitutional, the argu-
ments and reasons to that effect must have
been conclusive and irresistible to their
minds they should be equally conclusive
and irresistible upon our actions. Under
the effect Of that decision the Senate, com.
posed entirely Of Republicans, has passed
this repeating act with less than one third
OF that body objccting, and yet, with these
facts before us, gentlemen Of this House are
now urged to pursue different course for
the interest of thr Republican party. Look
ing at the matter on party grounds. reach
an entirely different conclusion; and accept
ing this issue Of the matter, summons you.
Republicans, to your rueallegiance SUN.
mons you to stand by the administration OF
Abrham Lincoln in his battle for liberty
and for Union against traitors, conspirators
and sassins. call upon you to stand by that
first of American Statesman, Wm. ii. Sew
ard, and to hearken to his advice that we
. REPEAL all Statutes in contrdpeniions of
the Constitution or The ialcs Of Congress. "
I implore you to remember the wise words
of that hereditary statesman Of New Eng.
land. Charles Francis Adams, the son and
grandson of Presidents as pure as Washing
ton, wherein he cautions us "noi TOO lose
the substance in rain and foolish struggle
for shddoip." by these names ] summon
you. Republicans. to your duty, and by these
iibcrty.loving. Constitutional principles,
know that we shall conquer.