The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-09-06

tako stand against tho Constitution Of his
country. Just in proportion rs the Democ'
racy has wandered from the Constitution,
just in tho same proportion hare they gone
down. And II they had been faithful and
stood fully up to their own doctrines, all the
abolition parties Of tho earth, and all the
Repubiican parties Of the earth, and all tho
combined powers Of tho earth could never
have put down tho old Democratic party. /
have ever believed in the justice Of Democ-
racy, and believe In Il to-day rs much as
ever. And ! believe 10 to bo my duty to
stand upon the rauparts Of the Constitution
and defend It from oil foes, whether they
come from the North, the South, the East or
the West. There wcss causes Of irritation
between the sections ! admit. ] deprecated
them, and labored long and earnestly to get
rid Of them. But 1t was not done. Those
causes of irritation. although they may have
suggested to southern states to request be-
coming guarantees, they never justified armed
rebellion in any shape or manner. And
what were those causes Of irritation7 The
only real, practical cause Of irritation was
the non-execution Of the fugitive slave law.
But that did not affect the cotton states 50
called; but Missouri, Kentucky, Virginia,
Maryland, and Delaware. and perhaps one
or two other states were the only ones ever
injured by It. The cotton states so called
never lost fugitive slave from the time Of
their existence to this day. To be sure they
had question about territories, but 1t was
so entirely ideal, mere abstraction. and 80
practically not . real grievance. But If It
had been they had the supreme court and
both branches Of Congress, and practically
had control Of the question. Tho fugitive
slave question was the only practical ques.
ton which annoyed them, and that question
was not the cause of the rebellion. What
state first seeded? South Carolina began
to scrape lint before the votes were counted.
She had no practical grievance whatsoever.
Look at Virginia. Though politicians ca
joled. cheated, and delraudcd, and bullics
held bowic-knive at the throats Of her citi.
zens to coerce rebellion, it was long time
before they could cempel that state to any
thing like secession. And when they did 50
nominally, the state government was revolu-
tionized, one part flew away from tho other,
and organized their government. rather than
allow it to go into the bottomless pit Of Sc
cession Maryland. when she gets chance,
votes against it. Missouri-hcr citizens are
pouring out their blood like water and their
treasure without stint. rather than be drawn
into secession. Look at good old Kentucky,
where her governor and senator's have laborcd
to bring her out Of the Union-after all
attempts to seduce her from her fidelity to
the Constitution, she gives more than sixty
thousand majority for tho Union. Now l
inquire Of all citizens in the FREQ states.
especially my Democratic fellow citizens,
whether they are troubled about the integri-
ty Of Kentucky whether they think 1t is
necessary to stay up tho hands of rebellion
In Kentucky, so emphaticslly condemned
there2 And now repeat that the only
practical cause Of dissention was the fugi-
tive slave question; and that appertained to
states that could only bc drawn or dragooned
into the folly Of secession. Gen. Butler has
had this question on bis hands. As long rs
the Constitution was acknowledged, oil con-
servative citizens admitted that It was the
duty Of the free states to restore the fugitive
who was fleeing from the service Of his mas
ter. Gen. Butl,r has found the restoration
of the fugitives impracticable in many cases.
The master had thrown of the Constitution.
What was the result? lie was obliged to
receive hundreds Of contrabands, and main
tain them. do not know what he Is going
to do with the question; but suppose he
is going to do with them something as the
Irishman was going to do with the Widow
Malone's pig. "DId you steal tho Widow
Malono's pig, Patrickt" asked the priest.
THAT did" "what made you7 Think,
when you vii! stand, you hereto, in the
Great Day, when shall bo therc, and you
will be there. and the Widow Malone will
be there, and the pig will be there" "And
will your reverence bc thcre2" EYES"
And the Widow Malone therc?" "Yes."
"And the pig thorc'" "Yes." "well. !
should say, Widow Malone, take your pig"
Now, do not know but Gen. Butler is go |
ing to take as long credit as did the Irish
man. But, when we have . Constitution.
and when they acknowledge its force, have
no doubt but every just citizen will DO for
seeing 1t complied with.
Now, l have just as much confidence In
tho masses Of the Southern people Us in the
masses Of the Northern people. Both are
alike. The masses are honest. To bc sure,
their institutions, their means Of communi- |
cation, render them moro eIcitable, more ca
silly led, and more relying upon their leaders
for public information, and therefore more
liable to bc misled than Northern people.-I
Nevertheless, have confidence in the South.
ern people; and the result Of tho great con-
flict in Kentucky assures me that the South
ern heart is with the people, sound to the
core. Though terrified into seeming scce'-
sion. with the exception Of one or two States
in the South, am we'll satisfied that II the
question Of Union or disunion were submit
a., q, the ps,ople TO-DAY an overwhelming vote