The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-01-25
MORNING, JANUARY 25, 1861.

citizens. On complex issue DetWech WV
Republican party and the disunionists, al
though It involves the dircst national cllami'
ties, the result might be doubtful; for the
, Republican party is weak in u large part o
the Union. But on direct issue, with al
who cherish the Union ON one side, and oil
who desire its dissolution by force on the
other, the verdict would be prompt and al
most upanimous. desire thus to simplify
the issue, and for that purpose to separate
from it all collateral questions, and relieve II
Of all partizan passions and prejudices.
consider the idea Of the withdrawal oi
the Gulf States, and their permanent rcor-
ganintion with or without Others in q distinct
confedcracy asa means Of advantage to them
selves, so certainly unwise and so obviously
impossible Of execution, when the purpose is
understood that dismssit with the discussion
have already incidentally bestowed upon
it.
The case is different, however, in regard
to the other subjects which have brought
in this connection before tho Senate.
Beyond doubt, Union is vitality impor-
tant to the Republican citireus of the United
States; but it is just as important to the
whole people. RcpuJticdnism and Union arc,
, therefore, not eonpertibie terms. Republican,
ism Is subordinate 10 Union ,as everything else
is and ought to be-Republicanism, DeInoc-
racy, eycy other political name and thing {;
oil are subordlnate-an they ought to dislp.
pear in the presence Of the great question OF
Union. SO far US am concerned, It shall
be so; it should be 60; IL the question were
sure to be- tried as it ought only to be deter
mined, by the peaceful ordeal of the ballot.
II shall be so all tho more, since there Is on
one side preparedness to refer 1t to the arbi-
trament OF civil war.
have such faith in this republican sys-
TEN Of ours. that there is no political good
which desire that am not content to seek
through its peaceful forms of administration
without invoking revolutionary action. II
Others shall invoke that form oiaction to OPP
pose and overthrow Government, they shall
| not, 50 far us it depends on me, have the ex-
cusc that obstinatcly left myself to be mis-
understood. In such case can afford to
meet prejudice with conciliatiOn, cxaction
with concessions which surrender no princl-
pie, and violence with the right hand Of
peace.
"There(orc sir, 50 faras the abstract question
whether by the Constitution OF the United
States, u bOndsman. who is made such by the
laws of State, is still u man or only property.
answer that, within that State, its laws on
that subject are supreme that when he has
escaped from that State into another, the
Constitution regards him as bondsman who
may not by any law or regulation Of that
State, be discharged from his service, but
shall be delivered up on claim. to the party
to whom his service is due. While prudence
and Justice would combine in pursuadlng
you to modify the acts Of Congress on that
subject. so as not to oblge private persons to
assist in their execution, and to protect free
men from being, by abuse Of the laws, car
ried into slavery, agree that all laws OF the
States, whether free States or slave States,
which relate to this class of persons, or any
Others recently coming from or resident in
other States, and which laws contravene tho
Constitution of the United States, or any
law of Congress passed in conformity thereto,
ought to be repealed.
Secondly. Experience in public affairs
has confirmed my opinion, that domestic sla-
very. existing in any State, is wisely left by
the Constitution Of the United States exclu-
sively to the care, management, and dispos-
ition of that State and if 1t were In my
power would not alter the Constitution in
that respect. II misapprchension Of my pos
iton needs no strong remedy, an willing
70 vote for an amendment to tho Constitu-
tion, declaring that it shall not by any flu
turc amendment be no altered as to confer on
Congress power to abolish or interfere with
slavery in any State.
Thirdly. While I think that Congress
has exclusive and sovereign authority to
legislate on all subjects whatever, in the COM
mon territories of the United States and
while certainly shall never, directly or in.
directly, give my vote to establish or sane.
ton slavery in such territories or anywhere
else in the world, yet the question what con.
stitutional laws shall at any time be passed
in regard to the territories, is like every other
question, to be determined on practical
grounds. voted for enabling acts in the
cases of Oregon. Minnesota, and Kansas,
without being able to secure In them such
provisions as I would have preferred and
yet voted wisely. So now | am well-satis-
fled that, under existing circumstances, q
happy and satisfactory solution to the
difficulties In the remaining territories would
be obtained by similar laws providing for
their organization, if such organization were
otherwise practicable. If therefore Kansas
were admitted p State under the Wyan-
dottc Constitution, as | think she ought to
be, and If the organic laws OF all the other
territories could be repealed, | could vote to
autLorise the organization and admission Of
two new States which should include them,
rcserying the right to effect subdivisions OF
them. whenever necessary, into several con-
yenient States but | do not find such reser-
yntions could be constitutionally made.
Without them, the ulterior embarrassments
which would result from the hasty incorpor-
alton OF States Of such vast extent and 'ari-
GUS interests and character would outweigh
all the immediate advantages Of such meas
ure. But il the measure were practi-
cable, should prefer different course.
namely, when the eccentric movements OF
secession and disunion shall have ended, In
whatever iorn that end may come, and the
angry excitcments OF the hour shall have
subsidized, and calmness once more shall have
resumed its accustomed sway over the public
mind. then, and not till then-one, two, or
three wears hence-I should chcerfully nd-
wise n Convention of the people, to be Assem-
blcd in pursuance Of the Constitution, to
consider and decide whether any and what
amendments of the organic national law
ought To be made. A Republican now-as
| have been heretofore q member OF other
narties existing in my day. nevertheless
hold and cherish. rs have always done,
the principle that this government exists in
its present form only by the consent Of the
governed, and that 1t is rs necessary as 1t is
wise. to resort to the people for rcvisions
Of tho organic law, when the troubles
and dangers Of the country certainly trans
cend the powers delegated by 1t to the public
authorities. Nor ought the suggestion to
excite surprise. Government In any form il
q machine. this is the most complex one that
the mind OF man has ever invented or the
/ ha MI nf man has over fr,,nad perfect aa IN