The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-09-05
Tho wickednoss of the Rebellion.
To the following extracts from recent


which this rebellion, unless promptly met
and suppressed, will entail upon this coun-
try. cannot be portrayed in too..strong colors.
1t has we'll won the epithcts Of 7" wicked
and "infernal." Let epery rotr see 10 II
that he deposits his ballot in the ray 'chie'
,ciR deal Rebellion The deadiest bio,o -
4" Eighteen months ago the Government
of the United States extended its constitu-
tional rule from tho Northeastern corner oil
Name to the mouth Of the Rio Grande, and
from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean one
might almost say from " sea 10 sea and from
the river to tho ends Of the earth !" an area
Of twenty one degrees of latitude and sixty
of longitude. Throughout this mighty do.
main there was not q citizen but was bound
by his allegiance, and II no was an officer,
military or naval, or q magistrate OF the
Union or the State, by his oath. to obey the
Constitution and laws OF the United States,
+" ANYTHING in the Constitution and laws OF
any State to the contrary Notwithstanding. "
Over all this vast territory, the constitutions
al government of the United States bore
lawful sway, just as fully as the constitu.
tional government of England bears lawful
sway throughout the United Kingdom OF
Great Britain and Ireland. On the 9th of
November, 1860, constitutional majority
of the people thought fit to pass by John U.
Breckenridge, who was offered by them rs
the candidate of the Southern wing OF the
democracy, and to elect Abraham Lincoln
as. the President of the United States. For
this high crime and misdemeanor on our
part, eleven Southern States (althongh by
entering into the election they were bound
in honor to abide by the rcsult) have thought
proper to declare themselves an independent,
foreign and belligercnt power, and have or.
dercd and are now ordering, at the mouth OF
the cannon, the loyal people of the United
States to give up to this foreign power hall
our territory half our sca-coast and the
fortresses that defend it and protect its nav,
igation; the entrance TO our inland seas, ana
the mouth and q thousand miles OF the low
er course of the mighty rivers which pene-
trate to the heart Of that portion OF the
country which we are graciously permitted,
during good behavior of course, to retain.
Though we have been on the point OF war
with England more than once within twen-
ty.fye years, and that under u Southern
lead, for some wretched fragments of unset
tied territory ON the outskirts of the Union,
we are now summoned to give up to for
eigu and hostile power q domain half as
large as Europe, because Mr.. John q.
Breckenridge was not elected President OF
the United States, and in order that Mr..
Jefferson Davis may enjoy the blood-staincd
aud guilty honor of presiding over the
Southern Coniederacy
But again SEQ what wreck Secession calls
upon us to make of this noble fabric of con.
iederato republicanism. Our fathers in
1889 framed Constitution of Government,
for the purpose, among other high aims OF
civil polity, OF :. establishing more perfect
Union" The wisest and best men cooper
ated in the undertaking.; Heaven smiled on
the work. The people of thirteen States
then existing ratified, adopted, and declared
it the law of the land. The country, desc
lated by the war Of the Revolution, sprang
into new life beneath its genial influence, as
the frozen clods are clothed with yerdure be-
meath the gentle showers of April. Twenty
one States have sincc grown up within our
territorial limits, and have thought ii n
blessing and an honor TO be joined to the
great family of republics. For seycnty-two
years since ii went into operation, the coun-
try has enjoyed under this Constitution an
amount of prosperity without q parcllel in
the history of the world. Cities have
sprung up like an cxhalation from the soil :;
the savage wilderness has been turned into
u wheat field rs by a miracle ; nm ilnmigra
ton, counted not by hundreds or thousands,
but by millions, of which there is no other
example in the annals OF mankind. bears
witness to the good report which has gone
forth of us to the nations. In these seventy
two years not drop of blood has been shed
Tor political offence, and making fair allow
ancc for the human frailties Of men and ma
tions, and especially remembering the one
great +" spot upon the vestal robo" OF the
Union, Z" the worse for what ii Soils" was
placed and kept there under tho old Colon
ial rule, our country has really been, what,
thanks to secession, it is now derisiyely
termed, {" the Model Republic; the noblcst
attempt ever made by man to combine the
home.brcd blessings Of small State with
the strength and influence of great empire.
Shall We allow secession to make q deplora-
able wreck of this noble framework of Gov
eminent? Will we permit the Union OF
States to DO sacrficed-that Constitution
which was framed by some OF the wisest and
best men that ever lived to be tramplcd I'M
der foot in order to crafty the aspirations
to Office of eight or ten disappointed South.
ern poltitiaus?
Finally, Fellow-Citizens, there 10 n drop
of still greater bitterness IN the chalicc. Tho
triumph of Secession involves consequences
more painful than any sacrifice Of our own
material or political interests. Not only
are majority of the inhabitants of the Bor-
der Slave States firmly attached to the Union,
but the mountain ridge that tnverses the
South from Maryland almost to the Gulf, is
inhabited by an industrious and frugal pop.
ulation who support themselves mainly by
the free labor OF their own hands. Western
Virginia, East Tennessee, and Western North
Carolina and Northern Alabama have little
interest in slavery and no sympathy with
the war which il has forced upon the coun-
try. Their citizens consequently have been
and are cruelty prosecuted by the military
despotism which now rules the South with a
rod Of iron. Mr.. Davis, in his late message,
affects to reproach the Government of the
United States and its generals in command
with making war upon peaceful private in
diyiduals. II the familiar artitice OF wrong
doors to charge upon others the crimes OF
which they are themselves guilty. GUS
uierit Grdoohos de sediiione querentes2 For
years past, and in profound peace, a man or
woman who should have expressed ut the
South opinions adverse to slavery, would
have done 1t at the risk of lite. A Senator
fr,n one Of the Southern States made il n