The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-04-10

| anu tUc iUTCc VI tuc HONCIuulcut 10 Nv youh
disposal to protect it. But tho moment you
enter into q rebellion, the moment you make
war on the Constitution, then, under the
powers of war, we can set at liberty every
one of your slaves" Mr. Adams said this,
in effect. in the Congress OF the United States,
and there was not found, in all the assembly
one who could stand and refute the argu.
mcnt, though the South then had rs good
constitutional lawyers in Congress rs they
have ever had since. It was good law then
and they knew it. 1t is good law now.
The President has this power of deprivinS
the rebels of their property, and If he does
not have il under the constitution, he derives
it from that great first right, conferred upon
men and nations, by God himself IRON the
foundation Of the world-the right OF self
defence. And are we not called upon by the
law of self defence to make use of this meas.
ure? What CAUSED this rebellion? What
called into the field our sons and brothers.
The election of Mr. Lincoln was made pre-.
tex, lJr this reb,llon. Why was II so made
Did tho South think any wrong had been
done them? Did they fear any wrong would
be dono them? contend that they did not.
Let us look back and examin. carefully
and candidly the history Of national politics
since 1850. II seems ut this distance to be
u long way behind us, Yet it has been the
most stirring time in politics that our country
has experienced. | do not propose to go over
in detail the events which have occurred du-
ring that period. but only to take hasty
glance mt the measures which have been
adopted since that time. I.
The year 1850 was chiefly distinguished
politically. by tho adoption of what have
been term d tho "CompIomisc Measures. y
Previous to that year there had been three
parties. the Wing, Democrat, and Abolition.
The last was never large, rs a separate party,
and reached its eliminating point, when by
coalition with the Dcmocrats, it elected
Charles Sumner to the United States Senate.
1t was not the whig party but the Democrats
who first introduced that gentleman into
Congress. There had been n great deal OF
agitation of the slavery question, and in that
year, Clay and Webster with Others, fixed
upon, and by their Influence carried through
the various compromise measures OF 1851 -
Now, Mr.. President, do not hesitate to as-
scrt that from 1850 to the time when the
proposition to repeal the Missouri Compro-
mise was introduced were the four most quiet
years our country had on this vexed question
for thirty years. There was less discussion,
more general satisfaction with what wis sup
posed to bc the final settlement OF the whole
controversy, than since the year 1920 when
the,Nlissouri Compromise was passed and the
State of Missouri admitted to the Union; and
think tho history of the country will bear
me out in this assertion.
In tho year 1852 preparations were made
for n Presidential contest. Mr.. Douglas
was the leading man in tho Democratic Con.
yention, and 1t was expected that he would
be the nominee. But the name of Gen, Pierce
of New Hampshire was introduced, and nc
received the nomination. lie was elected by
an overwhelming majority. The old whig
city of Boston gave him majority. Gen,
Pierce said that there should not, it in his
power to prevent it, be any more agitation
of the slavery question either in Congress or
out o. it. lie said this in his inaugural and
reiterated it in his first message. The coun-
try was almost at peace on that question.
But Mr.. Duglas introduced the question
of repeal OF tho Missouri Compromise,
which was supposed to have settled finally
and forever the question Of slavery in the ter.
ritories. Now want to know If any one
expected that President Pierce would support
that measure. I do not believe that any one
dreamed that he would. Mr.. Douglas thought
that he could, by putting the President on
record as opposing something which was IT.
yorable to Southern interests, ALLEVIATE from
him the support of the Southern States, and
aggrandizo that support to himself. lilo
must have known that the passage OF his
measure would reopen an old and still bleed.
ing sore. lie had every reason to believe
that Mr.. Pierce would oppose the measure
But that gentleman saw the dilemma into
which such opposition would force him, and
believing that If hs went in for the measure
he could succeed in getting reelection, he
did so. Wea all know the result. The terri
tories were thrown open and the fields OF
Kansas were drcnched in the blood OF citizens.
1t was an open question whether that lair
land should be forever doomed to tho curse OF
slavery or should be the abode OF frcenen.-
IL became the battle ground between the two
opposinc interests. | need not detail tho pro.
gress of the struggle, and tell you how Kan.
sas became the very Golgotha OF territorial
governors. The border rullians from Mis-
souri, attempted to fasten the chains OF slav'
cry forever on that State. They failed be.
,ause the frcc North opened it's doors and
sent its sons to people that territory and
breathe into it an atmosphere of frecdom.-
Men deemed reliable on the question werc
sent out to hold the Office of Govcrnor-such
men rs Robert j. Walker and Frederic +.
Stanton-and after breathing the Tree air OF
Kansas refused to do the unholy and unhnl'
lowed work assigned them by this New En-
gland President. And what is this man do.
Ing ynow?-Prowling about New Hampshire
and said to bc in correspondence with the re-
bels. For what reason? can imagine but
one reason why ho should wish TO destroy
government under which he has grown up
and which has so honored him. fby blot
TING out the country from the ma? OF nations
bc could oblitsratc the history OF his own ad
ministra,ion it might be some apology for
his action. Hc came from Puritan stock.
hut if any man could bc guilty OF what Pierce
has done, and thcnsyith unblushing impu'
dencc pursue his after course, should think
ho would desire to call on the rocks and
mountains 10 come down on him and hide
him and his record forever.
The trap which Mr.: Douglas prepared Tor
President Pierce caught them both. They
botb became 30 obnoxious that their own
party repudintated them. ] am pleased to
bo able to say, however, in honor of Mr..
Douglas, that afterwards, when ho saw tho
mischief hc had caused, and had laid aside
his ambitious projects, hc came to the rescue;
LARGELY, by his means and influence, was Kan
sas rescued from the doom with which 1t had
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