The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-03-24

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On one side we find = party recognizing no con.
nection between the political past and the po-
litical future, disreesrding the Constitution
and all the fundamental principles and condi.
tons by which alone the people Of these States
can ever preserve their liberties rs . nation
adopting those principles which lead to dessruc
ton and the subyersion Of Liberty by Despot'
ism, and clinging with fanatical tcrocity TO the
heresy Of Aboiitionism; while on the other
side, and. in certain sense. placed In offset 10
this, We find the equally destructive heresy oil
Secession.
Looking back upon our history, keeping be.
fore US the settled conditions and principles OF
our liberty, il seems almost impossible to
believe, most certainly difficult TO realize, that
conflict simply between the rightful suprema-
cy Of the nation, and the rightful assertion oil
State Sovereignty could ever exist; and such
undoubtedly Is not the case In the present war.
Every man in this country has certain civil
rights which he holds by o tenure which can
not in any legal manner be disturbed by the
residue Of the nation; rights not subject to the
will and pleasure Of the majority. This prin-
ciple uuderlies and Is essential to oil Republi-
can liberty, and unless maintained and recog-
nized the value of such liberty Is lost.
Any skillful physician will inform you that
the human body Is made up Of q multitude OF
organs, the brain being the great central con-
trolling power. each OF which. while having Its
legitimate duty to perform, still bears such an
intimate relation to each and all OF the others
that Il Is impossible to disregard the claims or
we'll being OF any without deranging or Destroy
ing the whole system. What then, should We
think Of the skill Ut physician who should
openly declare that the right arm should be
palsied or the whole system would 90 to de
struction. Or that the left hand could be thrust
into furnace with impunity and not be burned.
Or that the man could see better without eyes.
or hear better without ears. Or that the pa
tient would grow stronger and stronger By n
well organized and perpetual system CT bleed
ing. Should we not consider n man equally
foolish with one who should assert that By cut.
ting of both feet or the right leg, that the pa.
tient would progress more rapidly! think 50.
And still this great body politie-our country,
is not essentially different in its organization
from the human body. Ii Is composed OF many
parts, all bearing proper relation to each
other and TO the whole, and none OF these parts
can be changed In their nature or deprived OF
their rights and immunities, neither can any OF
them be Withdrawn or dissected from the rest
without injury to all the others.
The fact is. disease Of the most virulent
type, politico- military in its nature has seized
upon the very yitals Of the nation and racks
and tortures every fibre. Let us hope that the
skill Of the chosen physicians of the people will
be adequate to the emergency. One who adj
vocated most strenuously that the government
assume the power and cmancipaie slavery by
some military or civil decree ut one fell swoop,
now finds himself wholly unable 10 explain
what the government of the Union must be how
that that Is supposed TO be done, and utterly
fails in any feasible plan for the humane care
and proper treatment Of the few thousands OF
negroes freed by force of arms. Another de-
sires n sweeping confscation Of all the proper
~ alike Of both innocent and guilty in the re-
yolted States, but fails to take into consideration
what kind Of a sovereign the nation will he AZ
ter such an act. Another, in imitation OF Aus
tria in dealing with rebellious Hungary, and
OF our own legislature in its Disfranchi,ement
Act, desires sweeping forfeiture ola politi.
cal rights. Another wishes the total extln-
guishm'nt Of all State existence and reduc-
ton Of the people Of the rebellious States to
condition OF military yassalage; but does not
show ms how the Constitution enables the Fed
cral Government to annihilate State or create
new ones nj will. or even what the Union will
be when this is done. Another says continual
IL that slavery is the root OF all evil, and that
Union or no Union we must strike ut that; but
such have f,ilel to show me satisfactorily how
we can pass safely the disasters attendant upon
such course to better condition beyond.
The fact Is palpable-the Nation has cut loose
from that trie old sheet anchor of our hopes
the Consttution-and now drifts. bulTeted BY
every zephyr, in unknown seas, without com
PASS or rulider, we know not whittier Let US
hope that the good old ship-the Union-if not
by the all other officers AMI crew. ut least In spite
Of them, will weather oil gales and find safe
harbor ut last.
But II may he said that ,rs have nothing to do
with all these things. | hold that our interests
are identical with the interests Of those who
4 IL ha,n \ ma IL
can citizens, so far rs in US lies, to combat
wrong wherever found, To uphold right, and
work always for the best interests OF our COM
mon country. Therefore why shall We stand
mute until the whole fabric OF our free consti-
tu,ionai government is razed TO the ground and
we are buriel in its ruins, Must we 70, ego and
postpone all Judgment respecting its dissolu
ton and destruction until u has gone down in
the ashes of civil war, and History has written
her sal epitaph over the proud creation OF
Washington AMI jefferson? Are We to be Inn
PEELED by some relentless force which annihi-
iates our own free wills and makes us passive
against il! Arc we to cast ourselves helpless
leaves upon the stream of time, and drift down
over the very Niagara OF destruc-
ton. God forbid believe there is too pre-.
valent disposition Ia surrender ourselves to
the hands Of fate; too ready an abandon
lnent to the mere current OF events; too great
bold assertion Of the great moral laws on which
lis preservation depends.
Yes; there are duties devolving uDon us In
this respect from which we cannot escape. The
time is fast approaching, " has not already
arrived, where degree Of Craftsmanship will be
in the management OF the affairs of
our country. Of which the present day affords
no living example. II Is m easy thing to start
the avalanche, but II requires skill to stay u In
10. co,r.a mr. rapair its dan, uinV effects LIT
us then. rs well here rs elsewhere, earnestly
propagate anil cherish those great fundamen-
tai principles which are now and ever must he
the foundation of all true Republican govern
ment; let US so far rs we may be able, each
work to produce men meet for the hour.
But, gentlemen, let Il not be inferred that |
come to the disharge OF my duties with any
measure Of doubt or uncertainty in my mind rs
TO what those duties are In so far rs they relate
single sentence will embrace the whole. The
Gorernmsnt mast be sustained. II right, then
right. Ifwrong, still sustained till right shall
lawfully subvert the wrong. Therefore II be.
comes us more TO lay all political differences up
on the altar Of our country; to render just and
cheerful obedience 10 the law, and in the fu.
ture. rs 10 the past, let Il be said that Bidde.ord
responded to every call made upon
her although II may take the last dollarand the
last man.
Il Is q matter for mutual congratulation that
we commence the new year under such auspi-
cious circumstances. Borne by the lightning's
fash, the glad tidings OF victory core to Us
daily, causing the great heart of the nation to
throb with the joy ofprospective peace. Grant,
Mt the doors of Richmond, pals the
traitor heart. while Sherman, and Sheridan, and
Thomas, and Howard. with giant strides, stalk
unrcsisted from the Mississippi to the Atlantic,
Il n. IL IL