Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-09-06
l1PF VE NATION OR 4 C0NFEDEf-
ann ~ Or SOTEREIGN STATES!

l1RE WE A NATION OR A C0hFbDEh rs
ACY Or SOTERE{GN STATES!
The republican party makes answer to
the above question by inserting IN Its
platform the declaration that we are ma
ton. &
The democratic party takes the ground
which the secessionists took to justify the
/, rebellion, that the States are Sovereign
and the Union but a league between them,
to be set aside or broken at the Will OF
whim Of any of the members. 1t was III
accordance with this democratic doctrine
of State Rights that James buchanan de-
clarea in his message to Congress, Dec
1860, that there was NO POWER III the
! federal government TO GEORGE A oIAIE
into submission which is ATTEMPTING TO
WITHDRAW or HAS ACTUALLY WITH
DRAWN from the Confederacy.
When Abraham Lincoln sent his ilrst
message to Congress, he was obliged by
the attitude of the Southern States to meet
his question of State Rights, then threat
ening the dissolution of the Union. In
that message Mr.. Lincoln said:
| "What is now combatted is the position that Sc
cesson is consistent with the Constitution-isl law
| full and peaceful. 1t is not contended that there
is any express law for it and nothing should ever
be implied as law which leads to unjust or absurd
| consequences. The nation purchased with money
the countries out OF which several OF THESE states
were formed Is it Just that they should go oil,
| without leave and without refunding! The ma
ton paid very large sums Tin the aggregate be-
leve, nearly hundred mons) to relieve Florida
of The Aboriginal tribes. lsltJust that they should
| now be off without consent, or without making
| any return? The nation is now in debt for money
applied to the benefit of these called seeding
States in common with the rest. Is 1t just either
that creditors shall go unpaid or the remaining
States paw the whole ! A part OF the present ma
tiopal debt was contracted to pay the old debts of
| Texas Is j. Just that she should leave and pay no
part of this herself!
| Again, if one State may secedc, SO may anoth-
or and when all shall have seeded, is left to
paw the debts Is this quite just to creditors
Did we notify them of this sage view OF ours when
we borrowed their money
| If I'VE now recognize this doctrine by allowing
the seceders to go in peace, it is difficult to see
| what we can do if others choose to go, or extend
terms upon which they will promise to remain.
If all the States save one should assert the pow
or to drive that one out OF the Union, 1t Is pre-,
sumed the whole class of seceder politicians would
| at once deny the power and denouncc the act as
the greatest outrage upon State Rights. But sup
pose that precisely the same act, instead OF being
called, driving the one out should be called,
the seeding of all the others from that one 1t
would be exactly what the seceders clam to do;
unless indeed they make the point that the one,
because it is minority may iightfully do what
the others, because they are majority, may not
rghtfully do. These politicians are subtle and
profound on the rights of minorites. They are
not partial to that power which made the Consti-
tuition, and speaks from the preamble, calling IT.
self, we the People
The same doctrine which Mr.. Lincoln
then combatted, and on which the rebel
lion was forming, is the chief corner stone
of the democracy to-day. Trodden under
foot by the loyal men Of the nation when
they crushed out the rebellion, it again
appears as the democracy revive, not only
in the South but in New England and
every State where the democracy dare
avow their principles. Democratic sue
cesses last year so stimulated the leaders
of that party, that they boldly proclaimed
and advocated in the Senate Chamber of
the United States, last winter, the accused
doctrine which bathed the nation in blood
and rolled up our enormous national debt.
Senator Eaton of Connecticut said:
s'THIs is GOVERNMENT OF STATES
equal States, SOVEREIGN States, INDIE
PENDENT States.
Mr.. Beck of Kentucky said in the
House: There is that contemplate word
NATION the word that NO DEMOCRAT
Uses when he can find any other, and
i when forced to use it mters IL almost with
/ disgust THIS is NO NATION. We are
free and INDEPENDENT States.
Now the voters of Maine who desire to
enrol themselves as the supporters of the
doctrine that this is no nation-that the
States are Independent and sovereign
that secession was right-will cast their
votes next Monday for General Roberts.
But those who believe with Abraham
Lincoln that this is naton-that. the
people and not the States are sovereign
that the Union cannot be dissolved at the
will of any of its members-that the blood
righteous cause--wil 60 to the polls on
the 18th and vote for that true representa-
tive of his party, the gallant General Sell
DEN COMMON. Republicans of Maine
fail not to do your whole duty next Mon
day.
THE REPUBLiCANS FORMING ~ SOL
I'D LUNNS.
1t is evident as the election approaches
that the republicans of Maine are forming
in solid and united columns to give the
democracy their annual drubbng at the
polls. When we see Independents like
those Of the Waterville Mail "pitch-
;pr intor the fioht in DOWNRIGHT earnest