The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-05-13
The Abolition Cues tion-Its Position and
Prospects.

The ADOHtiOh Dues tlOn-Its Position and
Prospects.
The abolition question is Begin ing to be invested
with fresh importance, not from any intrinsic meri,
which 1t possesses, but from the relations it main
talns to foreign aftairs-o the feeling existing be-
tween the North and South-to religious prejudices
and to political movements of all descriptions Du-
ring the last week two Conventions were held in this
city, each styling itself abolition" and inscrbng
on Its banner the purpose of freeing the slaves of the
South, and developing abolition opinions of all
shades and compilations to the people of this coun-
try and to foreign lands One of these conventions
was avowedly composed of political abolitionists,
who protested to act from party motives and sought
to achieve their purposes in accordance with the
principles OF the Constitution bearing upon the ex
listing relations of the North and South The other
Convention was violent and ultra in its professions
and purposes-expressed unmitgated dislike and ha-
tired OF the Constitution, and declared its purpose to
be the elevation of the flag of rebellion amongst the
colored population in bondage wherever that rebel
hous movement could be effected in any part of the
country.
These conventions and their avowals, have attracted
agood deal of observation amongst all intelligent
minds, and drawn forth from contemporaryjournas,
number of curious and interesting remarks on the
present aspect Of the abolition movement and abo-
ton party. The excitement and interest in this
matter, have also acquired additional importance
and wider scope of action from certain other
movements, both religious and POLITICAL taking
place before We allude to the division which
generating on this question amongst several of the
principal Christian churches in the and-the Metho-
dists and the Baptists. A dissolution of these
churches, divided by hefree and shave States, seems
to be inevitable all over the country. In addition to
that, we see that N some Of the slave States move
ment looking to the abolition of slavery has already
begun in the shape of agitation, by the establish
ment OF journals for that purpose. In this matter,
we afude to the proposition of Cassius NJ Clay
who rendered himself very notorious by his aboli-
ton fanfaronade during the last electon-to esta-
bllsh an abolition newspaper in Kentucky a slave
State and also to the affiliations which have taken
place between these movements in the South, and
the aboltionsts Of the North for the purpose of
forwarding the common purpose of all.
All these movements, Incidents, events, prepara
tons and professions, appear to invest with fresh i'm
portance, the whole question of the abolition Of
Southern slavery, and to call for an expression of
the opinions and feelings of all sane men in the free
and slave States, that may know what influence
a concentration of these elementary movements is
likely to exercise society, on the Union, and on
the fate OF the country. A new interest is there
fore, thus excited on these subjects amongst
our journalists, and we perceive in this
CITY, that that portion of the press which
processes to be the most respectable and to control
the opinions OF society, has divided and taken differ
ent sides on certain preliminary elements Of the
question. The Tribune and the Journal of Com
'neree, with all such papers Of that vague hypocrti-
cal, religious or phi losophcal character, take the
side Of the slave against the southern institutions.
and advocate-afiecting, however, to do so within
limits OF the Const itution-all measures and apita-
lions that may have the result prospectivcy. of de-
sroying the institution OF slavery in the south On
the other hand, the Courier and Enquirer. which
has also some weight with certain portion of the
public, takes ground strongly, ably and WARMLY.
against all these movements, whether by convention
or newspaper and argues with great deal of force
against the impocy, injustice, folly and absurdity Of
the interference Of northern abolitionists with the
institutions OF the South in any form or any shape
whatever.
we agree with the Courier in almost all its views
on THIS subject The institution of slavery in the
southern States, belongs to each of those members
OF this great confederacy and loyalty TO the Const
tuition, as well as other considerations of ,ste and
setlnerest, should induce the people of the North
10 stand altogether aloof from any agitation of this
question OF slavery in the South whether conducted
by Cassius M. Clay, or any other man or body
OF men. But while we thus far concur, with the
utmost cordially, in the views and sentiments Il
the Courier and Enquirer, we must take stronc
exceptions to one form Of the argument which