New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-06-17

the sure and peaceful process of a natural
development, were being elevated into
higher and better degrees of freedom.
Then, Anti Slavery agitation was scarcely
heard of.
But the Slave power was not content
with this. Urged by the fatal folly we
lave referred to, it abolished Protection
and subjected American industry the very
foundation of American progress, to the
undefended assaults of British competition,
The result was almost instantaneous. Oar
industry fell. The movement of the coun-
try was arrested. The natural, and the
only natural, mode of negro emancipation,
namely, by the universal increase of wealth,
in which the interests of the slave and of
the master are tremendously advanced,
and of which freedom is the final conse-
quence, arriving at the just time and well
come alike to all parties, was cast aside.
With the ruin of the country, thus effected
by the Slave power, the Abolition agitation
gained immensely. Slavery itself had
driven thousands of recruits into the camp
of its mortal foe.
The next exploit of this insane policy
was the acquisition of Texas. Having de-
stroyed home industry and the home mark
ct, the country must further be weakened
by the extension of its territories and the
dispersion of its population, while the po-
litical power of Slavery must be increased.
Did it then avoid and deprecats agitation
Did it appeal to the North 30 stop short on
the fDality of existing law and suppress
popular discussionl No 1t defed, it
provoked, it inAamed agitation and oppo-
sition. With high head and naughty step
it trampled upon reason, upon right, upon
Northern sentiment. Had there been no
Anti-SlaveIy party before, it would now
have created one.
Next, while it again checked the pro-
gress of industry and of freedom, by de-
stroying the tariff of l842, the same poll
cy expanded into the Mexican war, pro-
cured the addition to the Union of Califor-
MIA and Mexico. We need not
recount the features of that memorable
struggle which ensued between Sla-
very and Freedom for the possession Of
those Territories. They are fresh in all
mems minds. 1t is fresh, too, in all mems
minds that it was Slavery which provoked,
which created the contest, which urged
it on, and gave to the opposition against itself
an ardor and a power it had never known
before. 1t was Slavery, which had learned
nothing and forgotten nothing; which was
madly bent on provoking, and deepening,
and heating the agitation of the subject.
The certain, the necessary result was that
Anti -Slavery feeling became stronger and
more active than ever.
And now the madness approaches its eli
max. The so. called Democratic party re-
Gently held its Presidential Convention at
Baltimore, and there adopted platform
on which no man not ready 10 bow down
and worship this ebon divinity, whose scep-
ire is manacle, can stand. There are thou
sands of men, sincerely attached to the doc
trines of that party, and DESTROYS to sup
port its cal didates. All they asked of Slav-
cry was to be let alone they were viii.
ling to leave its evils to be removed by
time and by what they regard as democratic
principles, acting in some vague and unex-
planned manner. But Slavery was not
willing to let them alone. 1t was deter
mined not on peace, but on war. 1t &C
cordingly took care to drive them out OF
the party and to leave none there except
such as, for thes poils Of office, and from the
lowest meanness of party spirit, are willing
to truckle to itself. Thus. true to its own
traditions, learning nothing and forgetting
nothing it provobes and dedes the agitation
it affects to deprecate. Now, as ever, 1t
does its best 10 strengthen the ranks and
give force to the assaults of its deadly an
tagonists.
The same attempt is to be made at the
Wing Convention. There the managers
of Slavery will try to drive out all who
dislike their Institution, but who ask only
to be excused from offering it incense or
giving it hostages, proposing and under
taking no action whatever against its legal
rights. These men are not engaged in the
work of Abolition agitation. and have not
even petitioned for the repeal of the Fugi-
tive Law. They desire to act and work as
Wings for the establishment of principles
e ILL., k;nh do. LII "a be n..ar-