New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-04-10

body r.agine or pretend that resolatios Of Con-
gress on the subject Of Slavery alters any mans
opinion in the North or South in regard to it DO
our Southern Wing friends imagine that If Con-
gross should unanimously reeOlve tomorrow that
Slavery was a great curse, that ought TO be re-
moved by immediate emancipation, that it would
change the real state of sentiment in the South
on that question The truth is, that the dcciara-
tons and speeches of party leaders and so-called
great men, and the resolutions Of Legislative
bodies, are to 20 for just nothing at all when they
are in direct conflict with the public opinion of
which they profess to be the exponent, or Of which
they claim to be the guide. OF what avail are
such agencies--of what avail is any party ma
chinery, or legislative machinery, to suppress the
workings of the human mind and heart
In what, then is this attempt Of handfun Of
men who are to-day in power, and tomorrow will
be in private life, and the next day in their graves
to issue In what but utter futility The sup
position that it will come to anything else, is a
weak deluson. These eontrivances of political
men to constrain the free and natural action of the
Northern Wing mind, land not alone Wing minds,
but those of every shade Of political opnion) are
feeble and foolish beyond expression.
MARSHALL. and Dir. Z. CARRINGTos CABELL and
Dir. ALL-rHE-REsr, who dream (6tfully and fear
ngly, perhaps,) that this present Wing Admins
tration plan of consolidating the Wing party and
bringing it to an agreement upon the subject of
Slavery, will work usefulIy, you are mstaken.-
There are two parts to the Wing party. There
ia Northern and Southern division, Slavery
and an anti-Slavery wing There always was and
always must be, while it exists as National
party. On the subject of Slavery there can be no
agreement. The two sections Of the party must
do now, and hereafter as they always have done,
agree to disagree, the party must 60 to pieces.
There would be just as much sense in the North
ern Wings insisting that the Southern Wings
should set about exerting themselves for the over
throw of Slavery, as for Southern Wings to insist
that Northern Wings shall abdcate the position
they have always held in opposition to Slavery,
and turn its advocates and supporters. There is
no sense in either expectation. There is a natural
antagonism in their several positions and relations
as to Slavery that forbid cooperation upon that SUBJ
ject. And to attempt to force an unnatural union
like the one we have been contemplating, is just
the most senseless thing that any man or set Of
men can possibly undertake.
Do the Northern Wings, then, design or contem-
plate any party action adverse to Slavery in the
Southern Statesi Let their past history answer.
As party while they have been more true, by
far to their convictions on the question of freedom
whenever it has arisen, in Congress and out, than
the mis-called Democracy" they have neverthe-
less manifested any intention or wish to
touch the question of Slavery in the Slave States.
They do not wish to discuss or agitate that ques.
ton, for they have nothing to do with it. They
do not wish to nominate, they never have wished
to nominate, candidate for the Presidency, with
any reference to his views on Slavery. Their past
history is the proof Of this. They have not mani
tested any design or intention even of disturbing
the measures Of Compromise passed two years
ago, much as the great body of them disliked and
opposed, and now dislike, portion of those meas
ures. They have been contented to be quiet and
to acquiesce in those measures, though so far as
the action Of Congress was concerned, they were
betrayed and beaten.
This is their present position. God knows it is
tame enough and liberal enough toward those,
their allies who triumphed in the Congressional
contest arising out Of Territorial acquisitions
So much they willing to yield for the sake of
harmony and good neighborhood while they
strive for success under the old flag, and on the
old platform of agreeing to disagree. More than
this they will not grant. Beyond this they will
not go. They willing to hold to the old land
marks. They do not desire to move stake or
stone. But they will not allow themselves to be
'orced on to new grounds, or to take up new po-
stions. They stand where they have always
Stood and they will stand nowhere else. The
traces of the present Administration may be
hitched upon them, but the load is too great to be
started 1t were as well to attempt to draw
mountain with cord. The little bugle blasts of
the CABELLs, the WILLIAKsEs, or the MARsHALLs,
in their influence upon them, are but tin trum.
pets against wall. The Northern Wings can
neither be alarmed nor inspired by such music,
and, these gentlemen to the contrary notwith-
standing, the summing of the whole matter is this,
so far as the Presidency is concerned. If the
Wings are to elect the President of 1862 at all,
they are to elect him as they elected the Pres-
dent Of lS4S, without reference to the Slavery
question: or to any measures, whether they be
Compromise" or any other, that grow out of it,
The Northern Wings are willing to go for Gen.
ScoTr because he is good Wing, and because
they believe he can be elected. They won't stop
to catechise him as to his opinions on any past
measures of legislation, in regard to his opinions
on Slavery. All they AJAX Of him is that he shall
not come out and pledge himself to Slavery men
or measures, and thus make himself sectional
instead of National candidate. and this they will
assuredly insist upon, let the consequences Do
what they may.
Let us not be understood as attributing too
much consequence to the position of few imprac-
ticable Southern Wings, and as inferring thence
especial danger to the party. The deyelonmsnt.