New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-02-02


not in the People but in the Legislature. -
Let us have the Maine Law passed, with
no localities exempted from its operation,
and we are perfectly willing to abide the
Peoples verdict on its propriety and worth
In our own estimate, its merits outweigh
those of all the acts Of our last ten Legisla-
lures added together.
u JAMES G.. BfRNEY, who was the LID.
erty' candidate for President in 1910 aud
1914, died recently at his residence in Sagi-
nav, Michigan, where he has been IN fall
ing health for some years past News
paper reports say that he had abandoned
his ultra Abolition views before his death,
and that pamphlet from his pen is now in
press at Cincinnati, urging the Free Blacks
% aecede to the Colonization cause and
choose Liberia as their ultimate home
Whether this is or is not well founded, we
shall doubtless soon know.
But whatever may have been Mr.. Bir-
neys final sentiments, we cannot doubt that
he was the voluntary instrument of greater
evil to the cause of Universal Emancipa-
ton than any man who has lived during the
last half century. When the great battle
for and against Slavery Extension as a fea-
t0re OF our National Policy was fought in
1914, the little company of whom he was
IL 4. Z. ~ fh.a,,-
weight indirectly but most practically into
the scale Of Slavery Extension and chief
among the engineers of that gigantic crime
stood James G.. Birney and Henry b. STAN
ton. Both were active and most efficient
canvassers throughout that vehement
struggle, and MIR. Birney, standing
at the head of the Liberty Party
repeatedly proclaimed and published that
he regarded the Annexation al Teras as
MORE likely to take place IN case Of Mr..
C20ys than in cGse Of Mr.. PolkS election
as President This was gravely put forth
in full view of the contest then raging be-
tween the two great parties, wherein nearly
or quite every slave.dealer who had ever
pretended to be Wing had gone over TO
Polk expressly on Texas and Slavery
grounds, and wherein the Anne Ration OF
Texas, including 4 whole litter Of future
Slave States, was the main question diseased
by the speakers and regarded by the voters
the Wings against and the miscaIIed
Democrats in favor Of such Annexation.
Before either party held its National Con-
vention, Mr.. Clay had proclaimed his mex
orable opposition to the measure, as fraught
with Injustice, dishcnor, domestic dissension
and foreign war; while Mr.. Polk had given
it a most unqualified approval, which had
doubtless given him the nomination. Sc
late as September, Mr.. Clay reiterated his
evowals of hostility to any act of Annexa-
ton without the consent of Mexico and of
all sections of our Union-consent which
al were aware could not be obtained. And
vet, with the contest raging all around
them, and No Annexation the watchword
of the Wings on every side, while the
re-Anrexation Of Texas was proclaimed
by the Convention which nominated Polk
one of the great American questions 70
which its approval was given, Messrs. Bir-
ney and Co. labored throughout the struggle
to draw off Anti-Texas and Anti-Slavery
votes fom Mr.. Clay and so secured Polk.s
election Those WHO can believe that they
acted according to tfle;r own convictions of
Dat. WE 60 soi we eanno!. They kes.s