The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-30
william III. Stewards Work.

ton. Lawlessness still ferments in the public
| mind, and we know not at what time we may
be called upon to register another riot, another
forcing of Jail, another murder of an molten
sive man. In the capital of the law-abiding
State of Massachusetts mob reigns para
mount and stops at no crime in its eager
ness to defeat and to nullify the law of the
| land. There are among the people of Boston,
| it is true, several orderly citizens who do not
| yet bow their necks to the yoke of the popu-
| lace, and thus far, they have succeeded in pre-
venting the attempted outrage on the constitu-
| ton from being consummated. But the triumph
| If so poor success may be called a triumph
has been dearly bought. 1t has cost the life
| of man, and the murderer has found apollo
| gists. A faithful servant of his country has
been shot down in the discharge of his duty,
and buried secretly, stealthily, almost with
shame No remorse was felt by the assassins,
| who were gathered opposite the Court House,
| on Sunday afternoon, planning fresh violence
while the remains of their victim Batchelder
were being borne to the grave. A moral numb
ness seems to have paralyzed the Boston con-
science. Looking rather at the manner in
which they committed murder and at the words
with which the deed was accompanied than
at the crime itself, we almost wonder they
were content with taking single life.
We cannot explain such moderation. They
ought certainly to have fired the Court
House, and offered up holocaust of all
its inmates. Better, said the Hon. Horace
Greeley, that the Capitol should be burnt. and
not member of Congress escape than that the
Nebraska bill should pass: it has passed, and we
are amazed that the audience addressed by our
townsman should have been appeased by sin
gle paltry murder. Their appetite was keener
once.
1t is not safe, however, to conclude that it is
entirely satisfied. We may yet hear of further
bloodshed There is spirit in certain quarters
that has been too cunningly aroused to slumber
without leaving some trace of its presence Too
much pains have been taken to persuade the
Northern masses that grievous injury has
been done them, for any reasonable man to ex-
pect that few at least out of the number will
not thirst for an occasion to revenge themselves.
While fircbrands like Parker and Phillips have
been used to heat the passions of angry multi
tudes, and Greeley has been taught to defend
every crime and excuse every excess commit
ted in vindication of the anti-slavery principle,
shrewder and wiser politicians have been silent
ly but effectively operating upon the public
mind in the same direction and endeavoring to
set aside all former issues in order that abolition
may fairly come to the surface. No opportu-
nifty has been lost by these agitators to impress
on the mind of the North that resistance to the
laws of the land is justifable and sometimes
praisew orthy; and q creed has been rendered
for our adoption which like the manuals Of
some Of the Catholic clergy of the middle ages.
enables us to compound for every sin by an ad-
ditional excess of zeal in the cause of anti
slavery.
Foremost among these men stands William
II. Seward whose speech on the final passage
of the Nebraska bill has been recently pub
lished in full by one of his organs in this city
The drift Of that performance may be said in
one word to be the reorganization of the whig
party on an anti-slavery basis. 1t is for this
end that Mr.. Seward informs us he pur-
poses to labor. We know not what chances he
may have Of destroying the wing party by this
process. 1t would be eficacious undoubtedly,
of salvation. But it is very questionable
whether the other whig leaders would embrace
the opportunity of committing suicide which
Mr.. Seward offers them. This, however, is not
the point to which we wish to draw attention
Mr. Seward tells US in this speech of his, that
having to choose between disunion, and the
Union with slavery, he prefers the latter and
assures us moreover that he is and always will
be faithful and loyal to the constitution This
assurance we deem noteworthy. Not alone
from the intrinsic Importance belonging to SO
emphatic declaration from q man in Mr.
Stewards position, but because it embodies in
few words the argument which is constantly
hurled at that gentleman's assailants by his
adherents and friends. We are told daily that
Mr.. Seward is not traitor, is not disunionist
and does love and honor the constitution: and
that we, who from time to time express doubts
on these points, do him grievous injustice.
What is the fact Here is his speech, pub
lshed at length, by his authority, in his pru-
dent milk and water organ in this city 1t de-
mands that one of the great parties In this
country qait its former party characteristics,
and stand on the sole plank of opposition to
slavery. But slavery is recognized endorsed
ratified by the constitution. Political power is
given to it in specified ratio. Provision is
made for its perpetuation and preservation.
Safeguards against its destruction by the free |
States are scrupulously inserted into the COM
pact In fact, republicanism is not more EN-.
phatically recognized and pronounced part Of |
our system than slavery. What then is the |
character Of an agitation openly set on foot to |
eradicate this institution from the confederacys
What should We say for instance Of the estab- |
lishment of party whose aim it was to over
turn democracy in America, and set up king /