New-York daily tribune., 1855-08-21
THE FORCE OF HABIT.

| the like habit may lead on the part of the weak
est to the most arrogant and insolent sssump-
| tions.
1t is now upward of fifty years that the
slayeholdiDg States have had the complete con-
troll of the public affairs Of this Union; and as
use soon grows into law, the idea has become
very widely spread, not only at the South but at
the North too, that it s the right of the slave
holders to rule, and that no political action in
cur national affairs can be legitimste in which
they do not take the lead. OF the extent to
which this sentiment taking the form of arro-
ganee in the South and Of servilty in the North,
is difused among US we have two striking in
stances in two recently published documents
one, Ex-Governor Hunts letter on Republican
fusion, the other Mr. Senator Rusk's letter on
Know.No hingsm and the Democratic party
The subject which at this moment entirely
engrosses political attention at the North is the
attempt to extend Slavery into Kansas To re-,
sist and prevent that extension-:here being at
this time no other political question Of nctional
interest and within the scope Of national poll
tics before the peOple-it is suggested that all
| opposed to the extension Of Slavery should
unite in new party having for it's object to
procure repeal of so much of the Kansas
Nebraska bill as does away with the Missouri
restriction on Slavery and to Oust the Admin
istratiOn which has made the introduction Of
Slavery into Kansas its leading domestic
object.
Ex-Governor Hunt in the letter to which we
refer, declares that his Opposition to the in
production Of Slavery into Free territory is
"unalterable, and that he is ready to "sustain
call Just and reasonable action calculated to
"confne the institution to its present limits"
The violation Of the Missouri compact he de-
nounces as "great wrong aud an unmitgated
"calamity." Nevertheless he can't join in the
proposed fusion movement, and why mott Sim
ply because this fusion movement has originated
at the North-smply because we have no south
Elm leaders to place at the head oft "Instead,"
he says, "of proclaiming sectional war gainst
"the South, let US first appeal to that portion
"of the Southern people who are still loyal to
"cOuntry and faithful to time -honOred covenants,
"iDvokiDg them in the name of patriotism aud
"iustice 10 come forward and aid in undoing
"the wrong Of which We co mplsin." Be 1t OBJ
served that as an Introduction to this supplica-
tory scheme of political action, Mr. Hunt as
sumes IT as fact that the repeal of the Missouri
prohibition was not southern measure. cit
"wss," lie says, 'the measure of party and
'not Of a section Itwas the work of politicians
"and demagogues from both sections, aided
"by faithless administration. Ii was
"forced through Congress by party discipline
"and executive influence against the general
sentiment of the whole country, 1t was not
"caled for by the people of the South. On the
"contrary, thousands of conservative men in the
"slayeholdng states condemned the measure as
dangerous, unjust, and aggressive
The case then stands thus: the people Of the
North have suffered gIieyous wrong at the
hands of politicians and demsgogues, aided
by a faithless Administration. The people of the
North are strong enough, so far as number of
votes is concerned, TO upset this faithless Ad-
ministrstion, and to drive these politicians and
demagogues from power 1t is proposed TO
unite and do it; but that, Mr. Hunt tells US,
would be proclaimng sectional war against
4" the South" Instead Of putting our own sturdy
shoulder to the wheel and lifting our cart out of
the ruts into which it has been faithlessly driven
We ought, according TO Governor Hunt, TO fall on
our knees in the mud like the cOuntryman in the
fable, and put up a prayer to Hercules LET
Gus first" be says, appeal to that portion of
"the Southern people who are still loyal TO
"cOuntry and faithful to time.honored cove
'nant., invoking them in the name Of patriotism
"snd Justice to come forward and aid (s not
this mi.priut for lead in undoiDg the wrong
"of which we complain"
Tie very humble position in which on this oc-
casion Mr.. Hunt places himself and seeks to
place us, calls to mind the account which crsw-
ford gives of the political manners and customs
of the Oriental Archipelago. ''ln their eItrav-
"agant efforts to sppear seryile," says that in-
telligent observer, the Indian islanders may
almost be said to mimic the gait and manners
"of the very beasts of the field In spprosch-
"the sovereign the subject creeps or goes on all
"fours, and retires in the same humiliating
"uaUner. He never stands erect by any chance
Gin the pr,seRce whatever his occupation. In
1.-The early intercourse of Europeans with the
"Jayane.e Dutch Admiral and his suite hav-
." ing stood erecs before Jsvanese monarch,
though that monarch was refugee claiming
assistance (which seems indeed 10 be just now
"Jery much the predicsment of that loyal
and faithful portion OF the Southern people to
whom Mr.. Hunt would have Us pay our obei.
ssncel the courtiers were 90 shocked st his
presumption that they began 10 use force 70