New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-07-31
even when it is legitimately and ineKOrably be-

fore them. As in debating societies no quibre
il too preposterous to be started and no view
Of a subject under discussion too ludierous or
absurd to find advocates and supporters so in
public affairs DO question can be so clear but
that the wayward, the perverse and the stupid
will find the means 10 get on the wrong
side. If we add 10 these the mercenary AMI
unprincipled, We shall see why in even 80
plain a matter as preventing the spread Of
Slavery the Free States are without perfect
unanimity Of sentiment. There are those who
would intensely object to the establishment Of
the Kingdom of Heaven upon earth, very much
preferriDg a kingdom Of the opposite sort;
on the question of the extension Of Slavery,
we therefore need not look for perfect accord
even io the Free States. But with fair field
and an open contest we may be sure of an over
ybelming prepondeIance against the aggressive
instifution-the men Of sense always outnlm-
herring the fools in all we'll ordered and meas
urably intelligent communities, such for exam
ple as are found throughout the North.
Last year we had this question virtually before
the country, in the elections that followed
the repeal of the restriction upon Slavery
in Kansas and Nebraska, and everywhere
in the North the expression of eondemna-
ton was sufficiently emphatic. Plenty OF
indifference and plenty of lukewarm hos
tility TO that measure were found, but very
little actual approval of it was to be seen or heard
in any Northern State. The party that originated
and passed the measure were frightened 20 the
where's; and the present year has found but
little abatement of their apprehenslons. The
leaders of the party, like the leaders OF all
parties. are ready, for the sake OF holding their
places, to swallow anything or support anything
that they think they can get their followers 10
swallow also: but they are so extremely ylrtu-
Gus as TO hesitate at giving their aid and
countenance to a measure that must inevitably
run them into the retirement of private life
The remains of the old Democratic party have
thus in several States even this year declined to
touch the great measure of Pierce's Democratic
Administration, and in one State Convention
actually incorporated in their resolutions a
special announcement that on the measure
of LEGISLATION known as the Nebraska bill they
had no opinion TO express. Brave souls Inc
leaders would have been glad to approve, 70
save their places, but they feared the incont-
nept de sertion of their remaining followers.
But Notwithstanding the unanimity OF North
ern sentiment on the question, eyinced by all
sorts of indications, strong doubts have ex-
listed, and some may be said still to exist,
as TO whether the Free States are ready
to say explicitly that Slavery shall not
be further extended within the Union. Tlmid-
ity and hesitation and conservatism still exist
There are still money interests and trading and
political dilettanteism and doughfacery and truck
ling seryility and a mercenary obsequiousness
to that Black Power which keeps the political
sail of the North shiyering. What we want and
what We must have eventually and we trust
speedily, lie a resolute manhood in the North to
bear boldly onward before the fresh breeze of
the popular sentiment Know Nothingism has
stepped in to break the force of the great North
ern current against Slavery. The late move
ments in the North are, however, encouraging,
and give us great hopes that even this element
will be merged and absorbed in the new party Of
Freedom.
1t is gratifying to be able to discern in the re-
cent movements, as We do, that the break in
the great Northern line on this question,
threatened by the gourd-like appearance of
the KIOw-Nothings while yet the Anti-Nebras-
ka party was in the field fighting battles and
winning victories, is sure to be syerted The
action of the great body Of Northern Know
Nothings at Philadelphia and that Of subordinate
bodies of that organization in various States,
but particularly in Pennsy lvania, lead us to
strongly hope that notwithstanding the recent
ferment and confusion of parties we shall yet
find the North standing together with al i'm
pregnable front against the extension ofSlayery.
DAYLIGHT seems to be breaking and the sun to be
but lust beneath the horizon coming to dissi-
pate the mists which have been hanging over Us.
The North has a glorious cause and an over
yhelming preponderance of power to lift it into
supremacy if il chooses. 1t can march onward
10 victory of the sublimest character aud Of
enduring consequence, if it will. Let it. then,
prepare to show TO Slavery a face of dint, and
to say to the Oligarchy, interms as inhexible as
those of the Decalogue, Thus far, but no far
'ther!" AS to whatever consequences may
flow from such a righteous course, let them
come and be welcome. But they will be
nothing of more substance than vapOr, loud
words and empty threats, deserving only scorn
and contempt.