New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-06-04
THE GREAT QUESTION.


outspoken journals whose manly candor does
honor to South Carolina, Whatever may be
thought of their wisdom or discretion. They
say what they mean, and they always mean what
they say; and for that virtue we desire to rem
der all possible credit. 1t is needless to say
that this admirable quality is fully exemplihed
in striking article which we copy from The
Mercuv in another column, and 10 which we
invite the attention ofouI readers
Our respected contemporary takes in this arti-
Gle the sensible ground that the Slavery coatro-
versy has reached point which admits OF no
new compromise. The demands OF the friends OF
that institution and of its consolidation aud ex-
tension, can never be reconciled with those OIL
its opponents, by any system of mutual conces-
sion that can now DE invented. The struggle Is In
such stage. and the necessities of either cause
are so vital and so pronounced, that an arrange
ment between them is not to be thought OF. The
South can never consent to the restoration OF
the Missouri line; she will never surrender
Kansas, twice conquered by her-once IN Con-
gress and once at the polls. To yield the prize
of two such victories is an idea she cannot en-
terrain without humiliation amounting TO sui
eide. On the other hand, the North, excited by
repeated defeats and goaded by the spirit OF
Freedom, is equally committed to an attempt to
snatch the spoil from the grasp of Slavery at
the expense even of refusing admission to Kan
sas as Slave State In such a condition Of
public feeling, and with such an issue pending
The Mercury naturally has 10 faith in the efforts
IL h do ntrol no
ton. Least of all can the South lend its coun-
tenance to party which, like the Know
NothiDgs, pretends to neutrality on this sub
ject. Neutrality cannot be tolerated at such
time. Whoever aspires to favor and support
from her must boldly declare himself to belong
to the South He must be heart and soul for
the extension and perpetuation OF the peculiar
institution. No party can be trusted which
shirks or bOggles at such declaration. That
political organization which is not openly and
fully pledged to the interests Of Slavery is GER
taiply hostile to them, and can only be regarded
with distrust, if not treated as an ayowed foe.
Such is the reasoning of The Mercury; and it
would be difficult to deny its force. The slave
driving Oligarchy are in a position to dictate
terms to every party seeking their favor, and it
cannot be expected that they should renounce its
advantages. The controversy, as our contemporary
represents, is so near TO its final solution that
neither side can be brought to postpone or to
reduce its claims. If the party of Slavery yield
Kansas back to Freedom, they surrender the fruit
of one of the hardest and most dangerous political
battles ever waged in this country; if the free
North yields that Territory to Slavery she con-
sents that Freedom shall henceforth be limited
to the States in which it now exists, and that
all the remainder Of the public domain shall
wither under the curse of bondage. 1t IS thus
question of life and death on both sides. IL Is
to decide whether the policy OF the Government
is hereafter to be shaped from the principles OF
Freedom or for the interests OF Slavery.
The Mereuyy calls upon the South to fall into no
delusion respecting it; and we on our part
would address the same warning to the people
of the North.