New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-05-16


intensified by the repeal Of the Missouri Com
promise, will go on. If the South would pro-
pose and help to carry such modification of the
law as We suggest and, would aid in undoing the
infamous legislation Of the last Congress, II
might come forward with some show OF claim
to BE- treated with consideration in respect to
the Slavery question. But until it does this il
has no right to fraternil regard from any clas'
of men in the North, whatever their sentiments
on the subject.
The Fugitive law is on inhuman and hateful
statute. II was framed. a. The Journal allows
and as it admits Mr.. Clay himself acknowledged
with q view TO iritate and outrage the sentiments
Of the people of the North 1t was drafted, as the
same authority admits, BY professed enemy 70
the Compromise Measures, and for the express
purpose Of making the whole series odious 70 tie
Free States. The opposition to it in the Norh
thus cannot with any show Of fairness be ALLEGED
to be even factions.
But if the Fugitive law is bad, and if in sowing
discord between the North and South it bears
only its natural fruit, the disturbance of
the Missouri Compromise is ten times worse.
This measure is an outright aggression upol the
Free States. In conserving that Slavery slould
90 into the new Territories acquired fpur-
chase after the adoption of the Constitution
and come as far North as $50, the Representa-
tives Of the Free States did deed in I-2O for
which their constituents never forgafe Them
and which was wholly repugnsnt to fhe senti-
lnent Of the North. Yet the Northern people
came gradually to acquiesce in the concession,
and fer thirty years never once suggested re-
moyal Of the Missouri line nor ever made any real
opposition to the admission of Slave States into
the Union. coming from that part Of the territory
lying south of it. There was general aequies-
cence in this line of PARTITION. When therefore
the South came almost unanimously forward to
break the long-standng contract of division
and succeeded in sweeping away the guard and
securities which Freedom had obtained by the
Compromise of 1S2D, the outrage struck deep
into the popular heart of the North, and the ex-
cited state of feeling was abundantly disclosed
to every apprehension by the Anti-Nebra'ka
sweep in the elections of 1854.
An irritation at the sense of wrong and out
rage has thus been superadded to the natural
repuenance of the people of the North to
slavery: and that irritation now burns IN the
heart of every Northern man who i, not az cold
and soulless as a stone. Whatever moderation
there was among thinking men at the North on
the slavery question prior to 1880 is gone. There
is not a man of honorable and independent feel
ing anywhere, however conservative by nature
or association who does not consider the course
of those Southern men who participated III the
late proceedings TO extend Slayery as offensive as
the purpose and the act of aggression could make
il. Everywhere, especially among the moral
but one sentiment Is active. There
is no execution to the general prevalence of the
feeling Of deep hostility and determined opposi-
ton to what are everywhere fell to be the gross
aggressions of Slavery. We make no exception,
unless of the interested and the mercenary
classes. There are plenty of men who put the
almighty dollar and political preferment over
everything else. There always is and there al
WAYS was such a class of beings. There are
newspapers, and those of large circSlation-there
are commercial men and political men, beside
the stold and peryerse that exist in every COM
nunity, wto stand ready 70 oppose every liberal,
Every lust. every humane, every manly idea, If
hey think their groveling purposes can be SUBJ
eryed thereby But the heart of the North is
sound, and never palpitated with healthier and
more generous glow in behalf Of Freedom than
t does to-day. And it was never stirred with
more resolute purposes or inspired by higher
inns than now The free States will not submit
,eaceably to the extension of Slavery. and they
Will use whatever weapons will most efiectually
answer the purpose of ecunteracting the efforts
# the slave oligarchy.
Such is the attitude and such is the feeling of
he North. We submit 10 The Journal whether,
lnder these circumstances, any such homeo-
,athic anodyne as it suggests can be expected
% avail anything toward restoring the national
harmony and curing this wide aud deep-seated
of the public mind.
Nothing short of destruction o. the bitter
fountain which is pouring its acrid waters along
our political channels can give back peace and
harmony to the country. The prohibitTy clause
IF the Missouri Compromise must be r,instated |
upon the Statute Book. The design 70 impose
Slavery upon free territory must be reiounced. |
What has been done toward opening eur new
territories to Slavery must be undone. II the |
South will concede this, then the discussion of |
the essential modification of the Fugitive Law |
will be in order. But till then We assure Is |
Journal that no modification of that law not even |
The concession of the trial by jry, would allsy 7
n any appreciate degree the outraged feeling
IF the free States.