The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-23

Inc aggregate sales reached aDor 600 nhds, chiefly
New Orleans. TalloR advanced ac. per ID. Owing
to the probable enactment OF TIE Maine Liquor law
vh.skey was lower and dan. Hops we're also
lower.
We learn from parties in THE city connes.ed with
the shipping business, that a very stringent pas
serger law is at this tine before the British Par
Lament, the ostensibls object Of which is to benefit
passengers; but the real design aimed at wonld
seem to be TO chAck emigration to this country.
The government has probably become alarmed q.
the depopulation going on in the British islands
from emigration, and therefore desires to check 1t.
The law, it is said provides Tor much greater room
and larger quantity Of food than hitherto required,
and that it shall be cooked and served to emigrants
OF the voyage, together with other unusual il not
| extrayagant regulations.
Gen. Wilson on the Slavery Question-Know
! Nothing Platform-Letter OF Harriet Eeecher
Stowe.
We published the other day the letter of Hon.
Henry Wilson, Know Nothing Senator elect
from Massachusetts,, defining his position on the
slavery question. We give this morning a letter,
written from Boston, by Mrs. Harriet Beecher
Stowe, on the same subject Upon the two we
| propose few passing remarks.
Gen. Wilson is brief, but explicit, in defining
upon certain salient points his anti slavery prin-
| ciples. Hetuly recognizes the doctrine Of State
rights on slavery as upon other local questions.
He adopts the Virginia and Kentucky resolu-
tions of '9S and 100, the corner-stones Of the
Virginia democratic platform. He believes in
higher law" as far as consistent with the
constitution and declares 4" that the American
or0arizetiop IN Masso ali. "a dooa MT orchro a.,
the question of slavery among those for the
regulation Of which it was formed
We have been right, then, IN our representa-
lions heretofore OF the policy of the Northern
Know Nothings upon the slavery question
This question isnot embraced among those " for
the regulation of which" this new party was
formed. They stand upon this subject, as par
ty, On the broad constitutional ground of State
rights, neutrality, non-intervention This is the
only platform which can be set up by any party
on both sides Of Mason and Dixon's line-State
rights, neutrality, non-intervention. General
Wilson, we should suppose, may now freely
cross the Potomac, and venture into the midst
of the slaveholding population of Virginia,
without fear Of expulsion as Know Nothing
abolitionist. His endorsement of the resolu.
| lions Of '9S and 100 should constitute him
| Virginia democrat Of the old school, even in
the immediate neighborhood OF the Dismal
Swamp. Father Richie, as we are informed,
never required any better password than the
resolutions of '9S aud 100 into the sanctum
saactorum of the Richmond junta.
To be sure, Gen. Wilson has some peculiar
anti slavery reservations indigenous to the
modern soil of Massachusetts,. What he means
by the opinion that :" the national government
should be relieved from all connection with re-
sponsibility for slavery" we hardly know. His
meaning may be that Congress should not in-
terfere with the question Of slavery in the Ter.
ritories, because this is necessarily implied
in relieving Congress Of all responsibility
upon the subject, 1t also involves the
repeal Of the Fugitive Slave law, and,
| perhaps, the abolition Of slavery in the
District of Columbia. But in any event these
are but the individual opinions of Gen. Wilson.
He frankly avows tina. the Massachusetts,
Know Nothings as party, have nothing to
| do with the slavery question, aud this declara
ton renders their platform perfectly consistent
to all practical conservative Union men, North
and South.
It were folly to suppose that any party or
ganzation in the North could stand upon the
requisition that its members should subscribe
to the doctrine, however reasonable it may be,
| that our Southern African slavery Is o good
humane political and social Institution, IN
dispensable to the South and essential to the
prosperity and harmony OF the U2lor. Our
own opinion is, that in the aSss, the three
millions Of the happiest, and most Intelligent
and enlightened blacks that now exist, OF tina.
have ever existed upon The face Of the earth,
arc the three millions Of slaves Of our Southern
States. But for the last forty years different
| estimate OF this peculiar Southern institu-
tion," has been gaining ground in the North
until, as illustrated in the late elections upon
the Nebraska bill, the antislavery (but not
the abolition) sentiment is predominant as q
philanthropic, religious, political and social
movement At the adoption of the con.
stitution, and for many years after,
African slavery existed in the North.
1t was abolished when it ceased to pay ex-
penses, State by State. But il has existed here
as in South Carolina. Files OF old New York
and Boston papers may still be found, contain
ing advertisements Of a. likely negro wenches"
and 'stout negro boys" and even of Indians, II
we are not mistaken, for hire or sale. In that
day the Massachusetts, shippers did good and
legitimate business between the barracoons Of
| Africa and the Virginia tobacco plantations, in
| what has since been decreed by the federal gov
eminent as piracy. That decree against the
African slave trade was the practical beginning
Of the antislavery reaction in the North and
the first important point gained by England 10
4 sowing tho soade af d;ooaro;nr lot.~onu A.