The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-01-15


ion against the vain hope for theoretical per-
ton is the fortunate result Of their decision No one
who believes that their dessi0n wise, and thanks
God for bringing their councils to such Termination
consistently say that republican form Of govern
nent' il incompatible with the federation of American
slavery And one believe, will say so Who truly
the constitution and medtates assault
hereafter on its bens6cent adjustments and wise
The slavery republican party however invites US
say and who strive to make their dogmas the founda
ton Of governmental action, well Is the test and limit
of political faith who, had they stood by when
washington and his compatriots their sbor and
given utterance to their present views would have de-
Thew admit that II toerates slavery and that while II
provides for the return offugtve saves 1t Ia impressive
y silent to the admission Of new slave States and i'm
poses express duty to interfere with the subject any
treats slavery IS affair OF local sovereignty,
which the people of each Of the original States az
east may deal with they please irrespective Of tha
views and wishes of the people of other States And
though they rail against ~ compromises, they admit
could not have existed their spirit instead Of the
spirit of peace had prevailed No one will pro-
future and revealed time when Congress was to act
in accordance with the theories proposed every
state would have refused to Join the COME
these theories could be found In ambiguous clause
OF the Constitution and that exercised astute legal
philoogst might be able to MAINTAIN i-sti the ques.
tion Is not one oflaw alone nor Of phoogy meta
physics, but Impractical statesmanshp, OF wise govern
mental expediency, of good faith, honesty and fair deal
ing. And put to you SUCH and ask you again,
ought the power to DO exercised?
Conceded power in government is not always to be put
in requisiti0n doubtful power never. What lawyer
tells us can do, is not unerring test of human
conduct in the most uncomfortable affairs Of pri
vate life; but other considerations frequently remain to
control the of duty. This peculiarly 80 in pub
lie affairs to matters where the government Is left
free to act orbear. Many formidable powers which
Congress possesses by universal consent have been
wisely suffered to remain in repose for example, its
power domestic commerce. and In respect to bank
rupcy On these and other subjects has studied
bearance the true policy of government seldom OBJ
trudiDg the field Of local sovereignty, when its
power to do was undoubted, except in accordance
with some supposed and imperious public exgency and
then retiring the exigency ceased The prin
ciple should be extended to evsry federal
RICH. to interpose it Is seriously doubted by intelligent
men and bad consequences likely to flow from its
exercise.
Nothing cearev ellowcitizens than that the policy
of anti slavery republicanm II prosecuted in the reck
less srit which has thus far characterized it, will lead
to equencea which no one can contemplate without
dsmay Other exercises of Congressional power to
slavery have shown respect to constitutional limits
to the prevailing temper and exgences Of the times aud
the issues of good evil lhey to result whether
they prompted by motive another is ques-
ton Of no moment now except with those who hope to
prejudice and passion. These and all other
ures should be judged to-day, they will be in after
government their tendency to the peace and
well being of the country. Whatever else may be said
of them they were mot animated by that spirit which,
repudatng The constitutional definition Of "repub-
to the late Of the Union, denounces the cia-
governmental abhornce and ASSERTS tSst the .,
North and South the natural enemies of each
other. II was not with the act called the Missouri
compromise which the result of most anxious pa
tient and patriotic endeavors to harmonise INJECTING
views, and alay for the time the frenzy Of sectional
strife Fer with Its repeal which med to Danish the
spirit of scord from the council chambers of he nation
by limiting the range of federal action aud ena gng the
CONAN of local sovereignty The temper and policy of
antisavery republicanm, however is far different It
abhors conciiatcn 1t disdains peace calls back the
spirit of discord It will have nothing to do with local
sovereignty of any kin and least of ali with that which
looks for its the choice of the peo
pie. 1t invokes the of the nation. and proclaims
Congressional warwar without truce reenting ana,
for aught We see. war without end. And submsted
its theories that It's adherens cannot advance
argument for their adoption founded the plain priuci
except such as proves II it proves anything, that
slavery should be assaied everywhere and at all
times, in spite OF constitutions and compacs.
We invite you to consider, not merely the out.
ward form OF their creed but its inner life and rrepress
BILE practical tendencies They ask for
tervenion the assumed ground that savehodinq I'M
der all crcumstaDces is absolutely incompatible with
religion, well republican principles: much
deed that goyernu emit cannot innoceny let it alone!
And when told thai the constitution fashioned upon
different theory they admit and lament the fact exslt
themselves above the consultation. the govern
fathers walked and oiled will not do for them They
seek the pure empyrean In The language of Mr.. Web.
ser they above ordinances" They pant for abso
lutte perfection and will cOuntepancs nothing whish as
short Of ~. On other subjects Of public concern how
ever they are modest in their pretensions peaceabe
like other men, and far less exacng They believe in
governmental jobs and ships and high tariffs and
lavish expenditures and mortgages Of revenue and vast
public eeots, and all the fraudulent centrivauces
BY which the few enabled to prosper at nthe
expense of the many These they countenance and
toerate-nay, lobby for advocate and
rights and perfection They economize in
their zeal for public purity, and would conns its benefits
wholly to the colored race!
powers are derived from the constitution and it has
right to act upon theories which that instrument repu
thus tar to extend s control over the subject Of ssvery
however guarded and concatory has been faught with
danger Angry sectional controversies, aienated feeling
enfeebed patriotism have uniformly resulted from such
measures. And If this experiment upon the public
tranquility shall thrive and all the powers Of govern
can tell what the future has in store for us
When one half the people of the Union shall be
taught to curse it as rregious and antrepublican,
and the other half to denounce /. fraud their
rights, open enemy to their State policy their in
terest ard their homes who shall for its fate
An act Of Congress passed year may be repealed the
NEXT. You may cali it compact if you pleas &c. and de-
clare 1t rrepealabe but this will no. change it's nature
And 80 the passage Of every act will be only the signal
ceedpg agitation with Increased intensity until every
tie o. faterDa feeling shall be utterly destroyed and
the blind instinct of sectional hate the place OF pat
riotrm Grant that the 1Union strong enough
survive the struggles Of day and generation which
tnis line OF policy invites us. WHAT will it be to
them who shall succeed us, but heritage of endless
dscord; or, at best. q worthless memorial Of
blessings won by heroism, and lost by toIys Aud
even for ourseves-for the interes. OF those now
livng-is it nothing to have the nation rmit
ten with an incurabe dseaseo waste it with perpetual
fever rack it with convulsions viii prove
efficient protector whilst struggling against coming
dsah its strength emaciated and its functions all per-
vertedS
We alarmists, and little disposed to in
spite you wi b unmanly fears to be shaken BY
them ourselves. The Dangers OF which speak are
underlined shadows, floating in the Ear of horizon the
future. They substantial thngs-obje:ts of sense
and we must deal with them. Washington saw them
than ha} century ago. and in the last solemn act
Of his public life warned his countrymen against them
They have alarmed the patriotism OF later mes and in
1889 statesman of New Yorknow gone his rest but
whose loss at this crisis is deeply depored than ever
-addressed his feowcitiz the subject And after
astery review Of the various clauses Of the consitu
ton, indicating the concatory spirit in which the Tn
ion was formedhe clause for reclamin fugitive save
nsluded-he asked
Are there any who will blame venerable fathers the
delegates In the Convention OF 1881 their