The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-11-13
The Slavery Agitation-Senator Hammond's
Great SPeech-A Southern Reaction.

The great speech Of Senator Hammond of
South Carolina, which we published the other
day, is creating a profound and wholesome i'm
preston in all sections and among all parties
and classes of the American people. We trust
that We do not over estimate the Importance of
this sound and statesmanlike production, in sig
Mailing it as the initial landmark OF new
epoch in the slavery agitation. full of cheering
promises in behalf of the peace and harmony of
the Union.
The man, the time and the place, thus identi-
fed with this new movement, could not have
been better selected. Mr.. Hammond is neither
sectional Presidential demagogue nor a time
serving party manager or party toel He Is
courageous and Independent man. Profting
from the ripe results of long experience. OBJ
servation and careful study of the great question
at issue, in all its bearings, he frankly abandons
the radical heresies of notification and secession
and pleads, with the irresistible force of COM
mon sense, the safety and prosperity OF the
South within the Union.
lie admits that slavery may 60 no farther
within the present limits Of the Union: that to
the South, Mexico, Central America. and
even Cuba, are forbidden fruit; but that
still the policy and the safety of the South
are within the present confederacy with the
North. Aud why? Because of the moral and
political victories which the South has achieved
against the abolition agitators of the North and
of England and France, during the last twenty
five years; and because the people of the South
are now, and henceforth will be, united in de-
fence of their domestic institutions, while the
people Of the North are not and cannot be COM
bincd against them.
Upon this last point, in regard to the next Pre-
sdency, the whole case, as between the North
and the South, upon the subject of slavery,
hinges. II is all-important, therefore, to ascer-
tain whether Mr.. Hammond is correct or at fault
in this position. We believe that he is right In
the campaign OF 1856, upon an ant-slavery issue
within the limits Of the constitution, the North
ern States were divided, and the Southern
States, with one solitary exception, presented
solid front in defence of their paramount insti-
tuition. Since that day this union of the South
ern States has been strengthened, until there
hardly remains q serious opposition to the de-
mocratic party in any Southern State. Unques-
tionably against a Northern movement,
resting upon anything like Senator
Stewards Rochester abolition platform, there
will be an absolute pro-slavery union Of the
South In 1860 against the divided SURFACES
Of the North, involving that Northern balance of
power which will give the South the victory, as
in 1856.
The historical facts and the unanswerable de-
auctions with which Mr.. Hammond has strength
ened himself upon this point, make the case 30
clear that we need not hesitate to declare that
the only alternative to the opposition forces in
1860. will he q combination suspending the
Northern crusade against slavery, or division
which will insure their defeat. In this view
there il something peculiarly remarkable and
appropriate in the fact that simultaneously with
the new abolition pronno'omieato Of Senator
Seward from the heart Of New York. there
should come up from the heart of South Caro-
lima proclamation ofpeace and concord which
at once extinguishes the reckless and rcvolu-
tionary plot Of our scheming sectional agitator,
aud simplifes the issues Of the next Presidential
contest to practical things, or the overwhelming
defea, Of the black republican party.
Thus, In single effort in behalf Of
| the Union and the constitution, not in
| tended for buncembe, nor political capital.
nor popularity, nor notoriety, but simply
designed 10 ill the requirements Of familiar
| speech from the senator in Congress to his con.
stitucnts Mr.. Hammond has placed himself fore
most In the front rank Of American statesmen.
Compared with such shu1iing and pettfogging
politicians and demagogucs a. Douglas, Wise.
Hunter. Toombs and Stephens. this new cham
pion Of constitutional rights and public opinion
stands like a giant among The pigmies. Con-
tra-,ed with such inscriptions sectional disor-
ganizers as Seward he stands as the advocate of
law and order before the bafiicd traitor and IN
cendary.
In All candor, we think II may be said that in
this modest and unprctonding. but patriotic and
powerful, speech Of Senator Hammond, he has
given u a general argument for the Union
which will favorabIy compare with the best
efforts of Clay or Webster. We believe, too, that
If Calhoun were alive at the present day he
would, from the new order Of things which has
risen from the slavery agitation Of 1850 take pre-
csely the same general view Of the subject a. that
% bis distinguished successor in the Senate. No
political speech since that Of Webster Of the 9TH
ofMarch, 1850. In behalf Of the compromise policy
foreshadowed by Henry Clay, has produced a
wider or better impression upon the public mind:
and in Senator Hammond, this unassuming but
eminent statesman Of South Carolina. we think
We have > nan concerning whose availability or
capabilities for The Presidency, as a Southern
Union candidate there can b. no dispute
In any event. believing that his late speech.
and the policy q The South therein laid down,
have neutraizcd. and will completely supersede
the Rochester abolition manifesto Of Seward aud
his sectional Presidential programme, we shall
| await with renewed confidence in something