The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-12-12

eence In merrmcnt; for nothing can be more
ndcrous than the lame attempts made by GER
lain members at discsaiming the most virulent
portions of Helpers book, after admitting that
they endorsed the whole. One signed the en-
dorsemept on the condition that some objec-
tiouable passages should be expunged-a con-
ditiop as to which faith was not kept with him.
| Some signed it without reading the book and
| il appears that Mr.. Sherman, the candidate for
| Speaker. was of that number, but authorized
| his signature to he affixed, on the representa-
ton of ex Congressman Morgan, the conf
Dental friend of VIM. III. Seward, who no
doubt regards it as the truest and best expos-
ton of bis "irrepressble conflict"
Whatever the followers of the apostle of
the higher law may think proper to deny or
dsclaim about the book, Mr. Seward himself is
precluded from denying or disclaiming any
thing. We have it under his own hand that he
read the book carefully, and pronounces it ex-
cellent and altogether nnobjectionable. On
the cover of the "Compendium" the author
| quotes Mr.. Stewards certificate, as follows:-
have read the "Impending Crisis of the SOUTH with
deep attention II seems to ms work of great merit
c Yet accurate, in statistical information and logical in
anal.s sis
| 1t seems that it was not necessary for Mr.
! Sherman to read it. for Mr. Seward had read it,
: and declared it very good; and Mr.. Stewards
\ right hand man. Morgan, had communicated to
< him the fact, and that was sufficient There can
I be no stronger proof of the fealty of the party
/ to their chief than the fact that on his recon-
I mendation they endorse a book on the slavery
| question without reading it. But enough of Mr..
| Sherman. 1t will not be pretended by those
| who lent their names to the book that they did
so without general idea of its nature They
must have known that it was written to stir
up one class of white men against another
class of white men at the South, and thus to
overthrow slavery in the Southern States They
knew the book was for Southern circulation,
and that it was calculated to excite slaves to
insurrection. But they probably did not think
it would be successful so soon. Had not John
Brown given it practical Interpretation at
Harper's Ferry, and had not the HERALD pub
lished the list of the endorsers, we should now
hear of no disclaimer. Many of the repub-
| lican Congressman who endorsed the book
probably did not calculate the consequences.
But now that public opinion is attaching
terrible weight of odium to their act which
may drag them down to the depths of political
Perdition, they are very anxious to get rid of
their responsibility. In the same way the friends
Of Gerrit Smith disclaimed responsibility for the
act of John Brown, to whom he supplied
money for his foray into Virginia No doubt
Mr.. Smith, whose character for benevolence is
well known, did not intend that Brown should
do worse than run off the slaves in a general
stampede. He did not foresee how the matter
would end, and therefore the affair at Harper's
Ferry deprived him of his reason Probably
few of the signers Of the circular were pre-
pared for the consequences which so suddenly
burst about their heads like bombshell.
But out of the sixty-eight members of Con.
gress whose names have been signed to the cir
cular, how many have qualified or explained
away their endorsement? Only two or three,
who are looking for position and the control Of
the spoils. AS for Mr.. Hale, in the other
branch of Congress, he does not see anything
wrong in the book, any more than does Mr..
Seward, after Reading it with deep attention"
Now, what does the book mean? It shows
how mine out of every ten negroes may be
afforded an opportunity, at which they would
be delighted, of cutting their masters throats."
It procaims the intention of the republican
party to abolish slavery in the Southern States,
"either peaceably or by violence" "We are
determined says the writer, 'to abolish slavery
at all hazards, in defiance Of all the opposition,
of whatever nature, it is possible for the slave
ocrats to bring against u.s." This is the sum
and substance-the alpha and omega-the be-
ginning the middle and the end Of the book.
And this is but the echo of William H.
Stewards Rochester speech, in which he de-
clares that there are two antagonistic systems,
and that the conflict of the North with the
South is "irrepressible"-th 1t will be contin-
ued till every State is either slave or free.
Some Of the republicans do not like to be
called abolitionists; but Mr.. Helpers book en-
dorsed by Mr.. Seward and sixty-eight republi-
can members of Congress, says that to "abolish
slavery" in the Southern States sat all hazards"
whether itleads to civil war not, or whether it
dissolves the Union or not, is the design Of the
party. Mr. Sherman, who endorsed it, has re-
ceived the entire republican vote for Speaker,
and will he aid of some democratic sympa-
thizers, VII probably be elected on the next
ballot. They are, therefore, with peculiar pro-
priety, designated abolitionists. We perceive
from the observations of Mr.. Horace F. Clark,
Of New York, in the debate of Saturday, that he
does not regard the republicans as an aboli-
ton party; but then he defines abolitionists as
"those who would Interfere by violence with
the relation of master and slave" That is not
correct definition of the word. An abolition
ist is one who seeks to put an end to slavery
by any means. Webster defines abolition
"The putting an end to slavery" and abolition.
list, ga person who favors abolition, or the i'm
mediate emancipation of slaves" Hitherto
abolitionists meant those who proposed