New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-05-03


anthor. He made no reply Whatever; and no
startling event has since occurred which might b.
regarded as Fastening the contamination which he
foreshadowed And yet, in the six or eight months
which have elapsed since the sentiment was uttered
our country has been the theater Of some note
worthy incidents casting light upon the soundness
of Gov Stewards views-as, for instance:
/. We have seen several attempts TO capture at
the North and legally cOnsign to etorna bondage an
alleged fugitive from Slavery counteracted and BAT
fed by spontaneous uprising OF the people IN
whose presence neighb ,rhood such capture was
attempted, whose instincts of justice aud humanity
revolted at the sight Of man guilty Of no crime
being hunted and run down in order that he nigh:
be consigned to eternal Slavery.
2 We have seen those who thus aided fugitive
to escape from claimant or his agent arraigned IN
the Federal Courts as guilty Of heinous crime,
yet less and less frequently convicted, until, in cer
tain localities it has become necessary to pack Tor
striker the juries until none but satellites of the
Slave Power are left, when conviction is effected as
o matter Of course.
8. We have seen the persons thus convicted re-
garded by their feow-ctizens, including their very
jailcr, not as culprits, but noble and beloved
martyrs, moro honored in their letters than tie
Judge who tried and sentenced them.
A. And, on the other hand We have seen the i'm
poraton Of fresh slaves from Africa-tlough
piracy by Federal law-carriel on with scarcely
preteuse of disguise, uni. at last advertisements,
respons5ly and numerousy signed, are openly
published in leading Southern Journals, offering
$500 per head on landing for one thousand negro
slaves just from Africa, with reference to binkers
aud brokers OF undoubted sOivency as ndOrsers Of
the offer.
5. Meantime, officers and crews Of notorious
SAVERS accidentally captured by United States
vessels under circumstances that leave no doubt of
their guilt are arraigned by United States officials
us for piracy; but-the precaution Of packing the
iuries not having been taken in the South as at the
North-either the bills of indictment are thrown out
by Grand Juries the Petit Juiies refuse to convict
on the clearest misunderstanding that the Fed
eral laws which threaten African slayers with the
penalties Of piracy are unconstitutional.
G. These facts render inevitable collision at no
distant day between the Federal Judiciary and that
of the States. both North aud SOuth-the Southern
State Courts following the preceden. set by
Georgia in the case Of the Cherokee Tassells, who
was hanged by her in defiance of a writ Of
error granted by the Supreme Court but which
the State Court refused to obey the Northern State
Courts, on the other hand, initiating that Of Wis
consn, which, having pronounced the Fugitive
Slave Law unconstitutional, refuses to allow this
decision to be oyerruled and subverted by the Fed
eral fat
We might multiply and vary these illustrs-
tons; but to what end Is it not already clear
that the "irrepressible conflict" affirmed by Gov.
Seward is no rhetorical flourish, no fanatical pro-
phecy, but a sober and present reality Is it not
plain that we are already in effect two nations
held together by the ties of tradition and interest
but at heart and in life as hostile as the Romans
and Carthaginians of old When Southern Sen-
ator Gin vino veritas) has power to paralyze the
Cuba agitation at the North, by simply owning
the truth that he wants Cuba as new bulwark to
Slavery. is it not plain that the difference between
Northern and Southern Democrats, even, is serious
indeed
One more suggestions We have great many
Northern people, especially in the great cities, who
pride themselves on their cOnseryatsm-on their
freedom from sectional prejudice. They love and
fraternize with the people of the South, but they
are not in favor of Slavery-nObody must accuse
them of hat-still less are they prepared to favor
its extension. Many will remember the vehement
eloquence with which Mr.. Webster long after he
had undertaken the advocacy of the Fugitive Slave
Law. repealed the imputaton that he ever
did or ever would countcnancc the Eyten-
sion OF Slavery. His record on that grave issue
was clear When the repeal of the Missouri COM
pact was first preached, nearly every prominent
conservative at the North repealed Indignantly the
suggestion that he might acquiesce in that outrage.
Yet now acquiescencc therein is the touchstone of
conservatism What next Is IT not plain that,
hsd no stand been made in 1854, our present con-
seryatyes would have by this time been ready to
swallow the open revival of the African Slave
Trade and cry Peace Peace!'
Is there, indeed, any holding-ground short of
open adherence to the Pro-Slavery or to the Anti
Slavery side of this great controversy Is there
any probability that it can be smoothed over cod
died up. compromised On the contrary, is not
the distance which separates the antagonist par
ties visiby widening Is it practicable to close ii
until victory shall have declared for one party or
the other
Yes" SAYS one, "we have : talisman that
"cau stanch this gaping wound-the charm OF
Popular Sovereignty. Leave each State to reg
"uls,e these matters for herself and all viii be
h,~,n,ry