East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1859-12-29
The AMti-slavery War.


ine present at least, "a, assume that il is
so. We do not propose, for our own
art, 70 consider the Union in special per-
il, until some more imperative reason for
dissolving il shall manifest Itself than is
yet apparent. Bat our ggsGa1s ct Goa.
iilcncc are radically different from those
OF the Iribasse. The 7fitl!as finds agn-
meut' Of security in It's contempt OF the
South We rest upon our respect for
the North,--for its justice, gooa-iecling
and comm1u sense When either sec
ton cannot rcm&iR rnitc0 10 the other
without disgrace, or without ruin, the
Union viii he diss0lycd--or 1T Sll events
ought to be dissolved as speedily as pos
sible, But that time, we trust. has not
yet arrived, and it is the duty Of states
iuanship, if we have sny statesmen, to
make It's arrival impossible.
One thing, however, IS very clear: if
the sentiments end efforts OF the IlibUns
are to rule thc counsels OF the North, we
shall owe tho preservation of the Union.
II # IS preserved, TO the pusllaaimity or
Ske hvlpiessness OF the southern States.
if the T7JHns's views on slavery are
made the basis of action By the national
government, the South mus protect it.
self against the North by force of arms,
either in the Union or cut Of il. We
have already quoted the 7riJme's declar-
alton, that an armed invasion OF Virginia
from the North, for the emancipation Of
her slaves, cannot be called a sectional
movemeak, but that such invasions, as
they coRduce to the real good Of tho whole
country, are thoroughly national in their
character. In its issue of Saturday, the
Tribune proceeds step further, and be
gins tho vindication OF John Browns act
on gropads Of morals AMI FLAW. Under
the thin disguise OF presenting Browns
personal opinions the Tribune lays down
the principles concerning slavery bywhich
its own teachings arc constantly com
mended % Eablic favor, 1t urges that
Brown heia any law for slavery to be null
and void that every slave in Virginia,
consequently, had perfect right to his
freedom; that If the slaves hcsitated from
ignorance or timidity, to assert this right,
i was his duty, a aman and Christian,
tocpligktcn and assist them; and that, on
grounds of self-defence, he was justified
IN resisting, with pixies, revolvers and ri
lies, any attempt that might be made to
stop him in this endeavor And while it
''supposes, for the sake Of the argument,
that Brown may have been mistaken on
some of these points, it intimatcs no be
lief that he was, but assumes throughout
the essential truth and justice OF his
opinions and his acts.
The Tribune thus holds the armed in
vasion Of the South, for the purpose Of
cmancipating the slaves, to be not only
,satioadi in it's character, but essentially
iAst aud right. 1t apparently comedies,
or has done so heretofore, that such a
course OF action may be unwiSe and i'm.
politic but not that il was wrong, OF to
&c condemned on any grounds Of morali
~ or public law
The Tribune seeks to cngraft these SEN
timents open the public mind, and to
make them khc basis of action for the re-
publican party and the northern States.
Suppose it should succeed; does it believe
the Union could exist under such state
oi things? Would it expect the South
tamely TO submit 10 q Federal govern.
ment which should make these doctrines
the ground Of It's public action? 1t can
not evade the issue by saying it does not
ask or expect the Federal government to
take any part in carrying these princi.
pies into practice. 1t certainly would
demand that the government should not
interfere against them. 1t would claim
that, while the national authorities had
perhaps no right to initiate proceedings
for the liberation Of slaves, they would
he in duty bound 10 remain neutral be-
tween the South and those who might act
upon the principles which it thus lays
down. But would it expect the South
10 assent to such view of tho oblga-
tons Of the Federal government?
Hitherto the republican party, and the
great body Of the people Of the northern
States, have disclaincd steadily and siren.
uously any right to interfere with sla
very, directly or indirectly, in any State
where it exists under sanction Of law
We believe they still adhere to that pc.
sition. They claim the right to proven;
its extension into free territory, to repc
The endeavors to extend its influence into
the free States, and 70 overthrow the OK
elusive control which IL has established
over the general government. But they
have never failed hitherto to reccgnizC
the rigkt Of the southern States to dca
with it in their own way,--to maintain
it if they see fl, or to relieve themselves
from it in their own time and by theil
own methods, without interference from
spy quarter.
1t remains to be seen whether they are
20 be forced from this position, and driv
en- onward into the open ground held
hitherto exclusively 10y the abolitionists
Tha; the attempt viii be made, and is al
ready making, is clear enough. The pre-
valcnt tone OF the ZriJeH shows concu
siyely that the portion Of the republican
party which it represents are ready t.
throw overheard every prctencc Of re
spect for southern rights, and to wag,
war upon the existence Of slavery as di
sectly and as vehcmently as they hay,
hitherto contended against its extension
The proceedings Of the present Con
grcss, We trust, will Immediately test Tia
extent TO which the masses Of the rcpub