The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-12-01

which labors openly to bring about
the dissolution of the Union, and
Others are endeavoring secretly to promote
the same end by melting the North against the
South, and uice rersa. In the opinion OF these
agitators, there ia no question so vital as that
of slavery nothing worth thinking OF or talk
ing about except niggers Niggers niggers,
nipgers-,he same eternal change is rung from
one years end to the other, and nothing Is
gained for the slave. On the contrary, his
bonds are more securely fixed, his chains more
firmly riveted. 1t 10 well for the people Of the
United States to ponder upon these things. 1t
will be for them to cay, and perhaps at no very
distant day, whether or not this country shall
90 on and work out its future, and attain
more glorious position than Greece and Rome,
medieval Italy or modern Europe ever achiev-
cd, in population, wealth and the fine arts, or
whether the fair fabric shall be torn to pieces
by few fanatics and demagogues, and the ma
ton strangled almost in its cradle.
Word 70 the Cnevalier Webb.
Our military and diplomatic contemporary is
again in hot water-troubled exceedingly in
bis mind about the HERALD's statement that
"the first choice Of the Chevalier Webb for the
Presidency is W. H. Seward whose programme
is perpetual war upon slavery until it shall
have been abolished in every State of the
Union" The Chevalier Webb proceeds further
to say that the sentiments of Senator Stewards
"much abused" Rochester speech did him
honor; and that 1t is great shame that the
arch agitator should for that speech be
"branded by the HERALD as traitor;" and,
still more distressing that "men of wealth and
character, composing the Fifth avenue organi-
cation, deliberately endorsed the libellous
charge" Having relieved his mind Of this
pathetic outburst, more sorrowful than in
dignant, the Chevalier assumes the dignided
and patronizing dodge, desiring to shave
O word with US" about another matter.
The other matter is the little affair between the
HERALD and Mr.. Thurlow Weed, which the Che
Waller Webb, with his proverbial and almost
painful modesty, fatters himself that he ar
ranged; and he takes so much credit to himself
for it, that we are fain to believe that he wishes
to share the benefits and immunities of the am
nesty extended to Weed. The Chevalier Webb,
however, is too old sinner to hope for pardon.
He is duck of another and entirely different
color from Weed Webb has abused us persO-
nally more in one day than we could reply to
in five years; and we must still stand sentry
over his buster and rigmaroie.
In the present case the Chevalier Webb la
bors very hard, and uses great many capital
and italic letters, to attempt to prove that we
have charged Mr.. Seward with being engaged
in the slave trade; and, having man
ufactured the charge, the Chevalier struts
and busters about like an enraged turkey
cock, and wishes to know if we in
tend to retract statement that we have
never made. Mr.. Seward, being in Europe,
comfortably away from the Harper's Ferry af-
fair and its annoyances, the Chevalier Webb
assumes the sole charge over his public and
private character, which he guards with de-
gree of jealousy that is extremely refreshing.
Now, let the Chevalier Webb keep cool, and
pay very strict attention to what we say. Like
Paul before Festus, we are not mad, as he (the
Chevalier) is, but speak the words of truth and
soberness. We have never charged Mr. Sew
ard with having been engaged in the slave trade.
The only trade that he has ever been engaged
in, to our knowledge, was the rum trade, at
time when his party denounced it as an unholy
traffic, murderous business-almost as bad
as the negro trade. While the republican
party was shouting temperance hymns and sing
ing tee-total anthems, their leader, Seward, was
driving brisk trade in rum at Auburn. This,
we presume, the Chevalier Webb will not deny.
As for the rest, we have no personal quarrel
with Mr.. Seward. We think the tendency Of
his writings and speeches is towards treason,
disunion and civil strife-that if his doctrines,
expressed in the Rochester speech, were carried
out the confederacy would fall to pieces. That
is all. Mr.. Seward never attacked us that we
know of. We never met him but once. That
was at Albany, twenty-five years ago, and then
he was very polite. Mr.. Seward, as an indi-
vidual, is, so far as we know, quite irreproach-
able. Our criticisms refer to his works, not to
him, and we adhere, rigidly adhere, to all that
we have said. And as the Chevalier Webb
pleads for Seward on the ground that he is in
Europe, and incapable Of defending himself,
we offer to the Chevalier, as the representation
of a gentleman a resort to his favorite remedy,
and we are perfectly willing to accede to him
the satisfaction usual among gentlemen.
We will fight him, and We give the Cheva-
lier due notice, beforehand, that our second
will be General Duff Green, of Texas, and that
we shall request him to bring along those
mahogany stock and percussion lock" pistols,
which gave the Chevalier such tremendous
scare in Washington twenty-five years ago.
One OF THE ISSUES OF THE MAYoRALTY ELEC-
ToN.-A few hundred merchants in the sugar
and cotton trade have come out with card in
favor of Mr.. Havemeyer as Chief Magistrate of
this city, gentleman who was one Of the
fathers of the anti. slavery sentiment which bos