, 1860-02-04
49rcss & Triihttttf,


"TlkE 1KfsErlsIiSSta con-.
fLItT.ss
These words were first brought together l'r
Mr. Seward in his Rochester spcccl. in 1855.
lie used u'en to express that eternal antaEo-
nsn which, in the natnrc Of &'!iu.s. must crcr
Continue between freedom and slavery. The
same sentiment lad been uttered i'll other
forms. aud with almost equal power by nearly
every leading statesman ut the South. Mr.
Lincoln, will, that c}.zlrness Of definition fir
which he is Justly distinguished held that tho
agitation Of the slavery question could never
cease. Till the people rested in tue a,c1ief that
slavery was in process II ultimate extinction.
With an energy aud an ingenuity Of fnlse!ood
characteristic Of tic bogus Democracy, they at
oncc seized upon the words uttered hy Mr..
Seward is implying aad coaas,llins perpetual
warfare 'rtwern the FFer and the Slave Suites.
Au ''irrcpTcssiblc coutiict" either in morals,
or in politics, does not necessarily imply even
angry agitation, niucl less ACTUAL hostility, lc-
tween different classes ofpDrle, orono section
of the country aud another. That conflict. like
i!c great changes in nature. may 80 OIL
quietly, aad get tue results may be very
marked a,"l important. To cay that there il
III ''iJcpressiblo contict" between freedom
aud slavery is simply TO assert what every
l'cdy knows l1as existed since the Introduction
of human bondage into this country. To say
that any such conflict exists between the Free
aud S1nvc States is t:.lsc iu ilct-an invention
ofdemagogucs, whose sole object is to inf!ane
sectional prejudice: and make themselves CON
spicuous hy the excitement Which they Pro-
ducc. Tie conflict between freedom and
slavery can 50 Oh only wherc slavery itself is
established. 1t exists in every Southern
Statc, aud, so long is tho Chains Of Il single
slave eiauk there, it wcro easier 10 dam ur
the Mississippi a: Cairo: or toquenc1, the fires Of
Fcsuvins. than to feprrss this irrelsessiblc
coat1ict.' Il is seen ia the savage laws onact-
ed by Southern Sclons: in tho fear which
drives from the Soutl, those Innocent Of any
crime. but disbelief in tho Divine origin Of the
hated institution: and every trembling fugi-
tive, as he fixes his ere. upon the North Star,
and. through, forests and swan,rs, in perils BY
night and By day, fees as for G:e 10 the do
ninions Of the British Qu.eo, gives proof in
every bound aud in every ulrob that swells in
lis bosom that the "cenfiict'' between liberty
xad slavery is irrcp1essiL1e." The fact is
patent 10 oil men. To deny it, is absurd.
The Republicans charge, and justly, that
whatever strife and bitterness now exist h.
tween the free and the slave States, is the d.
rec. result of tue repeal Of the Missouri Com
promise. That repeal was due to tie efforts
Of Stephen 4, Douglas. lie is one Of those
restless spirits whose Importance consists in
stirring upsho :1ugry passions Of men. On the
storm which lia deliberately and wickcdjy
raised, he meant to ride into power and seat
himsclfiu the chair which w:4s first occupied
tv tho :: Father Of his Country For that act
lo has carnc'l Il fame 'ut |ittle less enviab]c
tnan t!lat-of Aaron Burr or Benedict Arnold.
''But' say our opponents. "ll:4l uot tle
Missouri Compromise tccn repealed. where
would lElvc been your !rrcprcsslble conflict 2
By your own showing there would have been
entire peatc between tic North aud the South,
Your arguments are co.ltr ridic!ory aud absurd"
By 10 n1caus. Had not the Missouri Com
rromi:e been repealed, there would have been
entire harmony l'ctwccn t!.o different sections
oi the Cni"n. TIL: inyasioi.s, the murders.
aud tho rariuo iu k.us;ts would 10. lave <l<.-
filed tie history uf The country; John Browns
raid would never have been thought Of; no
Fire.Ea.or, however rAbid, would have dared
to blur. on: upon the floor Of Congress lis
trcas,s.ahIe, .lisunion 1wadIlc: but, rs above
h:utcl. the irrcpressiblc conflict would
nav. l'een silently and srlrely working
.., 1ts results ti.rouShnut MI the Ior-
der States. y powerful hut moderate and
conservative emancipation party woalL proba-
hty hare heen cfeanizt,l ii I'LL :host: States.
aud quietly, till somewhere il tic distaut Et,-
Chow distant VIC shall not hazard !: cs,a-
jccturc-,nr wlt,!c suuEtry would have be-
cclue in reality Al the lud of tile free az well
as 81 fc lonu Of The br:.vc." However par-
ties; may arrause their platforms however
determined the South may he IL riyct more
firmly the sllackles Of tin slave, that Freedom
will Il. length claim ilis culire ,onlineut as
her nw,,, is ns: :ts crrtain lis that tic laws of
the Creator govern the Universe. Tint this
.:i,aasc may be peaceful. aud. if you please,
gradual, apd that it may bc made by the soutl,
:.le,., Under isis! scusc Q! political aud rclis-
je,s duty, is the sincere desire Of every true
ra;rim.