The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-02-29

Abraham Lincoln, OF Illinois, the last of the
republican stump orators who has visited US,
played his part at the Cooper Institute on Mon
day evening, and our readers have seen, in yes
! terday's HERALD an account Of the perform
ance. Everything was done to give sclat to
the occasion. Horace Greeley, William Cullen
Bryant, David Dudley Field, General Nye and
Judge Culver acted the subordinate parts to
the chief role by the Star Of the West
The first half of the orators speech was an
attempt to show that the fathers of the repub-
lie were all anislavery men, including Wash
ington and Jefferson, In reply to this it is suf-
icient to say that they took very curious way
Of showing il, by holding slaves themselves, and
by drawing up slavery constitution,
which provides for the perpetuation of the in
stitution ~ long az any State thinks pro-
per to retain it. Washington, in letter
to Lafayette, complained bitterly that the
English, in raid, carried on q num-
Der Of bis slaves from his estate; and it
appears from his will that he held slaves TO tho
day of bis death, that he bought in the slaves
of his wife's brother at an execution, and that
he did not emancipate them even at his death,
but bequeathed them to his wife and his sister
in-law for their lives and after their decease he
directed them to be manumitted-a disposition
of the property which, it is scarcely necessary
to say, he would not have made if he had had
any children to inherit it.
AT the time of the Declaration of indie
'pendence, drawn up by Jefferson, every one of
the thirteen colonies was slaveholding, and
Jefferson inserted clause in it against slavery
which was voted out, showing that the general
sense Of the country was in favor of the insti-
tuition, though Mr.. Lincoln says majority of
the signers of the Declaration were against it.
And the other clause therefore, retained
which speaks of all men as being "born
equal and entitled to liberty" cannot
have any reference to negroes, as has
been shown in the decision Of the Supreme
Court of the United States. When the consti-
tuition was adopted, every State but one held
slaves, and even that one ratified it with the
provision to restore the fugitives 1t is idle,
therefore, to quote the fathers of the republic
including Washington and Jefferson, in favor of
the present republican crusade against slavery
1t is true that Jefferson for time became tainted
with the French revolutionary dwelling notions
about negro slavery, and other things; but he
afterwards changed those opinions, and 10 man
denounced the Missouri Compromise line in
1920 more eloquently than he did, or inveighed
more forcibly against that Northern aggression,
and against all attempts of Congress to inter.
kfere with the slave labor of the South.l He
deprecated the establishment of a geographical
line, upon moral and political principle, be-
tween two sections of the Union, and pre-.
dicted as the result the fearful struggle
which he said he would not live to gee,
but which Is reserved for the eyes
of this generation. And if the Sage of Monti-
cello lived to-day, how indignantly would he
denounce the republican party, whose doctrines
and ideas have led to the invasion of his native
State, and now threaten the disruption Of the
Union.
Mr. Lincoln denies that any republican was
ever connected with John Brown, or that the|
republican party approve of his principles. 1t
is in evidence that Horace Greeley, leading
member of the republican party, at that very
moment in the room, was connected with John
Browns enterprise, gave money to one of
Browns associates to help him on his way to
the theatre of war, and pledged him to send
him word when the fighting commenced, as he
wanted to be on hand Not only is Greeley
leading member of the party, but his paper is
its chief organ, and that journal applauded, en-
Tobc
ing Post Mr.. Bryant's paper, did the same
thing. The majority Of the republicans of
the North endorsed the horse thief-even
the Legislature Of Massachusetts, did 60
And have not sixty-eight republican mem.
beers of Congress, with Mr.. Seward himself,
the head and prophet of the republican party,
endorsed Helpers Impending Crisis, which
contains the principles upon which John Brown
! acted? Mr.. Seward, who has announced the
conflict of the North against the slave labor Of
the South to be 'irrepressible" and intermina-
BILE while a single slave remains in Southern
State. was cheered to the echo by the very as
| sembE which Mr.. Lincoln addressed Mr..
Bryant, the chairman, said they were lighting
for freedom against slavery, in behalf of
civilization against barbarism;" and Horace
Greedy said:-'It may be that we may be
beaten one year, perhaps another and another,
but in the great tide of time we are sure that
the last wave will be higher than the first; and
thus we shall 60 or from victory to victory,
| even through reverses, learning how victories
at last shaf be won." And Mr.. Lincoln, though
he is mSre cautious, and tries to lull the South
into Atal security, yet commits himself to the
same phtorm-eternal war against the institu-
tons Of the South. He assails the decision of
the Supreme Court that ''the right of property
in a slafe ia distinctly and expressly affirmed
in the, constitution" and Notwithstanding such
| decision, declares his determination to per-
severe IN the crusade against slavery, for that