New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-11-16
.vrxs.ror m PRACTICE.

our columns with proofs or arguments, intended
90 show that the secession of State, or Of
several States, from our Federal Union, ia nm
authorized by the Federal Constitution. On that
point. the authority of Madison or of Webster
can only be needed by those with whom no
authority can aught avail He who imagines
that after we have paid Fifteen Millions for
Louisiana, and Five Millions for Florida, and
Ten Millions for Texas, and Fifteen Millions
again for California and New.Mexico and
admitted their people to perfect equality with
us in our Coniederacy, they may each and oil
take themselves of in huff whenever and
however inclined to do so, must be in frame
Of mind on which argument or expostuaton
would be wasted. The Union of these States is
in its nature rrevocable, and only the earth
quake of Revolution can SILVER it.
Still we say, in all earnestness and good ialth'
Whenever whole section of this Republic
whether o half, third or only fourth-shan
truly desire and demand a separation from the
residue, we shall as earnestly favor such separa-
zion. IF the fifteen Slave States or even the
eight Cotton States alone shall quietly, decisive
ly say to the rest, ave prefer to be henceiorth
separate from you," we shall insist that they
be permitted to go in peace. War IS hdeous
necessity. at best--and civil cOnfllct-a war OF
estranged and embittered ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
the most hideous of all wars Whenever the
PeopIe of the Cotton States shall have defnitive-
" and decisiyey made up their minds to sepa-
rate from the rest of u.s. we shall urge that the
proper steps he taken TO give full effect to their
decision.
Let 10, then, have no reciprocal taunts re-
proaches, nor menaces no bitterness; no pas
sion. If the South really prefers to "go it
"alone," we urge that the North should not, and
We believe that she will not, undertake to pass
Judgment upon the validity suffciency of the
reasons alleged for such alienation. If the
Union be really oppressive or unjust to the
South-nay if the South really believes it So
we insist that decent self-respect should impel
the North to say, eve think you utterly mis-
"taken; but you have right to judge for
yourselves: so go if you will" Nothing
50 much tends to confirm the South in her
mistaken notion that the North is en-
riched at her cost by the Union, as the sor-
did. mercenary grounds on which the Union is
too commonly glorfed at the North as the
source and seal of our material prosperity and pro-
eress. This is as false as il is mean. Our com
mercal dealings with the Cotton region are no
more advantageous to one side than to the other
and they are not at all dependent on the Union.
If the South were 10 set up for herself, she
would still have Cotton, Rice, Tobacco and Sugar
to SELL and would want to exchange them for Corn,
Bacon, Hardware, Groceries and Dry Goods.
She would trade with us just as she does now,
provided she could do better here than else
where: and, as she could not then expect us to
catch her runaway slaves, nor to pretend
TO idoize her q domestic institutions" she would
probably have fewer grievances to irritate her,
fewer fancicd wrongs TO redress, than now
The Republicans of the Free States are scarce
" allowed by our adyersaries to have any 0pin-
ION or do any act with reference to the present
Southern clamOr for DisuniOn. If we express
our conviction that the efervescence Will subsldc If
il find no support from without, we are accused
of willful ignorance of the depth and bitterness
of Southern hostility to Lincoln and Republican
rule If we say nothing, we are charged with
indifference TO a great public peril. If we re-
mOnstrate with the Fire-Eaters and undertake
to show that they utterly mistake and misrepre-
sent u.s. they are told that we have become
alarmed at the awful consequences of our "ir-
"repressible conflict" and are trying to back
out from our position or explain it away.
Mr. Lincoln is assailed for his silence by
journals that would be certain to peryert to his and
our prejudice aught that he might say. On the
whole, then, our true course would seem to be
to keep cool ourselves and say nothing to excite
OF Justly offend others. Disunion has been
threatened for thirty years and may very probably
be threatened for thirty years more; but it is
much easier to resolve State out of the Union
than TO get her out 1t certainly TO us
quite unlike the fair thing for the beaten party in
Presidential contest TO undertake to bolt from
the Union thereupOn: it should stay out the term
of the President thus elected and give fair no
tee that il would not vote next time, 30 as not
to be concluded by the result. However, our
Southern brethren must manage their own do
nestle affairs in their own way, subject
- only 10 the Constitution of the United States"