New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-10-12
YANCEY on DlsUNION.

complaint against the Republican party is, that
they deuy to the owners of four millions Of sl:yes
any rights in the Territories; and he puts forward
this alleged denial of rights as sufficient to justify
dissolution of the Union in case the control OF
the General Government shall pass, as it is about
to do, into the hands of the Republicans.
Now we would like to have Mr.. Yancey point out
single right in the Territories which the Republi-
cans claim for themselves or for anybody else, and
which they do not just as freely concede to each
ard all of the owners Of the four millions of slaves
psraded SO pompously. They are and will be- ac-
cord;ng to the Republican policy, just as much at
liberty as any body else to emgrate into the Terri
tories to settle there to elect and to be elected to
Office, aid to enjoy all the rights which the laws
Golfer, and which are possessed by any portion
whsteyer of the inhabitants.
In their character of citizens of the United
States and residents in the Territories, the owners
of these four millions of slaves stand, according to
the Republican view, so far as their territorial
rights are concerned, precisely on the same level
with all the rest of us. The real ground of Mr..
Yanceys complaint is, not that the Republicans do
not recognize tho common rights of those slave
owners as men and as citizens, but that they de-
cline to regard the ownership of four Millions or
any other number of slaves, as comforting certain
special and peculiar privileges, neither possessed
uor claimed by any body else. If the owners OF q
banking establishment, organized under the laws OF
New York, should pretend that they were deprived
Of all rights in the Territories, because they cannot
fha al
upon them uSaGGT th6 EewYork statutes this co n
pnipt ould be just as reasonable and just as we'll
grounded as that which Mr.. Yancey puts forward on
behalf of the owners Of his boosted four millions OF
slaves.
To determine the policy and the institutions
which should be made the basis Of the political,
social, and economical organization of State,
is the very highest act of sovereignty that can
possibly be exercised. Now, instead of cOnced-
lug TO the rest of the community any voice in
shaping the infant institutions of our Territorial
settlements go far as the great and all-important
question Of Slave Labor or Free Labor is con-
cerned, Mr.. Yancey and his cOmpatriots claim for
the owners Of four millions Of slaves, and for each
and every individual of that number, an exclusive
and special right of taking the settlement of this
great question into their own hands. The Gov
erDment of the United States is, however, not
Governmt mt of special privilege 1t does cot re-
cognize in the possessors of property, and much
less in the owners of slaves under local State
laW., any special rights in which all other
citizers do not equally share-aud the putting for
ward Of such preenses may Justly be stigmstlzed,
Mr.. YsDcey to the contrary, notwithstanding,
as an aggression of the most dangerous and often
siye character upon the principles Of our Coy
eminent, and upon the fundamental doctrine of
the equality Of all the citizens.
In addition, however, to this pretended curtai.
ment Of the rights Of the Shareholders in the Terri
tories, Mr.. Yancey apprehends other alarming
consequ noes as likely to result from the trumph
of the Republicans. He does not venture to as
,ert that they will interfere in any way with the
Dcal State laws on the subject of Slavery; but he
fears that Slavery may be abolished in the District
of Columbia. Well, suppose it should be. Since
the abolition Of Slavery in half the original States
in the Union did not shake the Institution at the
South, it would hardly seem that the giving
liberty to the 20 OF three thousand slaves of the
District OF Columbia need cause 80 great al
alarm. As to the employment of free labor ex-
clusively in the Southern arsenals and dOckyardJ-
another result which Mr.. Yancey apprehends from
the triumph of the Republicans-it seems rather
mean in this Southern orator to begrudge
20 bis white fellow-citizens who do not
happen to be the owners of slaves this anal
opening TO their industry, especially since, accord
ing TO his account the extreme heat Of the sun in
the Southern States makes agricultural labor quite
out % the question for white men.
Wejadge, however, from the concluding portion
Of Mr. YaDcey's speech, that even in his opaion,
the danger OF disuniOn, 10 case Of the election of
Mr. Lincoln, is not after all so very imminent The
results of the elections in Pebnsy lvania Ohio and
Indiana, TO which be so doOrOus!y refers. have
evidently cast very wet blanket upon even hi,
zeal, and when Mr.. Yancey thus aattebs down, who
is likely TO stand up According to hi, state meat,
the election Of Mr.. Lincoln would seem to be the
very beat way putting an erd to that sectOhal,m
Of which such loud complaints are made. He
admits that plenty Of Southern men would be found
to take Office under Lincoln, and that ia q very
short time quite respectable Republican party
would spring up in the Southern Sta,es.
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