New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-11-24
THE POSITION OF THE BAPTIsTs.
THE SOUTHERN MILITARY.
LETTER FROM GENERAL LANE.

90 Prom The Washington GoHsiiigfoa. z..-.t > =
IN reply TO communication addressed to Gen. Lane
by Gurtayus ". Smith Chairman and Philip W.
Enss, Philip Trotter, and Stephen Z. Russell, members
OF a Committee appointed by the Breckenridge and
Lane Club Of the City and County of NewYork, ask
ing tie Generals views in regard to the present crisis
tie Senator from Oregon has written the subjoined
letter:
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Nov. 90 1850
GESTLEMYS: Yours Of the 18th inst is received
Tie address embodying the views Of the Committee,
which YOU say was inclosed, has not reached me.
With your request that 1 should make " such sug-
gestious as in my Judgment would tend TO preserve
cur institutions and our Government" proceed briefly
TO comply.
Nothing is palmer than that ours is Goyeminent,0f
lml IOWeIs-fOrmed by States equal in sovereignty
eotl in dignity, and equal in rights. This equality
In all reel ects and in all things must be mann
tanned Any act by the people, or by any branch
or department Of the Government tenoing to impair
tits equality "a usurpGtlon, aud destruction OF that
eoraly is Virtually destruction Of the Union. Have
We not reached point in the history OF our Government
when il may be said with truth that this equality
been seriously menaced, If not impaired or destroyed
Never was proposition more plainly put an issue
more directly made, than that upon which the people
have lately rendered their verdict Shall the people of
al tie States possess and ENJOY equal rights and pnyl-
leges ia the common territory OF our common country
BV q majority almost fabulous, a Northern sec
tiOlai IaIty have determined that the people OF the
Southern States shall not 80 into the common terri
tory and carry their property with then-that no more
States recognizing property IN slaves dS ala twelve Oi
the thirteen OH lna Stder shall ever BE- admitted into
the mon. { II any man whose mind Is capable oi
discriminating between right and wrong say that
th is Just and right ana III accordance VITA the spirit
or letter OF the Constitution! 10 me II appears PLAN
that the equal rights under the Constitution 0f those
States IT c6gnzing Slavery have been violated by their
Northern ncighb0rs in the verdict which they have
rendered TO the effect that the States are
moi equal, that the people OF ihteen sovereign
States snail not 20 to the Territories wi,h thelr
property, that they are interiors, and must
submit not only 10 inequality, but degradation Now
cn the Union be held together upon such terms II we
would preserve the CnUu We must MAINTAIN the Con-
sttuion and the equality OF the States and be just and
deal fairly BY every portion Of our country In my udg
ment the Northern people unjust and unwise IN de
uyup 10 the citizens Of the Southern States the h to
eilIa TO and settle in the Territories hthoir slave
ptotetfy They are wrong in holding that no more
SLAVE States shall be admitted into the Union for il is
clearly the right Of the people of Territory when their
population entities them to adms-ioninto the union, TO
form such Coy erment Us may suit them, and, whether
Slave or Free il is the duty % Congress 10 admit hen
And they are wrong in permitting 10 remain upon the
statute-o laws Obstructive Of the faithful execution
OF the Fugitive Slave law. Let them speedily take steps
20 correct these wrongs and MAINTAIN good lilln toward
all tie States as was llantlned III The early days Oh
the Republic This IN their power and IN no other way
can they avert dissolution; Tor one, In my opinion,
who is al all informed to the framework OF our Gov
ernpt Mt cn conclude that the Federal Government has
the constitutional power TO force against State for
resnInng the powers which it delegated To the General
Government, when its rights have been iniringed or
e1uity refused; or ii the Government had the power,
that il would be wire prudent To IRE ii. The Union
was not formed By force can it be maintained by
force Ii was a voluntary Union of sovereign States,
and whenever the rights OF any Of them small be in
finged OF equality refused, and they nd it necessary
and shall derire 10 part there is power that can
keen them together or that should attempt it.
much uuedlelt servant,
' JOSEPH LANE.