The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-05-18


IN bu'k I'D, and corn In snp's bags At Tkd., and
A. the oioss So asked for wheat 10 sh,'s oags For
o.her engage ments We refer 70 another eoiuml
Odd AbStsnctt one ano the New Issue-Fhe
I@Pesa,sg R-vofatsos.
Wren Louis XVI. copvoked the States Gene
raj OF France in 1883, the old leaders aud pub
lie n en- believed they could meet The crisis OF
The nation by the discussion of past evils and
present paliiahves, aud few saw, while none
compreheDdej, the mighty revolution that was
just spriDgiDg into life.
So Il il 30 day with our owu political leaders
and public men. The discussion between Mr
Doug'As and Mr. Davis 10 discussion OF the
dead past, aud not of the living present aud
coming future. In bis summary Mr., Douglas
is historically correo, as far as be goes. The
idea Of squatter sovereignty was held By Gen.
Cas- and many Others, ia differest forms aud
degrees, in the past, but 1t was always an ab-
strscdop, and was buried by the giants among
the old statesmen when hey made the compact Of
1850. That compromise was settled on other
and far higher aud more practical principles
and suua,ter sovereignty was buried, with all
ibe other rubbish OF hair splitting statesman
ship. beneath IT, acceptable provisions. II was
not until 1854, when Mr. Dixon, OF Kentucky,
dug up the fossil, aud brought II into Congress.
that Senator Douglas and other popularity
hunting politicians seized again upon the old
distractions, believing they had got hold of an
eternal principle. The greatness OF their mis-.
take II evident 10 the fact that the question
Of the introduction Of slavery in the Terrific.
ries Is not al Issue OF fact, nor one of doubt
among the people. Every man and boy
knows that 10 matter bow Congress may legis-
late, politicians seitate, or popular meetings re-
solve negro slavery will not extend into the
present Territories Of the United States The
institution Of slavery ia not q migratory one,
and II 1t were the South has not the slave popu-
lstion- to spare, nor could negroes he carried
sdvantageously, IL 1t had, to the cold, dry eli
mates Of the interior regions Of this continent
These natural causes settie that question, prac-
ticslly. beyond the power Of Congress or polisi-
clans to disturb.
But there is an issue before the people-ap
issne made by the black republican party in
1856. when 1t organized for political purposes
against what 1t calls "ihe twin relics Of barba-
rIsm, slavery and poiygamy." The true attack
here Is against slavery, and polygHmy Is
brough, Ia merely a. popular catch, though
Congressional Legislation on both Of them iu-
wolves the same usurpssion Of power. The
os,ensible direction Of It against extension into
the Territories is merely recession from the
true position which the black republicans have
been forced to make in Congress, but ct home
retreat There, the burthen of their speeches
and the object Of their vituperation are the
evil and the Elm OF slaveholdiog. On this they
have divided the churches, split the moral and
religious propagandist societies, broken up
parties, and alarmed the great conservative
element Of the country. And yet Senators
Douglas and Davis fail to see It. and engage 10
a hair splitting discussion, believing that the
people will read, comprehend and take an
interest In their sophisticsl arguments.
In this they are the blind that wouldbe lead.
ere Of those who see. But the masses have
been disguised with the disputes q, Charleston,
which plainly showed that the contest vas
merely personal one, In which abstract die
tinctions in impractical matters we're rcsor,ed
TO because none other were available. The
discussion In the Senate IL merely continus-
ton Of that at Charleston, and, by proving to
the people that neither Douglas nor Davis com.
prehends tbe spirit OF the time, Il saves the
country from the possibility OF either OF them
becoming leaders In the great revolution upon
which weare entering. A strong conservative
feeling Is awakened all over the country. The
people see that when set Of jealous fanatics
bave combined with demsgogues 10 make q
rush Tor political power, which, II attained by
them, will involve the whole country In snar-
cby and civil war, IL IL no time to discuss the
abstract question whether q Southern slave
holder has or not the right or liberty 10
20 where he neither has the wish nor
the power 70 90. Instincively they
feel that this is not the true issue OF the
day; that II belongs TO the dead past, when,
after the settlement Of grave material issues.
politicians divided on empty distractions.
After the discussion Of the relations Of the as
chi policy Of the country to the interests Of the
people aud the settlement, Of i.s great princi-
Piles, sqnstter sovereignty agitation was tolera-
ted, because Il could do no harm.
To-day all this 1. changed. II IL made the
blind of an insane attack on the brotherhood OF
the States, the harmony Of the Union and the