The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-04-09


When, after the dissolution of the Wing party,
the Free-soilers claimed recognition as distinct
political organization they did not hesitate to ask
the support of the Southern people They dis
claimed, and we believe honestly, all intention
of interfering with slavery where it then existed.
They desired to prevent its extension, but ex-
pressed a willingness to give to the slave States
such guarantees as they might deem necessary
for its protection within their borders They
only asserted the authority of the general govern
ment to prohibit the introduction of slavery into
the new territories, and advocated the propriety
of its doing so. OF their arguments on these
points we think we had no just cause to COM
plain. We might dissent from their conclusions
about the constitutonality of such measures as
they proposed, and we certainly would differ with
them about the expediency or justice of such
line of policy, but their right to form and express
their own opinions upon these subjects was I'M
- deniabe. Otherwise, it would be a farce
to talk of free political discussion as one of our
privileges. Though the Constitution had left all
questions concerning the abolition or contnu-
ance of slavery, absolutely to the decision of the
various States in which it was then legalized,
Congress had never in the half century succeed
ing the adoption of that instrument, waived the
right to exclude the system from the territories.
So long, therefore, as the Free-soilers con-
fined themselves to this issue, they mere
ly advanced a doctrine, which, unpalatable
as it might have been 10 us they were at liberty
to main ain. Nor are we by any means certain
that their views would not have found many ar
in tba -,
land, Virginia and Kentucky. But this party has
long since passed beyond the limits of that debate
able ground, to which any conflict of opinion
about slavery should have been confined The
Republicans to-day are practically, if not avowed-
ly the representatives of the Abotionsts of thirty
years ago. As they gathered strength in the
North, they have gradually identified themselves
more and more with the extreme opponents of
Southern Institutions, which they are daily assail-
ing the more eflectually because they strenuousy
deny the hostile motives imputed TO them. There
are, doubtless, many among them who would re-
pudiate deliberate proposition to agitate for the
abolition of slavery in the States where it has so
long existed, but they have unconscousy lost
their bearings and are drifting EDWARDS with a
current of whose force and direction they are alto
gether ignorant. We took occasion, some time
since, TO quote the language of some of the most
influential leaders of the Republicans, which was
too explicit to be misnterpreted, and it has been
reiterated since through the press on the hustings
and in Congress, in terms that it would be fatuous
to fail to understand. The Tribune and kindred
prints have INDUCED continually in vituperative
expressions against the shareholders, that are too
familiar to the country TO need repetition here and
the arguments of which only few ultra journalists
were wont 10 make use, now form the staple OF
most of the political speeches in the North
These, if they mean anything, declare open war
upon us. There is hint of federation for our
institutions, or of compromises TO be made with
them in future. The broad ground is taken that
slavery is a curse, sin, an infamous wrong, and
the logical result of this teaching is as unavoid-
able rs it is apparent. Mr.. LINCOLN, of Illinois, in
a premeditated discourse in New York, a few weeks
ago, said:
lf slavery right, all words, acts, laws and Consti
utons against it, themselves wrong, and
senced, and swept away. IF it right justly
object to its nationayits universally; if it is wrong
they cannot justly insist upon its exenson-ts enlarge
mentn
And Mr. LovEJoY repeated, day or two since,
in the House of Representatives, the identical
proposition, in these words:
81 must be right in my position or the extreme fire
eaters must be right If slavery right in Virginia.
must be right in Kansas Ifwrong in Kansas it must be
wrong everywhere"
simple alternative is here offered. Either tall
the words, acts, laws and Constitutions against
slavery must "be silenced and swept away" or
those which protect it must share the same fate.
If the system is right, says Mr. LINCOLN, no one
salty" but fit is wrong, 'its extension ought
not to be insisted on, Mr.. LovEJoY does not stop
at the ELAINE and impotent conclusion at which
Mr.. LINCOLN thought it polite TO pause. He AYERS
that slavery must be upheld everywhere, or every
where abolished, and no man with any regard for
common sense can draw any other deductions
from The premises from which these two speakers
start Now they both assert that slavery is wrong,
and they therefore obligate themselves TO destroy
IT. no matter what laws and Constitutions may
countenance or support it. If these were merely
the views of the two politicians we have
named, they would demand little serious comment
tut 1t can easily be shown that similar sentiments
nave been expressed by almost every prominent
member of the Republican party They deny and
VIII continue to deny that they cherish hostile in
tehuons towards the South, and they will frame
protests and platforms in which they will record
their devotion and loyalty to the UNION OF what
worth or value these conventional phrasas nj
tered as they are by men who are denouncino the
fundamental compromise on which the Constitu-
ton rests, and who cannot if they are honest per-
nit it TO stand unrepealed2 They have long since
lost sight of the original issue, which concerned
only the regulation of the territories and are de-
voting themselves daily and hourly TO the consd-
GRAFTON of slavery in the States. They have ceased
to regard this as political problem which presents
more difficulties to the people Immediately affected
by it than any which has ever embarrassed great
nation, and they propose to decide it with refer
ence TO certain abstract theories of right and
morals. They will array two races face to face
as EQUALS knowing that they never amalga-
mate, and that struggle for supremacy must
ensue that could only end when the fairest section
of the continent is depopulated and its prosperity
destroyed for centuries to come. We are happy to
believe that the people of the North are beginning
to foresee the inevitable consequences of these doc
trines. A few insane and disgraceful speeches
like that of Mr.. LovEJoY will suffice to bring
their fealty to the Commonwealth to deci-
SlVe test. III GILL CUHtiHue W support Tue
principles to which the leaders of the Republican
party have latterly succeeded in pedging it, the
prospect before the country is worse than gloomy.
That organization is now in position with which
1T is little short of treason to compromise. 1t has
advanced to point which renders its overthrow
essential, or the destruction of the UNION ia more
than probematical. az
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In the Senate on Saturday petition was pre-
scented by Mr. Trumbull from citizens of Illinois.
stating that great alienation of feeling exists
throughout the Union, caused by the agitation of
the slavery question in Congress, and they pray
that body to recommend to all State Legislatures