New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-08-25
ADDRESS OF THE UNION ELECTORAL
COMMITTEE TO THE UNION MEN OF
NEWIORK.

The undersigned, Committee appointed by the Con-
yen,on held at Utica on the 10Th day of July last with
authority TO form an Electoral Ticket in such man.
"ner as they deem beet calculated 10 unite National
Union men of every name and designation, and pro-
mote the eecio of John Bell and Edward yerett"
having according to their best judgment, discharged
the trust confded TO hem herewith report the result
of their labors together with the which the
same liz founded.
In doing this il will be convenient briefly to refer to
the present divisions of parties and TO the principles
upon which such divisions are founded.
The issue that formerly divided parties seem 10 have
become entirely obsolete. There is no longer any
partisan controversy upon she subject OF national
bank internal improvements, the acquisition OF terri
tory or protective tariff. Some of these questions
indeed survive, but they survive differences between
individuals, and longer indicate the boundaries of
parties. OLe only question, the question of Slavery,
agitates the American people, and lies at the founda-
ton of all our party divisions. And even upon this
subject the controversy lie mainly restricted TO single
phase of the question 1t ie universally admitted that
there is power in the General Governmet to legis
late upon the subject Of Slavery 10 the States of the
U1iOn whether TO establish or abolish, or regulate or
interfere with il in any manner whatsoever. Upon
this whole subject the States, confessedy and beyond
controversy, sovereign But the question that
dstnrbs the harmony, and threatens tue existence OF
the Union is the lees important OF Slavery IN those
Territorial possessions which are not yet sufficiently
populous TO be admitted States into the Union and
over which Congress is vested with general legislative
powers What shall be the condition Of those Terri
tories and who shall determine it That is the ques
ton upon which the whole controversy hinges And
hence have arisen the sectional hatreds the violence
of nobs, the disruption Of religious societies and OF
parties and the schemes Of dsunon that threaten the
existence of our fabric Free Government. The open
ing Of that question was, as has happily been said
the orening of Pandoras box; TO close it, is 10 close
the only serious controversy that dsturbs the peace Of
the Union.
Upon this question go fruitful of evil, we have no
less than four purties all Of which propose different
remedies and modes Of settlement.
We have Northern Sectional party, that demands
that Congress shall prohibit Slavery in all the Terrific
RES Of the United States
A Souhe,n Sectional party, that demands that Con-
prefs shall uphold Slavery in all the Territories of the
United States.
party that demands that Congress shall not inter-
fere with Slavery in tie Territories at all but that the
people of the Territories shall determine the question
themselves.
And lastly we have party established for the very
purpose of crushing agitation and restoring harmony,
and which, in the mode by which il seeks TO accomplish
this object differs materially from all the other parties
This Union party has laid down no platform and esae-
lished no test other than are contained III the solemn
declaration Of It's attachment to the Union, fidelity to
the Constitution, aud obedience TO the laws. Platforms
upon the subject of Slavery are Of modern origin and
experience shows that instead OF settling disputes their
tendency is to eUgender and increase them Our fathers
tolerated without attempting TO smother or disguise,
the natural ard almost unavoidable differences that exist
between Northern and Southern men upon this ques-
ton. To that old and approved practice the Union
party has returned.
Its easily seen from the above sketch Of parties,
hat between the two frstnamed there Is an irrecon-
liable difference; that they indeed the opposies
Of each other; but that between the two others,
namely the National Democracy and the Union party
that supports Bell and Everett there is such diff
ference but on the contrary, If not an identity, yet
great similarity of principle, and many points Of
two eXtremes. There are no Abolitioniss or dis
uIonists 10 be fond In the ranks Of either; no Yam
ctys or Keitts or Summers or LoyCioys among the
National Democrats and the Bell Unionists. There
are doubtless differences Of opinion upon questions
uneonnected with Slavery but these are mostly ques
tons Of tho past, and, Il otherwise, they are unim
portsnt, when compared with the grea, and urgent
Issues upon which the Union hangs. The only present
poiDt OF difference, that be regarded material
relates 10 what is commonly called Squatter OF
Popular Sovereignty. But this is after all alegal, oil