New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-12-25
TO SOUTHERN CONSERVATIVES.


There are good and true men at the South
whose opinion We value whose judgment we re-
spect and whose resistance to the madness now
prevalent there commands our warmest admlra-
ton Some of these are saying, "Why does not
"the North evince spirit of conciliation' To
these, we would address some words Of explana-
ton.
The FIRST point to be made, in our view, is
thi.-1he Union is mutual benefit; not boon
conferred on the North By the South TWo-thlrds
of the present camor for Secession is based on
q current presumption, sedulously incucated by
Disunion demagogues that the Union taxes tho
South for the benefit of the North. This ls not
merely fallacy; il is a mischiey0us deluslon
Yet aDy Northern concessions at this Junclure
would tend to fla that mistake in the Southern
mind ever more. Nay, it would tend to make
Southern men believe, not merely that tbs Union
was Northern Continuance to sponge and beg
gar the South but that We knew it to be such,
aud we're ready enough to give up our " lnnatl-
zeal" notions whenever the South with one
voice commanded us to do so or forfeit the ad-
vantages secured TO us by the Union If there
is ever again to be peace between the North and
the South. it viii be secured b, Northern firm.
ness now.
Our Government includes four leading deposl-
tories of power. The Presidency, the Senate,
the House, and the Supreme Court. Three of
these are in the hands Of the friends OF Slavery,
even after the 18th Of March next, and for on
indefinite future period. One--tbe Presidency
is secured for four years to the side of Free
Labor: and thereupon the South proposes to
bolt Shall we therefore propose to cripple our
fourth of tue Government because the posse ssors
of the other threc-fourths are dissatisfied at our
having anything
We want nothing bnt what is fair and just.
If the South, by the help Of the Senate, HOUSE,
and Supreme Court, can force Slavery into the
Territories, We must submit. II the North, With
only the Executive on its side, can keep that
Southern scourge uDd National scandal out Of the
Territories We mean that she shall. Is that
fairl The Slavery Extensionists, with three to
one, do not propose to tie thar hands. Why
should they ask us to tie ours
All the present difference between the North
and the South grows out Of new views recently
adopted by the latter. When 80 late as Ie2G,
Edward Everett of Massachusetts, expressed Pro
Slavery views in Congress, he was sharply re-
bukcd therefor by two several Southern mem
bcrs, and one Northern Democrat born in the
South Never till since John &. Calhoun quar-
relied with Gen. jackson was it held or pretend
ed in any influential quarter that Slavery was
blessing to be dfused. We stand on thc old
common ground of the Fathers. Why should we
change it Is it reasonable to ask us TO do 30
Union men Of the South the day of compro-
misses is over. We want TO retain the Union,
but it must be as equals You have right (as
against u.s. to sustain Slavery; We have right
to reject and condemn It. II you have q right
to seek its diffusion, We have an equal right
to resist il. If those who wish Slavery ex-
tended are stronger than We, they viii boat
us; if We are the stronger We mean to beat
them. If we admit that We, standing in Jour
shoes and seeing through your eyes, would do as
you do, you should admit that you standing on
ONE ground, would do as we do. May the vic.
tory enure to the Right