The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-10-03

"antislavery agitation will never cease while the
foot of Southern master presses Southern SOIL"
Can even infatuation blink the meaning Of the re-
publican platform and the object OF the republican
party,
is there any prospect of future tranquility in
The Union without entire and degrading surrender
10 these conspiratorsg Mr.. Lincoln said a few
days ago, in public speech, that this agitation
would so on long after he had passed away" that
wears hence his party would DE engaged in the
sane Gauss Mr.. Seward, few days ago, in
coins claim TO that seat (the Presidency is that he
confesses the obligation OF that higher law which
the sage OF Quincy proclaimed, and that he avows
himself for life or death, soldier on the side Of
freedom in the irrepressible conflict between free
dom and slavery" Thus he announces the con
tinuance OF the, agitation, and declares that Mr.
Lincoln Is the apostle Of John Quincy Adams, who
began lie by betrsying his father and his party,
ana ended by beuayng his country; and who. in
he rapture OF his fanaticism, exclaimed: " Let
eman cipation come. though il come stained with
the blood of five hundred thousand Southern men,
women and children" On the 18th July, 1854,
HorBcc Greeley, in the New York Tribune, the
controlling press OF tire black republican party,
uses this language" Admit that abolition in the
States il what all men ought to strive for and it is
clear 10 our mind that large majority are not pre-
pared for this, and the practical question is this
shall we not attempt that which majority are
ripe for. and thus by our consequent triumph, IN
wife that majority TO go further!' This was an
appeal 10 the Garrisobian abolitionisfs To mite
with the republicans, and an assurance that the
latter would soon occupy the advanced ground
of the former. Here "a an authentic ex-
position of their policy: for the present, the
Wilmot Proviso in the Territories, and no more
slave States, because public sentiment is not
prepared TO 20 further IA soon. however. a. it
is ripe" the republicans will march abreast with
the foremost aboltouists, and will demand the ex-
tincon Of slavery in the States. The principles of
the republican party carry them rresstibly TO the
abolition of slavery in the States. The eaders
have created puslie opinion at the North which
would sweep them into oblivion if they dared to re-
sst 1t, or even 10 pause IN their course. They are
the slaves OF this opinion and the mental instru-
ments with which it works out its ends.
hold it, then, TO be evident, both from its plat
form and principles, and from the declarations OF
It's leaders. that the republican partymnst continue
ITS warfare upon slavery, and that IL would use the
federal government 10 ahotonize the South. We
cannot look TO the Supreme Court for protection.
for il is pledged 10 reorganize that; and even if
it were not, il would be compelled 10 do it, or re-
ject its decisions. Relieving that slavery is wrong,
and that il is their duty to abolish il. and be-
levng also that all power is in the hands OF
the majority, the republicans could not pause be-
fore the decisions Of the Court, any more than
they have paused before the stipulations of the
constitution. We cannot look to the Senate for
protection, for that body will soon be under their
control. We cannot look 10 the House for that is
already aboiitionized. Where, then, must we look
for protection! answer, to the States themselves.
The States of the South must take their own safety
into their own hands.
the constitution. Poison has lurked under the
wings of the eagle from bin early time. The con
stitution was matchless instrument. but still IL
was OF human creation. Its great authors knew
this, and provided for its amendment. II was
created in an early and trying time when Siul
po.ils were closing around us, and when the
purest patriotism and the loftest craftsmanship
were needed 70 conduct Us through the threaten
ing crisis II was made for the original thirteen
States, and then almost exclusively to regulate and
protect their foreign relations. Fresh from an eS.
hausting war-wi'h systems Of polity just steady.
ing themselyes-wi new relations rising up on
every side, and with foreign Powers menacing
with conquest. the constitution was framed,
and the Union created. 10 adjust the relations be-
tween the States. and 10 combine the resources of
all against foreign aggression The constitution is
the public law of the sovereign States, and the
Union established 10 protect certain intersia
and international relations. No immediate acqu-
sition OF territory was contemplated. and no pro-
vision was made for colonial governments. The
Constitution provided for its own amendment aud
its trainers intended that unforeseen exigencies
III 1uid be met by the grant Of new powers in the
manner provided. The constitution il but a gran.
OF specified powers, and u was not within the our
view Of It's trainers that the Union which IL created
should exercise any pover not strictly granted.
Il does not weaken this argument. that the first
exercise Of governmental authority over terrific
Tios occurred under Mr.. Jefers IN. Europe
was shaken with wars; the undulations Of
the strife were affecting as: commerce
was repealed from outlet, and our people
were armirg for hostties. Mr.. jefferson sliced
the skirts OF happy chance, and purchased Loui-
siana 20 free commerce. dsarm people,
ana save the republic from sharing in an European
war. Louisiana being acquired, Congress governed
il without looking to the constitution for it, power
70 do so. Al that time all Of our craftsmanship
was devoted 70 foreign affair. To strengthen the
federal government in our relations with foreign
nations was supposed 10 be our policy, aud the ex
srcse OF powers to this end was not watched with
eager scrutiny. Florida was acquired under
analogous circumstances, and the same explana-
tiop applies. Up 10 the acquisition Of Louisiana all
the Territories were portions of the original States,
and Congress- was exempted from the necessity Of
exercising doubtful powers over them. At the
threatening approsch Of arms the constitution
silent. and no sectional hostilities then existed,
under the domineering plea Of necessity, Congress
was allowed 70 organize Territorial governments.
In ls90 for the first time, our statesmen began 10
look closely into the constitution. and 10 scTu-
tinize every exercise OF power in connection with
that instrument. Then became clearly defined the
distinction between the State rights and The federal
parties. Then. for the trSt time, our statesman
ship became retrospective.
Before parties were sharply and dccisively DO
fined. and the philosophy Of the new school tho.
roughly established, ccurred the Missouri ques-
ton" II involved the exer Use Of only negative
power nv Congress. and this fact aided by the
complications II the Louisiana and Florida cases,
betrayed the country into an honest but nauspi.
cious compromise. Far better were It had the
men Of that day grappled boldly with the issue
and established an enduring peace. instead 81
a precariOus aTmsiice. Confused with the novelty
Of the discussion stunned with the popular clamor.
and clingng to blear and noxious precedents, they
compromised great struggle upon umd policy,
instead Of settling II upon constitutional principles.
The power of Congress over the Territories was
rot by construction, and, since $50, we have
been living in the delnsive hope that we could
limit construction by implication. majority
pleaded it, necessity and then is convenience. 70
extend IT, powers, and we have tried TO limit the
extension by refining on the analogies 81 the avs.
tenn. This has proved failure, and the failure
might have been foreseen. The grand old pro-
phets Of the Revolution, who still fingered among
u, and upon whose forcheads had descended the
bapusmal fires 81 that great struggle. foresaw and
announced the cslamitics of that compromise To
Mr.. jefferson IL was the alarm Of fire bell AZ
night" To Mr. Madison was a geographical
line scorchcd with fire and stained with blood.
The fire bell" Of the one j. awakening rs 20 see
The constitution wrapped Ia the flames OF fana
uci-m and the vision OF the other j. realized In the
torch ofcvi strife which has been brandished, and
the blood which has been she'd along that fatal
line,