New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-12-13
WHAT - ASKED OF THE NORTH
Ug. VERSIONS SPEECH


reprOached by certain journals published therein
as refusing or Withholding assurances of frater-
nifty and fidelity TO Constitutional obligations
rghtlully due to the Southern States aud essential
TO the preservation Of the Union. But what is
it that the Free States are required to say or
| do Manifcstly, those who blame them for not
doing should set forth definitely what they are
expected or ought to do Bat this is carefully
withheld. No Northern champion of the Seces-
sonists ventures to speak clearly on this point
That the South should be concated-that the
North should pacate Southern wrath and avert
the gathering stOrm-that Mr. Lincoln should speak
ont and pour oil ON the troubled waters-these
in all possible organizations and infections, are
sounded from day to day, like the harp OF
" thousand strpgs'-but when asked to state
inst what the North should say and do to regain
the good will of the South, the oracles are dumb
or utter the most contradictory responses. Yet
what use can there be in making concessions
| with which nobody is satisfied and profierlng
compromises which only compromise ourselves
| Washington letter-writer to n. \. Times
| says:
In esch Of the Cotton States excep; South Carolina there is
conservative organization, which prevail in the election Of
delegates the approaching Conventions If they supported
by MI Lincoln the conservative Republicans. This be
done by an early declaration from Mr. Lincoln OF his intention
TO execute the Fugitive Slave and the prompt action of the
Northern Legislatures in repeating their Personal Liberty bills
Mon is worth the doing Of these thing aud when is
that they trust vW be not eea TOO afe
they igil be done"
Here it is cOoIy assumed that the Personal
Liberty bills Of certain Free States are obviously
and necessarily unconstitutional. If 50, why are
they not SO adiudged by the Supreme Court
1t il and has been easy to make cases which will
bring them for adjudication before that tribunal,
where Slavery is sure of getting at least all that
belongs to it, A decision thus made is final and
could not be revoked or cOunteryailed by the
Free States. But of the " Northern Legislatures"
thus summoned to prompt action" some do not
meet for months; some are yet to be elected;
and it is idle to suppose that all will make haste
to do the bidding OF the shareholders. What is
demanded on this point is simply impracticable
| To pledge Mr.. Lincoln to enforce particular
law of the United States is Ike pledging him
| not 10 steal the pOcket-bOOk Of the next man
who shall call upon him. The exaction comes
| u
shall swear to support and uphold the Federal
| Constitution and euforce the laws, he will neces-
sarily cover the whole ground. If his oath is
not to be trusted, who can put faith in his naked
| word
| But il were absurd to divide the Southern peo-
pie as the writer to 1R: Times proposes and
undertake to baHe the majority by placating
| a., / 70 add in
| earnest TO the removal of Southern dssatisfac-
| ton, it behOyes us to heed the organs of that
| discomfort, who speak with authority as having
| the mass Of the Southern Whites at their back.
Senator IyersOn is thus better authority for
| Georgia than Mr.. A. II. Stephens, though the
| after is doubtless the ADLER man. Now Mr.. Iver-
son, in his speech of Tuesday, the 18th, ex-
pressly scouts the idea of further legislation by
| Congress looking TO the more efficient reclama-
ton of fugitive slaves, and protests against the
| exaggerated Importance attributed to the Personal
Liberty acts Of Northern Legislatures These, he
rightly saws, are mere bagateles Of no substan-
tal consequence. What he wants-what he says
will barely satisfy the SOutb-s the recognition
aud protection by Congress Of the rightful exist
|
Territories. Douglas Squatter Sovereignty will
no more answer than Lincoln Prohibition. Says
Mr.. L.;
,e Senators here to-day that the Southern people will
be satisfied with short Of Congo protec.
ton Slavery in the Territories We know rights under
the Constitution We stand equal States ia this coufedeTacy
aud entitled equal participation in the pro
city know well that enjoy equal Poe.,ion
Of the Territories without protection to property know
well where the Wmot Provso and Nonuter,enou Squaer.
Sovereignty would lead would lead TO the total
the Southern any Territory which is possessed
or may be hereafter acquired We will submit to any
such dcsion that We entitled the protection Of our
oIey and intend to have it, H. the Union il get it,
nd O Of the Union if we cannot got it in.
Gentlemen need mistake the feeling Southern States that
is the Cotton States Is In favor Of Congressional protection
and no amendments Of the Constitution Whatever will fall
short Of that will be Of weight be accepted BY
| tire Southern States"
We should make further quotations from this
fat-fOOted speech, but we trust most Of our read
ers have already laid it to heart. In it is found
| the keynote of the Secession struggle. The ear.
rest men ON both sides say precisely what they
mean and their words are consequently things.
They are profitable for reflection and for doe
triuc But the legions of irregular cavalry who
curget and career between the two armicS-wbo
"care not whether Slavery is voted up or voted
down." 50 that they sit on the Treasury
benches and dispense feast of fat things these
are merely darkenng counsel and bemuddling the
public mind. We call on YOU Messrs Alexan-
der, Stockton, McClernapd, Sickles, Yallandig-
ham, j. d L. Brooks, &c, to say frankly and
promptly whether you do or do not concede
what Mr.. IyersOn and other leading SecessiOnists
ay will reconcile them TO remaining in the