New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-05-21

trainers of tfat instrument believed that ~ '''
end of that period, in the course of natural eve"
there would have come the beginning of the cn4
of American Slavery, and there would be no longer
nny demanc for the raw material. If there is any
one thing absolutely certain as to the opinions OF
those venerable men, it Is that they did not believe
in the perpetuity of the bondage of the black man.
Were the Fathers right or wrong'
We are not aware that there Is any class OF our
fellow -citizens who do not hold the opinions ana
sentiments of George Washington in ahectionate
veneration. In letter written in April, l7oo, ne
said: IL can only say that there is not man
I. living who wishes more sincerely than DO 10
4" see a plan adopted for the abolition OF Slav-
"ery." There was nothing he said, in another
letter. "more certain" than that Virginia and
MARYLAND must have, and at a period not re-
" mote.p laws "for the gradual abolition of
" Slavery" Were these improper sentiments TOR
the Father of his Country to indulge I'M
Thomas Jefferson is held to be good Democratic
authority. He said: 1--WE must wait with patience
" the workings of an overriding Providence, and
"hope that that is preparing the deverance oil
&" these our brethren. Nothing is more certainly
"written in the Book of Fate than that this people
=" shall be Free" Would the utterance of this
opinion be a valid reason for not voting for Dir.
Jefferson were he now alive, and a candidate Tor
the Presidency?
There was not one of the contemporaries OF
Washington ard Jefferson, Of any distinction, who
did not entirely coincide with them in these views.
Let us come down to later men. - SO long," said
Henry Clay, Gas God allows the vital current to
flow through my veins, l will never, never, never,
by word or thought, by mind or will aid in adj
hitting one rood of free territory to the erer-
lasting curse Of human bondage"
Daniel Webster on more than one occasion
ayowed. and very emphatically, the same opinion.
On the question of Slavery he said: 1t has
arrested the religious feeling of the country; 1t
has taken strong hold on the cOnscences of men.
He is rash man, indeed, and little cOnversant
with human nature; and especially has he an
erroneous estimate of the character of the peo-
"ple of this country, who supposes that feeling
{" of this kind is to be trAed with or despised.'
1t is very evident that Mr. Lincoln agrees with
Mr.. Webster, that the conscience OF the people Is
tender on the subject OF Slavery; that ne oeleVeS'
also, with him and Mr.. Clay, that this system
| ought not to be extended; and that he holds, as
well, to the faith of Washington and Jefferson,
| and host of others-whose names the young
American is taught to look with veneration-that
| in the Providence of God human bondage Is
| doomed TO eventual termination. We do not, at
this moment, remember anybody north of Mason
| and Dixon's line, except Mr. O'Conor, who DIS
agrees with him. 1t may be that Dir. O'Conor is
right, and Mr.. Lincoln wrong 1t may be that
| three.quarters of a century hence, Mr.. Lincoln
may be quoted then as Washington and Jefferson
are now, in evidence of the fallacy Of human
wishes and expectations; but in the meantime we
cannot accept it reasonable objection against
him, that his judgment and his principles coincide
with theirs