New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-01-13
NH. O,CoNoR,s MISTAKE.

Mr.. OConor makes one statement in his late let
ter, which We must specially protest against. He
ssyp, if the position that Slavery is IN evil aud
wrong "cannot be rciuted, the Union cannot en-
Z" dure, and ought not to endure" Tois is a re-
Election upon the founders of the Government,
which we cannot indorse. They believed union
could subsst between Free and Slave States, on the
I basis of the mutual recognition of the fact that
Slavery was an exceptional Institution, at war
with the fundamental doctrines of the Government,
which, though tolerated for q time, would ultimate
ly fade away and disappear. The Union was estab-
lished on this basis, has continued on this basis,
ard can be perpetuated on this basis. What i'm
perils the Union is the demand Of the Shareholders
and of Mr.. OConor, that the original idea shall be
changed, and the new one, unfolding the meritor-
GUS character of Slavery, be subst tuted II ia this
offensive claim that provokes the hostility OF every
genuine Democrat, and creates the disturbance be-
tween the Free and Slave States that We now wit
ness. Genuine Democracy holds to the doctrine Of
the Equal Rights of Man, and regards this Govern
ment as established to illustrate and vneicate that
princple-uott to vindcate it too hastily or too Gag
erly where great distractions exist hutneyeheless
fully, and surely, and faithfully. American Democ-
racy has never urged the unconditional overthrow
of Slavery without reference to time aud crcuul-
stances But it always has looked upon lis ultimate
removal from the Republic as an inevitable conse
quence of the lapse of time and the progress of
events. Just at what time, or in what way, it has
never undertaken TO decide, even speculatlyey.
But that the result was somehow and at some time,
to take place il has never doubted and this conf
dent expectation has always made it tolerant of
the presence of the great anomaly in our system.
Its hostility to it, however, becomes naturally and
necessarily active when il is told that its prn
ciples are unsound and must be revised and re-
versed, and that Slavery must be accepted as a
permanent and benl hceLt institution, Hence have
arisen our present complications and hence the
present conflict between the two sections of the
Confederacy.
The relief from this embarrassment is not to DO
found as Mr.. O'Conor supposes, in asserting the
excellence and justice of Slavery, because that
declaration arouses endless hostility and war, and
creates perpetual struggle for domination between
cOntendiDg forces. But it is to be found 10 the re-
pudation of this doctrine, and ia the position that
whether Slavery BE- an evil or no. it must be left to
the discretion and control of those local commun
ties in which it exists 1t is neither a rational nor
o logical view of the TO sny that the subjects
of the Federal Government outside fthese localities
are in any way responsible for it. Aud neither Mr..
OCOnor, Mr.. Garrison and the radical Abolition
lists, with whom heagees on this point, wleyer con-
vince men of simple common sense in the Free
States that they have any responsibility in the
premises.
The only way out of existing strife, therefore, is
not that pointed out by Mr.. 0CcnOr, which tend
to its perpetuatoD, but lies in directly the Oppost
direction. Slavery must be left exactly where tn
founders of the Government and the trainers Of lh
Constitution found it and left it, and that is,
exceptional, anomalous institution which time and
circumstances are to rid as Of aud WHICH, mean
time is to be tolerated where it exits, excep
80 far as the people on the spot refuse 10 tocrat
it, and which, above all, is to be spread no
where else. On this basis, there is no neces-
sary conflict whatever between tho North and
South, no necessity of rewriting history, none OF
revising and reversing the opinions OF the best and
wisest men in all ages none of crushing the spOn-
taneous sentiments of humanity that rise instinct
lively in every breast, none of denying the rights of
man, or repudiating the exactions of morality and
Christianity none of ignoring or denying the justice
of the Almighty.
These are some Of the slight difficulties that Mr..
O'COnor has to contend against on his hypothesis,
that are entirely surmounted by adheriug to the
faith of the fathers, and regarding Slavery a. an
evil to be abridged, and not as blessing to be
extended and perpetuated.