Smyrna times., 1861-12-05
Slavery and the Rebellion.
THE THEORY OF CHARLES SUMNER.

Senator Sumner, of Massa chusetts, delivered,
before the Re aubliean Union Club Of New
York, last week an address on the Origin
and Cause of the Rebellion" taking the ground
that Slavery was it's cause, and in the extinc-
tion OF Slavery must be found it's cure. The
argument was able-the logic conpact-the
conclusion inc vita be.-from his stand point that
you must extinguish the cause, if you would
effect cure,-extract the root, if you would
destroy the ache-kill the poison, if you would
arrest decay.
The New York Times, in commenting on
the speech used the following language, which
is worthy of attention as the views Of leading
Northern journal:
Mr.. Sumner has q very easy task when he
seeks 10 persuade a Northern audience tha
Slavery is the foe of the Union, that Slavery
inspires the hearts and strengthens the arms Of
those who are waging war upon it, and that, il
we would eHd the war, we must strike death.
blow at the power which gives motive and Wig.
or 10 those by whom it is Wsged.
In this, however, as in many other matters
Mr. Sumner deals exclusively with the theoru
ofthe war; its practical duties he leaves Ia
others he epeaks as philosopher, er,-not as
statesman. lie lays down principles whose
justice no one will question; but he passess
untouched all the various questions involved in
In the application of those principles to the
practical conduct of public affairs. Hop is
Slavery TO be extinguishedi By act of Con
gress! BY edict of the Executive! By proc.
lamatlon OF commanding generals? Shall tho
General Government, which has ignored The
NJ be Rha - -.
abolltion,-or leave it TO lhe action of the State
authorities and the inevitable progress of events
These questions are beneath the consideration
OF philosopher, who can attend Only to general
principles but they demand the CAREFUL at
tention Of slatesmen,-Of practical politicians
of men who are compelled to look at detailt
and the actual working of public measures. IL
| Is very common 10 ridicule and acoff at expedi.
ency 10 public affairs; but without it there cat
be nc such thing as government. All states
mauship involves the adoption of expedients
A mariner might as we'll discard all thought o
winds and currents and intervening rocks anC
shoals, and steer by the North Star alone, al
for a statesman to disregard expediency. A
public man must keep the right in view anC
steer for it aiways,-but he must be conten
for the moment oftentimes with doing the hes
which the circumstances OF the moment will
allow.
This is prseminently the case in the presen
instance We have no shadow of doubt thu
Slavery will receive its death blow in the prog
ress Of this rebellion. We believe that the
cenhssation Of slave property, together with al
other property, must become one of the wea
pcns of loyal warfare. But this 10 by no mea nl
decisive of the whole question.
We learn from perfectly authentic source
NA.a- L., l.. - .
soon be introduced into the Legislature O.
Kentucky, confscGting the slave property o
Kentucky rebeIs:-and that it will undoubIedll Il
become a law. In our judgment that is th
proper quarter for such q movement to com
menee. IthelOngs to the Legislatures of loyu
fSlave States, rather than TO Congress or tn
people Of the North, to initiate measures for tn
extinction of Slavery. 1t Congress at the Norl
were to take The lead, we shosld inevitab bi
have a division of Northern sentiment as th
FIRST result. We should have dissensien wher
we now have harmony. We should purchas
increased intensity on the part of one portion c
our community at ths ex pense Of paralysis o.
the part of the rest. And we should run tn
risk of alarming and aiieaating the loyalty q
the border Slave States by putting powerful
weapon into the hands Of their enemies, an
threatening a questionable interference wit
: their local institutions
The real battle-ground Of this rebellion i
. in the border Slave States. 1t is upon ther
. that the burden OF this war falls heaviest.
is there that families are aivided,-that house
hslGs are broken up.-thst hsarthsIones ar
wet with haternal blood. We may we'll trur
thsiT instinct as 10 the time and mode of dealin
with the "csuse and main spring" Of th
great rebellion. Justice, fraternal rsgart
every sentiment OF Union and Of safety deman
that we should not rudely thrust upon theI
issues which they are not prepared TO NEE
, The greatest calamity which could bCfal th
, nation now, would be the adoption of a polio
which should arrest The active development
loyalty in those Border States, and sweep thei
4 again into the vortex Of rebellion. Ii seems I
US clearly the duty of the Government 10 leav
them TO take the initiative in dealing wit
Slavery. They will take it. beyond all que
l tion, whenever they find themselves too closel
y pressed by the treason against which they col
Q tend and when they have once taken ii
!. lead in that path, the whole country may fo
4 low, without tear of division or disaster.