New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-02-20
TAE PRO-SLAVERY REBELLION.
FROM WASHINGTON.
A SOUTHERN DESPoTISM. go,
WAR FOR shAvRRY--EFFECr OF bECES'''N "-'
CONGRESS-.

The cry Is sharp from the seceuins S'"'e w
awe their loyal citizens from military oespot-
nm. 1t il the programme OF the revolutlomsts
10 crush cut all opposition to their movements
within the seeding States by whatever harsh
and aespotic measures are necessary to accom-
plish this object. Already in some OF them laws
have been passed to prevent seditiOus speech, and
Break up all efforts to resist rebellion. We may
thus look to find the prisons of the seeding
Htstes, like the prisons Of Italy under King
Bemba, crammed with victims whose only crime
h to desire to preserve the free government and
free institutions under which they have SO long
and 90 happily lived. This rebellion of the slaye-
kelders is no revolution in behalf OF popular
saghts; il is revolution to crush those rights
and to establish government based on military
principles. 1t thus may very soon become sc,
sieus question whether the Free States are not
gkely to be involved in war to preserve the
cause Of constitutional freedom on this continent,
and within the limits Of our own national jurs-
tictiop. For whether the people of the North
may or may not be willing to permit the estab-
&shment Of shyebOlding COnfederacy in the
Gouth, If 1t could be done in proper way and
Nnder proper guards and limitations, it is too
hacf to suppose they will prove SO deaf to every
dictate Of patriotism, Of justice, and OF liberty
la 10 allow of the establishment of military
ae,potism in the South based on African Slavery,
10 grind tho masses of the white people into the
earth, while they yet claim the protection Of
nommon Union and common Government.
II ia thus more than possible that the slave
Aolders rebellion now in progress will soon take
kn form which viii prompt every lover of Lib
krty in in the country, and throughout the world
% rise and destroy the basis on which the lead
YRS Of this incpient treason against humanity
kropose to operate. Cannot everybody see how
sasy il viii be- il hOstiIties between the sections
Arise TO make the destruction Of Sl0rery the issue
bf the war; In fact, is it not but too plain that
II will be impossible to prevent the war from
baking any other formi Nobody will attempt 10
&isRuise the fact that our sole national difficulty
To-day is Slavery. One party is determined to
batonalize, and to spread it. The opposite party
b determined to prevent its naturalization and
lie spread. We are In conflict on the question.
II we como to blows, it will be still about stsv-
try. Aud what then ia inevitable Why, simply
this, and nothing more and nothing less: fight
10 see whether Slavery shall go up or go down.
The issue cannot DO escaped. The war viii be
Tased to crush the eggs of the reptile that has
katched the brood Of traitors and revolutionists
who have brought disorder, and conflict and
bloodshed, and destruction, and ruin, upon the
kountry. And then what win become of Slavery
Md the Slave States The institution could be
overturned in q day. in any State on which the
Federal power chose In plsat array Nv
$sFersou Davis may talk and threaten, that Il
fhere is to be war its theater shall be the
Eree and not the Slave States But who believes
the threat to be anything but part Of plar
III boasting terrorism TO alright the trading
Circles of the country No. If war between
y he sections once begins in earnest, it will be Of
4 necessity war to extiDgujsh Slavery, as being
abe cause of our national disorders in the past,
fhe threatening disturbers Of the national peace
IA the future, and the cause Of the war itself
And this war viii not be conducted on the soil
of the Free States according to Mr.. JEFF. Davis,
but on that soil where the evil stands which
demands removal
The monstrous temerity and folly Of the poll
4icans of the slaveholding States, in provoking
, conflict like this, surpasses anything known in
3he history Of modern politics. As they depart
Nne by one from the Congressional arena, the
Aiter-rehections upon their language and bearing
al all with smszement They seem but the
eraiDless spawn Of some malignant influence,
rushing upon q certain aud frightful doom, as
yXcited animals rush into the destroying flames,
tom which every reason and every natural In
stinct bids them fee and escape.
The whole tone, aspect and atmosphere Of
public affairs at Washington is changed since the
Seceders left 1t is only now that they have de.
parted from the halls of legislation, that we seem
% appreciate what vaiDgiorious dramatic,
windy and unwise band of Legislators they WERE
The public business now goes on without the
interruption Of insulting language and imperious
Zones at every step Of its progress. Men differ
without suddenly having TO encounter suggestions
Sf the bowie-knife and revolver. For the Secs
sicni,ts who remain are no longer in power, and
regard their approaching exit with those subdued
Sentiments and solemn feelings befttiDg their last
k5urs. The real interests of the nation rise 10
Hir due place, from which we feel them to have
been crowded by the vast incubus of Slavery.
Shere seems now to be a homogeneougness of
representation; for the Northern Democracy, dis
fAarged from its entanglng alliances with this
AalggH Influence, naturally rises to just appre.
SstiOn Of it's legislative duties, and e1hbits only
4 healthy disagreement tn ordinary topics Of
sssisatien. Relieved Of these ss,,avery.spreading
&jsebief.make and strnta. the National Lepisla-