New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-03-20
THE MOTIVES TO SECESSION.
From, tn, LerAoa Sa,y-,L,v Review.

From The LenGon Saturday Reviev.
Much the disruption of tie upted Statd5 has been
discussed il still seems to be little understood. III any
ten English gentlemen asked what motives had
led the Southern States 10 propose Secession 1t wond
be a great chance if two OF them could tell. AT kfst
sight il looks UDaccotatle that third Of the people
Of that country shculd break OFF from their aie2,an
simply because q President has been elected whose
principles differ from their own. This seems st more
strange when remember that he has neither the
Will Sor the power to lay the ghtest finger upon any
Part Of their institutions. Neither Mr.. Lincoln nor the
Republican party Of which he Is TIE head dream Of the
abolition of Slavery. They opposed to tie exten.
sion Of Slavery beyond It's present iolits nor VIII
they consent to lay down TIC principle that Slavery 10
to be assumed 10 exit until il haa been abolished by
law Bot appateay there is nothing in this 70 teuiy
or exasperate those States ia which Slavery is already
rooted. And as the Democratic party hsd majority
both in the Senate and in COGgefs, there was rea-
ron to fear any charge of policy in these respects.
At first sight therefore, there nothing in the cleo.
tcn of ir. Lincoln to justi!y the Southern States In
breaking Mp the Union. But, 10 fact although It was
the election OF q Presiden. whom they abhOITed
that made their wrath boil OYER, they bad long
been iniamed against their Northern brethren with
mos. intense hostility. Cur gentle jars between
Wigs and Tories caa but give faint idea Of the
yeheeenGe Of IFty feeling te' Eee2 the sGnth and inc
perfect hatred II is oily natural ior them TO DO 60
they are told every day that theis social system 10
ie csable Dst they living III defiance Of tae law
Of God that their mucovcd institution s the seaDoa.
Christian feeling which they are teIed TO possess BY
q meek su6mssIoD 20 these Insults. Their rage, too,
hss the powerful stimulus Of lear. They dread that
the principles laid down the North should catch the
ear Of their slaves aud lead to that most terrible Of al
calanities-a seryile instruction. Everything, n
rhOIt, has Eepe 10 hasa into element tee anlpathbee
OF the Southern against the Northern States. so loog
as the President VAS OF their choosing, ard ihe
whole policy OF tie United Siatea was IN their hsu9s,
this feeling, however deep, could remain qisseens.
But the least check tie tide sure 10 overflow.
D.ar Il "a k~%
make the save-owuers feel that the seepter pass
ing from their hands. T.ey longer to control
the destinies If the United States. Their power and
prestige wero gone. Even patent Zen might baye tsh
some evaporation at such change; and patience not
the virtue oy which the Southern planters are marked.
Probably 10 men N the world are less accustomed TO
sefcontrol No wonder that burst of rage eusuedtha
shok the Union TO its base. Ii would, however, be q
mistake 10 ina zine that tue disruption Of the United
States has bean simply owing 10 an uncalculsmg &C.
cess Of iury In fact that gust Of rage dying away,
ard yet these ongheaded SOarherners are rot she leo
keen for Secession. IL Is from the North, not from tho
South that the desire for o compromise has arisen
Generally the Southern States have made up their
minds that policy requires them TO secede. They
look forward their future with confidence aHd their
conduct that OF men who see good reasons ior VIAL
they about to do.
In the FIST place their politicians profoundly i'm.
bued with the idea that, regards their domestic Ia.
stitu,ons, attack IS the true method OF defense. 10
stand still is to be lost Their wise policy is NOS 20
lot the North outweigh them, but TO extend Slavery
over boundless extent OF new territory, and thus 70
build up Confederacy OF Slave States whose impor-
lance should command tie respect, not only Of their
Northern brethren, but of the whole world. We are
by no means prepared TO say that given Slavery ~ q
postuate this view lie shortest GIFTED or unstaesmaa-
ike. And then, again. many thoughtful men IN me
Southern States feel thsthey lind themselves radical
IL at variance with their Northern brethren with re-
spect 10 tie most essential principles that can bear on
their daily lie as private men, and on their policy ss
State Every year deepens the Northelers abhor-
of SInXery Every deeueus the south.
erner's conviction that Slavery is right that tho
negro lie born to be a bondfnani that Slavery
ia tie true gospel Of wealth, eiyiination, and
Christianity. And who shall blame them for
deeming that, with principles utterly at war; IL 10
NOT possible for two great countries such the North
ern aud the Southern States TO be really ard Ia truth
bound together as one people Tbs hctinous outwaTc
union does but cause grisvous heartburIipgs; aDdt
would in fact tend ~ peace aud neighboriy ieehngR
make an outward division, where oil views and inter-
ests are so utterly sundered. Let lis, they say or
mighty Confederation, iubred With the sane pri
oples aiming at the ends, setting before he
world the example Of the beneicence of our noble m
s,itu,ion. Let no longer he dragged bach ~ NC
course which Providence has prepared FOR u.s. oy yS
ourselves TO those who abhor our Social system anu
whose passionate desre is thwart DOR underamgs.
Coming down from this lofty ground, they kIo" wst
that free-.rsde ta.F would enormously enhahee ING
property of their country hsvisg no ni"nuiaetct
Ia nro eci 90 them tho relaxation 81 erson-hoube re-
si,i ron, ON trade would be an unu,'xeo boon Anc
vet 90 long n they bound 70 the Uuion they car
NOT withstand tho superior influence OF the Noftny
strsnucusly exeried as i ia, and Will be- IN favor OF
nrctecionist tariff These we believe TO be the main,
Inducements that have led the upper class In the South
ern States to desire secession.
In fact, however, if the upper class bad not Iolnea
in the cry thew would have powerlesS TO resis;
for they number but few hundred thousands, While
the macs Of whites amounts 10 more than seven nil
lions And eince every white man has avoe, OF COURSE
- nnmhers carry all before them. The inducements
tn ,ba tower ranks of whites demand Secession -
mainly their desire 10 reopen the African siaveraae.
In the Southern States social position almost enie
rests rot ON birth not even upon general weaeh oat
upon the possession Of slaves The man VINO mas B0t
a nioger nj his command is looked upon with as much
cortempt as tie poor wretch spoken OF by Jnyensl.
who could not call bimleif the owner even " EgiHs
iocSyte" But despised the mean whites ere, they
viii NOT mt themselves the level with the slaves tT
engaoipg in manual labor Tney would rather i've NJ
nennry tlsn work for their bread Their golden day
dream is 10 have ngges OF their own to waiiop Now
bthrrto the Northern States In conjunction with ,nS
breeding States have been able to keep In check h
longing for an Influx Of cheap slaves. In the last TWO
or tnne YEAR,. however, the white: oil inc oollnsIL
States have grown restless under this YOKE, ano INV
their resolute determination ia to open up tsae
slaves with Africa, and thus reduce tne p's
negroes Nor is this only with We view ~ ~ ~
their private wealth and ;nfotIAsce. nenoss 49,
that by covering now territories sitn nse ,.a, -.
sbaI build up great confederSey Of slave Staass
cupypg the whole Southern portion Oh Ny h IN r.
Tb;s tS;rst for an African slayetrade nas vooA -
ah;as n,;s that Ines influenced the Secesaonsts M
..h;ah wsLs = compromiss aliaost impossible.
Nnr,Lsrn States would be too glad 70 make any -
acuahIs and perhaps unreasonable eoncesnopsi -
roaS;ng W. believe, would induce them W sc4u'
IN leesIixing that atroious trsme. v.r ,h.avuan