New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-03-26
CUTTING OFF THEIR OWN FINGERS.

cry las been made the occasion, or at least the
protense, for the attempt now on foot to break up
the Union--that Union which hitherto has been
the pride and boast of the American people, and
the hope everywhere of all who have faith in the
possibility of popular self-goyernment. The Dis
uniOnists also allege disposition on the part OF
the FreeLabOr States TO employ the powers OF
the Federal Government not merely for the re-
srictiOn Of Slavery within its existing limits, but
so as gradually TO contract those limits, and to
drive that institution, by degrees, into corner.
How, under the Federal Constitution, this object
is TO be accomplished, the Dieunionists iall 10
show. But, assuming that such is the wish ana
intention Of the Republican party, they assume at
the same time that means and pretenses VIII be
found for giving effect TO that wish and inten-
ton. II is perhaps natural enough that they
should Judge others by themselves; and, no
doubt, the same system of Interpretation which
has found in the Constitution the doctrine OF null
LITIGATION, the indefeasible right of slaveholdmg
TO introduce itself into all the Territories OF the
Union, aud the right of Secession, might easily
discover in that instrument d power on the part
with Slavery in the States.
But even admitting all that the Disunionists
urge, it is still very difficult to see how they are
going to better their case by the policy which
they are now pursuing. Secession, supposiDg It
ever so successfully accomplished, is certainly not
Going to open the door to the admission Of slave
holding into any Of the existing Territories OF
the United States. Those Territories and any
claim or pretense to them must be abandoned
al the same time with the Union. Then, again.
what will be the prospect OF tie new Ia'e-h0id-
ing Confcderacy as respects the acquisition vi
new territory? 1t is now good while that the
eyes of the Slavery extensOniss have been greedi-
" fixed upon the Island of Cuba. President
Pierce tried his best to pick quarrel with Spain,
which might serve as an excuse for the invasion
and conquest of this island. President Buchanan
may be said to have purchased his Presidential
nomination by his signature TO the famous Os.
tend Manifesto, in which the right Of the Uni
ted States to conquer Cuba or compel Spain to
sell il, was so shamelessy maintained. But how viii
the projected slave.holdiDg Confederacy be able
TO carry out this policy, either By conquest or
purchased The treasury Of the United States,
the navy and the army of the United States, fur
nished facilities for such operations, in which
mere slayebOlding ConIederacy would md lt'eh
sadly deficient. The conquest OF Cuba could not
be attempted without naval force and com
mand Of shipping altogether beyond the means
OF hopes Of any such Confedsracy. Even suPpos.
! ing this difficulty overcome, there would be
It'll. f.ront
! Britain. which might hesitate 70 quarrel with the
United States on the question Of labor, would have
no doubts about interfering a. against tee.
! bic filth-rate power, while, instead OF having
! through the completely Of Presidents ike Pierce
or buchanan, the moral and material aid OF the
Northern States, tho whole power Of those States
would be found cooperating with England TO mp
such an enterprise in the bud, should ii ever be-
undertaken.
The same obstacles would stand in The way''of
any expectation OF further extension Of the
Southern dominion on the eide OF Mexico. How
ever formidable to their Bcgbbors tie slave
holders may have seemed, aud may have been,
when backed, as in the Mexican war, by the
power ard resources of the Union, az separate
Ccnfederacy they must give up all their ambitious
hopes, and be content to sinh into comparative
insgnifcance Instead Of pushing their cOnquests
south, they might indeed think themselves suf-
cienty happy in being able to repel invasion from
the North; certainly ut least if there is any re-
ality in that spirit of aggression on the part Of
the North which they put forward as the excuse
for disunion.
But not only viii the setting up Of a distinct
i've slaye-holdipg Confederacy thus give an ei-
iectual quietus 10 all the plans and projects hh-
erto 80 ardently cherished for the territorial c1.
pansiOn Of Slavery, it will tend directly and in n
much more formidable degree than would any
policy which the Republican party would be able
TO adopt, 10 narrow the existing limits of slave
holding. And this effect may be equally 81.
peeted whether disunion limits itself 10 the
Gulf States, or whether it succeeds in drawing
of greater or less number, or the whole eyeu
Of the Border Slave States. II the Border Slave
States conclude to remain in the Union, great
no doubt, viii be The disgust on the part OF the
disnnionist shareholders therein. Is it not reas.
ouable to expect that having tailed to drag their
States into the policy Of disuuiOn, they them
selves, or large numbers Of them, will hasten to
withdraw from q jurisdiction which they had
vainly attempted to shake of, and will retire
within the limits Of the seeded States To
their disgust with the Union will then be added
disgust still more intense with tLeir own
States; and reduced thus to q double insigif.
cancy, viii they not hasten to shake the dust Of
of their feet and TO retire with their slaves into
more eonSensl region This migration once