, 1861-03-22
Cbitaap Ttibttte.


4 BAsELEss HOPE.
That the Louisiana Convention, BY
7otc of three to one, has refused to submit
70 the people the ratification or rejection OF
he Constitution Of the Confederate States,
should not mislead any one into the belief
that the people Of that State would vote 1t
down were it 60 submitted. The action OF
tho Convention was based upon con-
venience alone. The ratification OF the
Constitution by nil Of the Confederate
6tates is fo-cgone determination on the
part of the secession leaders. They have
nercr contemplated for moment any
other result. But the object can 10 accom-
plishcd with less labor and expense and ut
m earlier day, through subnittingit to the
Convention than through popular eicc-
ton, aud that is the solo reason why the
former course has been adopted. Aark'
VIC do not say that, could fair ard IN
biased expression Of the popular voice OF
Louisiana be had, that the Constitution
would bc ratified. We incline to the
belief that tho contrary is true. But
what we mean to say is thls-fhat
the 6ccessionists wonld have control
Of the machinery Of the election; that
the popular leaders arc ali on hat
aide; thut the whisky boys nre ditto; and
that through these instrumcntali''es the
samc reign Of terror which prec'pl'ntea
6tatc after Statc into secession, would nc
made omnipo,cat in forcing upon the peo-
ple Of Louisiana, through the form OF q pop
plar election, my kind OF Constitution aro
any knd Of Government which 1he
Montgomery Convention might have oe-
vised. The eamc result would be alta ned
in auy Of the other seeding States. Itc
leaders understand this fact perfectly.
They know their power. Ihcy would not
hesitate moment 10 submit the Consatu'
tion 10 he popular verdict, il there we1c
an actual necessity for II, But as there is
no such necessity, they take the other
course, solely because it imposes less etioft
and less cost in money upon them.
We believe tho people Of tho loyal
States, and especially those in power, nre
de1uding themselves as 10 the available
strength Of the Union sentiment in The
seccdipg staice We know sucl, scnti-
men. exists. VIC believe large majority
Of tie people o! those States secretly hold
to it. But lnr all practical purposes in the
seulculcnt Of the present National troubles,
It might as well have no existence. The
mistake arises from ignorance OF the con-
esitut!on Of Slave Society. In the free
6t.tcs every man is & sovereign; every
man feels a. liberty not cnly 10 eS-
press his opinions, openly and freely, but
to give tangible form to them also through
the ballot-box But this is no: tho case in
6lare Society. The masses Of the People,
the non-slavchol3ing whites, have no such
privileges granted them. Upon al qucs-
tions affecting slarery, either directly or
indirectly, the shareholders constitute the
ruling clasa. The former arc practically
disfranchlsed They arc permitted 70 vote,
tits true; hut unless their votes confirm
the edicts Of the ruling class, their lives
would pay the forfeit. Slavery cannot exist
In the presence Of a different state Of facts.
There can be 10 freedom Of speech, 10
freedom Of the press, no freedom OF the ta'-
IL. box in Slave Society. Whatever Union
sentiment there may be, therefore, In the
seeding Sta.cs, it has 10 voice, TO- would
It be permitted to cast vote. An open,
out and out asolitionist, wonld bc tolerated
quite as fur and permitted to deposit BAL
lot expressive Of lis opinions, as readily
as would Union 1n2u. Neither would
expect, nor would citlcr receive, any mercy.
To our comprehension, no fact is palmer
fhan tllis-1hat nothing can induce the
Union sentiment ut the South TO show itself,
orto make itself potent Il. the polls but de-
monstration Of strength on the T211 OF the
Government. 1t is idle to talk Ct secession
-@earine itself ont, or OF a reaction in favSz
he tic Union. The ruling class are resolv-
ed upon going cut Of thc Union, and ms
they have the powcz, so will they be very
careful to nip the 1irst symptom Of zea:tion
in tho bud. There is just as much
probability Of reaction On this sub
iect rs there Is That Wendell Phillips
will bc permitted 10 harangue the people
Of clarlcs'o,i, New Orleans and Mobile
upon the evils aud s:ickcdncss OF slavery,
The SHAREHOLDERS rule is as absolute IS taa'
of The Czaz. Hence everything looking to
delay on the part Of tic Federal Govern
ment, only strengthens the rebellion. Il
the Government is 10 be saved ut all II
must bc By the exercise Of its inherent
right Of sclEprotccsion. A Strong mar
now Inns possession Of the Southern peo'
pie. His pover will not he broken by
masterly inac.ivity.. II . reaction evc'
takes place, it will only be when the strong
man saali have been confronted by 9
stronger. If thai policy is not to he rur
sucd. then 1f,c Confederate States shout
bt recognized rs :: Government That Is
the shape the question will ultimately as
sumo, and VIC might MS well look 1t in tllt
face now US sis months OF six years hence