New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-02-16
SOUTHERN UNxoNxsm.

If we were to give full credit to the bulletins
transmitted from the Slave States, the people of
those States are divided into two parties: !.
Those who hold that the North is inyeteratey
Republican, and therefore are intent on Disan-
ion; and 2. Those who still hope that the North
can be bullied out of Republicanism, and there
fore incline to give US another chance to humble
ourselves before breaking away from us. We
must confess that these two positions seem DOT
at all diverse in principle, while the latter is by
far the less flatterng 70 the North.
But, in truth, neither Of these positions does
Justice TO the better instincts Of the South What
calls itself the Union party Of the South does in
justice to itself because it hos been led TO do in
justice to us. Having indOlently adopted the cur
rent Southern assumption that Repubcansm
menaces the rights and the safety Of the South.
it has piled thereon the further assumption that
part Of us are blind fanatics, and the rest simply
mprincipled knayes, who have cOnspired to hu-
NOR the fanatics in order thus to ride into Office
and fill their own pockets. They thereupoa coa-
clude that il they seriously threaten DsuDion.
the Republican knaves will desert the fanatics
and cOncede whatever may be tenaciOusly required.
We beg leave 10 assure the South that thess
impressions do injustice to the North, as their
attitude based thereon does injustice to them.
selves Let us understand each other.
It is the clear conviction Of tho great mass Of
the Northern People to-day-that is, of those wSo
have any moral convictions by which they abide
that Slavery is essentially wrong; hence that
they cannot conscentiously permit themselves to
be implicated in its extension. Such has been.
such is, their conviction. The whole subject has
been studied, considered, contested, debated, un-
til there is no longer any rational ground for
hope that this conviction will be changed.
He who asks US, therefore, to acquiesce Ia the
| Crittenden OF some kindred arrangement may not
! mean TO insult u.s. but he does. He says in
! effect, "Your cOnsciences are in the market, and
"you are ready to defy your sense Of duty pro-
"yided you can make gain thereby. If We only
! % promise or threaten you sufficiently, you will
| consent to do what you have long insisted and
still feel is wrong"
We beg the true friends Of The Union at tbs
South to reconsider this matter. We ask them
to do nothing say nothing, inconsistent with their
own sense of duty. If they think Slavery ought
10 be extended. we do not blame them for seek
/ ing its extension; but we insist that they shall
! not seek to constrain us to do what our con.
sciences imperatiyely forbid. lfthey want Slavery
extended, let then rely the votes Of those who
approve or are indifferent to " the institution"
and there are quite many of these, even at the
North as there ought to be. But to ask Re-
publicans to make any bargain, compact, ar.
rangement, compromise, whereby they shall DO
! pledged to acquicscenee in or non-resistance to
| Slavery Extension is to ASK them to disgrace
and stutify themselves. If they respect their own
| moral convictions let them prove it BY respecting
! those of their neighbOrs.
/ II the Union is to be saved it must be by up
| holding the Constitution and obeying the laws
and constituted authorities. Whoever uses 9TH
ers' threats of Secession in order to compass
partisan or sectional triumph is but one remove
from treason. The true compromise is uniyer-
sal agreement to respect all rghtiul authority
and obey the laws.