New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-23
fAdyeriiyement1
fAdyeriisement1
GERRIT SMITH TO THADDEUS STEVENS.

1
| PErERBoRo', December 6, 1861.
Uoy. THAppEus STEVENS, N. C.-Dear SIR:
have finished reading the Presidents Message, Secre
tary Camerons Report and your Resolution.
The Report speaks on the slave question in fran
and manly way. And its proposition for new bounda
ries in the case Of several States is highly judeious
save that instead Of conditioning the boundaries OF
change in the representation of Maryland, it shoul'
have conditioned them on the entire abolition o
Slavery in all those States Does the Secretary neeC
still further proof tina, the Capitol can never be &c
cure while surrounded by Slave Statesl Would he
leave its great'source Of peril essentially undimin
ished1
The Message is marked with the Characteristic Gin.
cety aud patriotism of the President. Nevertheless
It's treatment Of the question of Sl4veryof the great
aud all-conroing question in the Warts such us to
confirm my apprehension that the country ia lost.
With all his desire 10 save it he has never yet well
comed if indeed be has ever yet conceived, the idea
Of saving il at whatever cost. The saving OF the
Constitution and of all the rights enjoyed under 1t,
and especially those which the nation has ever con-
ceded to Shareholders is essentia to his conception OF
a saved country. BIT could we come out OF this
War with nothing left to US but our territorial limits
and handful of survivors still chershng the prln'
ciples of democracy and still breathing the spirit OF
equal rights we should in my esteem come out OF 1t
with Il saved country. Meager and naked as would
be such result in the eyes of our conservative Pres-
dent, would nevertheless count it above all price,
and would if needf sacrifice ell else to secure 1t. Ii
as 70 strongly fear, lost country will be our share
In the fruits Of this contest it will be owing TO moth
ing 20 much as the unrelaxed purpose of the Prosi-
dent to save along with the country, and at what
ever hazard to the country, things which are not
among is essential and eternal parts but only among
its temporary and cbapgeful arrangements. In other
words to this unrelaxed purpose to save all VIII be
owing the loss of ali.
Another thing in the President very deeply to be
regretted ia that he has seemed to be sensible
of the great perils Of bis country. How else can we
account for bis indifference and bis opposition to
measures 50 manfestly indispensable TO its saliva
toni While millions of his cCunirymeu are entirely
confident that either Slavery or the Union must go
down in this War, he sees 10 difficulty in preserving
both and persstingly cbershes his policy and shapes
bis plans TO preserve both. have never seen phre
nological chart of Ills head. But have no doubt
that his yeneration large and his desructlYeness
small. lie would keep all things precisely as they
are. lie would have the fugitive slave sent back TO
tie very spot he came from and into exactly bis Tor
mer relations. He would not allow one line or letter
OF the Constitution to be disturbed by the necessities
of War. If in ordinary times be might make the
very best Of Presidents, nevertheless now, when
mi hty and relentless Rebellion ID threatening the
nstion with overthrow, such President VIII max
the overthrow sure unless he be radically changed
or sternly oyerruled. Who can read the Message
aud rec with what twattle and trash the President
has filled the space which should have been devoted
to such great words the great question in conduct
ing the War as would have met the demands OF the
honr-vho ! say cinl do without feeling that the
President is not the man for the hOuri Were he
TINT man. he would not b, expendiug words, least oil
ell kind words uIon that utterly atheisiic topic 81
homes for white men" Were he that man. HE
talk now would not be Of colonization" IL would
not be Of expelling friends from the country, but
rather of arrnpg them that they might help expel
our foes. Black friends no more than White friends
caH we spare Just now from the country. In the
right time and circumstances Colonization 10 good
thing Bat IL is not adequate cure for the Ills we
are now suffering. How impairment and arrogant
il this everlasting inquiry ON the part OF The whites
a. TO what they shall DO with the blacks There Is
room enough in our broad country for white men ana
black men and red men ii only they willreeognze each
other ur Gods children, ana thus dwell together 10
mutuul goodwill But II any one OF these varieties
OF the human faulty reycls at tins CONDITION, that IL
which l. iii for no other country. lie Is monster
rather than man who denies that our black broth
rem have earned home in tins land which they have
wet Ike the rain with their sweat and tears and
blood. lie il permanently their End lhey may
leave IL when they will. But the God Of the op-
pressed will not suffer them 10 leave it till they will.
lie has already begun to punish American Oppres-
sion very horribly. And let American Oppression
beware lest lie make the punishment slil more hor'
rid. Quite enough blood will be shed without max
ing it more by the policy Of direct or virtual expul-
zion. Under that policy there VIII be "blood-eNen
unto the horse-bddles.'
spoke a moment since in favor OF arnlng the
blacks do not forget the often expressed opinion
that nasmuch a. there are whites enough to fight
for US, we need not ann the blacks. But II for no
other end than TO advertise the blacks oi the Whole
country that we are their friends and that ours Ii the
Size for them to flock TO- there should be black reg
ments. A few such moving down from Canada aud
the Northern States at the beginning OF tue W ar
would have had the effect TO bring 10 very speedy
end But instead Of such Judiclous and indispensa-
Die advertisement by this similar means, We have
by employinR the Army in sending back fugitive
slaves told the blacks OF the whole country that we
are their enemies, aud that ours Ia moi the side Tor
them to flock TO. Was there ever such iniatuation
as that which has characterized the action oil the
Government respecting the blacks
psss on to your Resolution. Having long nun.
bered you with the wise and iarseeing statesmen
was not surprised TO find you on the very iirst day
of the session of Congress calling for action on the
.ave question You were right in being thus early.
The case admits Of no delsy. A single months in
action of Congress in this urgent might prove
fatal to the country.
have referred to my fear that our country Is lost
Through nearly all the Autumn it has been strong
and increasingly strong. The recent considerable
successes OF our arms and tho preparations for greater
serve only 10 make 1t stronger. For their necessary
tendency ia TO encourage that infatuation on the
slave question 40 painfully Indicated by the procla-
nations of Generals Sherman, Dix and lialleck. The
more there shall be OF these and the greater
these preparations the less likely will Government
L. tLnf nues.Inn xuhaf IL Xonll hasten 10 do