New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-02-06
PRESERVING THE PARTY.

Tie N. \. Times, the weight OF whose author
ity in all matters relating to the dognas or the
discipline Of the Republican party we do not
presume to Question, grayely reads US lecture
FOR yenturing to critcise and to condem,p the
present attitude of Mr. Weed aud Ar. Seward
toward the absorbing question OF the day. FER
severance in such criticism, We are gwen 10
understand, will result in breaking the Repub-
licsn party in two, and in the complete ana
disastrous ruin Of the incoming Administration
or course The Times chartably adds that We
are impelled solely by personal resentment or re-
yenge-a suggestion which We think we have
before heard from the same quarter
II can't be necessary to declare that we can
have no desire to expel from the Republican
ranks any person, prominent or obscure. we
desire to see the party numerous, powerful, pure
and permanent, aud we desire this, not for the
axe of this man or that man, but for the sake
Of the principles il PROCESSES and the policy 1t is
pledged 10 carry out. Take away these prlnci-
pies and it becomes worthless; for. as a mere
machine for office getting, and for advancing the
ambi,iop or promoting the fortunes OF indiVid-
uals, il is no better t4an any other party. Aside
from il principles, We have no interest in pre-
serving il for an hour.
Now, what are these principles Nobody will
contradict us when we say that most central and
vital OF them all is the idea THAT Slavery Ia an
evil and curse, and that it shall never be ex-
tended by tho action of the Government. Another
is Die iSee that in dealing with Slavery the
Constitution shall be our only guide, and that no
new guarantees and no new compromises shall
ever, under any circumstances, be conceded to
it. These ideas, namely, that Slavery shall not
be extended without the consent or cooperation
of the Federal Government, and that no new
compromises shall be made with Slavery, form
the essence of Republicanism and give life to the
Republican party Whoever holds to them is
Republican; whoever rejects them is not.
But since the Pro-Slayery rebellion began, we
find Mr.. Weed-who had hitherto contended for
Repubicanism with the great ability and en-
ergy which all of US acknowledge and admire
deliberately and thoroughly abandoning these vital
principles and detoting himself to the success of
new compromise which will establish aud pro-
tect Slavery in all the Territories south of 800
81, and indeed, will force it upon the people Of
those Territories, however zealously they may
desire to be saved from the dreadful infc-
ton. Thus, if Mr. Weed is to be followed,
the Republicans not only become Compromisers,
but actually engage in the business OF extending
Slavery and in imposing that pestilerOus nstitu-
ton upon people who may hate and loathe it.
Such is the present attitude Of Mr.. Weed. He
goes with the Breckenridge Democrats. He
gives in his assent to their principles. He en-.
beavers to carry out their policy and that in an
aggravated form. This, Of course, be has per.
feet right to do. We do not wish to question
his motives, All that we say is that in so doing he
renounces all that gives existence to the Republl-
can party lie discards its principles, and adopts
others which are antagonistic to them. Hence
forth, so long as he continues to cherish these
new principles, his connection with the Republl-
can party is merely formal and exterior, matter
Of habit and of physical cOntiguty not of sym
patty and of soul. When we state this fact, we
do not read Mr.. Weed out of the party-nothing
of the sort; we simply recognize the entire
change in his principles and his aims. which are
now not those OF Republicans, but of their
enemies. The Democrats recognized the same
thing in their Convention last week, when they
greeted his name with cheers; they saw 10 him
a friend and an ally.
The same is true, though less decidedly, of Mr.
Seward, whom the same Democrats likewise
cIeered. In his speech in the Senate on Thurs
day last lie proclaimed that the Republican party
and its platform of principles was to pass away
In order TO save the Union, The extension of
Slavery, he also tells US. "has ceased to be
- practical vital question:" If, thep. the Re-