New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-01-07

!o We. aic ~, disasters and tie long line of woes
tIat would beset their path and hang around ther wa!
~ Very stem They will know that their strength,
tler security and their happiness are 10 'ne 'Vn uu
~ ,La JTnio6 with u.s. their truer and better inands
bo those who by their wilful misrepresentation OF
he views and purposes of their neighbors; by tner
unnatural and malignant revilings OF the great MAORI
ty of the among whom they NV @u bsWe been
IN no small degree responsible for the want OF conf
dence and fraternity the dstrust and apprehension,
tie passion and the fever, which are the immediate
s1g of I'll our present troubles. They VIII learn as
tfev Sboud know already that the people of the Free
STATES have no intention Of intermeddlng win their
sysem in the States where it exists by virtue OF the
local law and tina, they will cheerfay extend to them
all their constitutional and equal rights.
When the excitement Of the hour shall have passed
and reason has resumed her sway, when the reitles
of disunon, the burdens the difficulties and the dau
gers shall be as they are, and The sdme respect
and friendship shall reappear, for they cannot always
be repressed and when the people of the Slave States
sall come TO accept they Will, the conclusions
that invincible logic which pronounces the Union
cesity-commercial, socia and poiticalto all It's
members. and which has also determined the pceltoh
of the Free States upon the question no longer to he
disturbing one Of Slvery-concord, mutual respect
and confidence will be retsablished on basis which
faction in any quarter, shall be able 70 uistup' IN
the time concihaiOn, fCrbearnee ana tokens oil
good will which no ordinations shall be allowed 10
interrupt and the setting of ourselves night In whatso-
ever respects may have been wrong, Will be tne
offerings which good men and patrols should lay
upon The altar of our country. And In doing ths we
need consent to the abatement Of not one Joi or title
of the principles affirmed by the people at the recent
election We win stand by the Constitution Of our
fathers the Constitution II is and make no compro-
ues that would involve in the guilt of moral rea-
son and Justly render us the scorn OF mankind.
The Personal Liberty bills rs they are called, oil
some OF the Free States, have been the occasion OF
much elimination not only on the part oil our Sonthern
neipbbors but also from considerable numbers Of our
own reople The reasons which induced their pas
sage, and the provisions which they embody, have
been think singulaTly misunderstood BY many who
have comulaned of them. As general thing, be-
Teye they were intended in perfect good faith, TO
cmnlis two legitimate purposes: frst, 10 prevent the
kidnapping or Illegal removal, of free persons from
the States and, secondly, to bring their action into
entire harmony with the line of constitutional power
and obligation as laid down by the Supreme Court of
the United States in the of Prgg ag the State Of
Pennsy lvana- So far as this has been the case and
where the legislation Of the States has not IN fact
transcribed these hns there can be no Just cause OF
exception to what has been DONE Bat if, passing this
boundary laws have been enacted which are IN violation
of the Constitution of the United States or OF any con-
situtiona law of Congress although they may be mere
waste paper and void, and would be so declared by
our Conts, they ought not TO remain on the Statute
books. Unconstitutional laws are not merely harm
less Poweriess for good they arc not impotent for
evil; and are always Of mischeyious example.
With these views, would earnestly recommend
candid examination of the laws of this State And II,
thereupon you shall find among them any provisions
that are in violation Of the Federal Constitution or OF
any constitutional law Of Congress- there can be no
doubt that they ought to be repealed or 20 modified
that they may be brought within the limits Of State a-
thority To effect such repeal or modification, Is duty
which you owe, not 10 any menaces from without or
lamors from within, but 70 the State and to yourselves
who can never afford 10 be in the wrong Bat, If upon
such review, Won shall find no laws which are not
strictly constitutional and proper in themselves-none
that justly Offensive TO the people OF other states
that have NOT been revised BY men learned in the law
II nv lars of
parties and none in fine 10 which any constitutional
objection could be pointed out upon examination by
those who have complained most vehemently against
zbe personal liberty laws Of other Ststesl would sub
nit whether With a due regard to the rights Of the
State and Of the people and OF the essential eondlcns
OF popuS. government, you can find qualification Tor
entepyg upon the work Of their repeal You might be
" ing upon proper representation, TO aor0gate laws
entirely constitutional and Just when made by others,
however needlesly causes Of stumbling and offense
But when such action ia demanded az the condition
u1on which you TO he permitted 10 enjoy your con-
sutons rights, your civil and political freedom, you
are forbidden TO Yield TO the requisOn by every con-
sideraten that can have weight among men hi 10 be
free The concessions, for the most part, which are
now demanded from the Free States AZ the terms upon
which the people Of this country are 10 be allowed TO
Govern thenselyes under the Constitution wholly
ipadnissble not merely that they are Objectionable IN
Themselves but also because they have been made such
terms To grant them would be TO establish prece-
dcpt Of incalculatle mischief and danger, through
teal subversion of the Constitution, and transier
Of the government from the hands Of the many TO the
power of the few. ...
1.-THE people Of any of the States have determined
that Nj Lincoln who has been regularly and legally
elected President Of the United States is not to enter
upon the duties Of that Office unless be and those who
have supported him viii purchase his inauguration
President Of an unbrokeu Union by concessions and
oonproui,es involving an abnegaton and denial OF
the vital principles Of the Government, and of the
cherished doctrines and PURPOSES OF the great men who
established IT, ana shall attempt by force 70 execute
such purpose they win Ds guilty OF treason aganst the
United States, and will furnish elOn ior testing he
strength Of this Government. The ngs, OF the
majority TO choose their officers end TO administer he
Government, under the Constitution, must not De
surrendered, and win not be, whatever may happen.
For in the dark catalogue Of public Ills all are tOler-
able but the loss Of peoples honor An Grant star,
rushing wildly from It's sphere. and wandering how
ever long and far may return 10 its wonted place in
our ~ stem. But when the manhood OF people h ex-
tiDgihed there is an end alike OF public virtue and
of Individual freedom and popular government becomes
an inpossbilty. Political degeDeraty feels no Fro,
ethean heat the death OF peoples spirit lie followed
by no resurrection.
The practical question in this exigcncy h not, as has
been represented by some high in authority whether
a State IL 70 be coerced or war made upon 1t by the
General Government, bat whether the laws OF the
land can be and shall be faithfully exeted In other
words il il whether We have u Government or not.
The President il bound by his oath Of Office TO enforce
the laws Of the United Stateshose laws extend into
every State in the Union and operative upon all
the people thereof There il power in the Govern
ent TO release the President from the discharge Of bis
constitutional duty. He must " res that the laws are
faithfully executed" and that he may, the military
naval forces Of the country have been placed al his
command and he can find no excuse for the non-per-
Torrance Of his duty ia any State, although 1t may
aege thit II has retired from the Union, and Ii no
longer within the jurisdiction Of the United States
TIE fantasy Of secession is without foundation either
Of authority or IL was denied by Dir. Jeier
and Mr. Madison In the earlier and by Gen. Jack
son. Mr.. Clay, Mr. Webster, and even by Mr. Calhoun,
IN The Latter time. There no such r1ht In the Con.