The national Republican., 1861-02-02
THE PLATFORM OF NoNINTERvEN.
TION,

Congress to prohibit slavery in the Territories.
The Chicago platform (ls6O) of the Repub.
lican party afirms the same thing as to the
right Of Congress, but not the same thing as to
the duty Of Congress. Instead Of prescribing
the duty Of legislation against slavery in the
Territories, without qualification, it prescribes
that duty only "Wheneuer legislation is neces
sary."
This change Of language, Of course carefully
studied, grew out Of the changes in circum'
stances between 1856 and 1860.
Within that eventful period, not only was the
condition Of that portion of our Territories
(Kansas) likely to be contested by slavery, set.
tied against slavery as a matter of fact, but SO
signal an illustration had been given of the
power of free labor to occupy the Territories,
that the necessity of Congressional Intervention
in its favor was felt to be vastly diminished.
The event Of the struggle in Kansas, pro-
duced corresponding effect upon the control.
ing politicians Of the South, SO that, whereas
they had been contending from 1850 down for
national non.intervention, they now saw that
positive intervention in their favor was neces-
sary to plant slavery in the Territories, and
with their accustomed facility in abandoning
doctrines which do not suit their purposes, for
doctrines which do, they now set up claim
for Intervention in favor Of slavery, and for in.
tervention too, by amendments Of the Constitu-
ton of the United States.
The summerssult on their part, is, however,
too palpable, one would think, to leave them
in condition to carry the people of the South,
when reason shall have taken the place of ex.
ctement.
At any rate, while the Republicans can, con-
sistently with their platform, act upon the prin
ciples of nonintervention in respect to the re-
naming Territories, there is good hope that
the men at the South, really in favor of the
Union, will be able to sustain themselves, upon
the same principles.
But there is North, as well as South, and
Republicans take narrow view of the subject,
who do not consider the effect in the free States
of such a measure as that for the admission of
New Mexico, proposed by the. committee of
thirty.three.
The great body Of the opponents Of Republi.
canism at the North, have adopted the doc.
,rine of popular sovereignty, as it is called, in
the Territories, and of the admission of States,
with, or without slavery, at the option of their
inhabitants. Now, it will forever close their
mouths, if this, their own doctrine, is applied
to New Mexico. They will receive it as fair
settlement, and we shall have the North united,
against all the arts of those who would weaken
it by disafection at this crisis. OF course,
Judge Douglas himself who claims the spe-
cial championship of popular sovereignty, will
resist aud denounce its actual application, but
he will be shorn of all power to do mischief,
by his manifest hypocrisy and inconsistency.
So to unite the North, and to leave nobody
there who can say, with any effect, that the
Republicans have refused an honorable adjust.
ment, is great object of policy, and in
higher sense, than that of mere pItty policy.
The North is to be called upon to auter upon
grave events and grave duties. Treason is to
be put down, to the extent of enforcing the
revenue laws, by the display Of force, and pos
sibly, by bloodshed. This is new and most
serious posture of public affairs. How essen.
tial it is, that the greatest attainable degree of
union in public sentiment, should be brought
about.
1t is undeniable that the demand from the
North for some measure of adjustment is large
and pressing. If even it be true, that the ma.
jority of the people of the free States are Just
now SO incensed by the outrages of south Car.
olina and its abettors, that they are more in.
clined to shoulder their muskets, than to en-.
tertain measures Of pacifcation, it Is at the
same time true, that the number Of those is
large, who, from peculiarities of temperament,
old party ties, or special exposure to pecuniary
loss from civil convulsion, desire peace, If peace
is possible. And to this number, is to be added
those, numerous, we trust, who have preserved
their minds in that condition of freedom from
passion, which enables them to conprehend
the value of the Union, the charitable allow
ances to be made for the excitement which has
pecipitated into revolution apparent pajorities
in six States, the duty we owe to the rninorities
in those States, and the still more pressing duty
of saving other States from plunging, into the
same vortex of ruin.
In our judgment, that man is a most unwise
politician, who does not see that there would
be great danger Of seriously divided North,
if the Republicans were not ready, a we be-
lieve they always have been, to do spything
not repugnant to their principles, to remove all
stumbling blocks in the way of a restoration o.
harmony.
This territorial question, of which the South
ern demagogues make SO successful and dan
gerous use, is the sheerest deluson. 1here il
nothing practical in dispute. And it will be
most extraordinary, if in some way, il canno