New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-02-05

let us see wherein, and then, Planting ourselves
on reasonable frontiers, let The lost tribes co.
J.S.P.
Correspondence OF Tb- N. Y. Tribune.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2, 1861.
Revolutions--ef which have seen some fe" IN
my Efe-have similar characteristics, whatever
may be the tbeater upon which they are DIS
played, whatever their causes, whatever their
ultimate sims Revolutions begin in various
ways-some by violent outbreaks, Others as
slowly but stcadily.risng tide; but oil, in their
course, pass through similar, II not almost ldeh-
tical phases. Here in Washington, the eveats
agitating the Republic form revolution, ana as
such, l may class it with the rising tides. But
il il for the first time in history that reyolu-
ton has started, not for the purpose of breaking
through the shackles and bands which hinder and
compress the free expansion of human rights, not
for securing liberty, but to solder more strongly
the chains which bind the hands Of the slave, to
yitiate thoroughly all the normal conditions OF
social existence TO hamper the free use OF lhtel-
lectual powers to suppress all the higher and noSier
attributes and manifestations of the human mind
and heart. Such are The leading characteristics
of the revolution inaugurated by the SecesSonlsts
This anomalous revolution is supported and de-
Tended by the-most sOphisical twistlhgs OF the
notions of abstract as well as Of positive rights,
obligations, and duties. 1t loOsens, upsets, dis
solves all the notions and feelings of honor and
of moral obligations; it demoGazes to the core
those who are spurred on by the revolutionary
fury. The bold assertions of treason on the floor
of Congress, the seizure OF forts and the prop
erty Of the nation, the violation OF oaihs
made by Senators and other civil and mil
itary officials--all are so many mournful evil
dences Of the corrosive action by which the ideas
of honor and duty are perverted and destroyed.
The SO. called right of Secession is the fountain
of treasOn it is represented as sufficient TO JUS
tify the parrcidal attempts TO destroy the nation
The Constitutional question of this right has been
already fully discussed by eminent expounders on
both sides. 1t strikes NE, however, that If there
can be any plausbjlity in the assertion that
certain States may reGnter into the exercise of
the sovereign rights surrendered by them con-
ditionaly to the Union, this reasoning can in 40
way apply TO such States os entered the Union
not as original colonies, but were admitted;
who from their normal condition of dependency
as Territories, were transformed into soyercgntes
with limited rights. These States are creation
Of the Union; they had not any previous indie
pendent existence, no ilbOrn sovereign rights.
They cannot claim back what they did not sur
render, what they did not possess. The donor
may repeal the grant, but if they choose to
throw the grant into his face, they return TO
their primitive condition. They have been as
minors, upon whom society has conferred the
privileges of majority. Laws give to society
the power to limit or even to deprive Of his
rights any member miSusiDg them. The attempt
of these seeding States, who grew up to ma
iority from the inferior, infant condition Of bought
and paid-for Territories, can be compared only
to the act Of parricde. Laws preremptorily
deprive the parricide-if even his attempt was
uusuccessful-Of any claims to the fortune or
Inheritance from his parent. These seeding
States may therefore put themselves into the con-
dtion of civil and of political outlaHry. @.