New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-01-03


sympathetic car 10 those complaints, they are not ds
posed now that il j. apparent that secession has
been contemplated for years. to encourage An attempted
destruction Of the Government upon mere deciara'ion
unsupported by evidence.
But do ro ouep ion the sincerity ofall who threaten
secesson; the contrary, accept the declarations OF
many those of earnest and determined men; ana
while have faith that time will essentially modify
their views, change their purposes, and prevent them
from rushing madly 10 inevitable destruction through
the paths OF treason and civil war, ordinary prudence
distates that this patriotic commonwealth should not
hold portion of apparent indifference, but that VIC
should deliberately consider our relations the ones
tiOns OF proposed secession, well as the duties Whcn
surh event may force upon us. Believing that as
this Confederacy had its origin and contamination In
mutual sacrifices and benefits that IT Is based upon
solemn compact to which the whole people Of the
United States parties, and by which all are firmly
bound and that this compact provides for peaceful
redress of Fundamental grievances, it is clear that,
without disregard of mutual engagements, no State
can voluntarily secede from the Union.
a separation Of Of the States, though
called secession and claimed TO be lawful under rights
erroIeously supposed to have been reserved to the
States can, nevertheless, be practically nothing else
than disunon, snd dsunion 20 soon as IT shall take
it, eedfu form and proportions, must reveal Itself IN
the character Of treason, which 1t will be the high
duty OF the General Government 10 arrest aud punish
Tie laws Of the United Statee must be executed the
requirements of the Constitution must be obeyed II
tie National Government is TO exit, It's power must be
adequate TO the enforcement Of Its laws IN any OF the
States of the ULion and under any circumstances To
permit or to acquiesce In reasonable conspiracy
against the national authorities, is TO confess that our
Government is abeolute failure. The people OF the
State of NeW-York in nv Judgment, not prepared
for such an admisson the contrary they will give
to the Federal authorities in the adoption OF all wie
just and necessary measures for the enforcement o the
laws, their earnest, faithful and constant support
Although strenuousy opposed to the establishment
of tie compromise line of 1920 yot settlement Of
the then existing difficulties NewYork and the North
generally acquiesoed and, for the third OF century
were content 10 regard IA sacred a compact innnng
largely to the advantage of the friends OF save labor
The ordinance of l7S had consecrated to free labor
the whole of the Northwestern Territory, and, in pro-
cess of time the rapid stream Of emigration had or
gunzed II into States. In the mean time southern so
ciety, being less expansive, the North, by natural
causes acquired preponderating influence Ia the ma
tiora councils The territory west of the Mississippi
end North Of Sc 30 was still unoccupicd. Seeking 10
preserve its political power, and in spite OF lie phghed
faith, the South determined TO remove the barnerto
the introduction OF Slavery TO this section and to cocu
PVT. -.
The facts connected with the abrogstion Of the Mi
souri, Compact are too recent and too well known to
require detail; but from the hour in which the rights
Of the North Were thus invaded, sectional disagree
mens have been growing wider and more intense,
til the fair fabric of the Union il seriously Threatened.
Not d. eirng the adoption of the Missouri line IN
$50, and oprong, with almost eclid fronSthe weight
Of her influence the repeal in 1854 this state does
not ask does she desire the restoration of that
line. After full and free discussion, her people have
declared against the extension OF Slavery into any Of
the Territories, aud this they regard ~ disposition OF
that question until revoked by the authority.
Ever ready nevertheless she has proved herself
heretofore, Newfork viii in all honorable WAYS, en-
dclyor 10 reconcile the arrangements now existing IN
tie country.
maQnanimons and loyal State in such an exigcncy,
NAV well fei, 20 the question whether ASSUMED grew
real or only imaginary; but while her action
should be marked by patience callnncs. conolli lon
and fIaeI nal Affection there should be no surrender OF
important rights sacrifice Of yial prnci les. II !.
equally clear sbe should not insist on points Of pride,
mere abstractions.
Though brough, forward under missl prehension,
such grievance j. alleged against this State. In $40,
cOnfOmably 10 The generally received opinion a that
day. tie Legishture pas-cd statute granting n t1I
~ jUfy in the courts Of ts State 10 ersOns charged
ar being fuRitiyes from service Aftergard the
supreme Court Of the United States in tho case OF
Prgg ag the Commonwealth OF Pennsy lvanii, decided
that all State laws, even though subordinate to the
Federal euactments and favorable 10 the eAtradiol
Of fugives Inconsistent with the Constitution OF
the United States and therefore void; and 70 this
statute 81 State, which granted trial by jury,
became ineffective. Ii has Teen universally held TO he
chs Olete BY all commentators and all our pdbhc
authorities, although now improperly classed among
WI at are technically cell Personal Liberty laws
and made occasion tor exciting esouhes aud discon-
tents. therefore recommend Its repeal
In this connection and while diavowing any dispo-
titiou to interfere with what exclusively pertains TO
the individual States and in spirit OF aierna kind
ness would respectfully invite all tDose States which
have upon their statute books any laws OF this char
acier, conflicting with tho Federal tOlbtHulioh, 10
repeal them 1T the earliest opportunity not upon con-
dillon that a more equitable fugltiye-saye law be
Iaseed nor upon any other conditions, but rcyingfor
tic proper Modification Of this enact ment upon the Jls
tice and wisdom Of the Federal authories Let tho
Free States fulfill all he obligations Of the Federal
Constitution and laws, then, with propIety, they may
exact like obedience IRON all the other States
That the President and Prceident elect, though
cousiuonaly chOren were unacceptable TO portion
OF the South, the first avowed for secesHon
This ground however proving untenable us soon a.
assumed the lpitaoro fell back upon other alleged
grievances and renewed their complaints with view
eHaRperae and alarm the people OF thObS oaleo Win
Eyery one knows or may know that the newly
elected President and ViccPesdent not only can have
10 motive desire TO do any injury to the complain
ing States butihat they will have no power TO eAer-
cise for such purpose
The Senate Of The United States il now controlled
by tho political majority which has controlled u
for tho two last PRESIDENTIAL terms; the House OF
already chosen for half the Term Tor
which the President and Vice-President elected,
are of the same minority IA the Senate and the Su-
prene Court is practically the same AZ II has been for
neatly quarter Of century, and all the COnstltu-
tloLal guarantees are in force now ~ heretofore
again,t Executive usurpaons sectional Interior
ehces. No.
Willie the question of Slavery, throughout all his
tory has been a subject of debate, the record OF the
past will show that he people OF the Free States have
remained content with the disposition of the subject
made by the Constitution ard the Federal LAVE, ana
have reraned from any political agitation Of il, until
attempts were peIristeny made 10 extend the nslitu-
ton into the national domain with a yiew ~ we have
feen 10 increase the number Of the savehodng States
The alternative was now forced upon the Northern
States either of ceaseess agitation Of the subject oil
Slavery, with view to its removal even from the
slayebOding States Themselves Gle OF resisting hr
introduction into the public domain through the utter
vention Of the Federal Government They chose the
latter and have NIL occasions proclaimed ana IN
the most solemn Manner Pledged TO tho Slave States
-. mod rOI