New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-01-03
THE PR0-SLAVERY REVOLUTION.
MR.. BENJAMIN's SPEECH.

Fsora Or Special Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 81, 1860.
Mr.. Benjamin made his speech to-day, and
Ike all his speeches, it was clear and able. III
should not 90 long unanswered. Mr.. Benjamin
said that Southern and Northern Senators were
about parting company forever, and be desired
for Southern men that they might be allowed to
90 in peace.
We wish somebody had put some questions to
Mr.. Benjamin on the spot. He was frank and
explicit, and it would have been highly proper
occasion to obtain frank and explicit answers.
I've would have asked Mr.. Benjamin, What are
you going TO leave the Union for Is it because
Of obstructed Fugitive laws and Personal Liberty
bills : We know he would have answered
mo Is it because the Free States are Op-
posed to Slavery, and will condemn it and dis
euss it, in season aud out of season But will
the North do any the less of this after you are
cut Of the Union than before You know, and
we all know, she will not Is it because dom
inant majority has come into power whose policy
it is to prevent the extension of Slavery into
the existing territory OF the United States
But how do you obviate this difficulty by
leaving the Union Do you expect TO take ten
rtory belonging to the Union out of the Union
along with youl
Is this your expectation Because if it is, it
must be disappointed. Whatever may be con-
ceded in the way of allowing States to secede,
no man in the Union can be brought to the
point of alternating territory to the Seeding
States. To presume upon this, is vain, delusiye
10 h., ,n,,t1
Is it future acquisitions you are looking to
But is not great and growing rival touching
the Atlantic and Pacific, and reaching down to
the Mexican line, as likely to stand in your way
and to prevent the spread Of Slavery Southwark,
rs the North can be under any circumstances
wish somebody had faced Mr.. Benjamin, not
only with these inquiries, but with some distinct
propositions. What do you say, Mr. Benjamin,
TO the proposition of the Committee OF Thirty
three, to end the Territorial question by passing
an enabling act to bring in New-Mexico as q
State Is not this an Oyer-fair proposition The
Territorial question is our bane, and the fruitful
parent of all our woes. Are you ready to solve
it at once in peaceful and constitutional man
neri And if not, why not Further than this,
are ycu willing to settle the Territorial question
for all future time on the basis of dividing all
territory hereafter acquired in the proportions
of the representative populations OF the Slave
holding and Non-Slaveholdng sections DO you
want more than your proportion Mind we
don't agree to acquire any more territory. We
shall do as we think best about that.
Now, suppose anybody had met Mr. Benjamin
promptly on this basis What would he have
said Doubtless, that he and his colleagues, and
their States, were bound to go, with or without
reasons. But the propositions would, at least,
have served to test the real anmus of the seces-
sion movement and have demonstrated before
the Senate and before the world that it is q
purely revolutionary movement, and is simply the
offspring of rebelhOuS temper, fostered by slave
institutions, that refuses to submit to the fairly
and constitutonally declared will of the majority.
The fact that the revolutiOnists are ruthessy de-
ternined to subvert this great Government, which
has shed luster upon its immortal founders and
covered vast land with priceless blessings,
sooner than so submit, is unquestiOnable, and no
opportunity should be lost to expose the fact to
he world
wildly to mind the policy of the e1cision OF the
Gulf States as being the most natural policy OF
the United States Government to free itself from
the Slavery question. Those States desire to go.
When the proper steps can be taken, and suit
able boundaries and conditions can be agreed
upon, why not let them go But this nation must
preserve its interests and its destnies in It's own
hands. To do this properly, it cannot ALLEVIATE
Territories or States that are necessary to its
future. 1t thus cannot yield anything west Of
the Mississippi or north OF the Potomac.
Whenever in the future the seeding Slave States
shall desire to negotiate treaty of separation on
This basis, shall be disappointed if the Free
States do not snow themselves ready to agree to
enter upon the negotiation. Meantime the Union
and Constitution must stand without curtalment
of their existing limitations. J. :. P.