The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-10-14

especially for shipping lots of Western and in good ex
port demand, chiefly for Franco. Corn was frmor
with toerahy free sales, closing at &c.,
57lsc, mainly at the latter figure. Pork, un
dor the influence of further government proposals
Tor supplies rmer with sales Of 800 TO 900 bbs at
SD 62 $5 for mess tho latter for full weight barrels
and at 50 s7 $40 for prime. Sugars steady with
sales of about 800 hhds. and 100 boxes. Coffee was
quiet and sales limited at steady prices Freghts were
sustained with rather more Offering. Corn 10 Liverpool
engaged in bulk at II d and wheat in bags 12>sd
with cheese Mt Abs and buttor at 40s To London
was engaged at 4s and cheese at sos To Havre free
gagcments Of wheat made at CSC and Of flour 95
The Position or the Federal Government
in Reference to slavcry-Abolitfon Not
the Object OF the War.
The federal administration is Inexperienced
| and misrepresented by the extreme anti.slavery
| party at the North just as much as it is by the
extreme pro-slavery frc-eaters at the South.
| Both one and the other persist in representing
that the object Of the government in putting
forth its strength to suppress the rebellion is to
suppress, at the same time, the institution Of
slavery. At the South the general dissemina
ton of this idea has converted a large portion
Of the population into rebels; at the North it
the government, and thereby procrastinating
the close of the war.
1t certainly is not the fault of Congress, Of
the President, or Of the various members Of the
administration that this false and injurious idea
has got abroad in either section. The declara-
tons of the government that it has no will, in
tention or power to interfere with the institution
1f c1a bo
mcrous, explicit and conclusive. In another part
of to-day's paper we group together some of the
most important of these official statements The
first in point Of time, as well as in point ofconclu
siveness, is the resolution passed by the House
of Representatives on the 1lth of February,
1861, solemnly protesting that neither Con-
| gress nor the people nor governments
of the non-slaveholding States have constitu-
tional right to legislate upon or interfere with
slavery in any slaveholding Slate Of the Union.
This comprehensive resolve was adopted unani-
mously by republican House Of Representa-
tives, the vote by yeas and nays resulting in
yeas l6l, nays none. If the Chicago platform
contained anything at variance with the prn-
cple here enuneiated, that platform was, by this
solemn legislative act, swept away and con-
signed to oblivion. Then we have the fact that
| Congress, at It's close last winter, by a two
| thirds vote in both houses, proposed an amend
ment to the constitution guaranteeing the in
| tegrity Of slavery in the States where it now
exists.
So much for Congress. Now for the Execu-
| tive.
| What is the Presidents position on the sub
| ject Of slavery in the States? II is that of a
full recognition Of the sovereign power of the
States themselves over it, and Of a correspond
ing disayowal Of any right in either the federal
government or Congress to interfere with it.
We find him pausing and hesitating, and
evincing much reluctance, to sign even that
very proper law, passed at the last session,
eoniiscating rebel property, lest it might clash
with those rights which he regarded as sacred
and inalienable. We find him also disappearing
and annulling that part of General Fremont's
! proclamation which declared the slaves of
rebel masters emancipated; and we find him
on all occasions making the most candid and
explicit avowals of his determination to observe
all constitutional guarantees, TO enforce the
laws with an impartial hand, and to respect the
rights of every State and section No man can
doubt the honesty and sincerity of Mr.. Lin
coin in this as in all his other positions.
Then we have Attorney General Bates letter
in reference to the same question, recognizing
the validity Of all the laws of the State of
Missouri, including those affecting slaves.
The sentiments and views Of the Secretary of
War in regard to the slavery question are no
less loyal, no less constitutional, and no less
clearly expressed than are those of the Presi-
dent. His letter to General Butler in regard
to the treatment of fugitive slaves at Fortress
| Monroe puts at rest all doubts respecting his
fidelity to the national compact. lie declares
it to be the desire of the President that all ex-
listing rights in all the States shall be fully re-
spected and maintained, and he issues his CON-
mand torbidding in the most imperative man
ner any interference by the troops with the SER
wants of peaceful citizens, or their prevent
ing the voluntary return of fugitive to bis
master. An order of the day OF Gen. Mansfield
IN reference to tie same point forbids the lAr-
boring OF fugitive slaves in the quarters ard
camps OF the troops serving in the Department
81 Washington, and torD!ds ,hcr being allowed
o accompany troops on the march. Finally.
we have the speech made by the Secretary
| OF the Interior ut YuNlie meeting, held