The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-19

tons
Again if no decision should stand in the way, the ap
pcaton Of the principle would be defeated during the
next Presidential term by the want Of harmony n the
coordinate branches Of the government The Senate
alone could defeat it, if tho President and House
| of Representatives should favor it. Looking sti
further IN rhe future, and Judging Of what may
not escape attention that the mutations OF party make
il extremely probematical what is 10 be the poll
teal complexion OF the government. after 1864. II these
views are Of any force II must follow that the appre
tensions of the slave states in regard 10 the principle Of
exclusion are without onndaon and that NJ pretext
for Withdrawing from the Union, IL not entitled 10
| the weight which is claimed for IT,
THE REFUSAL OF 1HE FREE STATES TO RECOGNISE SLAVES As
The next grievance which your committee have 10
consider is that the people of the free states refuse 20
acm that the constitution recognises slaves as pro
| perty.
The third subdivision OF the 2d section Of the 4th
article OF the constitution rs in these words
No person held labor state unSe. he
laws hereof escaping into another shall IN of
Siee or iasor but Shall Be dssed Up en- claim OF the
party TO whom such service or labor may be due
Although the word :. slave" is not mentioned
here, there Is evidence from contemporaneoas
sources that they are referred to- under the term Of
persons held service, and the reference them
is therefore admitted But here Is recognition slaves
property, even where they held such states
under The laws thereof The constitution provides for
their rendition but recognise them as property:
and to this extent only the people Of the State,
willing 10 admit any connection OF the government with
The recognition of the principle to the limit which is
claimed for IL by the people OF the slave States would
carry slavery into every state in the Union by virtue
the paramount authority Of the constitution all laws
of State If slaves are property under the constu tuition
TO prohibit il within its territory and by logical Sc
quepce il would prevail whatever might be the lee loc
as far as the constitution reaches
THE DANGER or REorESING THE SAVE TRADE.
Again. this construction OF the constitution would open
the slave trade without any legislation on the subject
There would be evident inconsistency in furnishing
piracy the dealing in species OF property which, by
being recognized as such under the constitution would
become at cnce legitimate subject of trade All treaties
of
traffic as piracy would have to be modified annuled
In short the world would be astonished At the spectacle
of nation existing for than seventy years under
misrepresentation Of the true meaning Of its organic law
THE ELECTION OF SECTIONAL PRESIDENT
The only remaining grievance which remains to be no
tced is the election OF republican President The OBJ
ections to Mr. Lincoln that he sectional candi
and institutions Of the SOUTH and that no
will his influence and tho patronage OF the govern
men. TO give those views practical effect.
candidate carrying only the States on side the
other Of geographical line, then Mr. Breckenridge
also sectional candidate IN this particular both the
candidates precisely the position. The
had the electoral vote Of free State the other stood
| the same footing in the slave states.
Of the aims and purposes Of party there can be
higher evidence than that afforded by an examination Of
its political code platforms This represents the doc
trine of the party established by authority
mating from the people. If individuals 60 beyond the
principles thus laid down, they longer represent
party, but their own individual opnionssiolRwhch they
alone responsible is not denied that he principle
Of prohibition is part Of the republican platform that
be secessary 1t cannot, however be directly again;t
the interests and institutions Of the SOUTH since has
nothing to do with these interests and institutions
where they exist by positive law in the States IL
only be applied TO the Territories and there If its app
cation would be indirectly against the institutions of
section, IL is not more than the opposite principle of
protection would be against another section Free labor
j. much an institution one side as compulsory service
| is On tie other.
THE PRECEDENT BOUND 10 SUPPORT the CONSTITUTION.
As the of the administration this,
n irTnm nat II car
conjecture IL cannot, however in any event be other
wise than in accordance with the constitution and the
made in pursuance thereof which the President is
bound by his oath 10 support Uhdte-cr his fndtci td
cpiaio,s may be- they only regulate his conduct IN far
may be held convictions, but they never con
stitute a rule OF action in the administration Of
public affairs President, then, honest and capable,
acting under his oath Of Office and with power to form
cabinet TO appoint consul without the assent
likely to realize the gloomy apprehensions with which his
| advent nro office is regarded by the South.
such the reasons which are put forth to justify
revolution and perhaps civil war They appear so made
quate causes for attempt to overthrow govern
ment that IL is difficult to free the mind from suspi
that they after all mere pretenses for
ment which had its origin motives that have not yet
been divuged If the secret history of the Charleston
Convention should be written IL may appear that
the proposing impractcable platform and the with
drawa Of Southern delegates its rejection part
OF matred scheme to defeat Mr. Douglas by dcprving
him Of all Southern aid aud by thus nsarng the election
of Mr. Lincoln afford the wished for opportunity Of
precipating the southern states into rebellion"
| COMPLICATIONS THAT MUTT RESULT FROM SECESSION.
In concluding this branch Of the subject your Commit
tee have no hesitation in saying that on the assumption
Of the reality and weight OF the grievances complained
Of q dissolution would them u be felt with ten
fold force. II is difficult, nor 20 caryy o the provisions
of the Fuqre Stare lar, hoc could they be enforced az all
as tscccn parae AM indrndc, conteeraciesp There
would then be common constitution to operate over
above the Ter loc and bind the people to the free
States TO the observance Of provision no longer app-
cable the order Of things The case Of stace,
scoring from Kentucky 10 Ohio uonld Dc ondo9Dus 70 that
| Of escaping from Virginia % England Whatever
rights the Virginia would have to follow his pro-
perty England and claim its rendition, would be the
measure of the Kentucky masters claim Ohio. Conf
" might settle the question his favor, but in the end IL
would prove reliance far less TO be depended than
| the constitution OF the United States
1gdin dissolution Of The Union oud seaie The question
Of taaery the Territories In fup Of the free Sd Your
committee no reason that could be urged those
states powerful enough TO induce them for moment
TO entertain the idea OF division. They would be
cessary the Atlantic states with those Of the
Pacific SLOPE
They would also be necessary for the millions Of free
laborers seeking homes for their families with no CAPT
they would belong these states every principle Of
international law would they ever be yielded up cx
| ccpt to an irresistible power.
TIH ULTIMA RATIO, COERCION
II the conclusions arrived at by your committee be con-
sdercd in the main correct, u will not be difficult to
draw thercirom the rights and duties Of the general
vernment in this important crisis Of history Should
these revolutionary movements be persisted In the public
property taken possession Of, and the procamations
Of the PRESIDENT and the DEGREES Of Congress set at def
ance ue time ciu hace drrred phen te mite nouns Of
coy.on n a,cs ha,g fdaea Mers 'ou e nothing lt I~
| How much soever such an alternative might be de-
plored the government may be driven TO accept by the
force Of unavoidable necessity. That necessity will
present itself whenever II shall appear that the people Of
South Carolina and of other Southern States no longer
be restrained in their attempts TO revolutionize the coun
try by the peaceful influence Of the civil officers In such
event, committee have hesitation In express
ing their solemn conviction that the government should
act with decsion and promptness and that those who
shall administer It's functions will find other course
consistent with their fidelity to the Unon the constitu-
ton and the laws.
SPIRIT or THE AMERICAN CONVENIENT
The government OF the United States Is government
resting the consent Of the people II has been shown
vided for the paramount authority Of all laws made
pursuance thereof for tho pcrpctuy of the Union and
Tor the protection Of all the varied interests arising out of
| q diversity OF soil. climate and productions.
That in all these respects has justified the anticpa
tons Of s iusrious founders astonishing progress
\ n nation affords tho most unmistakable evidence.
u Is TO he put TO a ordeal Having proved
its adapiability TO all the wants OF people OF peace
within and without its power TO resist internal rebel