New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-01-18
THE pERUOUs COMMITTEES.

y variety Ol CONNECTING TcPoIts HhN' p'th
made to the House of Representatives by the
Committee Of Thirty three, Of which one signed
By the Chairman, Mr. COrwiD, claims t. be the
majority reports that it was not agreed TO by
nearly majority of the 33 members, but only
BY msjority OF The quorum who attended the
later meetings.
Mr.. Corwin's report begins By the consldera'
lion OF the alleged fact that publications have
been circulated in the South by Northern men,
having a tendency to promote serye lnsurrec-
ton. and circulated with that intent. lie speaks
of this accusation as if there were no question
If ia correctness, and declares that newspapers
or periodicals having such tendencies arc highly
criminal and should be so treated by the laws
of the several States. In this matter Mr..
Corwin has been grossly deceived as TO the facts.
No publications designed 10 excite insurrection
have ever issued from the Northern press. The
charge was brought against the Aboltoniss twenty
five years ago, and was promptly and satislacto-
rily rcfuted The term inccndiary publications,
az II ia understood by the Shareholders, includes
the most valuable literature of the age-thc
works Of the greatest living poets, and the lead
ing Journals Of England and of the United States.
The n. Y. TRIBUNE, The " y. independent, Har-
yer's HeeLly, the Atlantic Monthly, and in fact, al
most every Northern journal or periodical Of note,
have been in turn prescribed by them. Tho CEN
sorship Of the press as for many years past II
has been practiccd in the South, is as dcspOtic
and as repugnant to all the principles OF Amcri-
can liberty as the censorship Of Austria or Of
the oyerthrown dcspotism Of Naples. We are
greatly surprised that 9lr. Curwin should have
lent b, name to sanction such an outrage on the
freedom of the press, and still more that he
should have proposed to extend the censorship.
On The subject Of Personal Liberty laws, Mr..
Corwin remarks with correctness that they have
not vet offered any obstacle to the rendition OF
fuaityes, and that if they conflict with the Con
stituton Of the United States they nu and void.
Uerec0mmends The Northern States to examine and
revise their Statute books, and if they find any
acts in them that are clearly unconstitutional, TO
repeal them. This is good advice and will I'M.
doubtedly be followed, though it does not touch
the real gist of the question, which is, aro the
PcrFonal Liberty laws unconstitutional The
States that have passed them maintain that they
are not. Mr.. COrwn's advice to the North
would have had better grace and have come
with more weight if it had been coupled with
similar recommendation to the Southern States to
repeal their unconstitutional laws in relation 70
coored seamen from other States, and in restraint
Of the liberty of the press.
The remainder of tho report ia taken up with
considerations Of the Fugitive Slave law OF $3.50,
TO which certain amendments are proposed Of no
importance in themselves, and far from sufficient
10 remove the objections of the Free States 70
that act. In conclusion, Mr.. Corwin proposes to
admit Slavery in oil the territory South OF 3O'
so. but does not ask, like Mr.. Crittcndcn, for
Constitutional guarantees for its perpetual pro-
lection there. II is hardly worth while to spend
time in discussing this prolosl,ion. II Is too
late There is no longer any question OF COM
promises. The question before us is simply aud
plainly, Shall the Union and the Constitution be
maintained and the laws obeyed, or shall the
American people and their government yield TO
slayeholdng threats, and submit to be coerced
by traitors The slayehollers are in rebellion,
and the only thing to be determined at present
IL, whether they or tho cOnstituted authorities
shall govern the Republic
A sufficient reply to Mr.. Corwin has been
made by o minority Of the Committee,
Messrs. Washburn and Tappan, whose report
we publish this day. II urges very iorcibly that
the proposed concessions win not restore har-
mony between the sections, but will only in-
cente the North without appeasing tho South.
They remark significantly that tho successful
"psrty in the last election did not elect their
:. csqjidates to bays their principles sacrificed"