New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-02-02

salCLiOntC tntt pVe;toh W tno CFo.''"A vi Dii'
Lincoln. And now, within three months after the
rendition of that great verdict we are called upon
to compromise away the position thus delib-
erately taken, called upon 10 vote for the indefi-
mite extension Of Slavery, and for amendments to
the Constitution so cOntriyed as to fasten Slavery
forever upon the country. And Mr.. Clay asks
US TO stand aside and be silent with generous
trust in his " humble Leadership :"
We trust to no such leadership. We keep no
silence when concession to treason and compro-
misses with Slavery are the topics of discussion.
In this contest THE TRIBUNE looks to no leaders
and follows no guides but Right and Justice ana
the principles of Freedom on which the American
Republic was founded and on which alone it can
securely stand. We warn Mr.. Clay, We warn
all compromisers at Washington, high or low, to
expect neither silence nor acqulescence from The
TRIBrNE in any scheme that grants one inch or
one hairs breadth to Slavery.
Mr.. Clay draws comparison between his pro-
posed concession of territory to Slavery and the
concession of the northern part of Oregon to
Great Britain when we yielded our claim to the
line of $40 40, and took that of the parallel OF
49o. The comparison will not hold. We gave
IN Vancouver by free and friendly negotiation.
But suppose Great Britain, instead of using
diplomacy, had first seized our frontier fortreSses,
had taken possession of our nayy-yards, and had
fred upon the American flag, does Mr.. Clay
think we should have gone upon our knees, and
begged her to compromise and graciousy accept
one.half or two-thirds of the disputed territory!
| And does he think that we should have offered
beside. to 80 amend our Constitution as to guar
| anty the permanence Of British influence on this
! Continent?
little more than one month ago, on Dec
| 49, 1850, Mr. Clay, who now talks OF compro'
missing, wrote a public letter to the Speaker OF
the Indiana House of Representatives, in which
| these passages appear:
Now what shall Republicans do They have peace by
,coue,cinv in all the demands Of the Slave Power but
peace at the expense Of their equality in the Government ani
los, Of their liberty may be who like EsoP lat
dog will accept the terms but who like his wo have not
only seen the marks Of but felt the collar, viii part company
b,o And lastly, We can have peace By
standing on the Constitution land the laws Of Mthers) as 1t
was IS and shall be- ard making others do the se-a peace
which al secure safety home and respect abroad-a Pesc
which will continue the grande't Development oil c''uno
which the world has seen. Standing Ia the vanguard
Of great and dangerous movement told that leaders Of
revolutions rarely survive them may fall by the hands Of
voncemay be into exile and suffer poverty and
die In ob.curi,y Whist shall say VIVA, shall dol listen
hear the voice conference.-the voice OF Oodof the great
dead The man dice, but his memory lives Dive me
liberty or give me death Well then think old Ben Wsde'
speech in the the ground Let u stand With and
bv him to the end The Constitution, the Union aud laws
they must be preserved With old John Adams living Of
diving stand by the Declaration"
"These be brave words" But where stands
Mr.. Clay now We, too, think Old Ben Wade'S
speech is tie true ground; and that speech is
against all compromises-all concessions to
Slavery. While we hold by that, and contrast
Mr.. Clay Of December with Mr.. Clay of Jan
| uary, We must beg to BE- excused from following
a leader WHO beats a retreat instead Of sounding
| an advance.