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


70 tLe Iion. tLa Il has arrayed the two geographical
seeons Of the country against each other That 1t has
separated religious communities; that " mas plahed
distrst aHdhatred 10 Northern and southern hearts,
od created that sense of insecurity and injustice TO
tLe Itter which /, less tOerabe than state OF open
warfare against declared enemy. Practically, 1t Is
more than idle Fay that conservative sentiment per
vades large portion Of the people Of the Northern
states when the fact stands out in bold relief that the
d,mir ant Republican party lives there alone, and
tb,ive Inv the agitation Of the Slavery question, and
thot "a parv il is bound to cherish that by which II
lives and prospers. II s as possible to live without
food. as for a thorough Republican to exist withou,
the agitation of "the Slavery question" Numbers Of
INTELLIGENT Republicans are doubt, fully aware OF
The enormiy of their dOctrines and believe in them no
more than The Augirs Of Rome believed in their own
prorheces but they find Anti-Slavery sentiments the
means of acquiring popularity, influence and power
and they do not therefore, think It worth their while
10 use their talents and intellectual capacities in the far
ess remuneratiyc efforts OF sincere aud udlcous stae
manhp. Ii is At all times more tacile task TO eXcie
passions than to satisfy reason IL cannot be doubted
that there is q strong conservative feeling IN many
members of the Republican party and that ground may
be shared to some extent by the President elect
but it is to be feared it may DO confined 10 very
strong desiIe to preserve the Union without
surrendering any Of the cardinal points of
the Republican faith All such conservatism It ia
reckless TO say at this time is by itself of small prac-
teal value. The Southern States are not willing to
trust their destiny OF that of this great nation TO such
conservatism. They require more than mere promise
10 feel sure there will be an abstinence from wrong do
ing They ask public recognition of principles and
an agreement which will render Justice impossible or
nj least highly mprObable-sOmethng which shall not
grant to our brethren of the South from political charity
what the Constitution secures them as rfght. Sena-
tors, we are met here rs constituent assembly. we
have not met TO frame Constitution, or to c0Dhde the
drawing up of such an instrument TO mere pluTany
Of votes We are ALREADY organized as definite Con-
stitutional Government-as a Confederate Repnbhc,
ard we are bound to preserve that Governmeni
in its true spirit. and with all the checks and
balances which protect the minority from the
encroachmepts of the arbitrary will OF the major
ity Nothing is more natural than that the South,
whose protest against gratuitous and nexcusable in
reference has been sounding In our ears Tor more
than thirty years, should now be camorOls TO secure
bevond contingency her rights resorng to armed
revolution rather than continue in state Of perpetual
political warfare and personal insecurity. 1t is IN vain
for us of the North to boast of greater physical
pOwer and material resources The men OF the South
are our own brethren; they belong to the same Anglo
Saxon race, and will not be inundated, but rather
aroused by such an appeal to mere numerical ospar-
ity. Such devices are not only unworthy OF us, but
are at all times absolutely wicked and criminal Sir,
ii questions Iearer home should heresfter divide
own community Of votes, who shall say that some
men Of turbulent spirit, some wouldbe leaders, IN
sIired with the supremacy OF numbers, may not III
stitute unpleasant comparisons between what the
many want and the few refuse The few are always
pronounced selfish, and the many always claim in be
half Of public justice; for justice according TO the
satIical expounder of Athenian freedom lArsto-
phanesl. ia always the interest Of the majority"
1t behoOves us of the North not TO carry numer
cal arguments in behalf of the negro too far lest some
one hereafter nav apply them to other themes ." IN
the interest of society and TO classes Of men not d's-
Heuished from US by the arlslOcrac element OF color
To Teiterate our Government lis one OF reason OF vol
untary submi ION TO law, and ii exist only as long
as il il true TO itself and its great mission. II possesses
from its very nature, but qualified coereiyc power,
and loses its character, ceases to be free Govern
fla NJ he ON i'm hon
EMPLOYS force for its own maintenance. Ii the South
ern States believing their institutions, the property
and lives of their own citizens longer safe in the
Union choose to separate and conduct Govern
ment of their own, exercise OF power vested IN
tue President of the United States or in Congress
can prevent H. however disastrous to public welfare
and danning 10 national reputation such separation
may prove TO the aggregate oil the American people
consider it work OF suPererogatlon TO enter at all
upon the cOnstitutiOnality Of such question Let
me not be understood subscribing TO the doctrine
often enumerated this floor, that there is power
in the Government of the United State to enforce
its own written and acknowledged laws. Sir, will
never 30 libel my Government OF the memory OF the
iustIious men who made it. There is power complete
and ADEQUATE 10 secure obedience to the law from any
dsordeIly community, or the more serious end OF IN
forcing the letter Of the laws Of the United States III
one State in actual revolt. But the application Of such
power is alwsys within the discretion of the Govern
en and the necessity and consequences must DC con
sidered When, therefore not community, or single
State but many States acting in unison and with me
heartfelt sympathies Of even others comprising tue
Confederation Iise up in revolution with the spirit Of
one mighty empire, talking here about force and
coerrion AGAINST such movement IL preposterous,
idle. suicidal. Ten millions Of people, believing
tSo;r bsorthstones TO be Tutblessly invaded; their
domestic institutions DESTROYED ana their nationality
DEGRADED; their equality In Government; resting
alone on equality annihilacd. Srs not all the armies
from the time ofthe Caesars till our day could force them
TO adhere to- 10 love, or 10 obey Government whose
lr and
mitted TO the pursuits Of such aims under the name oil
Marty principles. If such power Of coercion were
even constutonally vested Ill the President and III
Congress, we are called upon to say, how can II DC
pro6taby exercised 1t is very clear that as long as
The North and South quarrel with mere complaints and
grievances even to separation, there Ii still posi-
piity of their again coming together and drowning
mast differences in mutual oblivion; but If fratenal
blood il once shed, such reconciliation II possible
Earth hath no rage, like love to hatred turned"
Success on one side or the other stimulates to further
action till all is lost in an unequal struggle Appeal
once ade to the sword is rrevOcable. substitution
OF brute force for transforms at once ssatls-
fed brother into a relentless enemy. The American
people are neither prepared for will ustify such an
ifsue. The recent Presidential contest was fought
with 10 such aim. The people during the canvass
could not foreee the issue now precpiated-te hrst
fruits Of an empty victory. Pennsylvania fought the
battle on the Tariff, not on the Slavery question.
The North Western States could not have re-
allied, in Judgment, their true pOblllOnl
or their action would have been different. Settled
in great part from New. England and from Europe,
their social distance from the planting States OF the
South made them lose sight OF the intimate
connection between the prosperity of both. Excited
by spirit Of fanatcism artfully engendered and nOur
ished by selfish politicians they looked upon the last
Presidential election as struggle for power, not only
between the North and the South, but between the
great Northwest and all other geographical sections
Of the Union combined. But whether the West was
to rule by military force, by marching squadrons and
bataons into the field TO subdue their Southern breth
rem was not involved in the contest. II il my belief