New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-05-21
TEE BEAD PAST.


Boston, as some of our readers will remember,
who has occasionally been heard of as the author
Of sensation political pamphlet, or the speaker Of
sensation political speech, but always clever
enough to be respectable, AID bitter enough to
excite remark. Mr. Curtis has also other claims
to distinction, which, it is possible, he may value
more highly, az the ground on which b; has
always right to speak, and whereby he claims
the right to demand hearing. He is
brother Of Judge Curtis, and has, bes'"es, even
exercised the Judicial function in his Owl person,
and, az Commissioner of tho United States,
acquired some fame by bis decision III the
case of the fugitive slave Sms-a decision
which the late Horace Mann said 9" WIGS dicred-
" liable 10 the profession of the law. and dishon-
orable to tho Commonwealth and more
" like q forgery than an argument" ant, not
content with this measure Of fame, Mr. Curtis
added thereto by bringing sn action for libel
against the booksellers who published in volume
of Mr.. Mann's writings these and other not
pleasant words, which suit he gained, increasing
thereby his worldly estate in the sum Of five
dol airs. Thus much BY way OF explanation and
introduction, not for Mr.. Cnrtiss sake, but be-
cause of text he has lately given as wherein
We purpose to discourse b:ieHy.
In tie report of town meeting Lately held in
West Roxbuy, Mass, to nooinate Judge Thomas
co. Congress, Mr.. George TicknOr Curtis is the
Principal figure. WLethor it was the meeting
that thus put forward Mr. Curtis az is leader,
or whether it was that Mr.. Curtis chose that
the meeting should follow bis lead, is point on
which we have no knowledge, lttlo interest, and
conectures only wherewirh We shall trouble
nobody. 10 the brief report OF his speech,
breyity, mercful, perhaps. to the reader, but
lees than just to DIR. Cults one remark, and
one only attracts us. II is this: DE had
"long," he said q" anticipated the present con
" dtion of national affairs, and was not ashamed
" to say that no had worked 70 postpone the
A" evil day."
A discussion Of the past is none Of our seek
ing. None are more wiling thsn we 10 lay aside,
at this crisis, all partisan politics, and to mach
shoulder 10 shoulder with all men who love their
country 10 their country's defense. The integ-
rity Of the Republic Is now The great issue, and
he is 10 true patriot who will permit past polit-
zeal prOcliyities 10 interfere with his devotion 10
the principles o. democratic government
On THE point We are happy to believe, feiihful
ns our old political friends are, that there are
none mere faithful than those with whom pol =
icay we haye never acted. II is only simple
justice 70 acknowledge that there are no men who
recognize 30 readily and accept 30 frankly the
issue that has been forced upon us, aud the
springs Of that issue, as the leading men Of
the old Democratic party, without regard 10
l1ng cherished political opinions aud lifelong
political relations. And we airs sure that when
any unwise orator or thoughuess writer forces
upon US the necessity OF referring to the past,
there are no men who vii see more clearly than
our old opponents ,ha. we are justified in de-
Tending the position We have always occupied in
regard to .he aggressiOns OF tie Slave Power.
But there are unwise men who, Ike Mr.. Cur.
It's, are still "not ashamed" 10 say that they
had worked to postpone tie evil day now upon
us How worked We will let bygones DO BY.
cones If they vii! leg us. We care to utter no
reproach upon any man or any set Of men, who,
~ their conduct, now prove that, though they
may have erred in judgment, they have never
meant to BE- untrue in their de.OtiOn 10 their
country and to man. But for him who boasts
that be has foreseen the perils Of tho Republic,
and is not ashamed to boast that be has abored
to postpone them, as this Mr.. Curtis has labored,
We have no such mistaken mercy. How fsr bis
influence may have extended We need net stop
20 inquire; we only know that al ne has had,
that ali tho force of intellect at his command,
have been used to comp, the North to become
subseryient to the South. The end and
aim of his political life has been to enforce
upon the North the duty of submission.
Upon the platform, in tho journals, in pamphlet,
wherever any public event or popular excitement
has promised him hearing he has urged i as
moral and constitutional duty to yield forever
n willing ard hearty obedience to the demands OF
the political interests of the Shareholders. With
him the domestic tranquility which the Constitu-
ton promises was to be gainol by sectional sub
mission, the blessings Of liberty for ourselyos ard
our po1,erity which that great charter was to
secure were TO be measured by the convenience
and Necessities Of Il system Of bondage for IN.
other race. Ii is because Of the Influence aud
labors Of such men as Mr.. G.. T. Curtis that
this county is, az this moment, on the eve Of
bloody civil war. Had the South been earlier
taught that there were constitutional boundaries
beyond which she was never 10 presume b go
had the North been permitted earlier to Zee that
continued concessions could only lead 10 renewed
exaciions, and that an attempt to overthrow the