The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-02-01


50 animated by hostility 70 slavery as 70 render al re-
inoe upon It's present professions OF moderation utterly
us0y The s., % sa 70 WSa
can this be so9 The chvarous State Of South Carolina
fIehtened The brave Ancient Dominion stricken with
mayl And all for whan Not account Of the
Chicago PLATFORM the only authorized exposition OF the
Of az dapssr"ns The terror comes from the alarming
language Of particular individuals. Mr.. such one had
said and 30 in speech another gentleman an editor
had written and 80 in his newspaper hr. Senator
Seward had spoken somewhere Of "rrepressibe con
fict and of invasion designed at time or other
p nIopeet and themselves wise re rem
suppose the aggrieved parties propose no onger
70 attempt TO repress me "connlct'" put IaIner
il themselves. So Mr.. Lincoln, President elect, IL
charged with having said in Illinois, some time ago,
chat crisis would be reached and passed." And he
had bold quote the words Of an authority
before whose name all Christian nations bow-"A house
divided against Itself cannot stand" Whereupon the
medatey bringing crisis and, instead OF waiting
for the house TO fall by setting vigorously 70 work TO
these predictions should be verified hereafter II
has been farther. alleged as grievance that
when their number will exceed three quarters or the
whole then they will have 1t in their power to adopt
amendments Of the constitution at peasure then there
reason TO fear that they will invade the domestic inst
lutiops Of the States OF course the republicans will at
once initiate plan OF emancipation and 1t is in full view
Of this impending danger that the slaveholing States
prefer to avoid il by dssolypg the Union 1t is difficult
at all times to reason about imaginary dangers. think
it Mr. Jefferson who remarked THAT "much Of the life
every troubled with the apprehension Of things
that never come to pass" But surely have no
ona TO anticipate the admission Of twenty seven
Of Of time. Yet il win require no less to fur
Dish the necessary proportion, outside Of tie
slave States TO incorporate amendments into the consti
tuition II u.s. moreover, somewhat surprising TO find that
the suggestion of the possibility Of the proposal Of
such amendment in case should have been made in
such quar- ter Surely there some things which, for
its security If for no other reason II may fairly be
that not Of the States would ever originate
and one OF the most essential would be any idea of
direct interference With the internal economy Of sister
state. confess, Mr.. Speaker, that should be very
jealous, citizen Of Massachusetts, Of any attempt
on the part Of Virginia, for example, to propose
an amendment Of the constitution designed TO
scind or abolish the Bill Of Rights prefxed to
our own form of government Yet I cannot
why such proposition would be unjustiaabe than
any counter proposition to abolish slavery In mastering
the primary elements OF our form Of government, the first
and fundamental idea Is the reservation to the people OF
the respective States Of every of regulating their
affairs not specifically surrendered in the consttu
ton The security of the State depends upon
the fidelity with which this principle observed Even
the ntimation OF any such interference as have men
toned by way OF example, could not be made In earnest
without at shaking the entire foundation Of the
whole confederated Union. No man shall exceed me In
jealousy Of affection for the State rights Of Massachusetts,
So far remember nothing of this kind thought
Of heretofore and no reason to appehend that what
has happened thus far will be likely to happen
hereafter But the time ever comes when it does oc
cur, shall believe the dissolution of the system to be
much certain than do at this moment For these
cannot imagine that there the smallest fOun
dalton for uneasiness about the intentions Of any
siderable number of men in the free States to interfere
in any whatever, with slavery in the States,
much less by the hopeless mode Of amending the
constitution. To me it looks like panic-pure
panic How then, is it to be treated9 Is it to be
neglected or ridcued9 Not at ALL If child in the nur
would prompt effort by kindness to assuage
the alarm but in where the feeling pervades
grows up at once into gigantic reality, and must be
iealt with SUCH is at all times difficult TO egslate
against possibility. The committee have reported a
proposition intended to meet this 1t Is form of
Of the constitution which in substance takes
way rights whatever which the free States ever
should attempt use whilst II exclusively in the
shall think proper, the whole treatment Of the
subject TO which they relate being conceded to
be o matter of common interest to them exclusively
within their Jurisdiction and subject to their control
time may arrive in the course Of years when they will
themselves desire some act OF interference in friendly
and beneicent spirit. If so, they have the power re
served to them Of initiating the very form in which IL
would be most welcome. II not, they have security,
long this government shall endure that sister
state shall dictate any change against their will have
now considered all the alleged grievances which nave
thus far been brought to the Personal
Liberty laws which freed slave; second, cxcu-
sion from territory which Shareholders will never de-
sire to occupy third, apprehension Of an event which
will take place. For the sake Of these three
Of complaint all OF them utterly without practi-
cal result, the savehoding States, unguestionably
tary and precpaely surrenderng the realities OF solid
power into the very texture Of government that
now keeps nineteen millions OF frcemcn willing TO tole
rate and in sense TO shelter institutions which, but
for that, would meet with more sympathy among
hem than they do in the remainder of the civilized
world. For my part, must declare that sup
pose these alleged to be more real than rep
resent them think the Of the committee dis
pose Of them eiectuay and forever They contribute
directly all that can be legmaely done by Congress-
and they recommend TO the legislatures OF tho States
to accomplish the remainder. Why, then, Is it that
you are not satisfied with this settlement, however
complete You must have some guarantees in the con-
sttuton you must make the protection and extension
Of slavery in the Territories existing Sand here
after 10 be acquired cardinal doctrine OF great
charter without that you determined to dissolve
the Union. How stands the case, them We offer to
settle the question finally in all Of the present territory
that claim by giving you every chance Of establish
ing slavery that you have any right to require Of us
You decline to take the offer because you fear II will do
you no good. Slavery will not 60 there But IL that be
true what the use Of asking for the protection any
lection where you will have nothing to protectS All you
appear to desire 1t for is New Mexico Nothing else
is left. Yet you will not accept New Mexico
at once, because ten years OF experience has proved
you that protection has been of thus far But If
so, how you expect that it will be Of much use
hereafter, and TO make II worth dissolvng the Union
abour But II pass to the other condition. ia il any
more reasonable9 Are going TO fight because
not agree upon the mode OF dspoeing Of neghbors
lands9 Arc We to break up the Union OF these States
mented by 30 many years or common suGerngs and
splendont with many years Of common glory because
II is insisted that ehould incorporate into what
gard the charter Of freedom proclamation 10 the
civilized world that intend 70 grasp the territory Of
other nations wherever we can do IT, for the purpose OF
putting into 1t certain institutions which OF
disapprove, and that, too, whether the people in.
babng that territory themselves approve Of or notY
almost inclined TO believe that they who first did
must have done for the sake OF presenting cond
ton which they knew beforehand must be rejected, or
which, If accepted must humilia<c In the dust for
In point OF fact, this proposal covers question
Of immediate moment which may not be settled by ano
hcr and less obnoxious Why H. then, persevered
In and the other rcjcctedY The is obviousyou
want the Union dissolved. You want 10 make II mpos
sbe for honorable men TO become reconciled If II be
indeed then you, and you alone shall rest the
sponsibty Of what may follow If the Union be broken
up, the reason why happened shall remain record
forever II because you rejected form OF settling
question, which might be offered and accepted with
hobor in order to ns list upon another which you knew
we could not accept without disgrace. answer for
self only when say that II the alternative OF the saliva
ton Of the Union be only that the people OF the United
States shall before the Christian nations Of the earth
plant broad letters upon the print OF their charter Of
republican government the dogma Of slave propagandism
the remainder OF the countries OF the world will
consent 10 brand myself with what deem such dis
grace let the consequences be what they may But II Is
that this closes the door OF reconciliation,
and the slaveholdng States will secede. And what
them This bpings me TO the last point which desire