The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-21

nope lnal no may YET secure CONSERVATIVE
Cabinet composed OF live men The President
who is about TO retire from Office has evideatly
played out his role ana can do no more towards
paciiicating the country. 1t remains now for
the new President and his friends to decide
whether the republic shall be plunged into
civil war, or rescued from the present terrible
calamity which threatens it, to continue its
course OF peace, prosperity and greatness.
The Chicago Platform or OWL War.
Such is the alternative now presented to the
country The republican leaders and republi-
can journals, with one or two exceptions, in
sist upon upholding the Chicago plaform-the
whole platform, and nothing but the platform
no matter what may be the consequences to the
party, TO the country or to the human race.
They seem to regard the Chicago platform with
sort Of religious adoratioD bordering on
idolsTy, rs il it were something more sacred
than the constitution or the existence of the
government established by the sages and pa
triots of the first Revolution inviolate than
even the Decalogue and the holy evangelists.
They declare they will maintain it to the bitter
end, though civil war should be the conse-
ouence as it undoubtedly will be, and though
this fair land Of plenty and all its inhabitants
should be reduced to :" carcasses and ashes"
which was once the fate of Ireland
as described by the British historian,
after long and bloody civil war in.
that unhappy country. But it becomes
grave question for both the leaders and the
rank and file of the republican party, as well
as for the rest of the Northern population,
whether the Chicago platform is worth such
sacrifice, and whether they will instigate or
even permit The preparation of such folly as
might make the angels weep. What is the
Chicago platform? It's essential principle is the
assertion Of "higher law" "a law before
and above the constitution. 1t is, in fact an
impudcnt and outrageous attempt by a sec
tional party, bounded by a geographical line,
TO abolish the constitution, which was not made
for the NortAhOr for the South, but for the
whole country. embracing ami protecting alike
the rights and the interests of both sections.
The constitution guarantees equal rights to all
the States. The Chicago platform goes be-
hind that instrument and denies its right, or the
right Of any constitution, to protect the South
ern States in the exercise of their guaranteed
right of property in negro slaves.
The equality of all the States in the Union is
one of its fundamental principles The Chicago
platform proclams inequality as the basis of
the republican creed. 1t proclaims that Northern
men have right to take their horses, their
mules and other property into the common ter
80 nd Ii tho &c 10
constitution, but that Southern men have not
the same right to migrate to the Territories with
their property, consisting Of negro slaves, and
enjoy equal protection, though the constitution
has recognized property in the service of slaves
as on the same basis with any other kind of
property. Upon this issue in the Presidential
election, by an accidental technical majority of
the votes OF the electoral colleges, the republic
can party, though in a small minority of the
whole population, have been elevated to the
control Of the federal government, the posses
sion of the public purse, the army and
navy and the federal courts; and their
chiefs, in the very face of the fearful
consequences staring them in the face, declare
their intention OF carrying out every title of
the Chicago platform. If they have thus pro-
claimed their resolve to overthrow the consti-
tuition in its great essential features, can it be
wondered that the South the section 10 be as
sailed, is preparing for resistance?
The Chicago platform is declaration of war
against the social institutions of fifteen States
Of the Union, and naturally Eouses those States
into an attitude Of defence. Secession is as
unconstitutional as the Chicago platform or
the notification Liberty bills of the North, and
the designs OF the seeding States cannot be
carried out under the constitution any more
than the designs of the republican leaders; but
those States have, outside of the constitution,
the right Of revolution, the last reserved right
Of every oppressed people. 1t is upon this
great right the Declaration of independence is
based. and it lies, therefore, at the very founda-
ton Of our government. Contrary to the
letter and spirit Of the political compact
between the States, the Chicago plat
form interferes with the slave insttu-
ton. To interfere with and dcnounce
as sin the social institutions Of any State is
just cause for hostilities, and to the aggrieved
State il is only question of prudence and ex-
pcdiency how far it may exercise its right Of
war. That the people of the Southern States
are preparing to exercise that right there is
only too much reason TO apprehend.
II, therefore, the Chicago platform is not
abandoned there is every probability that there
will be civil war, and that not merely at the
South, but also at the North. 1t is high time.
therefore, for Mr.. Lincoln and the other repub-
lican leaders to pause at the edge Of the abyss
into which they have proposed to plunge them
selves and the country, and consider whether
il is not better for them to rctrace their steps
before il is too late. There is not a moment to
be lost il they desire TO rescue the government
from utter wreck and ruin. The whole issue
resolves itself into the question whether the
Union or the Chicago platform is to be devoted
- doutr.u cf;op9 To qava both Ia iu,poa,;hlc