New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-02-13
WHERE WE AEE.
frauds.

Il ia not TO be denied that some fermentation
is going on in the Republican party; nor that it
has its origin in propositions to adopt now Ger.
tain of the principles or measures against which
the party cOntended in the late election. 1t is
due to the authors of these disturbing propositions
to state that they positively deny that they conn
tenance the purpose imputed, and claim that
they are misunderstood by some and misrepre-
sented BY others" On the other hand both
the pcryerse and the obtuse are entitled to have
it said that most of the explanations yOuchsafed
thus far are scarcely less cloudy than the propo'
sitions themselves; and the editor OF The Albany
EUening Journal has been so mucn less lucid
than is his habit, that he has been called to Ia
ment publicly the misconceptions of his " own
" editorial household"
1t is gratifying circumstance that in the
midst Of all this confusion, one thing, and that
rather important, seems to be settled beyond
cayi to wit: the Republican party is to be
allowed to retain its liberal principles without
surrender, or even abatement. This ought to
content the friends of Freedom everywhere; while
to compensate for this license to its adversary, it
is expected that Slavery will be allowed to go
into possession of the Territories Of the nation,
and also of the Free States, to whatever extent
comfy or the convenience Of Slavery may from
time to time require. This certainly ought to
nOllify that e1asperated interest.
If the programme ended here, the amiable
character of the scheme would impress all lovers
of concord, but no pains are taken to conceal
the more turbulent feature of Coercion. 1t is,
perhaps, the least foggy of all the purposes fore
shadowed, that, in case Slavery shall refuse to
take what il wants. and what it has been clam
oring and contriving for so many years, ga
"united North" joined to the Union element in
the Border States, is relied upon to coerce "a
"iust, benign benefcent," and now sovereign
institution, into an acceptance of its own terms,
at whatever cost of fraternal blood and treasure.
The preservation Of the Union is held to be
worth even such n struggle; and there remains
TO the aforesaid lovers of concord only the conso-
lation that the war to be evoked by this Co
ercon is not likely to interrupt the pursuits OF
civil life, or burden the country with another
penson.list.
"a powerful Union aentime ut" is alleged to
exist in the Border States; but the means by
which alone it is declared it be made service
able to the Union it loves 30 powerfully is OF
character to force the doubt whether it is really
more loyal or less threatening TO the Union than
the Disunionsm of the Gulf States. There seems
to be-on the authority of our compromlsers-no
escape from most unwelcome conclusion
namely, that this saving element can work for
the benefit of the Union upon the single condi-
ton that there be conceded, for the sake of the
Unionism of the Border, oil, and perhaps little
more than the Disunionism of the Gulf ever de-
manded In plain English, if Freedom will now
surrender to Slavery the miserable remnant OF
its political rights and material property, which
thus far it has been able to save from larceny
and treason, the patriots of the Border will cry:
" The Union--it must and shall be preserved :
If South Carolina shall be permitted to extinsuish
the fires of constitutional Liberty, Kentucky VIII
not herself secede, nor allow South Carolina 10
do so. A powerful Union sentiment, indeed;
but union with WHAT
Is it then, stripped Of all DISCUSSES, feeble, de-
mented South Carolina, or stout and sane hen'
lucky. which, under such circumstances, would
bid Freedom "Stand and deliver" Has Seces'
sion levied heavier beneyolences than are threat
ened in the name of Border Unlonism VINO
doubts that, il the pretensions OF the Secession
lists were deferred to, neither Border nor any
other States would be needed to keep the seed
inc States in the UniOnl 1t would become their
Union-why should they go out of i'll Is there
force or fraud enough in sophistry to obscure or
overcome tho notifying truth, that in such
capitulation the Free States would be absorbed
by coutsderacy of Slave States Snail merit