The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-10-03


PATTON QUEsTIoN.-Senator Sumner has been
harping again npon his one idea, the extirpation
of Southern slavery. He has just delivered
himself of one of his characteristic speeches on
the subject at the Republican State Convention
at Worcester, Massachusetts,.
After describing the unprecedented, auda.
cious, unhesitating and INSCRIPTIONS charac-
ter" of this rebellion, with its cause Of slavery,
and how it is besieging the government AZ
Washington, at Fortress Monroe and in Missouri
and in Kentucky and how everywhere we are
reduced to the defensive, Mr.. Sumner proceeds
to show that the Alpha and Omega of this re-
bellion lie in that one word slavery. He then
pleads the absolute necessity, not of carrying
this war into Africa, but of carrying Africa into
precedcnts, constitutional arguments, the law
of nations. military authorities, and the usages
Of war, to show the propriety Of making this war
crusade against Southern slavery. Upon this
point he says:-"Feeling most profoundly that
there is now an opportunity, such as rarely
occurs in human annals, for incalculable good
seeing clearly that there is one spot, like the
be wounded to DEATH calmly deliver the
whole question to the judgment Of those on
whom the responsibility rests, contenting my
self with reminding you that there are times
when not to act carries with it greater respon-
sibility than to act" Then he prays that Provi-
dence may save our government from the ever
lasting regret which will follow the failure to
seize this opportunity for the extirpation Of
slavery; and, falling back upon Holy Writ, the
Senator puts on the mantle Of the prophet and
warns us that "Saul was cursed for
not hewing Agag in pieces when in
his hands, and Ahab was cursed for
not destroying Benbadad. Let no such curses
ever descend upon our government $50
many slaves, SO many enemies" "There are now
four millions Of enemies intermingled with the
rebels, being four millions Of allies to the 60
vernment"
But, Notwithstanding oil this, the conserve
tive war policy Of the administration seems to
have had some influence even over the fanatl
cism of Senator Sumner, for he concurs in the
equity Of compensation to the loyal owners Of
slaves for their slave property. "Better," says
he, can empty treasury than single slave. A
bridge Of gold would be cheap If demanded by
the retreating 6end."
Now, we beg leave to submit that this speech,
from this Senator, at this crisis, comprehends an
abolition warning to the administration, and
warning to the States involved in this rebellion
Mr. Sumner is supported in his views by an ac-
tive abolition faction, extending from Massa-
chusetts to Missouri, and with this faction an
cxtcrminating crusade against slavery is the
all absorbing idea. Let the President and his
Cabinet, then, exert their energies to the utter
most for speedy blow or two which will
break the backbone of this rebellion, or we
know not what may be the consequences to the
administration from the fanatical hostility Of
this abolition faction to the conservative policy
of Mr.. Lincoln. On the other hand. we would
appeal to the Union men of the border slave
States to turn out at once, and en- naasse, to the
active support Of the government, and thus
restore the Union in its integrity, including the
integrity of Southern institutions, in the speedy
expulsion of the rebels into the cotton States.
With the border slave States rescued this whole
rebellion will soon fall to pieces from its own
weight; but every day that the rebels continue
10 menace Washington, to desolate Missouri,
and to hold threatening lodgment in Ken
lucky the danger to Southern slavery is in
creased, and of protracted and desolating war
Of sections. factions and races.