, 1862-08-25

Wendell Phillips, Esq has written long
letter, under date Of August 16, to the New
York Tribune, defining his position, and de-
D5ing many charges that have recently been
laid at the door Of the Ssilrer-tongued orator
Of America" We quote feT paragraphs Of
the letter:
ALLOW me to state my own position. From
1S43 to 1861 I was 3 dIennfonist, and sought to
break this Union, convinced that disnnion
was the only righteous path, and the best one
fer the white and black. I sought disuniop,
not through conspiracy and violence, but by
MEANS which ths Cpnstltusion itself warrant
They were wise and useful. Snmpte1 changed
the whole question. After thst, peace aud
justice both forbade disunion. I now believe
three things:
II. The destruction OF slavery Is Inevitable
whichever section cong quers in this struggle:
"There never can be peace or union till 6la-
| very is destroyed. ...
| "There never can be peace till one govern
| ment rules from the Gulf to the lakes and
| having wrobged the negro for two centuries,
| we owe him the preservation Of the Union to
| guard bis transition from slavery to freedom,
and make it short, easy, aud perfect.
, "Belieying these three thi1gs, I accept
Webster's sentiment, -.' Liberty and Union,
now and forever, one and insepar.ble." Glad
y would serve that Union-giying it mus.
l hEl> ehuEuS fntEE% 1llGll--LLE uSaa L uakE. Duk
tie Union, which has for twenty-five years
bsrrsd me from its highest privileges By de-
manding an oath to pIo-slayery constitution,
still shuts that door in my face; and this ad-
miEiEtration c}ings to policy which, think,
makes every life now lost IN Virgins, and
carnot conEcientiously support such Union
| and administration. But there Is room for
honest difference Of opinion. Others can
support it. To such say-Go; give to ths
Ution your best blood, your heartiest sup
port.
III the press had not Systematically eulo
gized q general, whom none knew, and f..
r,a1y trusted, We should have saved twelve
months, five hundred millions of doll ars, ant
a lundrtd thousand lives. In my opinion
had tie Tribune continued, last August, to d.
its Guty and demand gigor of the government
you would have changed or controlled tht
catir ct in another month, and saved us mil
lions of dollars, thousands OF lives, and untolt
| disgrace Such er3ticf.m is always ever!
thinking mans du'y. War EXCUSES no maj
charge OF public sentiment to lead the admin
ist1alion to, and support it ia rev policy..s
our only hope Of saving the Union. Th
CLicn belongs to me as much as Abraham
t Lincoln. Whist right has he or any Of ouv OF
Geia]s-our sersants-to claim that I shas
ctase criicising bis mistakes, when they ar
t drsggirg The Union to ruin? ! find gray
!, faults IN President Lincoln; but l do not be
. !ieve he 1nak.E any such claim
II said or the 1st OF August that, had
/ been in the Senate, shcnld have retuse1 IN
n administration dollar or 8 n;an uutii it adopt
r ed 3 right policy That repeat. Had beer
4 La thar way, part o! the government,
" should have tried Eo to control its acton
= You were bound as journalist, I tairk, t
is hare Impressed that dnt5 on the Rep1ollea
!. party, which holds the administration. Sue
course is right and proper under tree ,gol
eEruents. But when Congress has decided
j. al d under its authority, or By his oWn, tn
If president demands soldiers, the hour for sue
- Effort CT protest is gone. We have no riE5f
~ thsn to discourage enlistmenfs,' as 1 mean
- 10 charge Inblic opinion, OF to lnfi1ence th
~ administration. 0uf remedy is different
~ We cauEoI ae'iyely aid, we must submit to th
10 TeIalty, and strive, mean while, TO change th<
=. lnbaae thought which alone can aAseE u
action Of the government
r. THAT duty TT to do In mJ measure. u
- criticism is pot like that Of the Boston Cuur4
- and lis kindred, meant to paralyze the admf1
~ jst1atlor, but to goad it to more activity an
~ 1igor, or to change tie cabinet claim
- you, IS i jou, nslist OF bnoad intlieuce, tn
~ ~ you resume the post which think you da55t
=, - I'd last summer, and hasten the r'pentag
- - that nt cessaFy public purpose By Instant 3;
- fearless criticism of the whole policy OF Il
~. ,e admnie tTatioD, civil and military, IN order
r. 8vert years Of war, to eave thousands OF live
~ ~ to guard the industry Of the future from gsn
~ trg taxes, to secure speedy and complete 10
n, tlce for the negro. and to put the Union .
=. }oud hazard. Respectfully yours,
"a ttNESDELI, PEILIIP5,' -