New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-08-02


reclaimed single traitor. We were to grovel
in the dust at the feet of armed, defiant, tri-
umpbant treason, and hope that our loathed
deflement would constrain it to take pity on
us and releut. There was not rational hope
of it. Even the semi-traItOrs present irou the
Border States would not promise to remain in
the Unien unless tho seeded States would
consent to be cOuxed back. But they could
venture to assure us that they hoped this might
be effected.
Mr.. O'Sulliyan, you say that we ought to have
accepted the Crttendcn Compromise. IL is easy
for you, who have become renegade from your
ancient Free Soil professions. to presume others
gifted with like facility. For you tn become a
cOnscntiDg party 10 vast, indefinite extension Of
/ the area of Human Slavery may be mere polit-
cal arrangement; in me, it would be fragrant and
abborred crime. | can bear misiortunes if it
please God TO send them; | hope never to stain
my soul with conscious, heinOus guilt Come de-.
feat, disgrace, penury odum, exile, wounds and
death, if such be the Divine purpose: but let ne
never be- bctrayer of the most sacred rights of
millions yet unborn
by what right do you and yours assume TO
judge for me and mine ia the promises You
fair and proper one fully concede your right
TO vote aud act according to your convictions.
I regard that arrangement as ineiably base aud
wicked-a purchase OF quiet aud safety for my
self at the expense of the dearest rights of the
innocent, powerless, and deeply wronged. How
can YOU assume that | shall vote or act ac-
cording 10 your views in defiance Of the die
tates OF my own cOnsciencel You are not
God to forgIve-nor even a priest to absolye.
How can you decide that ] should assent to
that which | feel to be intensely wrong!
Your party has been in power most of the
time that we have been on the stage of action.
Ii the Crittenden arrangement il the true one
why has it not enacted 1T Repeatedly has it
been presented to Democratic Congresses, and
always emphatcally rejected, receiving not
one-iour,h Of the Democratic votes from Free
States. Had it then been adopted those who
think "a do would have been unable TO un-
settle It, Why do you blame us for not doing
What you might have done yourselves, but
would not
The Republican party had, by Democratic
help, chosen ito first President on single
plain, well Understood princIpl e-Ilostlity 10
slayery Extension. The Cnt,enden Compro-
mise vas plain, palpable neeation OF this
principle. II could have been passed even in
1861, If all the anti. Republican Member. had
been in their seats and had chosen TO support
II. But that would not answer: it was The
great object TO cocrce tie Republicans TO eur
render their principles, in order that they might
quietly securely, enjoy their "spolls Of VIC
tory" | thank Heaven that but few of them
were base enough TO pay the price demanded.
Had they generally succumbed, their ycry name
would have been stencil and 4 lis'ing through
all time. They would have been hoOtcd oat Of
public sight.
Such were the circumstances under which
Mr. Lincoln. on The ith OF March, l-tI, took
the prescribed oath "a Pre,ideni OF tie United
State,. and read that Inaugural Address which
VIII remain through all tune the meeke.t, most
from organized insurrec ion and civil war ever
uttered By man. Every American heard or
read il who can read at all; and not ono did
80 who did not kaor thereirom tina, the new
President would scrupulously respect aud
guard the rights of all sections States and
persons TO The extent Of Lis abili,y-ihAt SIM
ple obedience 10 the Constitution and Laws on
their own part was all that was or could be
required b. secure To the Slave States al their
cherisbed institutions and privileges. Ii there
had been room for apprehension and doubt be-
fore, there was room 10 longer. Simple 10y
a.ty-fulfllment OF sacred obligations freely as-
sumed-on the part OF the slayeholders would
have secured peace aud prosperity To the
country and every conceivable immunity To
Themselves. And no man heard or read that
Address without kHoriHg that Mr.. Lincoln FELT
himself solcrnny bound by his inaugural oath
T. cause the Constitution TO be upheld the Ma
,oual authority TO be respected, and the laws
Of the Union To BE- obeyed, in every portion OF
our common country. Gladly ns he would
have been spared the necessity Of using force
to tina end no man doubted that he ,roEid
use il if it should bc found Indispensable
Mr.. Lincoln found n rival Government, hos
tlo 10 and plainly Incompatible with that Of
the Union, oireedy established IN and bearing
sway over one-fourth of the country. lie found
at least a third of the fortressos, arscDals ur-
mories, custom-houses, mlnts, sub-treasurie',
&C., Of tho Republic, airtddy in the hands oi
that LnsiIln GnYrrninent having been Wrcstcd |