, 1862-05-06
STILL ANOTHER "FINAL sETTLE-
MENT,3

Who ever heard Of quack who was not
eager for another opportunity to try his
hand at killing patient? Strikingiy SINH
lar is The eagerness Of the Democratic par
ty to make another attempt at settling the
slavery question. Fix times within doz-
en- years it tned the experiment, failed each
time and each failure was more signal than
before. Every settlement was declared to
be fnaJ;: and the last one, cut short before
it was half matured, proposed to place the
Constitution in the safe e-keeping ofthe slave
power. This might have been final, so f.r
as constitutional liberty was concerned,
but it would have been no settlement Of
the matter in dispute. The utter extinc-
tincion Of slavery, CT such an alteration
Of human nature that mankind will not de-
sire liberty nothing less than one Of these
will ever be final settlement.
At 8 time when the Democratic party
had complete control of every department
Of the Federal Government, when the au-
tagonism between the two systems Of civ
ilization was far less bitter than at present,
when the conditions for determination we're
more favorable than they will ever be again
If at that time It was found utterly i'm
possible to effect settlement, how could a
remnant ct the same party, with the same
futile means, and without the confidence OF
either side, now step in and harmonic the
differences between the conflicting princi-
plies? Two years ago that party vain]y at
tempted to define its own position on the
question in controversy. The convention
at Charleston adjourned without accom-
plishing anything. The convention at Bal
timore broke up in TOW. The party Was
divided into two hostile factions. Both
courted the alliance Of political repro5a:es
Who c1amored for the reopening Of the Af.
rican slave trade, and both petted disIoyal
men who had been brought into public no.
ticc By then hatred Of the Union. Both
charged their dissensions on the Abolition
ists But neither would yield to the other !;
and tie country Witnessed the strange
spectacle Of two pro~slavery factions en-
gagged in furious strife about matter which
both had declared finally settled half 4
dozen times. At last they were overtaken
bya stunning defeat. Then the one plung-
ed the South into rebellion, aud the other
set about dcTising another final settlement.
The events Of fifty ordinary years have
been compressed within the space Of one
We arc II the midst Of battles, siegcs, con-
fscatioHs Emancipation is the order Of
the day. The Government has at last de-
clared Slaves to be men, and Is arning
them to fight for their country. The bor-
der States are preparing to sell out the
remnant of their slavery. Nine-tenths Of
the loyal men in the Republic feel TINT
there can be no lasting peace till slavery be
abolished. And again this pestilcnt fac
tior-assuming that no change has occur
rcd, that freedom and slavery stand just
where they stood two years ago-comcs
forth from its hiding place, asks to be rein
stated IN power, and proposes another
final settlement! AL the dangers we have
passed through, all the personal sacr1-
fees made, al the treasure expended, all
the loyal blood shed, all the tears Of be,
rcaTcd relatives, are to 60 for nothing, il
order to give this immaculate party g
chance to try lis luckless hand at one more
game Of compromise. Just such has been
the conduct Of go-betvecns and faitblc5s
backsGders in all ages. The wife Of Lo1
would linger in the suburbs Of Sodom
Some Of the liberated Israelites wanted tc
60 back to Egyptian bondage. They ney
cr saw The Land Of Promise. So it will be
with those towards who ran from theil
posts and stro7c to get out the plumber aud
the long boats, when pirates we're climbing
up the Ship Of State. They have evel
since been waving white flags and skulk
ing in the hammocks. In the uproar 0
battle there is no time to punish such de
1inquents; but they will be cast adrift whe1
the conflict is over