New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-01-20
OWEN on THE WAR.

Union which we transfer TO our columns to-
day. ITS positions and assertions demand elu-
cidatiOn, which we shall endeayor to supply.
Mr.. Diyen, 10 his canvass for Congress in 1860,
took ground with regard to Slavery and slave
catching which the more earnest and radical
Ant.-Slayery men Of bis District were hardly able
to swallow; but, as he was right and clear on
the point Of Slavery Extension, they gave him
their votes, and he was elected by very nearly
Mr.. Lincoln's majority. But scarcely was the
election over when Mr. d. appeared in the
attitude of prOposer and advocate OF new
compromise, which was simply surrender OF
that one cardinal Republican principle whereof
he had, until elected, seemed steadfast cham
piop. He had, like Mr.. Lincoln, been sup
ported and chosen expressly on the platform
of opposition to Slavery Extension or the con.
cession Of any part of the Federal Territories
to slayehodng; but he now proposed On
efecO q division Of those Territories between
Free and Slave Labor. Had the Rcpubll-
cans generally acquicseed in that surren-
der, we should have been more thoroughly
and irretrevably disgraced than any party ever
WINS. and the new Administration would have
been bopelessly bankrupt before its accession
to power. To give up its vital, Distinguishing
principle in tie very flush of victory because
the yanquished factions threatened revolt, Is
what no triumphant party ever did or ever
could do without incurriog general scorn and
enduring ini.lny. 1t would have been o sur
render of the Right of Suffrage virtual over
throw Of Republican liberty, an inauguration
of the supremacy Of brute force and armed
terrorism. It would have been saying in ef-
feet" Never trouble yourself to vote at an
" election: but, if the result should not suit
" you raise a rebellion and upset it, Crest
as have been the calamiiics inflicted on the
Nation BY the Shareholders Rebellion, they are
infinitely less deplorable than would have been
o cowardy surrender of the very essence Of
Popular Rights by submitting TO be bullied out
of the legitimate fruits OF Presidential
Election.
And now to Mr.. Owens letter:
/. He proclaims that the Union armies are
about to advance against the rebels-tbat " it
&" ought not to be- so, but Il is so." We e1-
press no opinion as to the fact, or the Judg-
ment on its proprie,y pronounced by Dir.
Owen; but on this point we are entirely clear:
If Gen. Mcclellan should order an advance
when in his Judgment no advance should be
made be Will thereby prove himself shameiully
unfit for bis momeDtOur trust He Is trained
soldier; he is the commander in the field OF
the National forces; and he has no moral right
to advance or fight when his judgment Is
adverse 10 snch course. II is his simple duty
to resign HE command rather than allow hun
self 10 he forced or pushed INTO any premature
movement; and iLey who say he l. aboa. "a
advance IN obedience b popular impatieuce ac-
cuse him Of scandalous up6tness and 'ncnpaeii!
for his position. That they grossly libel HIN
II il but naked Justice 10 believe until he does
something to justify such blasting imputation'.
Mr. Owen asserts that the rebels have block
aided the Potomac on purpose to compel Gen.
Mcclellan 10 advance and fight. But why not
open the river rather than run any hazard by
different course Or why not have kept it
open A few gunboats ana few regiments
could at any time have served the rebel bat
teres on the Potomac as Com. Dupont served
those at Port Royal. Is not that preferable to
rash and untimely advance By the grand
army
Mr.. Dyen is not candid in bis statement Of
the reasons which conspire to urge activity on
A.. r AZ
those reasons is tie critical state OF our for
eien relations. There ia no use in attempting
to disguise the fact that the grea, monarchies
of Western Europe are adverse TO the restora-
ton Of the Union, believing that their ends Will
best be subseryed by the triumph Of Jei.
Davis & Co. Their combined demonstration
against Mexico is virtual defiance to the
United States and a substantial notice that
the Monroe doctrine has gone to the wall, and
with il our asserted primacy among American
nations. Nobody imasInes that aay such attack
on our next reighbor would haFe been
made had not our hands been tied by
the Shareholders Rebellion. Nor would
any such combined demonstration have
been made against us as has been made with re-
gard TO the Trent business. had II not been gem
orally supposed that We are oasy to kick about
these days. And, though we eat our leek in
commendable silence, does any one suppose
this TO be the last Of our humiliations should
the rebels hold their ground The gathering
Of French, British, aud Spanish hee.s in the
Gulf OF Mexico will be found exceedingly con
venient in ease it should be decided by the
maritime powers that the time has arrived