New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-12-02
THE PRESIDENT's MESSAGE.

God TO cast our lot, 1t is well that country
so tried as ours should have one among its
leaders in whose integrity, patriotism, and IN
calculating devotion to the nOblest ends all
may and do confde. That man is Abraham
Lincoln. To disparage bis abilities, criticise
his rhetoric, pronounce him too fast here or
too slow there may not be difficult; but there
lives no loyal American who dstrusts his ear
nest desire to serve aud save the Union
When faction, meaning to stop just short of
treason. affirms that the War for the Union is
only prosecuted for the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of
contractors aud jobbers--that those who
most earnestly support the Federal
Government are quite as responsible for the
Rebellion as those who fomented, inaugurated,
and still uphold tit is confronted by the
presence in the foreground of one man who
refused to the last to believe Treason, DisuniOn
and Civil War to be seriously purposed--who,
/ in his Inaugural, condescended to plead with
the architects Of ruin and entreat them to
pause in their mad carecr-who hesitated to
shed blood, even in yindication of rigltful, es-
sental authority, until absolutely forced to do so
by the cOnspirators for Disunion commencing
the fray-and who, from that moment to the
present, has been anxious only to secure a re-
turn, at the earliest possible moment, to the
mild sway of Law, Order. and Peace
Mr.. Lincons Message discusses many topics
Of grave interest and embodies many important
suggestions; but the interest of one subject
therein canyassed overrdes all others, aud
bis expose will be hailed with hearty approval
or spurned with execratiOn as the reader sub
stantially agrees with or dissents from his
judgment on this point. Essentially, the Presi-
dent sees and prOclaims that Siorsry has Jecome
the imPiacatIe foe Of The AmerioGn Union, and
that tie Stare Pouer must die an order that the
| Republic may lire. And this is 50 obviously, so
glaringly true, that the historian will have diff
iculty in realizing that it was ever graye'y dis
puted.
1t Seems incredible that human audacity
should be equal to the task Of incorporating
the Presidents position. " Is be not pledged
TO prosecute the war TO the sole end of restor-
ing the legitimate authority of the Constitution
and Union 2" Most certainly he is; and that
is just what he is doing. 1t is precisely and
only because the Slave Power is the chief, the
fundamental obstacle to such restoration that
be is compelled to grapple with it in mortal
encounter. II is Slayery-nOtbing under hea-
ven bat Slavery-that unites the lower counties
of Maryland-yes, and of Delaware also-in
bonds OF lively sympathy with the Confederate
I frai tpitia of 10. L..
Of those States, living uncursed by the daily
clank Of human letters, ore aud ever
have been loyal. 1t is Slavery, and
nothing else, that makes the Old Dominion
den Of treason while Uest Virginia on the
contrary, having few slaves, is stancbly
loyal. 1t is Slavery which reyerses the poles
of Tennessee, making her Eastern division "A
citadel Of UniOnism, while Middle and West
Tennessee are cankered with treason. SO in
Missouri, every county wherein Slavery was
predominant has swarmed with guerrillas and
sent its youth to swell the Rebel armies, while
its Free-Labor communities rally nstinctiyey
under the old flag. Hence, a healthy amount
of UDioDism in Northern Alabama and Msss-
sippi, but none is perceptible in Southern;
hence Unonism struggling to the surface in
Western Texas, but cowcd and dumb in East
ern; hence Unionism outspoken in New
Orleans Memphis, Nashville, but none to
speak Of (among Whites on the great plan
tatiOns whereby those cities are surrounded.
Who can misread these undenlabo facts?
Were Slavery dead to-day we might to-mor-
ont az
and still the Union would be certainly and
speedily restored. Leave Slavery where this Re.
belion found it, and you may Hill aud bury
every man now in the Confederate armies, with
every one who could be- induced TO serve in
those armies, and still the Union would soon be
again assailed, and must ultimately fall unless
it's mortal foe should bo killed first Secession
is i'll the blood of the slayeholding caste, and
will never DO expelled while Slavery remains.
" Shall not the selfstrne mold
Produce the seissne meuP
Slavery has been thirty years reaching the
conclusion that she is unequaly and inju.
rously yoked with Free Labor in our Rcpub- |
lic-that her interests suffer, and must suffer, |
from the partnership. She has summoned all |
her resources for a liie-and-death struggle
she has violently severed the ligament that
bound her to the Free States-shc may be
temporarily cOerced into submission, but never
recOnciled to loyalty. The South may easily be
reclaimed to sincere Unionlsm; the Slave
Power never can be. To it, the Union must
ever be loathed memory, q symbol Of humil.