New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-05-22

The Boston Courier groans in spirit over the
laxity or negligence of its political friends in
not putting down the opponents of Slavery
with strong hand while such disposition OF
them was practicable. 1t says:
Years ego ought to have been dealt with ~
the laws Of the lsud breeders OF sedion pursuing tos
which mus. bring about the very state o. tLins
has been brought about by their m"'ns ISL NO ns;
proxinste purposes may have precP
ated the rebellion they tho ard without them no
rebellion be feared. could have taleD place.
We do not think those whom The Courier
eulogizes as honest lovers of the Constitution
and the Union" justly obnoxious to this 70.
buke. 1t was not possible to pass such acts
as that paper desires without directly defyiog
aud subverting that clause of the Constitution
which expressly prescribes that
"CoDgress shall make no law sbrids.
ing the freedom of speech Of the the right Of the
people pe.ce.by assemble and to petition the Govenmeut
for redrss, Of grievances" .
1t would be- bold step to override this plain
provision in tho name of " the Constitution -
would it not 2 But, not being able to pass
aws, they raised mobs-they ravaged, rioted'
manned, shot, aud hung, in their zeal 10 sup
press Anti.Savery discussion. We think they
did quite enough to have won the praise IN
stead of meriting the rebukes of our cotempo.
rary.
The Courier proceeds to assail The TRIB-
UNE as the advocate of on "uDjust and i'm.
practicable theory this, namely, that all
constitutional guarantees for Siacery are rendered
roid By the rebellion Of the Shareholders We do
hold substantially this ground-that whenever
citizen of the United States engages in an at.
tempt to subyert by force the Constitution aud
Government Of the United States, he thereby
iorfeits the protection OF that Government, that
Con ,tituton, ard all claim under them to his
human chattels. That is our doctrine: We
hope to live and die by it.
The Courier has quite too long assumed that
our position is at war with the Constitution.
We deny it, and appeal to the record. If there
is clause in the Constitution which recognizes,
or requires the Government TO recognize,
rebel against its authority as the owner Of
another man, we challenge its production Quote
the language Of the Constitution relied on, and
cite US to that article aud section wherein it is
found! If you cannot do it, let US have no
more of your Pharsaic assumption; for We arc
heartily tired of it
If there be any now hestating on this point,
We ask them to apply this test The slaves,
we will suppose of Northern Alabama are
generally employed in raising provisions for
the Rebel army, when the Union General COM
handing in that Department directs them BY
Proclamation to stop doing 80 and come over
into Tennessee, there tC grow food for our
forces: can there be doubt that il would
be their duty to obey the latter osder, to the
disregard Of the former ? Night they not incur
the penalties of rebellion by voluntarily render.
ing aid and comfort to the rebels 10 preference
to obeying the order of the Union com.
mander We appeal to the law and the test.
mony.
Had it been clearly proclaimed aud under.
stood from the start that every person adherins
aud giving aid to the rebellion forfeits thereby
all constitutional right to those held BY him a.
his slaves, we believe this rebellion would never
have broken out. The Rebel leaders oyerran
the South because everybody supposed II safer 70
20 with them than against them. Had the
contrary been understood the shareholders
would in good part have kept out OF treason
and the carnage aud devastation OF tho la's
year have been ayerted.
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