New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-01-14

aud had Just chosen President upon it, by
the Electoral Vote of every Free State save d
part of New Jersey. And now they were re-.
quired to surrender that for which they bad
80 firmly and steadily contended-to surrender
it at the moment Of their accession TO power
TO surrender it in difference to threats Of
Secession and Civil War! Ii did and does
seem to us that a more outrageous, insulting
proposition was never made-that its rejection
was demanded not only by respect for our own
integrity and consistency, but for the funda-
mental principles of republican liberty and
constitutional government; for if the People
after eecting candidates on certain broad and
well defined principles, were to sec the rulers
of their choice deliberately betray those princi-
pies and administer the government on their
radical Opposites, their disgust and distrust
must 60 far toward breaking their faith Ia
political pledges, ind deterring them from ever
voting thereafter.
The veteran Editor Of The EpeRing journal
took the opposite view. lie warmly favored
" concession" compromise" ard the assent
Of the Republicans to Mr.. Critendens propo-
sal that the line of go so be run across our
country, and that all South of it bs made Slave
territory. That this would be giving up all for
which the Republicans had struggled, was not
deniel. We had ample opportunities to "com-
promise" on this basis before there was any
Republican party. Gen. Burt of s. c. pro.
posed it in 1917; .lr Buchanan and Mr..
Douglas, while aspiring to the Presidency by
tho aid of the Slave Power, had each in turn
done the same; but it was steadily voted down
by all the Wings aud nearly all the Demo-
Gratis from the Free States Yet this discarded,
rejected scheme-which the Democratic party
had dozen opportunities to pass by its own
vote, but for the fact that It'd Northern repre-
sentatves would not stand Twas pressed up
on the Republicans for their acceptance in the
early months Of 1861, and had the vigorous
support of the Editor Of Tie Ecening Journal
That it was condemned by tee great mss OF
the Republicans as base surrender Of prlnci-
PIE and duty for peace and security, IS well
known. The French army defeated by Wei
lngton at Vittoria, which according to cur
rent epigram) sacrificed lis cannon to save its
mistresses-cOuld not have been worse dis
praced than we should have been had We been
guilty OF the cowardly ap0stasy eXacted OF Us.
And yet our relu.al il made the excuse for
Secession by Virginia, North Carolina, and
Tennessee, and that excuse is graveIy set up
10 their behalf by TIE AH0ny Eren'ng Journal.
H. Dut it is urged that the North was
united in support of the War for the UDion
until the adoption Of IN anti-Slavey policy.
The truth is VIGOROUSLY otherwise. Gov.
Seward was busly arresting Democratic
orators ind journalists for disoyal ulierances
in Pennsylvania, NewYork, New England,
more than year before President Liucoln's
premonitory Proclamation of Freedom. lloratio
Seymour X Co.-Mr. Weeds present political
cropies--denouneed ard fought the Admins.
tration as bitterly in the canvass OF FOL as
in that of lo62, aud Two Hundred Thousand
Democrats stood a. their back. True, Fer
naudo Wood then supported the Union ticket,
but Ouly 10 reTeHgr himself on the Central
Regency for kicking him out Of their State
Convention. New Jersey went against the
Administration in lsGl. Pennsylvania gave it
a very small majority, though III Democratic
leaders aud managers were VIGOROUSLY, bit.
terly disloyal. Illinois went Democratic
that year, while it's Democratic ofaces
iairy blazed with scditon. The lead
ing Democratic journalist in Iowa war
arrested aud confined Tor alleged iraitorous in
quotations months before sept. y, 1862. Nine.
Union ticket IN I-6l, though it wai headed by
one oil the Ablost and most popular of their old
lenders. who Lad been their regular party can.
didate for the same Office. In snort, II Is IN
con,royertbly demonstrated that the great body
of ;he Democratic party did not, q. any time
after the defeat at Bull Run, give cordial
and hearty support 70 the War for the Union;
while many who had Oecn swept along by the
popular enthusiasm evoked by tho lombard.
nent OF Sumter, were only awaiting al excuse
to resume their old attitude OF sersi.iiy to the
Slave Power.
Ill. The War was prosecuted for eighteen
months Oh "COnscryatye principles, mninly
under PrO-Slavery Democratic Generals, and
with sincere desire to restore "thc Union ny
il WIS.," No intelligent man doubted that n
return of the reyol,ci states to loyalty would
at any momcn; be wclcomed-that their past
ofcnses would he overlooked, their property
respected, aud their "peculiar institution "
preserved. Fremonts, Hunters, Jim Lanes,
and all other blows aimed at the heart oi the
Rebellion, were paired by the President. Not
ill the recall Of the SlavehOldng Rebels to