New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-05-16
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
WAR FOR THE UNION.

| Like most men of his school, he regards every
ono who does not see exactly as he does rs
knave or fOol-oftener both-and treats him
accordingly. Mr.. NJ. is thinker and yigor-
QUE writer, but seems to US to have very mac
curate conceptions Of some grave matters that
he discusses with great volubility and sef-con-
fidence. Paying little attention to his miscon-
ceptions and imputaiions concerning The
TRIBUNE, we proceed to review with all pos
sble brevity the leading points made m his
letter:
|. Mr.. Murray regards the Federal Consti-
tuition as very imperfect and ill-contrlved at
fair, and points triumphantly to the present
state of our country as establishing his posi-
ton. Well: suppose we concede that the Con-
stitution is radically vicious or fatally defect
iye-what then What has that to do with
any matter on which he is in controversy with
THE TRIBUNE Bad or good as it may be-
that Constitution is "the supreme law Of
the land" and we must all submit to and re-
speot il until it shall have been amended or
replaced by better. And just now. when we
are in death. grapple with formidable and
bloody Rebellion, wherein our great advantage
nheres in the fact that we are UNFOLDING the
Government which was deliberately framed and
adopted by the fathers Of oil of us, it does
seem that We who stand for the Union cannot
afford needessly to di.parage aud dscredlt the
Il Constitution.
III. But we deny that the simple existence
Of the Rebellion proves the Constitution de-
feceiye. Bad men have in all ages reyolted
against good governments. Most Christians
believe that there was once O rebellion 10
heaven, wherein third Of the angels partici-
pated but they do not thence infer that the
Divine Government was defective or vicious.
1t is Slavery, which existed before tho Con-
stitution-which would have continued to exist
in the absence OF the Constitution--which the
Constitution simply ncque,ced in as fact
beyond its control-that impelled aud still sus-
tains the Rebellion. Were Slavery dead
to-day there would be no subsisting Rebellion
next month. And then we think the Consti-
tuition 90 il is" would very we'll subserve its
purpose.
Ill. Dir. Murray holds that Slavery Of T.g1
has no existence anywhere; aud therein we
heartily agree with him. Yet ho knows as
well as we do that Slavery in Jaet does exis!
in fifteen States of our Unon-in five Of them
not opposed by the Federal Government; in
eight under its ban; IN two Virginia and
Louisiana) partly tolerated and partly con.
demned by the Federal authority. Mr.. NJ.
knows Just as well as We do that the Shareholder
in Georgia or Texas holds his slaves by as
firm gripe as his brother In Maryland or
Kentucky holds his slaves, though the former
holds them in defiance of the Federal Govern
ment, while the latter holds his with IT'D ac-
quiescence and implied permission.
". But it ia said, the slaves in tho Rebel
States are held by sheer brute force, contrary
to law. Grant it, and what then Is not the
supremacy of brute force the essence of Slave
ryl See what Blackstone or any other ele-
mentary writer on law says of the essen
tial nature of law--of the inyadity of fla
GRAVITY unjust. oppressive laws-Of the lack Of
power in legislators TO give the sacred char.
acter Of Law to the contrivances of fraud and
oppressiou-and you will hesitate long before
you award the name of law to tho enactmsnts
whereby shareholders cOnspire to sustain each
other in compelling other men to work for
them all their lives for nothing, and in selling
those mems wives and children. In narrow
technical sense, these enactments may be laws:
in tho higher and better acceptatiOn, they are
not.
V. "Then the Presidents ProclamatiOns of
Freedom amount TO nothngl" Who told you
that We, certainly, never did. aud never
thought anything of the kind. 1t is great
an immense fact, that the Government of the
Union, for generations the accomplish and con-
yenience Of tho Slave Power, has become its
active, avowed, determined enemy. That Gov.
ernment has done very much to uphold,
strengthen, and diTuse Slavery: it is now
doiDg--nOt all it might aud should, but still
very much-to overthrow and abolish tho giant
iniquity. Every day that the War for the
Union continues weakens Slavery in its strong
holds, and sees many Of its victims liberated.
Let the War simply go on with such alterna.
tons Of fortune, such steady advances in public
sentiment, as have marked the past year, and
Slavery must gradually die. And Slavery once
dead tho Rebellion will BIO left without
aliment and the Union restored by force re.
sistess as gravtatlon.
What, then, is there to quarrel about I
Wherein does Mr.. Murray and such as no find
occasion TO quarrel with us7
W. contand that fha w. 1. ,uuo, 4. |