New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-02-04
THE TERMS OF REUNION.

GEhlUB va hGtaFtV's
There is one point on which the Rebel
shareholders who now hold the South in their
grasp have been frank and consistent through
out--that of uniformly and indignantly spurning
all terms of Compromise or Reunion. They
might have had the Criitenden Compromise in
the Winter Of lo6O-6l, by simply remaining in
Congress and voting for it; but they utterly
spurned it. A very few Republicans, most OF
whom are Republicans no longer, then talked of
Compromise, as did the great mass of Northern
Democrats aud Border-State men; but there was
never an ntimaticn from the Gulf States, nor
from any one who had openly adhered to the
Rebellion. that tley would be won back to
loyalty by any concession or ahasement which
the North could devise They have recently
exulted over Democratic victories in the loyal
States, deeming them proofs that tie North
was tired OF the War and ready to make q
DsuniOn Peace; but they have never encour-
aged the cbimera OF reconstruction on any
terms. On the contrary, their leaders told
Henry May, when he visited them at Rich
mond before the battle of Bull Run, that, if
they were proHered blank sheet of paper with
/ full authority to write thereon their own terms
Of reunion, they would scout the proposition
and insist on their independence. And this Ian.
guaga they have continued to hold TO this hour,
with a steadiness which eyInces sincerity aud
resolution.
The latest Democratic device for " reconstnuc.
ton " contemplates gradual dSintegration Of
the old Union by the secession Of State after
: tate, and its accession to the Southern Con
.ederacy. This is fayorte scheme with the
Copperheads of tho Norih-West bat it has
adLeGents in the East ard Center also. Arch
bishop Hughes intimated, in certain speeches
in Ireland last Summer, and in his sermon in
st. Patrick's on bis return, that, if wa should
he unable TO conquer tho COnfederacy, we
might secure reunion by joining it. But this
also is sternly repealed by the Rebels. They
must have a thoroughly Slaveholding bation,
and no Free State can be permitted to join
il, la fact, the Confederate Constitution not
only provides expressly that oil territory belong
ing 10 tho COniederacy must be Slave, but
moreover that
right Of transit and 'ovyn IN state of this cOnfedsracy
with their SHARES and other property aud tue light proper
~ 10 ssid Slaves shsll not be imported"
No State can join that COnfederacy, there
fore, without becoming really and practically
q Slave State. And, even at that rate, States
wherein Free Labor preponderates are not to
be admitted. All manner Of free navigation and
free trade is constantly prOGered to tho North
Western States by the Rebels to detach them
from the cause OF the Union; but they are de.
cidedly given TO understand that they are to
enjoy these as outsiders, and by no means to
be admitted into the charmed circle Of the
Shareholders COnfederacy.
There remains then, exactly one way TO
restore the Union-that is, by fighting and
putting down the Rebellion. 1t mag break
but never bend. Aud this has beea true aud
proclaimed from the first. IT was firmly
ayOWed before any serious battle had been
fought, and the discrimination has never since
for one moment been shaken. When tho
Rebels give up, it viii be simply because they
can no longer maintain the struggle.
Now, the people Of the loyal States can put
down the Rebellion, and can do it just as well
within the next three four months in
ever 50 many years. But to this end it is in.
dspensable that they should try They must
be earnest, resolute, united. They must work
together for the great end, aud they must vel
come all that can help them achieve that end.
lie who says: 81 am for putting down the
Rebellion; but if you let negroes fight for the
Union, ! bolt" or who will fight for the
Union ouly in case Slavery ia to be upheld in
the Rebel States, or whose Loyalty aud effort |
are IN any respect conditional, ia not really
and practically for the Union at all. And,
While all the ayowed UniOnists, North and
South, can put down the Rebellion within
few months, half of them, opposed By the other
half, cannot put it down at all.
These are facts Of manifest copency. The
Rebellion can be crushed aud nOo ia the time
to do it. The opening Q! Inc Mias;ssinni
nearly impossible in the dry, hot season. ia
now feasible. That river is the spinal mar.
cow Of the Rebellion. The NORTH. West Ia pc.
eylarly interested in Ito recovery y The uuieu.