New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-01-29
TyrR MOTIVES OF THH REBELLION.

Several able anu oulntnt SOulntIncrb, 10Y
throughout to the cause of the Union, have
revealed to Northern audiences something oil
the internal history Of the Shareholders Rebel
lion. Among them il the Hon. Lorenzo Sher-
wood of Texas, long resident and formerly a
Democratic member of he Legislature of that
State whose unusually clear and convincing ad-
dress delivered during the late canvass ought
10 have weight with such Of his brethren in
the Democratic faith as value principle more
than party 1t ia historical and philosophical
summary Of the causes Of the Rebellion, which
is none the less Justification of The Procla-
nation of the lst of January because it was
made without reference to that act. The
lesson it teaches is tho more valuable as
coming from SOutherDer and Democrat.
1t was understood before, and ia now more
than over clear, that this Rebellion was not
In the beginning that of the South so much as
Of The ruling slayeholding class Of the South,
which had direct personal pecuniary interest
in Slavery. Outside Of this class, there was
at the South as well rs at the North L
well.deveoped and intelligent public opinion
which was adverse TO Slavery, and which
regarded it as an evil philosOpLicaly certain
to be extnguished by natural laws. The
Shareholders were aware Of this opinion, end
OF tEs grounds on which it proceeded. II the
causes antagoristie 10 Slavery were not
arrested, they also raw that 10 the end their
cherished system must go down; but they
believed it possible to arrest them and pre-
serve the institution. These causes were ns
deep as the foundations OF society; they we've
necessarily coexis.eut with democratic or
republican form OF government, and could Jly
be removed by uprooting both the government
and tho ideas on which il was based. Ia other
words, the shareholders saw that In order to
save Slavery, it was necessary to destroy the
Union; that Slavery and democracy were
irrecouciable foes; and that ono or the other
must give way. The effort to preserve
Slavery, therefore, became o war against,
democratic ideas, and this not less in tho
South itself than in the North.
The method and plan of Secession, long Sc
crotly matured, was adopted under the lead Of
Calhoun in secret session OF the Nashville
Convention in 1850 during tho Taylor fillmore
administration; the former a Southern Presi.
dent, the latter unequaed in subserveuce 70
the South. No RepublicaHperty wac then in
existence; and no Southern statesman who
vas honest aud clear-sighted ever pretended
tbus Secession was caused by tho Anti.Sarery
efforts Of that party, or by any aggression Of
he North upon the rights OF the South still
less by any act OF oppression on the part oil
tho United States Government. The scbeme
OF Secession proceeded from the start on tue
fundamental difference III the organization Of
the two systems oi society," North and SOnth,
aud their inevitable antagonism, which no
compromise could avert or cure.
Dangers at home equally made secession u
necessity 10 the saye-holdine power. BY po-
Etical anon with the North tho nOn-slayehold-
ing portion OF the South was in danger ot de-
from cont act with democratic IN
siitutions and ideas. II was necessary to sever
th.s tic, aud also to eutangle the symp&tnies Of
the democratic masses IL the South By acts Of
hostility, 10 order that they might become the
basis and the instruments OF tho military
strength which tho Slave Power sought to
erect: in other wOrdg, 10 "precipitate tho
cotton States into a revolution which was OPP
posed 70 the interests and convictions If nd but
4 slayeEolding minority. This was tbs scheme
Of tie Nashville Convention. subsequently
ayowed in the weli-hnovn letter OF Mr..
Strait of South Carolina 10 Dir. Perkins
of Louisiana, explained further in tho
letter OF Mr. Garnet of Virginia to Mr.
Trescott Of 5. c., aud later proclaimed in
TIE etill more famous speech OF William l..
Ysncey Of Alabama. The conspiracy was
against the principles Of FREQ Government
and wholly in the interest Of Slavery. Tho
property in slaves was political property
dependent for stability on tho action Of pOliti-
cal forces and the policy OF the State. Slave
holders, therefore, were jealous of tho mEgses.
They wero aht-demOcratc from necessity.
They must possess aud WELD the exclusive
political power Of tho State, and continue
10 WELD it; for whenever they lost it. aud
democracy gained it. the downfall of Slavery
became inevitable.
1t is plain, therefore, how idle arc all at
tempts N cancellation. 1t is war against
principles, meant to annhate the political
rights Of tho masses VI tho South, %