Delaware gazette. (Wilmington, Del.) 1837-1883, 1863-10-23

Radical newspapers, says the N. Y. Journal Of
Commerce, are publishing Mr.. Mason's letter, with
comments, and the most common remark they
make lie, "Who now can doubt that there was
Southern plot as long back the Fremont osm-
paign, to destroy the Union ?"
Who ever did doubt IT. These radicals act as
If they had just woke up from a long sleep, Or
opened their eyes TO light they never saw before,
and they are shouting to the world as a discovery
what their conservative friends told them of years
ago. When the 'Union-savers' of 1854 and later
said thero was danger of dissolution Of the Union,
the radicals laughed at and pretended to dsspise
the prophecy. We have before us various speci-
mems Of the ridiCule with which they received the
assurance of the danger. Bat they were iu the
plot themselves. The Southern disunionists new
or could have accomplished their aim without the
aid of the Northern radicals. The two parties ha-
ted the Union with cordial hatred. Both were de-
terminod that IL should DO destroyed. Tho Sauth-
erners went about their work in the most willy aud
secret manner. The Northerners were mere open.
1t Is instructive to look back to 1859 and the plots
of the Northern dsunionists then. Thoy held their
meetings all over the North, undis.urbed. If any
attempt was made to interfere with them the radi-
cal newspapers were fierce in defending tho right
of the people to hold such meetings. Such a meet
ing was held in New York. at the Cooper Institnte,
December 10, 1859. 1t was SO boldly reasonable
in its character that even tho New York Times con
demned It, fearful Of It's i'll effects on tho party
in which It emanated But tho Tribune defended
it, first by declaring that it was not what the Times
said it was, and second by declaring that even II
1t were meeting of disunonists, "fhey had right
TO entire immunity from Interruption or distabanee
Read the following extracts from the Times of De.
cember II, and the Tribune Of December 10, 1859.
and ponder on the bOldnsss Of the Northern plot.
ters asinst the Union, who sIaimsd right to i'm
munity 10 all their plots, however REASONABLE in
character. What would the Tribune say tc such
doctrine now, If any secsssionsts claimed it in New
York as right Of free speech How would Fort
Lafayette and the Old Capitol Prison eject their
victims Il this doctrine were now adOptsd2
From the Times, Dec. II, 1859.
"on Thursday night, meeting was held al
Cooper Institute openly and avowedly 10 denuncia-
ton Of the Constitution and the Union. There
could be no mistake whatever about the spirit and
temper Of that gathering. Yet for this the Tribune
has no syllable Of rebuke-nothing but admiration
and sympathy"
To this accusation the Tribune replied as fol-
lows, in is next issus;-
| From the Tribune, Dec, IS, 1885,
"The meeting Of last Thursday night, at the
Cooper Institute, was not held 'Openly and avow.
eddy in denuneiatiOn of the Constitution and the
Union" The minority of those who participated
In or spoke at il were not disunionists at ALL But
eDen If they had been, they had a right 10 entir.
Immunity from interruption or disturbance. Those
who went there to annoy the speakers, or drown
their voices, were rioters and should not only have
been put out, but kicked out. The right Of The
people peacefully TO assemble and discuss all mar
fers affecting their weifare, is A NArURAL, SACRED
AND PRECIOUS RIGHT, iOhieh shall at all times and
all haExards command our admiration and sympa-
hy. Enough for to-day"
! Enough verify Yet from year to year these
Northern disunionists claimed immunity in theil
treason, and at this very hour in the midst of oul
national trial, they dare openly in their papers AMI
public speeches to abuse the memory of the oil
Union, and to affirm that they will never consent t,
ita restoration. And these are the men who CLAIM
to be pre-sminently loyal, and their newspapers arr
never suspended, their orators and politicians new
er get into Fort Lafayette