New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-04-29
THE NEw-YORK DEMOCRACY ON
TNE WAR-PATH.

Throughout the canvass of 1860, the mair
argument of the coaesced parties that die
their utmost to carry this State against the
Republicans was menace Of Southern rebel
lion "If your party succeeds, our several
parties in the Slave States will revolt, and by
force destroy the Union" 1t was in vain that
this appeal from the judgment and conscience
to the baseness and cowardice of the North
was repeIled-it was reiterated from every
stump as the most cogent reason that could be
urged for voting against Mr.. Lincoln. Men
who seem to consider taking up arms to sub
vert the Government crime, did not scruple
to threaten such resort in order to carry an
election, though the moral difference between
the two procedures is not apparent The
threat is undoubtedly the safer, as not involy-
ing the physical penalties of treason; but he
who says to the People, "Give your votes to
TO ny candidates; for, if their opponents win,
a large portion of those on my side will revolt
and inaugurate desolating civil war,
might just as well cover the approach to the
ballot.b6x with his rife, and proclaim that the
first man who vsntured to offer o ballot for
the adverse ticket should have bullet through
his brain. Every vote, influenced by such a
threat, is cast in deadly hostility to the genius
of liberty and representative government.
But our sham Democrats aud conservatives
did not rest here. Beaten in the election, they
made each successive manifestation Of slave
holding treason a new argument, not for up
holding the Government but for aunulling the re-
suit of the Presidential election. The popular
suffrage which gave Lincoln aud Hamliu $50
out of 1903 Electoral yotas meant exactly this
ave will not consent to any further diffusion
Of slayehslding under the flag and by the "a.
thorty and power OF our country, but will
sternly resist it," Every one understood this,
from the Aroostook to the Rio Grande. Very
few cared for the candidates elected or defeated,
save rs their fortunes were involved n those Of
the great issue. We who succeeded would
gladly have sacrificed our candidates TO estab-
lsh our principle, and so of our opponents.
Yet no sooner was the contest over and Seces-
sion begun than our Northern Democrats,
without one word Of rebuke for the traitors in
the Cabinet who were actively aiding the over
throw Of the Government or the trembling
imbecile in the White House who was stand
ing by "a consentng TO their treason, CON-
menCed systematic bullying of the Republi-
can party, as they had vainly attempted TO
bully tho People. "Abjure your hostility to
Slavery Extension, and you shall have peaceful
possession of the Government; persist in it,
and your rule shall be drowned in blood -
such .was the alternative they preferred US,
happily to no purpose. Though the Republi.
cans were profoundly solicitous for peace and
order, very few among them were base enough
to consent to purchase these at the heavy cost
Of recreancy to their cardinal principle and in
fidelity to their solemn pedge
The Democratic part o or State made
for itself a most uneu, able cord in this
crisis. In mid-Winter OF IoOO-l, some five
weeks before President Lincoln's Inauguration.
i held q State Convention in Tweddle Hall,
Albany. Horato Seymour, now Governor, was
a prominent speaker therein; would.be Cover
nor Amasa j. Parker was its President, and
an unusually large number bf it, leaders were
delegates. The treason thh conspcuousy en-
acting Of Buchanan, Cobb, Floyd, Jacob
Thompson, Toucey and Co., whereby the
Union was being puslanmously surrendere d
without shot or blow in its behalf, received
no whisper Of rebuke from that Convention.
Tho. Rbatt. and Ysnpav. aud IaNf n.y;...
who were tearing the country in pieces were
not even invited TO behave themselves. The
whole drift and aim of this Democratic Con-
yention tended to dishearten and denoralize
the Loyal North into abasement at the ieot
of the traitorous, domineering Slave Power.
You can't subdue the South-You must
placate her, or the Union is lost"-such was
the burden Of Mr. SeymOur's harnngues. The
Republicans must cease to be Republicans, or
the Union has already ceased to exist, such was
! the cry Of the Convention. AndJames 5. Tbayer,
amid universal plaudts, proclaimed unmeasured
hostility TO any coercion Of the revolted Sorth
under the pretext Of enforcing the laws. When
the proceedings of this Convention reached
Washington, the cOnspirators who had not yet
deserted their seats In Congress showed them
eIultingly to Republicans, saying, "If you
attempt coercion, you will find more than your
match in New York, without coming South for
enemies"
Secession proceeded; our Army in Texas wa,
treacherousy surrendered; Mr.. Lincoln was in
augurated; Fort Sumter was bombarded, and
tho War for the Union begun. But our Sham
Democracy, which had held Convention spe-
cially to give moral aid to the conspirators.
held none " sustain aud inyigorato those stlug.