New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-02-07
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To Hon. JAMES r DooLTrLz, Y. s. Senate
SIR: In the Senate on Thursday, you saw fit
to express certoin opinions Of me and of my
course, which I will not controvert, and OF
which do rot complain. Tins must decide
whether your view or mine is more correct.
thought at the close Of 1850 that it would
bs wise and proper for the States and People
resolved 10 live aud die in the Federal Union
to say to those which had just voted or were
threatening 10 secede from it, "Give US tlme
ard full hearing before your People respect
lively, take their votes fairly, without constrant
or terrorism, anl. if they persistently evince
determination to break away from US, we VIII
let them 90 in peace" / believed this the true
way to keep them in the Union if they were
inclined to stay or to let ehem out OF 1t II they
were resolved to 90. You thought differently
and YOUR view prevailed. You may have been
hight or l may have been; tho event must
decide. Thus far do not think you are en-
titled to plume yourself on your superior
saRacity. BE patient, and abide the unerrins
verdict of History.
But you saw lit on Thursday to say,
"Hers was TEE Nrw.yoSK TsrBusr, c'oirn9 to be the
leader CT the great Ike publican party" &c.
When, where, how, was such claim ever
madel l demand specifications! l have TO.
peatedly disclained anything of the sort, and
insisted that no one could speak for or declare
ibe sentiments of that party but by majority
vote of its duly chosen delegates. The Plat
form Of the Chicago National Convention 10 On
authentic exposition Of its principles: l know
none Of later date, and nobody since that
Convention dissolved who has had authority TO
add TO or subtract from its creed. / set forth
nv oien views in oil cases, not those Of any
party or cabal If they accord with those OF
others, well: if not so be it. In the inttance
in question, did not speak for tho Republican
party, nor pretend to do SO. Your view was
doubtless that far more generally held by Re.
publcans. There are men whose wisdom cen.
sists in never having an opinion which has
not been Endorsed in advance by the party or
clique to which they aitere: / am not one Of
these, and herdly think you are. hold that
NfW uCn klDllNGy VlAoa
demand Of US original conceptions of Duty and
| Policy--that good citizen owes TO his country
not only To- atty TO her fag aud fidelity 10 her
fundamental ideas, but bis best suggestions as
10 the meals by which great perils are TO be
confronted great evils overcome. In cases Of
difficulty and doubt, be is not necessarily the
unsafe pilot who proposes to take the ship
through an unusual channel. In Drawing the
prepossessions and the wishes Of the passengers,
no raises presumption that no has consulted
his charts, and haS urgent reasons for his
preference.
You intimate decided dissent from my
recent inculcations with regard to the proseeu-
ton and duration Of the War for the Union
Of course. your judgment in the premises Il
entitled to great weight, provided you full!
understand tho views to which you take tx.
ccptiop. The brief report Of your remarks
bow before ms implies that you do not. Let
me try to make my position PLAZA to your
comprehension:
/. hold that the Shareholders Rebellion j.
a war upon our National existence, and that
its success involves our National reduction from
.Go rank Of Grst.class " that Of q third-Iaic
Power
2. hold that no State las or ever had any
color Of right TO secede from the Uuior--that,
wiio the fundamental right Of every people TO
frame and remodel their own Institutions will
sometimes justify the earring VI q new coun.
try out Of the domain Of one previously ex.
stng, tho exercise Of thit rig6t necessarily
uvOyeS dissolution Of the pre- zissiog po.i-
cal i.bricj 20 .5at Yirgipa, Georgia, Alabama,
Tsxss, cessiug to DO Stolca Of tie Union.
cease 81 stIsos 70 exit, Until rJconstitutea
under Tic uew Nation whereof their respective
territories fSrm parts. There can be no Vir-
oiuio 10 these United States but iLGt which
adheres 70 tho Union.
3. hold thcs the Southern Rebels having
no caule Whatever Of complaint ngniust tho
Nation they have undertaken to divide ind
destroy or the Government they nre aiming 10
subvert, having never invited tie Republic 70
defend teelf before ito People whom they had
conspiEed to rush into instruction and trca-
con, having commenced uAPrOvckoi bostties
On Ito Union By soiziIg its forts, miDts,
agsenole, custom-houfes, ve,sel', navy-ydrds,
sab.tTeasVries, &C., without even decara.
ton Of war, and having, through subornation
Of treason, capiurJd tic chief army Of Us
Union and t4e steamboat sent 10 supply It's
needs, before a SHOT had been fired or
weapon raised on the National side, nre o.
utterly, wieAedly, ioe&eusObly wrong az wrong
can be. AID that she couso Of righteous Gov