New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-07-28
kIAyRRY-THB WAR-BEUN7ON.

that the Rebels are enemies of the Union for
Slavery's sake, and mean with Slavery to stand
or fall. We know no warrant for the positive
assertions Of the Opposition journals that the
Confederate leaders have offered to give up their
Confederscy aud return to the Union on con-
dtion that Slavery shall be duly protected and
pcttcd therein; and wo think this rather an in
ference, somewhat colored by the wishes of those
who SO confidently proclaim it as fact. The
Democrats Of the loyal States evince more anx'
iety and unanimity in behalf of the peculiar
institution than do the Rebels themselves, and
with a certain reason, since Slavery, while 1t
curses and blights the South, never fails, under
the Union, to bring grist to tho mill OIL the
Democratic party. To be sure OF the nearly
solid vote, whether in Congress or the Electoral
Colleges, of large third Of the Union, is atemp-
tation TO inhumanity which the unprinclpied can
hardly be expected TO resist: hence the Con-
federate agents in Europe will be somewhat
annoyed when our journals of the last ten days
reach them, and they find it 80 confidently ana
so generally stated in half of them that their
"section" stands ready 10 restore the Union
whenever il can obtain satisfactory conditions
and guarantees regarding the perpctuation and
diffusion of Slavery. II the motion in Parlla-
mont designed to hasten q recognition of the
Confcderacy should thereby be subjected to
further postponement, and If the friends of the
Union should DO enabled to give il damaging
blows in any debate which it may provoke it
must DO considered that the policy best adapted
to secure tho election of Democratic PRESIDENT
here could not reasonably be expected to serve
at the same time the cause of Confederate mde-
pendence and recognition in The Old World.
But the fact that Slavery is the source and
handspring Of the Rebellion stands unaffected
by tho Willingness or unwillingness OF the
Rebels to return to the Union on their own
terms. No man ever yet saw al American who
hated Slavery yet upheld the Rebellion; and no
one ever saw an American who justified
and wished TO porpetuate Slavery who had not
at least a sneaking tenderness for the Rebel
cause. For all practical purposes, tho Rebel
lion and Slavery are related as mother and child
Hence the preposterous folly Of urging the Con
iedera.es TO abolish Slavery in order TO strength.
en- their armies and quicken the sympathes OF
Europe. To do this would be Like cutting off
your head 10 cure catarrh. For. Slavery de-
stroyed the Rebellion would be left without
motive, objec! or anmatiDg soul. Were
Slavery abolished the Union armies might at
once be disbanded and the War given up; for
the Union would reoonsttute itself without ei-
fort by the irresistible force OF common interests
of commercial and political grsvitation.
There are communities. counties, districts, in
the South. wherein Slavery is weak, but not
one of these ever favored the Rebellion until CO.
creed to DO So No South Carolina conspirator
at any time expected the cordial cooperation OF
East Tennessee or of Western Virginia. In
deed, the Hon. Mnscoe K. II. Gsrnctt, writing
from Richmond, 20 long ago a. 1851, to one
of those conspirators, expressly cited the pau.
city of slaves in Western Virginia as main rea-
son why that State could not be- expected to
keep step with the Nullifsrs in their movement
for diSunion.
Now we do not oontend-though the contrary
| has been thousand times asserted-thst re-
union il possible or endursbie only on the basis OF
.Unyerssl Freedom. While we most undOubting-
" believe that the beat possible basis, and the
only ono that affords any guaranty against future
oonspiraces and bloody rebelons, We would
leave our Government entirely free to do what
ever may at any time seem advisable. War has
It's exigencies which cannot be foreseen, and
which make their own laws; and Peace is often
4 desirable on other terms than those of our own
choice. We indicate no infeIbe demand when
we call attention TO the fact that a Pro-Slayery
reunion under Democratic auspices must in
evitably roll back upon the Free States tide
of intolersnt, presenting. fanatical devotion to
Slavery, such as was never yet experienced in
any country.
For the Democratic journals and speakers
have settled into an attitude Of championship OF
the Rebellion as. II not technically and legally,
at least morally and practically justiia-
BILE. The real Rebels they cay, were
those citizens of the Free States, who, re.
garding Slavery a. an evil, with Wash
inston and Jefferson, followed the example Of
those patriots IN seeking to circumScribe and To-
calize it, We are stigmatized ~ fanatics and
incendiar;es became VIC cherish sentiments
identical With those of the Revolutionary Faith
ers with scarcely ALI important exception, and
because we, IN conformity with those senti-
ments, have sought to con6ns Slavery within
the States which 1t already cursed. Beyond