The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-03-31
MARCH 81 1864.-WITH SUPPLEMENT.

The Trssehery or Anti-Slavery Leaders
ON she Issue or Ema ncipasion.
Every few days some new theory of enamel.
patton ia advanced by professed anti-slavery
leaders, and with every new theory the more
apparent becomes their intention Of Sinking
the question altogether, or of so dragging it
along as to make IL furnish them with capital
for agitation for many years to come. We
have recently had several striking specimens
Of the treaohery Of these loud-voiced dema-
gogues on the great question Of the day.
In the Senate Of the United States on the
2Sth instant, two prominent anti-slavery cham
pions RECALLED the floor and the galleries with
long harangpes on the subject. Senator Trum-
bull, Of Illinois, who is conceded to be the
Senatorial mouthpiece of the Executive, while
favoring amendments to the constitution abol-
ishing slavery past and present and prohibit
ing it forever hereafter in the States aud Terri
tories, made the acknowledgment that sit was
not necessary to free slaves to raise armies or
to carry on the war;" that s'the adoption OF
the joint resolution to amend the constitution
by two-thrds q each branch of Congress and
its ratification by the people will not of itself
suppress the rebellion or restore peace to the
country" Here is clear declaration that the
ott-repeated averments of the anti-slavery
demagogues, by which such widespread and
enthusiastic feeling in support of the vigorous
prosecution of the war was excited among the
anti-slavery population in the North, were i'm
postures, and that the emancipation of
the slaves was not even q seconda-
ry consideration in prosecuting the war
Mr.. Trumbull failed to sustain with any degree
of force or argument the only proper mode
acknowledged as such by himself-of abolish
ing slavery; hesitated to denounce in proper
terms the usurpations of TIE Executive and
Congress in the matter of freeing slaves by
wholesale, whether belonging to rebel or loyal
masters, and, in short. as one of the great anti
slavery advocates of the West, failed utterly 10
carrying out the ant-slavery sentiments Of his
constituents. Then another roaring anti-slavery
champion--one from New England Senator
Wilson made tremendous forensic effort in
favor of abolshing slavery, giving itsall sorts
Of hard names, filling up his declamatory and
inAammatory speech with high sounding ex-
pletiyes and 'glittering generalities, but dodg-
ing the grand issue as completely as if the sub
ject of abolishing slavery by constitutional
amendment were unknown or impracticable
Why did not Senator Wilson take high and
consistent stand, and with frmness and dignity
and with his accustomed ''eminent gravity
support Senator Summers plan Of emancipation
by legal amendments to the constitution. This
would have appeared honest, or Mr.. Wilson
would have had the credit of assuming that
virtue if he had it not politically, aud would
have satisfied his intensely abolition constitu-
ency that he was sincere in his oft proclaimed
adherence Of slavery and in his desire to see
it abolished forever. Instead Of this Wilson be-
trayed his anti-slavery supporters by failing to
sustain movement by which emancipation
can only be feasibly and legally secured, thus
making it appear that it is not the purpose
Of himself and other chronic abolition agi-
tators to have the question settled at all until
they have secured further lease of political
power and further grippe upon public plum
der
Passing from the national we come to our
the same day, another Sinking Of the great
question-another betrayal Of the anti-savery
sentiment among anti-slavery leaoers II
will be remembered that some days ago
Mr.. Bryant, of this city, presented ia the As
sembly resolution proposing constitutional
method of reaching emancipation. Mr. Bryant.
not belonging to the regular abolition ring in
the Legislature, could not be allowed to prose-
cute his purpose without interference from the
especial niggcr.worshippcrs and on Monday
last Mr.. Speaker Alvord, leaving the chair,
presented resolution az a substitute for Mr..
Bryant's, profusely putting the unconstitutional
proclamations OF Lincoln, and SOLDERING over
oil his unlawful acts relative to emancipation.
An examination Of both propositions, and pc
rusal Of the remarks OF both gentlemen in re-
gard to the merits Of each resolution, will show
that, while Mr.. Bryant's proposition is high.
statesmanlike, distinct and clearly constitu-
tional, Mr.. Alvord's substitute is a miserable
subterfuge, the low dodge Of a politician, and
unworthy serious consideration. Mr.. Alvord.
as an antislavery advocate OF the very black
republican school, has proved treacherous to
his anti-slavery constituents by proposing a
ridiculous and impracticable mode of abolish
ing slavery, and this in opposition to well
defined and proper constitutional plan aiming
at the same end. Mr.. Alvord certainly canno.
help knowing that, no matter what resolutions
the New York Legislature may adopt endorsing
Presidential proclamations or acts Of Congress
abolishing slavery, they can have no more
effect outside the boundaries Of New York than
the vaporings Of the most Insignificant dema-
gogue in it's Assembly. There is only one way
Of reaching favorable issue OF the emancipa-
ton question, and that is the constitutional way
All State legislation on the subject Of different
character will be pronounced by the Supreme
Court inoperative and void And Mr. Award