New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-03-15
DEMOCRACY IN EARNEST.

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DEMOCRACY I'm EARNEST.
Mr.. Carolin O'Brien Bryant, one OF the Tam
many representatives of our city in the Legs
lature, and understood to represent more es-
pccially the powerful interest whereof Dir.
Peter b. Sweeney is the leader, yesterday sub
United to the Assembly the following important
proposition:
Hie1,as In the present crisis Of the country speedy
and successful conclusion Of the War should DO tho
chic: and controlling purpose 81 the Government ana
chat such termination OF the struggle now progressing
against airocious Rebellion best be achieved by
final and constitutional abrogation Of is radical cause
the system Of African Slavery and
Ukooas. Slavery is practically snnihiated by the
War. and that lie prohibition in all the states upon
basis authorizing CoD,ses- 10 protect the rights OF loyal
ownc Of slaves would provide the most practical form
81 conciation with which could follow up the march
of our victorious arms; and
Whereas. Such final and constitutional abEogntion OF
Slavery would clear The patti If our manifest destiny IN
the acquisition aud development Oi necessary territory
and rs Industrial orgazatAn az new or IN rec eneraied
States and also restore TO the position Of united
people where we can declare and enforce The integrity
and the exclusive prerogative OF democratic insttu
tons the Amer.:an continent as against any inv al
ing usurpng fore-gn power therefore
Rs0o,d 0f the senate concur) In lrsuancc oI these
Senators II COnyrcs De Instructed and our
Representatives requested prepare and submit FOR
iGst and proper amendment "a tbe Constitution Of TIE
ai,cd states shall forever prohibit and terminate
the stem of African Slavery in the United States
Without commenting further on the great
significance given TO this demonstration from
tho quarter whence il emala tes We propose to
submit a few facts tending TO show that the
idea which underlies Mr.. BryanL's movement is
becoming generally recognized as the only cue
which promises real and lasting peace to our
distracted country.
J. When the Greek Indians, after having
been seduced into Rebellion through their
Southern associations ard atfnitics, decided that
they bad made grave mistake, and must get
back to loyalty so soon, so thoroughly ~
might be, they unanimously and immediately
abolished Slavery. This was in advance OF the
Presidents Proclamation Of Freedom, and Of
any conspicuous action TO like purpose among
Whites. But the Indians we'll knew what had
made item traitors, and knew that the devil
astray no more. And to-day there are among
them just go many Rebel as slaycholding Indi
sns--nether less nor more.
IT, Mr.. Jefferson Davis, while declining 70
subject the peculiar institution OF his Con.
fcderacy TO European revision and subycrsion,
has OF We mistake noO expressed his own
opinion that It's usefulness has departcd-in
other words, that it is played out" And
such is very general conviction.
III. Nine-tenths of all The people Of Slave
States who are Unonists AZ all arc Anti-Slayery
Cnionists. They are not pss-iyely, negatively
so, but thoroughly Accordingly in earnest.
There are pretty good Abolitiollals at Ito North;
but tho most determined and jealous haters Of
Slavery are the Unioni-ts Of the South. And
these would be far moro numerous but for the
fear that Slavery and Rebellion will regain the
power they have temporarily lost.
". One Of the Democratic Justices Of the
Supreme Court--and that one from whom it
would be last eypeoted--recentiy declared, in
private conversation, that nothing short Of a
constitutional amendment prohibiting Slavery
absolutely and forever, throughout the United
States and their Territories, would give Us true,
enduring peace.
V. For months past, tho conviction has been
widening and deepening among intelligent OBJ
servers Of ell parties that to this complexion
we must come az last that patching, and
tnkering, aud daubing over, would never an
swer-that nothing short Of Constitutional
Amendment that shall solemnly Danish Slavery
from the whole country. and bar the door
against its return, will ever give us that deliver
ance from intestine strife and security against
It's renewal which VIC so wOfully need.
We know little personally of Nj. Bryant.
He may rctract, or qualify, or explain away, his
demonstration Of yesterday. He may have put
1t iorth as ieeler, and be ready to repudiate
1t, ii 1t shall not receive tho general assent of
his party. But, whatever he may say or do
hereafter, the position assumed by him yester-
day is essentially right, and will ultimately be
taken by the whole country.
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