New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-01-01
IKE LOYAL NATIONAL LEAGUE


nubef II would have been painfal W us W h1'o'oo
ehe collective character of this reply; Sor the oiend
s Of our our names is proofof that great UNITY OF
continent upon all that concerns the cause % !uS
6cc which by Gods favor maniiests itseh mere Dc
IN. in spite Of political and religious direIences
Vat ue a-o careful not to overrate our personal
Annortance. The League does not address US as
snaiyiduas: IL speaks to France, who cherishes as
. national tradition, the friendship Of the United
States. 1t speaks to European opinion, which Will
rise % and declare itself more clearly as 1t reeog
Mics that the struggle is between Slavery and LID
Gty.
You have comprchended, gentlemen, that neither
France nor Europe have been FREQ from misapPre.
Tensions Light did not at first dawn upon the ma
ure of the salutary but painful crisis through which
you are passing; il not plain 70 all, at the ont
uet, that the work inaugurated By the election OF
Er. LINCOLN yielded nothing in grandeur to that
vhich your fathers accomplished with the aid OF
LAFAYETTE and under tho guidance Of WASHING
ION.
Europe has had her errors, her hesitations. for
which We are paying dearly to-day on beth shores
q the Atlantic. What blood would have been
scared to you, what industrial suffering avoided
b. Us, had European opinion declared itself VIII
hat force which you had tho right TO hope for
There is protest OF the universal conscience be-
ybre which mankind necessarily rccoils; mora
ogces arc, after al, the great forces.
The royolted South, which needed our aid which
Vbbed and perhaps still relics upon us, would not
knee long dared to afron. tho Indignation Of the
civilized world.
Why has this indignation been withhold Why
- sort of favor been granted 70 the only insur'
action which has had neither motive nor pretcxt-
8 the only one which has dared to unfarl the ban
NJ Of Ssycryl Whst has been the merit Of tins
1Bsunection! BY what charm has ~ CORRELATED the
synpathy OF moro than one enlightened mind
This is question humilatine % put, but useiu! TO
DDlve.
In the first place Earope doubted whether Slavery
vvae the real cause Of conflict. Strange doubt,
= tYuthl For many years Slavery had been he
est the only ect Of strfe in the United States
A tho time Of the election Of Mr. BUCHANAN the
srly issue was Slavery. The electoral Platforms
rroye this fact the IL 1nifestos Of the South were
unanimous in this sense; her party leaders her
Governors Ter deliberstiye assemblies, her press
areent Confederacy bad made haste to declare ohi'
eiaiy that tho mission Of the Lew State WAS
- present to the sdIairs'ion Of mankind society
Hundcd on the cornerstone" CT Slavery. LasIf?'
q vould seem that to all rejecting minds the acts
sfMr Buchanan and ether Presidents named by
~ South were proof enough Of this truth The
Bath thinks only Of Slavery In her ey"s all
means IRE right to secure TO Slavery its uiunph'
ond tou1dless conquests
Bot, it is objected that Mr.. LINCOLN and BIZ
ltiaads we're not AboEtonists. That IS CERTAIN
Hheu PROGRAMME went no further than 10 stop 'h'
extension Of Slavery and shut it out from the Tern
tories. Was this nothingl Was 1t not IN fec
eyerythinsi Who could have foreseen that Oh th'
sppearance of such programme, Of progress 81
unexpcctcd, Of an attack so bold upon the policy
which was lowering and running the United States
Shs friends Of liberty would rot Ill have hastened Il
opphud. Wos not this tho time 10 cheer and
strengthen those who were thus entering on the
good path Was it not due TO urge them on IN theii
Aborl Tendencies so that, the first step taken, they
sAouh take the second and 20 on TO the endY Ought
not that which terrified aud dismayed the champi
ems Of Slavery 10 rejoice The hearts off adVsT
ss1iesl
Your letter gentlemen, puts in bold relief The
xsasons which hindere1 Mir. LINCOLN from adopt
Ing ut the outset on Abolition policy. The Presi
dent could disregard neither his oath Of Office no.
the Federal Constitution; be had also 10 keep II
mind the opposition which plan OF emsnclpa'ioI
would encounter in the loyal States. The head OF
srest Government cannot act with the freedom of
philosopher in his study. II simple truth Mr.. Liz
COLIN should b. accused neither Of timidity nor in
difference. Your letter recalls the measures Of biz
Presidency, abolition Of Slavery in the Capital and
IN the District Of Columbia, the proclainling Of
Freedom 10 fugitive slaves the principle Of conpen
sAsed emancipation submitted to all the loyal States
Nhe death penalty actually inflicted OK Captains Of
olavers the treaty with England admitting The
hight Of search, the establishment Of diplomatic re-
lHtions with the black Republics Of LIBERIA and
HAYn the srming OF free negroes, and az Last
when the length and gravity Of the war sanctioned
m extreme exercise Of the powers Of Commander.
&n-Chief, the absolute and final suppression Q:
Slavery in all the revol.cd States.
We, gentlemen, are AbolitioIists; ald We declare
1Aat We have never hoped wished for more
steady, rapid, and resolute progress. We have TN.
derstood the difficulties wich surrounded Mr. LIN.
colin. We have honored his fcruples Of conscience
With regard TO the Constitution 0. his country
which stopped his peth. We have admired tho
courageous good sense with which he moved
straight on, the instant he could so do without dan.
HsY to his Cause or violation Of the law.
Wonder is expressed that Slavery is abolished in
Che revoitcd States and yet preserved in the loyal