New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-03-01
NEyT.ENGLAND MULTIPLICATION.


NRw-ENGLAND MULTIPLICATION.
Suppose that, half century ago, tho an
cestors Of the present Ncw-England people
talked nonsensei What has that to do with
present and pressing political complications 7
There is g newspaper in this city which seeks to
extcnuate the Shareholders treason, by citing
tho constructive treason Of Boston newspapers,
town meetings and pulpits in 1912. Admitting
The most that can he said against the Federal
lparty--and there is good deal more said than 1t
would be easy TO pIoye-it simply amounts 10
the fact, that men who had been nearly ruined
by the policy, good or bad, OF the General Gov
orument, expressed them5eiyes with an exceed
ing warmth, and suffered their wrath 10 get the
better OF their discretion. Under d free Gov
eminent. all men who have opinions which they
value, advertise them Yith very little regard
for prudence. II Is 30 AZ he present time.
Rigidly considered, what difference can be
fairly exhibited between Q Blpe-hght Federalist
denouncing Mr.. Madison, and modern Cop
pe,head doing Mr. Lincoln the same gentle
q
al.st to talk about erecting Now-Englend into
q separate cOnfcderacy, than for Fernando Wood
to talk about erecting Nsw-iofs into Free
Cityi Our ex-nayOr may have been as much
in earnest as men of his slippery nature usually
are--he may have talked for the sake Of talking
but if he was in earnest md If tho Boston
Fedoraiists were in earnest, we submit tbat
there is vast difference between treason
meditated and treason accomplished. The eX-
asperated citizens OF New-Ergland undoubtedly
vented their spleen little reckie-slyi but there
is n worldwide distinction 70 be made between
their course. confined 10 conventions and the
caucus, ard that Of whole populations actually
levyipg war upon the National Government.
rhe worst that osa be charged upon New
Englend il that It, people during period Of
terrible commercial distress, betook Themselves,
for relief, 10 litilo oxlrgyagani and indrfeDpi-
bic :heorizng The Federal Government was
new It, nature was not universally under
.tond, la rights, Gutirs sni limitations, we're
As got unfixed by jGoioiai aso,~ions and lacked
precise definition. u was moi well settled
then 81 now, that Secession il crime; and
men who remembered Massachusetts, MS au indie
ponden, State, miyht be- excused il in the heat
of controversy they prated of onnulIing con-
tract 70 which they were Themselves immediate
parties, since they regarded IL conditions as
already broken. We do not cay that this loose
talk was wise. We DO not here defend il.
But We DO say that sbs,raot discussions Of tns
nature are not for moment to la Justly com.
pared with distinct physical resistance 10 the
authority OF the laws. The truth is that, with
al her liberal theori-ng, no State has been
more firmly attached 10 The Mon than Mas@a-
ohuse;ts. Her cIimo, in the estimation OF her
.plenetic critics, has beon in her fidelity TO the
principles Of political end social freedom upon
which the Union IL held TO be based, and which
the Consultation was adopted 20 perpetuate and
secure. If her opposition to tho war ~ 1872
was mainly commercial, il must be remembered
thai The policy OF the General Government has
more than once nearly ruined tie prosperity Of,
on oDterprisug ond bardworkiug population,
and that the capital and labor Of Now gland
holding indoci7iou, and Tho westher-cock regu-
isiOn Of those who insirt"d that broken cisterns
were the best for holding water. Bat New
England, long ago, indicated the sincerity OF
her opinions by enormous pecuniary sacrifices,
which put 10 shame the Indictment of -lolld sell
fshness 80 frequently and irsoiently presented
against her. She may have been ready TO sell
everything else in her possession, but thank
God. il is long time since her opinions we're
in tho market. Sho hss asked for nothing TO
which abe was not, by all the law, written aud
unwrittcn, clearly entitled. Her ofonse is that
she ha3 hated Human Slavery in theory, and in
practice has sought 10 prevent its extension.
Morally, tho question was an open one-prac-
ticslly, it was no moro treason to oppose than
TO propose tho admission OF new slayeloldiug
Siales into Tho Union. A State must be Judged
by is whole history, end not by temporary,
irresponsible and informal outbursts Of popular
feeling. On tho other hand, tho people Of the
Seeded States have been persistent and logged
in their disloyalty, ard have extended TO IL the
dilsot, official sanction Of their local Cove
ments. There can DO nothing found in lhe
legislation OF Massachusetts,, like those laws for
the imprisonment of colored seamen, which |
South Carolina persisted in enforcing long after |
they had boon pronounced unconstitutional BY
her own Judiciary.
The intelligent reader will have no difficulty
IN d.t,uipo fnr himaejf those 6is,ipctOns which /