The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-11-02
THE SUICIDAL policy or THE
SLAVE POWER.

Till y 4 u ~ n y FVhtaE RE INV
SLAVE POWEH.
When any intelligent mind, looking back
over the events Of the last three years OF our
history, contemplates the act of 5he Southern
people, or their leaders, in seeding rom the
Union, it cannot but be struck with the
amazing judicial blindness which the conduct
of the Rebels betrays. Even if it were admit
ted that the election of Mr.. LINCOLN put in
peril a single constitutional right of the slave
States or their citizens, common-senso cannot
possibly perceive the wisdom of the course
which the South adopted to protect itself
against an apprehended danger.
1t is positively certain that in Withdrawing
from the Union, and commencing hOs.iltieS
against the National Government. the Southern
people threw away their beat security against
any interference with their institutions, even
If such interference had been really meditatod
| By the present Administration. Had the Sena-
tors and Representatives from the South held
their seats in Congress after Mr.. LINCoLN's
election aud Inauguration, and the unity Of
the nation been the Executive never
could have carried solitary measure which
had not the clear sanction OF law, and the cor
dial approval Of a majority of the whole people
| of the whole country, or their representatives.
| In the Federal Legislature.
1t is notorious that the party which elected
Mr.. LINCOLN comprised but a minority OF the
whole people of the United States at that
time, and that before the Southern members
foolishly retired from their places in both
branches of Congress, the Republicans were
in a minority in the Senate and in the House.
And it is not improbable that but for the act
of secession and the war that followed it, the
relations of parties in Congress might have
been substantially preserved until this day.
In that case, what possible loss Of power, OF
rights, or OF security could the slave States
have sufIeredP None whatever.
| With the Executive Department restrained
within legitimate bounds by the conservative
checks of the Judiciary on the one hand and
legislative counterpoise on the other, the Gov
omment would have gone on, peacefully and
prosperously, in the exercise OF its usual and
appointed functions, without working injury
to any of its members, or being capable OF
accomplishing any radical alterations in the
social conditions of a single State, much loss
i'm the fundamental structure OF the Govern
, ment itself. The operation OF the principle
that the majority OF the whole people shall
= rule, would have availed to keep tho whole
political machinery of the nation in harmo
3 nious and bene1cent action.
r This fact is admitted now even by the ables
= and most Jealous leaders of the Democratic
S party in the North. 1t is only few evening
t ago that Judge JEREMIAH S. BLACK, Of thi
d State, addressed the friends Of MoCLELLA,
d and PENDLEToE at the Continental Theatre
VI in Walnut street. In the course of mis- spoecl
n h is reported as using the following language
q in alusion TO the view the administration o
Mr.. BUCHANAN, in which he held the higl
So post Of Attorney General, took Of the thC
J. but threatened action Of the slave States. w
'e quote from his speech as printed in the Ige:-
v o" To the South we saiu tuu secession aa, ID
ia ruU cuy iui Hy Cyli, uC uu ~ Appreciated
" tla' division OF the country W., au unLndur
~ " bic wltuP O u; thA' the, were 1OInI % i,u
n out Their b0"le sgaiIS; higher law iIsIde at r
-, ltOr, with Tie yuutag ground OF the yJuat
" " IA ion iu thel. 'Avur. We held that scctssiu
)r " wss n ruiity, and tho Federal Guvcramal
5o &c wa. as much ,uud o. rN cute It's laws AFT,
g secession a. b.f,ra; and That if auy consider
h" bic nus b,r Of persons would oppose the M'
n 10y iurvC, the military power nps Oniy mi q
u
p! " down tuch opposition
IL But the South seeded aad rebelled ia sD
~ OF reason aud policy TO say nothing at all
l. Guty and patriotism. And what has she tax.
lI by her motion? Nothing but disaster, il
'r ficted on herself and also on the loyal poop
es Of the North, who would have done ever
'e thing in their power, in due subord,nation
Ne law, to secure to all the States their equ
VII rights and guarantees under the Nation
ne Government
y But this is not all that the South has i
an CURED by its insane revolt. 1t not on
es destroyed the best protection for its oy
s5 institutions, liberties, and interests by destro
Is- ing that unity Of the people Of the whole cou
BE try, as regards their political control in d
ne administration Of the National Goyernmel
Ia but they provoked and made unavoidable
ie civil war for the defense Of the Goyernme
" against rebellion; and the consequence to t
1r South has been that, in exercising b
ID military poW2r Of the Republic 70 p
'u down inurrectlon, It has been nee,
lk sary, under the sanction Of well-esta
r. lshed principles Of public law, 10 int
OF fere with those very State rights and instlt
e. tions which the Federal Government "
he intended TO secure, and which nothing but
lis necessities Of a civil war would either requI
e. or permit the national authority to disturb
sn the slightest degree.
en- In short, when the history Of the Rebelli
he comes to be read by posterity, the eroWni
le- marvel win be that the friends of slavery
'n- the South should have taken the very ste
ole that were best suited 10 effect a summary G
md tnguiahment Of that odious Institution,
}0 usa