The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-02-08
The Presfdency-The Democracy and the
slavery Question.

-
slavery Question.
In various manifestations we perceive taat
the more aslutc Of tie managing politicians OF
the Northern democracy are beginning 10 rear
lie the fact that tie maintenance OF Sou'hern
slavery for political purposes las become an
''obsolete idea;n that from this terrible war;
the institution has received such shock
through all its vitals that ii cannot survive;
that the hope Of restoring it, with the rcstora-
on OF the Union, as democratic balance OF
power is gone; that the public sentiment OF
the loyal States is drifting irresistibly along
| with the current of events to universal eman-
| cipaion and that, before the broken frag-
ments Of the late democratic party can do
anything, or hope to do anything. as o national
organization, they must be relieved OF this
incubus of Southern slavery
Tie immediate and all-import ant object In
view is the next Presidency, and il is morally
certain that, upon pro-savery platform, the
democracy against an anti-slavery platform
will hardly obtain the vote Of a solitary State
participating in the election. Even in 1885,
with the solid vote Of the fifteen slave States
the success Of Buchanan turned upon q scanty
democratic majority secured in Pennsylvania
by lavish outlay of money in her October
election. Since that day BuchanaD's admins
tration and this Southern pro-slavery rebellion
have forever swept away that Northern conser-
vatlsm which rested upon the perpetuation of
this Southern democratic balance of power. 1t
needs no argument to prove that this balance
of power has disappeared, the foundations
upon which il was established being over
thrown.
How, then, is the administration to be met
upon this question Of slavery? 1t can be
successfully met only by constitutional plat
form for the absolute extinction Of slavery
against the unconstitutional, homogeneous, mis-.
chevous and impracticable emancipation
scheme OF President Lincoln and his party.
African slavery was the forbidden fruit and the
original sin OF the founders Of The constitution.
They did the best they could under the crcum-
stances to unite the States concerned and vet
to leave The door wide open to emancipation.
Neither the word slave nor slavery. nor slave
holder nor master is to be found 10 the consti-
tuition. The great charter was deliberately
framed upon the idea that it would outlive
this Institution of master and slave, and
would need no special amendment to suit
the purposes Of Union entirely relieved
of slavery But Whitney's cotton gin
wds invented, and then. with cotton, the
slave on the cotton plantation became
cash article, and slavery fourishcd apace until
it ruled the country through the democratic
party. 1t failed and the party failed. with the
repeal Of the Missouri compromise, and institu-
ton and party went to pieces in the suicidal
enterprise of breaking up the Union, when
only under the protection of the Union could
slavery live or pass away quietly from the
land. Clearly, then, it has become the policy
Of the Northern democracy and all the conser-
vative elements of the country to take new
departure-to strike out boldly for an amend
ment Of the constitution which will forever
settle this troublesome question Of slavery by
removing the institution from the country
With General Grant as their candidate upon
this platform, and in behalf OF speedy and
decisive suppression OF the rebellion, the peo-
pie of the loyal States opposed to the existing
Incompetent and corrupt administration will
inevitably secure the GROWING victory Of the
war and an early and glorious peace