New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-02-03


THEN wives and children be doomed 10 endless serv-
tude and starvation. They would then know what that
thing means in reality; "a rich mans ware poor
We honestly believe that the welfare and happiness %
Southern poor much involved In the
Of this struggle as any other class OF the community
more than the rich who leave tire country and
escape brutality and DEGRADATION IN foreign lands.
Erous The IsScnmesd Enquirer, Jan. 2s-Ed
sLAvEHoLDING RECoNsTRUCTIoNIsTs.
IL is stated that certain members of Congress,
representing large savehoding constituencies. bave
openly declared there preference for reconstruc-
iion. with Federal guaranty OF Slavery TO the enamel
patton OF sayes as means Of securing the indepen
dence OF the Confederate States.
Ne know OF no proposition for emancipation by mo
States. That subject Is surrounded by so many legal
aud sound obstacles, its effect In securing the only o.
ec which would Justify its adoption is 80 Doubtful thar
there is little probability Of Its being considered
Bat W. contemplate with establishment the declarations
TO which We have referred Can u be possible that
men representing saTehcldiDg constituencies would
prefer returning the Uron to the dedication of their
property to the cause Of independence. What consti.
ted the prozimate career Of this war; The prohibit
ton Of slavery extension and the unwarrantabe inter.
ference with tie institution Of Slavery with the States
Why have our people rallied to this cause; only be
they regarded II as one form OF interference with
the rights Of property within the State
r. the army Of defense composed exclusively OF slave
hodersi They have responded noby TO the yindcation
OF public rights They have contributed their and
their lives to tho common defense. But class they
have enjoyed certain practical exemptions from the
general CONSUMPTION. Men owning slaves have been
able ~ employ substitutes. They have been exempted
from military service because they owned fifteen hands
TIE observation-disclosures have on the contrary enjoyed
similar privileges. They have not sought them. Vow
what contributions to the have been made by tho
noE.slayeholding sections OF this and other States
Take the Valley OF Virginia for instance. There the
slave property has been carried away; the houses
burned and the country abandoned ~ Conflict between
the contendig armies Tic from this region have
endured the fate Of They lave been mutiiaed and
beggared by the war. They have ost the special in.
tercst which in chief part 0ccssored tie war. Have
they iuched abandoned the because their
interest in the has been exingnisbedi On the
contrary they cling the closer 10 the principle Of indie
pendence wien their property interest in its preserve
ton has been diminished.
Can it then be possible that those 30 deeply inter-
eeted in the the Shareholders from the interior
of the Cotton States should prefer. under any crcnm
stances the security Of their property to tue ndepen
dence OF these Saesi 1t would be- 10 effect TO say 70
all other interests You have fought for the integrity
Of lave title your country has been desolated your
lives and limbs have been sacrificed to the success OF
this object but dOnbt your ability to guarantee by
your veor the safety Of liIe You even propose 10
sacrifice tbs title to the OF your cause As the
object OF the war was the safety Of slave title must
seek that Object by another course. We thal throw
Ourselves upon the protection of the enemy. They viii
grant ms, at least the temporary use OF our own
slaves"
This is TIE alleged proposition Of certain slavehod
ing members translated. We cannot admit that any
sacrtce OF interest or institution too great TO DO
made If such sacrifice will procure peace and indie.
penlence. We repeat th0t We DO not believe emanei
patton would insure independence, and We would Dos
therefore make tie experiment
But il any advsed STAKEHOLDER should resort 10 re-
construction fOi the protection Of his property let uS
zee what lie would gain. The mythical proposals Oh
Blair aad Singleton affirm the supremacy Of the asr'
Constitution. Now. uDder that Constitution pr"po-
sition has been introduced IN the Federal Congress
for so amending the Constitution to authorize tho
abolition OF slavery.
This proposition requires few votes 70 become
law IT said thHk by Mr. Seward. that Congress
will adopt during the ensuing session The
Federal Constitution moreover. authorizes that the
Legislatures Of fonhs Of the States may charge
their Constitution. Now upon reconstruction there
would be ten slave States aud we think, some twenty
four or FIVE free STATES other territorial States ether
admitted ready for admission: The number Of slave
States Xed that OF the free States VIII be increased
by the formation OF States from National DOMAIN
and alien population. How long, then, would fbe pro-
lection OF Slavery last' For how many months or dsys
Long enough 6y some, to reap the profits of their
labor for tho mainiensce Of their owner Ihen We
should have premature peace 70 secure 10 eo"pIia
tive few the temporary use Of their property lien
men would have given life liub, property anu gteas
cause for the special gain OF few. Now. We repnJiae
the sentiment attributed 10 certain members OF Con'
gre.s az the sentiment Of the slayeho.dng class Wc
know hu reds who have given property and ne 10 toe
cause % Independence. We know hundreds WHO woaid
be wing-f any guarantees Of freedom eJu. W 49,
to subscribe every slave they pCssess 70 the
the cause. Such a concession is wholly unantnoiISo
by the Shareholders Of Virginia.
We have no disposition discuss questions before
iecaratons to 20 before the world as binding any
han tue individuals who have uttered then and p'ssi'
~ the constituencies which they represent
II would be sngul spectacle if it should appear
hat either one of those States which invited virginia
no the conflict finding their interests likely to suffer-
" the further prosecution OF the war; should compound
their safety, by surrender Of the principc OK
state Sovereignty involved in this war.
Such States might be sitting by the side OF the
oconclled Federal authorities, when Vrsnla, ne inc
,oble British Queen should be led In manncIed To re-
,eivo the sentence incurred by having come TO The
escue Of those who have deserted her. We appehend
10 such spectacle.
Northern Virginia, which We publish to-day, Will 90
read with pleasure by every Confederate VINO pre'efs
liberty ~ Slavery These brave men, the reduced rem
nant Of as gallant band Of heroes ever marched to
the tap Of the drum not conquered yet; they are
not yet subiugated they not ready TO sell Their
brthrcht of liberty for any mess OF pottage they are
ready 10 reconstruct on paper guarantees they who
are prepared to sacrifice life Itself for independence
will never permit their heroic suferings to- DO
made fruitcss by trusting 10 YanAee promises They
prefer guarantees written With the points OF ther pay
opets and secured behind the living rampirts or
brave army any Constitutional pledges when per-
iidious and faithless enemy may promise
These resolutions words Of encouragement spoken
by portion Of the army TO the people; they are the
Drm resolves of our brave defenders in the trenches,
and surely so long the army sends forth such voice,
ID is shame and disgrace for in the to he dis
cussng YANKEE guarantees aud wasting time over the
.ouson OF reconstruction But there arc men who are
discussing choice between securing liberty and inde-
ndonce by the abolition II slavery and reconstruction
with the enemy unde, paper guarantees for protection
)f negro property. Those reconstuctionsts are CON-
posed OF two classes
The owners OF large numbers OF slaves who, though
perfectly aware that Slavery would be certainly des
BIZ reconstruction yet hope that they may secure
gradual emancipation by which they may be
ible TO make much money out OF their negroes 40
hey are at present worth These men would sell their
,wn liberty and the liberty of tae dlsuterested gallant
,avehoding and non slay ehoding soldier for the cor
empthle privilege of working their negroes some i've