New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-05-10


ingtons republic;" propounded by Jefferson of
Virginia in the first Congress that met after the
close Of our Revolutionary War and at once
accepted by vote of IS to THE majority
including every man from the North. The same
principle, somewhat restricted in It's application,
was adopted three years thereafter, on the
report of member from Massachusetts,
eeery State conscnting. And if the South
| had been willing pcrsistently to stand with US
on the principle thus established by common
consent in the very infancy OF the Republic
there would have been no Civil War and no
lorcible overthrow OF Slavery.
But the South changed-we did not. She in
sisted that Slavery should be extended-that no
obstacle should be interposed to its diiiusion-
and that change offront impeled first collision,
ultimately Civil War. The North and the South
were first brought into conflict by demand OF
( the South that Slavery should prevail in the
Organization and admission of Missouri. This
demand, long and Sturdily resisted, finally trl-
lumphed by compromise dictated and mainly
supported by the South. Thenceforth, for forty
years. Slavery swayed our National councils
with partial and ftlul Interruptions.
The acquisition and annexation OF Texas next
Iconyulsed the North and the South on Slavery
Tissue Who were the Revoutionists, who the
conservatives in that contest Martin Van
Buren, had been designated by most Of the State
lConventions as the Democratic candidate for
I President in 1Sii. The South compelled hun
Ito take ground on Annexation: he declared
Against the project, and the South rcpudiatod
and defeated him, nominating instead James
Tx. Polk, a Southron. a STAKEHOLDER, and an
5avowed Annexatonist, who alter Il desperate
doubtful contest, was elected. Who were the
|Revolutionists in that struggle
There was no serious question on any hand
THAT Texas was sought and seized to strengthen
1.-The Slave Power. 1t will give Gibraltar to
the South" said Gen. James Hamilton, Jr, Of
sSouth Carolina in eager advocacy OF the scheme.
And John C.. Calhoun, in an official dispatch to
Minister King at Paris, urged the necessity of
Annexation expressly Oh the assumption that,
in its absence British influence would triumph
lin Texas, abolishing Slavery there, and thereby
scndangering It's existence here.
The acquisition Of Cuba, for years openly and
sshameIcssly pursued by our Democratic mag
mates in and out Of office, being declared in
democratic platforms and Ostend Circulars an
lobjcct of supreme National desire, was advo-
Heated on this especial ground: Slavery in
'5Cuba is essential to the support of Slavery
Iir the United States: we must acquire Cuba,
Tor slavery will die there, and thus endanger its
here" And this neghborly interest
in the longevity of Cuban Slavery was eyinced
Through thirty years of our recent history.
/ The Nebraska-Kansas contrOyersy-will any
hone charge that on the anti-Slayery North
lThere had been an explicit compact, known rs
the Missouri Compromise, excluding Slavery
from all Federal territory north of lat. 36O 80.
1.-THE South, through Senator Dixon of Kentucky,
demanded the repeal OF that exclusion Senator
1Douglas hesitated, demurred, then assented.
THE whole land was rocked with the consequent
istrugglc Slavery triumphed in the success Of
the proposition; but Freedom ultimately won
Ithc disputed territories Were not We oppo-
,nents of Slavery standing on the defensive in
that contest p
| Finally came the Presidential contest OF
sleG0. The one issue of moment dividing par
ties was this: The Republicans would keep
lslayery out Of the Territories if they could
their opponents contended that they must not.
lshould not, do any such thing. Were We
|" rcvolutionists" in maintaining that territory
that came to Us Free should remain Free forever
We await an answer.
All through the eventlul Winter of ls60-I,
There was abundance of effort and Of desire to
sadjust and compose our differences without
sbloodsLed; and there was but one issue that
could not be adjusted-that Of Tie Extension of
Slavery. Either party, if that were conceded,
stood ready to concedc almost everything else.
Virginia stood ready to throw her weight into
the Gale Of the Union il We would but sur.
render the Territories TO her shareholders
(which was the very thing we could not DO. So,
she seeded and plunged headlong into the War
for Disunion.
4 In the face of these facts-so mutitudnous,
Z so mountainous-how ran any one say that
} the North made war on the South-made war
+ IN spirit of revolution There was never,
I from l7s1 to 1861, one State in all the onion
that could, under whatever pressure Of excite
ment, have given onc-iourth of It's legal votes
in favor OF war Oh the South for the overthrow
and extinction Of Slavery.