The New York herald., 1872-09-14
A VOICE FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE

senator Halo on the POLITICAL Situation
He Holds the Mirror up TO his Old Assoc
ciates.
Hon. John p. Hale, for many years leader in the
republican party and Senator In Congress from
New Hampshire, publishes long reply to cores
pondcnt who asks his views OF current politics
He says:-Mr. Greeley's case is plain enough. On
pages 35S and $50 Of the first volume OF his History
Of the American Conflict, you will find his own &C
count OF himself as he was at the breaking out OF
the rebellion. He there saws that on the second
day after Mr.. Linc0ln's election, November Q,
1850, 'the following leading article appeared
In the New York Tribune" You viii find, he says,
In that article:-f the Cotton States shall decide
that they do better out Of the Union than It,
we insist on letting them go In peace" To avoid
all possibility OF being misunderstood, he repeats
the same doctrine in dinerent words-'whenever
considerable section Of our Union shall delibe.
ratey solve to 60 out we shall resist all coercive
measures designed to keep 1t in." Lest article
might not make his position sufficiently conspicu
ous. he wrote and published many articles con-
tanning he same doctrine. Lest all his newspaper
articles the subject should in the course OF time
be forgotten he copies OF them into his History
OF tho American Connict, for the apparent purpose
OF preserving, In tho durable form Of historical
record, his undsputed claim to the title OF an 0rg
II . majority Of Southern voters that is, Of free
e himself
designed to keep them in. That was the simplest
plan ever suggested for the dissolution OF the
stronger Invitation ito go out' could he have given
the South than that pledge Ito resist all coercive
an xious ito % outS but dreadine the .'coereive
measures," read Mr.. Greeleys pledge republished
4 ss IT, osnss SS s Ss
and hesitating white men Of the South into firm
and ardent sccessonists, none was more effective
hon M ayta nj In q
measures" meas M whether that pledge was the means
OF turning the scale, and giving the active seces-
unt the ss day u recfons this @ DO
know that for all the ruin. desclation and misery
more responsible than Mr. Greeley.
He Is In principle, secesslonist Today as he
was when he wrote that article Of November g.
1860. observe he Is stumping the country In his
own behalf When he makes his next stump speech
let any ask him, In the face OF the world II he
him on the 35eth page OF the first volume of his
"HistOry OF the American Conflict" and lie may try
to evade the question; but II he Is compelled to
Hno," he viii answer "Yes" HIS secession faith
y the basis Of his whole political character. On
pay the shareholders for their slaves when he knew
they would not sell them. That plan was part OF
e
with terror. and would do anything but fight for a
This doctrine of secession is the only article OF
political faith to which he has shown any dsposi-
ton to adhere. He was supposed to be an unninch-
pledges himself to smother and suppress his opin-
| Ions on the tarin question, and to give no advice
and use no influence that question, which he has
as OF the most vital importance to the
| try. He has given no pledge to smother and sup
| press his opinions on the secession question. What
| such pledge would be worth, while his pledge ITO
| resist all cOercive measures" remains unredeemed,
! you can Judge as well as l.
would he do when his secession Views had enc0ur-
aged the South TO secede agains He would. OF
course, again ofer to hire them to remain by pay
What would be the effect OF Mr. GreeIey's elec-
ti0n Manlresty the South would at once be in
OF compensation for their slaves, their debt and
their pensions, and with the fiery elements thus
| army to put down another insurrectiOn. Oh
| vously no such man could be nominated for Presl-
| dent by the republican party. When he was satis-
fed or That, then, and not till then he lett US.
That is one serious aspect Of Mr. Greeley's case,
this momentous question OF American nationality,
| you take into the account his excessive vanity,
weakness aud yacillation, his nabby and yielding
hankerng for Office, You have, think a full ex.
p,apayop q his present lamentable course.
w e a paa Of
ing the man than is Afforded by public speeches.
Mr.. Sumner was not, as has been claimed Tor llm,
among the OF our earliest anti-slavery champions.
Mr.. Garrison, Mr.. Phillips, Mr.. Gerritt Smith, Mr..
Giddings and others ante.date Mr.. Sumner by many
years IN their espousai oi tne cause OF the slave.
But bear cordial witness that, after he entered
| upon the work. he was among the most earnest,
| faithful and persistent OF the friends Of Veedcm
His arbitrary and dictat0rial nature renders him
peculiarly liable 10 substitute his own hasty i'm
tc!ses for convictions and principles Of public
policy. can readily understand that Mr.. sumner
might be betrayed by his wounded vanity and in-
perious temper into temporary mlsludgment;
But that he coHld under the influence OF personal
rrations, bo 80 blind or SO dishonest as TO delbe
ratey and persistenty counsel the colored men OF
the nation to use their newly acquired right Of
suffrage to relnstate their lifelong enemies and
OppressOrs In the control Of the government, Is TO
me the strangest phenomenon Of these latter days