The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-30


threatening the Union they attempted to
REDRESS The slavery question by COM
1 s%s MIN ss
seemed TO stand there was q force OF nature &C
work which, like reetless mood, silently but un-
ceastngly and trreststl0ly washed their foundation
away. until at last the towering structure
topped down. Tue anttslavery movement Is
pS,s S SsiorS the great chapters Of ur
gle having been buried IN thousands OF graves,
aud the victory OF universal freedom standing as
may now look back upon that history with an I'm
partial eye. 1t may be hoped that even the pe0-
ps q we sS 30 s 1s
movement VIII not much longer misu. ~ierstand IL.
Indeed, they grievousIy misunderstood 1t at the
want0n desire TO NEEDLE with other peoples al
ars. OF rs tne product 81 hypocn'icai seishness
mssey 70 'l ROB se south and Sew
England, or as an insldious contrivance OF crimi-
nAlly reckless political ambition, striving to grasp
part oi the country, or even the whole. It was
perhaps not unnatural that those interested IN
slavery should have thought 80, but from this
strength oil the anti-siavery cause.
OPPOSITION TO EMANCIPATION.
The antiB.avery movement found arraycd
against itself ali the influences, all the agencies,
all the arguments which ordinarily control the
81 men, M e sad DO mot Sne
OF the principal means oil our exchanges Industry
said, Do not disturb slavery. Tor 1t leeds our
81 weait saa bo not dss"ro Slavery
an lnexhaustbe FOUNTAIN OF riches. Political am
s and eep
parties alive and to make power the price OF
shrewd management An anxious craftsmanship
said 10 not disturb slavery, IOr you might break
to pieces the Onion OF these States. There never
was q more formidable combination o. interests
and Influences tam that when CONFRONTED the anti
was Its answer "Whether all you say be true or
taise II matters not but slavery Is wrong"
a n M vunn Ipocn m
stood there ike huge rock IN The sea, shivering
to spray the waves dashIng upon 1t. Interest,
nstrotc Was M
that one wold stood there unmoved, intact and
fmpregnable: Slavers Is wrong. Such was the
vital spirit Of the anti-slavery movement In lis
early development. Such 81 irit alone could in-
spire that religious devoIIon which gave to the
believer all the stubborn energy or Ianaticism;
It alone could Kindle that deep enthusi.
assn which made men willing TO risk and
sacrifice everything Tor great cause; IL alone
could keep alive that unc.nqueraUie ialtl In the
certainty OF ultimate success which boldly at
was indeed, great spirit, AZ against dlfricuities
which threw pusillanmity into despair. 1t painfully
struggled INTO light, often batiied and us often
rlgnr; encouraged BY nothing but the cheering
sympathy OF lioerty-lOyIn2 mankind the world
over, and by the hope that some day the con-
science OF the American people would be Duck
ened Dy iull understanding Of the dangers winch
upon the Republic. No scramble ior the spells Of
office then, no expectation OF speedy conquest OF
siasm, that latin in the breasts OF small band OF
men, and the prospect OF new uncertain struggles
THE FUTILE CONTROVERSY
At the time wnen Mr.. sumner entered the
Senate the hope OF final victory appeared as dis
men OF the past period had just succeeded In
building up that compromise winch admitted
upon p che Republic the fugitive u slave W.
was corsidered aud called a final SET.
1t as such. In whatever they might differ, a. to
this they sOlemnly proclaimed their agreen ent.
patriotism ana as guallfcation necessary for the
possession OF political power Opposition to It was
denounced as tactlous unpatriotic, Revolutionary
acquesced IN it. Material int rest looked upon It
q nsw Soa %
union POLITICIANS hailed 1t as an iurance that
tne hght ior the public plumber mf # be carried
on without the disturbing init ustOn OF moral prtn
cspse npolitlcs. But, deep down, mems conscience
Ike volcanic IRE was restless. ready iOr new
s.a %ac Sa 70 az had ss
numbers OF men 10 open action, should
receive q reinforcement strong enough to
hps into an
laws wnica govern the development OF human
affairs asserted itsel, the law that great wrong,
which has been maintained In defiance OF the moral
sense Oh mankind, must finally, ny the very means
aud measul es necessary Tor It's sastenance render
Itself insup portable as to insure lis downfall
and destruction. So 1t was with slavery.
CANDIDLY ACQuIT THE AMERICAN SLAVE POWER
Of wi'ut and wAnton aggression upon the liberties
slavery VAS to be kept alive &C I'LL Its supporters
could not act otherwise than they DID, slavery
not ss fS arys na IN
discussion. Therefore iree inquiry and DIS
cussion touching slavery had 10 be sup
escaping merely across State hue thereby es-
capped the grasp OF their masters. Hence an ei
iective fugitive slave law was imperatlvely de-
manded. Slavery could not protect It's interests
III the Union unless ITS power balanced that OF the
Tree States IN the national councils. therefore,
by c0iOnIzatiOn or conquest, the number OF
the annexation Texas, Mexican war and IN
not MAINTAIN the equilibrium OF power ifi per-
United itself to be excluded from the national
Territories. Hence the breaking down OF the
Missouri Compromise and the usurpation IN
Kansas. Thus slavery was pushed on and
ON by the memorable logic OF It's exist
ence; the slave masters were only the
slaves OF the necessities Of slavery and all their
seeming eXaction5 ana usurpatiOus were merely
or ITS me- Many o. t tner demands Sn had
mission or compromise. The Northern people.
although with reluctant conscience, mad acqui-
sake OF peace. But when the slave power went
30 far as to demand for slavery the great do
main OF the nation which had been held
sacI ed Tor freedom forever, then the people
OF the North suddenly understood that the necessl-
ties OF slavery demanded what they could not yield.
Then the conscience oil the masses was relieved OF
the doubts anu lears which had held II so long In
check; their moral Impulses were quickened by
practical Perceptions; tne moral idea became 9
practical fOrce, and the nnal struggle began. 1t
was made inevitable by the necessities OF slavery;
1t was indeed an lrrcpressibe conflict.
THE EXIT OF CLAY AND WEBSTER
These things were impending when Henry Clay
and DANIEL webster, tue arcnltects OF the last
compromise, LETT the Senate. Had they, with all
their far-seeing statesmanship, never understood
mis- logic OF thingsf When they made their COM
promise did they only desire to postpone the final
struggle until they should be gone, 80 that
they might not witness the terrible concussion
Or had their great ana manifold achievements
with the statesn anshp Of organization and ex-
pediency SO deuded their minds that they really
hoped a COMPROMISE which only Ignored, but did
n settle tie great moral question, could
furnish an enduring basis tor future de-
velopmentss One thing they and their con-
tempOrarles had indeed accomplished; un.
der their care the Republic had grown
80 great and strong, Its vitality had become SO
tough, that 1t could endure the fnal struggle with
out ial ing to pieces under Its shocks. Whatever
fhSs. hnIr anal .hcs~