New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-30

Clay the originator OF measures and policies with DIS
inventive and organizing mind, not rich In profound
ideas or In knowledge gathered by book study. but
learning went quick in the perception OF existing
wants and difficulties and OF the means within reach TO
satisfy the one and the other and born cap
tain also-a commander of men, who appeared as II
riding through struggles OF those days mounted on
q spendidly caparisoned charger, sword IN manu. ana
with waving helmet plume, leading the front; merry
and truly magnetic SOUL overawing with HIS frown en-
chanting with his SMILE fourshng the weapon OF elo
quence like wizards wand overwhelming opposition
aud kndling and tanning the flame OF enthusiasm;
marshaler OF parties whose very presence and voice
like signal blast created and welded organization.
And by his side Daniel Webster with that awiui Vas,
moss OF BRAIN tremendous storehouse OF thOugnt anu
knowledge which gave forth Its treasures with ponder
Gus majesty OF utterance not an originator Oh meas
and policies but mighty advocate, the ereatcs.
advocate this country knew king In the realm OF
intellect and the solemn embodiment OF authorfty-a
hugo Atlas who carried the Consttutionon his shoulders
He could have carried there the whole moral grandeur
of the nation had he never compromised his own
Such men filed the stage during that period OF con-
struction and conservative national organHatlon de
voting the best efforts Of their craftsmanship tho states
manshp the political mind TO the purpose or raising
their country to greatness In wealth and power OF max
ing people proud Of their common nationality ana
OF unfolding the Union in the contentment or prosper
ity enlightened patriotism, national law ana consul
tutional principle And when they drew near their Gnu
they could boast OF many grand achievement not In
deed exclusively their for other powerful minus
had their share In the work. Tho United States stood
there among the great OF the EARTH strong aud
respected The Republic had foreign foe to fear It's
growth in population and wealth, In popular intelligence
and progressive civilization, tho wonder OF the world
There was no visible limit TO ITS development; there
seemed to be danger to ITS integrity.
But among the problems which the statesmen OF that
bad
eluded their grasp. Many a conflict OF opinion ana
interest they had succeeded in settling either by posi-
tive decision by judcious composition But one con-
ct had stubboruly baed the craftsmanship OF expe-
dents for it than mere conflict OF OPINION
and interest 1t was q couHict grounded deep In the
moral nature OF men-the Slavery question Many q
time appeared the surface during the period
have described threatening overthrow all that mad
been ingeniOusy built up aud to break asunder all tha
had been laboriousy cemented together In ther ahA
iey every danger threatening the Unon they
attempted repress the Slavery question by compro
mise aud apparently with at least for while
But however firmly those compromises seemed to stand
there was force Of nature work which, like rest
less food silently but increasingly and irreslstlDH
washed their foundation away until at last the towering
structure tOppled down.
RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE ANTI-sLAvERY MOVE
MENT.
Tho anti Slavery movement is now one OF the great
chapters past history. The passions OF the stie-
Gle having buried in thousands OF graves and the
victory Of Universal Freedom standing as firm ana uh-
questionable as the eternal hills may now look back
upon that history with impartial eye. III may ne
hoped the people of the South If they do not
vet appreciate the spirit which created and guided the
antSlayery movement, will not much longer msunder
stand it, Indeed they grievously misunderstood IL al
the time They looked upon it as the offspring OF
wanton desire to meide with other peoples AFFAIRS or
AS the product of hypocritical seshness assuming the
mask and cant of philanthropy, merely to rob the South
and TO enrich New-Engand; insdlous contriv-
ance OF crminaly reckless political ambition, striving
70 grasp and mOnopolze power at risk Of destroying
part OF the country the whole. IL was perhaps,
not unnatural that those Interested in Slavery should
have thought but from this great error arose their
fatal miscalcuation TO the strength OF the anti
Slavery cause.
No idea ever agitated the popular mind to whose
IGN calculating sefshness moro foreign. Even
the great uprising which brought about the war OF indie
penGence was less free from selfish motives, for II
sprahg from resistance to tyrannlcal ABUSE oil the TAX
ing power Then the people against that oppression
which touched their property; the antsiayery move
ment originated impulse only moral. IL was the
Irresistible breaking OF trouble Of conscience-a
trouble OF conscience which had already disturbed the
men who made the American Republic. II found
voice in their anxious admontons, their gloomy proph
ecies their scrupulous exclude from the Consti
tuition all forms OF expression which might have ap-
pearei to sanction the idea Of property In man.
IL found voice In the fierce struggle which resulted
in the Missouri compromise. 1t repressed for
time by material interest by the greed of gain, when
the peculiar product OF slave labor became one Of the
principal staples OF the country and mine OF wealth
But the trouble Of conscience raised its voice again.
shri and defiant as when your own John Quincy Adams
stood in tho halls OF Congress- aud when devoted advo-
Gates OF the rights of began and carried on In the
,ffAn rrfraft
seemingly hopeless 1t cried out again and again. until
at last its tones and echoes grew louder than all the
noises that we're to drown II.
The anti-Slavery movement found arrayed against
itself all the influences all the agencies all the argu
ments which ordinarily control the actions OF men.
Commerce ssd-DO not disturb Slavery, for its products
l our ships and of the principal means OF our
exchanges Industry said-Do not disturb Slavery, for
it oeds machinery and gives markets. The greed
wealth sadDo hot disturb Slavery for 1t Is an mex
haustibe fountain Of riches Political ambition said
DO disturb Slavery for it furnishes combinations
aud compromises TO keep parties alive aud to make pow
the price Of shrewd management. An anxious state
manshp said--Do not disturb Slavery, for you might
break TO pieces the union OF these States There
was formidable combination Of interests and IN
fueuces than that which confronted tho antiSavery
movement in its earlier stages. And what it's
swer "whether all be true or false. it matters
not. but Slavery is wrong"
Slavery Is wrongl That one word was enough 1t
stood there like huge rock In the sea, shiyerng to
spray the dashing upon it, Interest greed srgu
ment, vituperation, caumny, rdicule, persecution,
patriotic appea-it was all in vain. Amidst all the
storm and assault that word stood there unmoved
intact and impregnable Slavery is wrong. Such was
the vital spirit Of the anti-Savery movement in its
early development. Such spirit alone could inspire
that religious devotion which gave to the believer oil
the stubborn energy Of fanacism it alone could knde
that deep enthusiasm which makes willing TO risk