Year: 1860

The New York Tribune referring to the
failure of the disunion emissary from South
Carolina to Virginia to erlst that old and
somewhat dilapidated commonwealth in the
scheme Of secession, thus speaks of the dsu-
Mon question, and defends the position Of the
Republican party towards the South


As it is with Virginia, so it is with Mary
ar d, with Kentucky, with Delaware, with
Missouri, with Tennessee, and with North
Carolina, and with most of them in much
more eminent degree. When we hear talk of
the secession of the Slave States when we
contemplate any threatened separation of the
slave-holding communities, therefore, the States
which we have named must be counted out at
the start. They will not, AKA they can not
from position, instigate encourage or coun-
tenance. directly or indirectly, any of the mis-
chcf-nlakng propositions with which Sonth-
ern fire-eaters are wont to disturb our politics
And this is the lesson which, above all Others
is taught by the action of Virginia on Mr..
Memmingers mission The only disturbing
threatening element in the South on the Sla-
very question is to be found in the States Of
South Carolina Georgia, Alabama, and Mis-
sissipp. We may throw in Louisiana and Ar
kansas if any body pleases, but while the su-
gar duties last we will guarantee the continu-
anee of that perfectly peaceable and conserva-
tive character which Louisiana has always
maintained with regard to slavery as well as
other national topics. And when we reflect
that in the fllibustering slave States, which
we have given to the noisy malcontents, as af-
fording their only theater Of operations, under
any circumstances there is a powerful and pro
badly predominant Union party at all times
the absolute emptiness Of all the threats of
Disunon which come from the slave States be
comes but tooludicrously apparent. We see
there is but the merest shell of Disunion
party to be brought into action at any time;
and that if ever the day comes that a hand has
to be raised to quell the hot headed disturbers
of the public peace, it will fall upon diminu-
tive and contemplate foe.


The sentiments inspired by these reflections
are not of threatening or beligerent charac-
ter. On the contrary, they prompt in US only
suggestions of fraternity and forbearancc--
Although the Republican party, while cxcrci-
sing its strictly constitutional rights and pur-
suing laudable and patriotic purposes, has been
vindictively assailed and maicously denoun-
ced by the champions and trumpeters Of Sla-
very and their hell-hounds everywhere, we
bear no malice toward any State or section of
this Confederacy. II we know the iniquties,
and the deadly moral and industrial influences
of Slavery, and if we feel its arrogant and in
solent sway in the Federal Government, we
yet know its essential impotence, and how
weak it will prove on the day that that Fed
eral power passes from its hands We know
the fiery gulf that burns beneath its feet and
which will yawn to swallow its needless up
holders at the moment they strike the first
blow against the Federal authority in its sup
port. The only feeling, therefore, that we
have, in view of the conclusions we have eX-
pressed, is to temper the strife of party and OF
sections We would discourage untriendly ac-
tion of the North against the South, of Free
States against Slave States. We would not
bear hard upon Virginia, for the very reason
that we believe Virginia to be weak. We
would act so as to avert all convulsions, and to
avoid preciptating difficulties between the diff
ferent members OF the Union and we would
urge upon the people Of the Slave States the
duty and the necessity on their part, OF ma
| king this labor of ours as light as possible