The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-03-19

DAY OF HUMILIATION AND PRAYER-Go-
vernon John A. Winston, of Alabama, has
issued his proclamation appointing the seventh
day of April as day Of humiliation and prayer,
recommending the people Of the State to look
up "to the benefcent Father of mankind" to
beseech him to prepare them to act with frater-
nal forbearance towards each other, "and mark
it) to meet with patriotic frmneas whatever po-
litical ordeal we may have presented to u.s."
An explanatory letter, transmitting this pro-
clamation to the editors of the Montgomery
.dduertiser, more fully explains the Governors
meaning. Here it is
MOBILE, March s, 1856
Gentlemen-At the suggestion OF some intelligent and
deyout gentlemen, and in compliance with my own
of proprety under the peculiar circumstances which
find ourselves placed both regards our pecuniary
cal relations the southern States have considered it
proper to do what, under other circumstances should
have left 10 those whose religious position it more pro-
perly becomes to move in spiritual affairs. II well be-
comes every one whose political lot has been cast in this
section OF the unon to examine prayeruly the end to
which political fanatcism at the Nerth Is so rapidly
tending, and to impore Him who endued the stern men,
the fathers of republic, with fortitude patriotism
and WISDOM to conduct our infant people through the
difficulties OF the revolutionary struggle and the estab-
lshment OF constitutional government to enable
bear ourselves in whatever emergency may be placed
JOHN A. WINSTON.
This is ominous There is an odor of seces-
sionism in this letter which is hardly sought to
be disguised. We are appraised of the gloomy
aspect Of the political relations of the Southern
States' The people of Alabama are called
upon "prayeliully to examine the end to
which political fanaticism at the North is so
rapidly tending" But we think that Governor
Winston is needlessly alarmed. To be sure,
the administration has been routed, "horse,
foot and dragoons," in the recent round Of
Northern elections; unquestionably there is a
great political revolution afoot; but the Gov
ernor is under great mistake if he supposes
that an abolition crusade against the South lies
at the bottom of this wonderful popular reac-
ton.
This new American party is not an abolition
party but an avowedly conservative, const-
tutional and Union party. 1t is national,
and not q sectional organization. We have
reason to believe that it will prove as powerful
among the slaveholding people of Virginia as
it has just shown itself to be among the nom
slayeholding people of New Hampshire. The
ascendancy of such a party, we think, does not
give "a gloomy aspect to the political relations
of the South" but cheerful and encouraging
aspect. In word, this new American conser-
vative movement has undermined the Seward
ntislavery coalition programme, and has SUI
perseded it, from the the living /" fixed fact
that the principles of the constitution and the
Union are more acceptable to the masses of the
people of all the Union, North and South, than
seditious or sectional agitation.
We concur, however, in this call Of the Go
vernon of Alabama for day Of humiliation
and prayer throughout the State; because
when man or q community turn their atten-
ton to prayer, it is pretty sure to be followed
by good results. If Alabama, however, had
been as long under the fierce despotism of our
old party pugilists and assassins as the city of
New York, we should say that the Governor,
instead of appointing day Of " humiliation"
should call for general thanksgiving, in view
of the bright prospect of new conservative,
salutary law and order political dispensation.
A day of humiliation and prayer in the South,
on account of the gloomy aspect of affairs"
and the tendencies of political fanaticism at
the North " Verify we live in strange and
eventful tines win they catch Baker?
Fur M Tisu GpCA fTsG