The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-11-15

O1 GeOrRlas
! We devote considerable portion Of our avail
able space this morning to the extraordinary
message Of Governor Brown, Of Georgia, to the
Legislature OF that State, on the subject Of Der
existing federal elations. This document il
! will be observed, presents, not the remedy OF
| North, but the policy OF reprisais and esisla
tive measures of retaliation against any and
every State Of the Eer'h whose existing laws
| disregard aud violate the constitutional rights
of Georgia on the subject of slave property.
Governor Brown as q fragrant example of
the Northern nulli'ying States complained Of,
takes up Massachusetts, and her stringen crimi-
nal legislation against the Fugitive S ave Law
of Congress. Against this legislation OF said
State he proposes, should any citizea of Geor
| gia hereafter suffer from |, In the loss of a
| slave or slaves that reprisals be made by the
] State Of Georgia upon the property Of citizens
| OF Massachusetts,, wherever it can be seized, to
the full value of said slave or slaves, and for
| the indemnfcation of the owner thereof.
In addition to Massachusetts,, the Northern
States guilty Of multiplying the Fugitive Slave
Law, specially enumerated by Governor Brown
are Vermont, Maine, Michigan, Rhode Island
Connecticut, New York and Wisconsin. Against
them, but particularly against Maseac husetts
be not only proposes the remedy of reprisals,
but discriminating State tax upon their
manufactures of twenty-five per cent ad
valorem. Should they still continue derelict
be further recommends the repeal Of the penal
laws Of Georgia, 80 far as the citizens of the
offending States may be concerned whereby
their property and their lives In Georgia will
be left without any legal protection. The
Governor, next suggesting general conven-
ton of the Southern States on the disnnion
question, concludes by calling for the appro-
priation Of o million OF dollars for defensive
purposes.
Such are the salient points Of this remarkable
message. II Is not a secession document per
Sc, but II lie brimful of revolutionary COM
bustibles. In connection with the direct dis-
union programme of South Carolina and
with the sympathizing movements initiated
in Tlcrida, Alabama and Mississippi, 1t would
be folly to attempt 10 Disguise the gloomy and
threatening clouds which cover our whole
Southern horizon. In South Carolina what we
have to dread is not disunion meetings, mani
festoee, speeches and resolutions, nor Ia 1t the
declaration by her approaching State Conven-
ton that South Carolina u an independent re-
public; but 1t Is some violent collision between
the State and federal authorities after the act of
secession. This revolutionary collision between
the State and the United States we hope will
be avoided by the utmost forbearance on both
Sides II thus avoided, the Union may not only
be saved, but 1t may be restored to something
like Its original harmony In all its parts.
Bat assuming that In the way indicated we
shah escape the practical nrst blow Of disunion,
we cannot hope to escape through this impend-
ing ordeal without serious shock to the fnan-
Of the whole country, from New York, the great
business centre, TO the remotest boundaries of
the Union. Already the business relations of
the people Of the Southern States with the North
have fallen into q very unsettled condition
from the prevailing disunion excitement, which
radiates from South Carolina 10 Virginia, Mis-
eissppi and Florida Before this condition Of
things can be improved II must become worse;
for we cannot expect TO better II until We shall
have passed the crisis Of disunion.
Assuming that, through the pscifying agen
cies OF forbearance and Cancellation, the Union
will pass the crisis unbroken. we may next
look, for its future security, to the Spontaneous
formation Of powerful Union party. North
and South, and to a great and decisive national
triumph Of this party in 1864. Let us weather
this storm, and we shall hear no more Of dis.
union In the South, and no more Of the ''irre.
presslble conaic;" IN The North, as the policy
~ The genera government lgf q --oat III ii
party will come TO toe rssous, and, si,naing
tai,hfully q al the compromise AID compact
Of the constitution wit reslo1e sense q s..
curiy 10 tbe South au3 spli On concord
between tie two oi01s which W. have ngt
enjoyed 'or bst' century.
Meantime we rely upon the discretion of the
administration at Washington In reference to
the threatened secession OF South Carolina.
Her people are Wild with the idea OF an in
dependent government Let them be treated
with the indulgence which the crisis demands,
and within the month or more intervening to
the action Of their Secession Convention, the
"sober second thought" may begin 20 work
among them. But should the Convention de.
clare South Carolina an Independent State, hav.
ing no further connection with the government
at Washington, still let forbearance aud kind.
nees be the policy Of the administration. We
doubt not that this will be the policy disclosed
In Mr.. Buchanan's annual message to Congress,
and II is 70 be hoped that Congress, aud the re
publican party in Congress, acting in the same
spirit, will seek rather 70 reconcile South Caro-
lima TO the Union than to push her people to
open rebellion.