The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-12-10

"There is at last q CLEAN Of sunshine
said telegraphic despatch published yester-
day from Washington. This CLEAN of sun
shine proceeded from a rumor that Jefferson
Davis had received a despatch from the Presf-
dent elect, stating that he was preparing
letter for publication defining his position upon
the questions now distracting the two sections
Of the country-a letter which, it was believed,
would give entire satisfaction to the South
Whether there be any truth in this statement
or not, Mr. Lincoln owes it to himself and to his
country to make it true as soon as possible There
is no man in this Union more deeply interested
n its fate than he is, and upon the course he
may now pursue-not the policy he may adopt
after his inauguration-hangs his own future
veal or woe. Upon what he will do or not do
within the next few days may depend whether
he will have reason to curse the day he was
born, or whether he will "rse to the height
Of the great argument" and, ignoring all party
considerations in the presence Of the danger
which looms up before his eyes in such colos-
sal proportions, prove himself statesman, and
save the country by coming out with clear
and distinct programme of his views upon the
crisis, and Of the action which he would recon-
mend to Congress and the country in this hour
of peril and dismay. Before the Colleges Of
Electors chosen by the people to elect Pres-
dent had met in their several States to cast
their votes Mr.. Lincoln might have had some
delicacy about presenting his ideas to the peo-
ple but now that they have assembled and
placed his election beyond all peradventure,
etiquette no longer imposes silence upon him.
On the contrary, it is now his imperative duty,
as the President elect, to declare the policy by
which his administration will be guided. 1t is
his election by a sectional party at the North,
whose purpose it is to overthrow the institu-
tons Of the South, which is proclaimed To be
the provocation to the present revolutionary
condition of the Cotton States, the source of
the commercial embarrassment which now
exists in two worlds, and the cause Of all the
present distress and gloomy prospects which
hang like black cloud over the future of the
country.
What is the present critical condition of the
country. The effects Of the revolution, thus
far, may be classed under the following
heads
l. The closing Of factories and the discharge
of labor everywhere.
2. The depreciation Of stocks national and
State railroad and bank.
3. Depreciation in the value of cotton, wool,
-four, grain and other products of the soil.
4. Depreciation in the value Of negroes and
real estate
The loss already sustained throughout the
country by this sudden prostration of trade
and industry cannot fall far short of two hun
dred millions Of dollars But this is not all.
Other disastrous effects are soon to follow.
First. The rebound from Europe foreshad-
owed by the news by the Asia.
Secondly. The stoppage Of probably all the
mills and workshops Of the country, throwing
million or more Of free laborers out Of en-
ployment in the depths Of winter
Thirdly. The consequent suffering and anar-
chy everywhere, but especially at the North,
where labor is compelled to take care of ITSELF
For this state Of things what remedies have
been proposed?
First. The repeal of the Personal Liberty
laws.
Second. A national convention to give new
guarantees to the South, including the extern
sion of the Missouri line Of compromise to the
Pacific.
Third. The appointment Of a committee Of
thrty-three in the House of Representatives to
take into consideration the Presidents Message.
But what have the republicans done as a
party Absolutely nothing. When Thurlow
Weed declared for concession he was cried
down by the republican journals and party
leaders. Individual efforts have been made,
but what are thcys Vermont has referred her
Personal Liberty bill to q committee Of three
conservative lawyers for their opinion as to its
unconstitutionality, which probably is a virtual
repeal Of the law. Governor Banks, It is said,
will recommend the repeal Of the Massachusetts,
Law In his message next month. Other North
ern States viii probably repeal their Personal
Such partial concessions as these may be
made here and there. But the republican
party, as such, have done nothing as yet to
arrest the progress Of disunion. If there be
any statesmen or patriots In that party 1t
is now necessary for them to take the initia-
tive towards the settlement Of the great ques-
ton which agitates the public mind. The
whole southern people are united in their de-
mand for new guarantees. South Carolina.
Georgia, Florida, Mississippi Alabama, are
now in a state Of incipient revolution. North
Carolina. Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas
mr. IN ha nf
may cross the Rubicon. The Governor
Of Tennessee, one OF the most conscrva-
tive States Of the South. has called an ex-
ira session Of the Legislature to consider the
question of the day. The other Southcrnu
States will soon follow the example of Ten
nessec.
Now the people Of the South have always
been, with exceptions Of course, Union-loying
people. They know how to appreciate the
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