The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-10-31
This Imminent Peril Of the Dny-Ars the
North AID the south In Earnest.


Glasgow, Antwerp, Bremen and Havrc.
Tbs Inn minent Peril OF the DAy-Ars ths
North nLd the South In Earnests
One of the most alarming symptoms of the
dangerous temper Of the times is the levity and
Indifferent concern with which nearly all classes
of the community speak of the probability of
dsunion, and their persistent blindness to the
terrible results that must inevitably flow from
such catastrophe.
1t is not many years since the expression
of an opinion adverse to the perpetuation Of
the confederaey was looked upon as treason to
the highest interests of the community. few
fanatics in the North have for years howled
forth continuously their anathemas on the Union
as being compact with hell aud an equally
small number of fire eaters in the South have
babbled of the power and glory of Southern
eonfs deracy; but the sober sense Of the great
mass of the people spurned their teachings
everywhere. 1t is only ten years since the
compromise measures, which were wrought with
so much toll and pain by the united efforts of the
second generation Of giant intellects that our
young republic has given to the world, were
accepted with an overwhelming approval in
every section Of the country. Two years later
poor Pierce was elected to the Presidency by
the same wave of public opinion, which left to
his political opponent who is the most success
ful and popular military leader now living,
only six approving States No man has ever
doubted that this failure to elect General Scott
was mainly due to the suspicion that be was
too intimate with Seward and the abolitionized
leaders of the Northern political party.
How different is the scene that the statesmen
contemriates in the tone and ranging Of party
organizations Of the present day. In the
North we see powerful political party al
vancing hopefully TO triumph, with motto
emblazoned on its banners proclaiming dead
" hostility to the domestic organization OF
fifteen States. Its leaders boldly utter the
most revolutionary and destructive theories,
and their hearers laugh and make sport Of the
evident fear and alarm Of the listening South.
It's literature is found in the incendiary compi
lation Of Helper, the revolutionary logic of
Spooner the pure abolitionist writings of Alvan
Stewart, the bitter and fallacious speeches
Of Lincoln. Seward, Wilson, sumner Love;oy
and hundreds of others, all of which are circu-
lated in thousands upon thousands of copies
amorg approving multitudes. Yet not one
sentiment of these that are so unblushingly
uttered by these political leaders in the North,
ard which convey an evident satisfaction to
the ears Of their Northern hearers, finds one
single approver in the South, one single man in
public or private station that dare utter them
there, or one single reason for believing that,
il tAcy were 50 uttered, blooished and ruin
would not ensue.
In the South, on the o.her hand, we behold
all political differences subsiding into one COM
mon feeling OF the necessity Of self defence
against the danger that menaces them from the
North. 1t is not that they fear that the army
and navy Of he confederacy is to be used for
the immediate loosing of four millions Of an
inferior and degraded race upon their commu-
nifty; nor that they believe tina. Lincoln will
proclaim the Liberation OF the four millions OF
slaves; nor that the federal courts will be at
once so organized that writs Of habeas corpus
will be issued 10 every negro in scrvitude;
nor Jet that they entertain the conviction that
black republican administration will openly
countenance and defend the efforts Of fanatics Of
the John Brown school to carry civil and ser
vile war into their now fair fields. But they
know, and the whole world knows, that all Of
these things are in tie logical development Of
the theory that slavery Is an evil and q crime;'
that after the proclaiming OF the idea the next
step in its triumphant march is It's accept
ance by political majority, and its instalment
as the ruling policy Of federal administration,
and that the results which all should contem-
plate with dread are AZ certain TO follow as the
night the day.
HENCE do we see In the South that which the
North looks upon with real or with feigned in.
difference and disbelief. Everywhere the PEG.
4 pie are alarmed, aud the slaves look forward to
some anticipated Jubilee OF riot and unrestraint.
/ Men on all sides band themselves together 10
meet the coming exigencies; mothers hing their
babes closer 70 their bosoms in view Of future
dangers; children look wis,fully 10 their parents
at their evident alarm; the public authorities
take measures calculated to organize and de-
fend the State; Legislatures and conventions
meet 10 discuss the peril Of the time, and all lis
ten anxiously for words Of hopeful counsel from
leaders and public men, or for friendly tidings
from the North, where the fires Of fanaticism
rage eeroely. Pennsylvania, which all looked
TO confidently, has succumbed TO them, and nov
all eyes are turned on New York, the Empire
state, a. the only ark Of safety and Of hope
The pulse Of the metropolitan city beats true 70
the Union IN this momentous crisis; but will
the great heart Of the State respond to the hopes
that rest upon n in every quarter Of We Union
We fear II win not, unless our citizens awake
from The indifference with which they conssm.