New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-12-18
TIE SECESSION MOVEMENT.
Polcy of the New Administration.
INTERESTING FEOM SOUTH slRGIINi.
SECESSION NOT so EASY.
THE PROSPECT.

Since I wrote you, ~ooh go, the progress
ef events has set steadily tcward the secession
Of several Of the po'e southern States. The
wcwirg probability Of this disintegration is the
cause Of very great excitement and very great
shrm. Every rumor is magnihed, and every
event, whether of small or Of no consequence,
e.rrospondingly looms like the land in fog.
Indeed. as We are in fog IN regard to the
fvturc. it is natural that attempts to penetrate
Il BY strBiniDg the vision should reveal shapes
Of every imaginable degree of hideousness.
The two really significant events of the week,
are MIR. Casss resignation Of the Office of Secre-
iary of State, and the Presidents proclamation
f,r Public Fast. Dir. Cass's resignation is said
to be- because the President does not afford the
ue,ded support to Fort Moaltrie 10 Charlest n
Harbor, but leaves it TO the tender mercies of the
rtv,luticnists. If Mr.. Cass regards this as com
eaicity with treason he does not differ from other
,dIftir guishcd men, and thus has most substan
S,al reason for his withdrawal. As to Mr.. Bu.
clanons proclamation, aPPrehend the general
sentiment will be that it is u veEy poor Offering
ut u crlsis Ike the present. 1t is virtual abdl-
cotton of his functions, taken in connection with
h,s non-acton. He says, substantially, that he
carl ct manage affairs, and so turns them over to
IIov,denoe.
Tie Republicans, not having yet got charge of
tbe Executive Government and being IN mi
DOL " in both branches of Congress, are, of
eetrse, powerless to do anything. They can only
await tie development Of events. That they will
d sclare their duty when they enter upon the
administration of affairs admits of nc doubt.
Nhatcver Mr.. buchanan and his Cabinet may do,
or iui 10 do, the Republicans will soon show,
leyord a doubt, that we have National Gov
eminent that not only deserves but is able to
ceun and respect. Those now swelling currents
OF confusion that are sweeping along and frigatea-
me- the country, in many parts, out of its pro-
rrh.'y, will be curbed and put under control.
lie Government will once more assert itself in
an aHiruatve policy, and call upon the people
tO rally around it. And when this shall be dOue
in earnest, and the stars and stripes again flung
10 the breeze, the national heart will be touched,
aud the national enthusiasm respond in tones
tlat viii scare back faction to It's dens, dissipate
Che mulky clouds that hang now with such a
Laden monotOny the land, and Gil the eOun-
try with an atmosphere of sunshine and of
peace.
IL, Sc who ppOse this great Federal Govern
mcnt is going under beneath the puny blows of
the reyolutiCnlsts are doomed to most gigantic
disappointment. THIS Government is an engine
of command ng power; and when it's legislative
/ and executive branches are in harmony, as they
son will be- if the secessiOnists execute their
threats, it will show itself abundantly able to
cope with all its difficulties and take the country
triumpbantiy through all its perils. The talk Of
civil war is idle and childish. The people of all
The Free States VIII uphold the General Govern
nent as unit They must do it in self-deense:
n defense of their material interests, well as
ID their safety and civil rights. They are thor
oushy educated to the idea that no calamity
HAT can befall q people is so great as civil
war OF anarchy. They viii engage in neither,
agd permit neither. Law and order will be main
tained, for everybody knews and feels that herein
alone is safety and peace. In this great work of
conservation, the political Governments of the
Free States will be in unison with the Federal
power. They will act in harmony, the lesser
sustaining the greater; and the most ma
Lyolent faction, if it should exist, will
fud no opportunity to gain foOthold against
these twin powers Of general aud local govern
Hent, sustained US they will be by the united
forces of patriotism and self-iuterest among the
Ieople. In this great and patriotic labor Of
maintaining the Federal authority, the Free
States will be backed by an imposing portion Of
the Northern Slave States, whatever course may
be- taken by those lying near the Gulf. But
whether this should be or be otherwise, the
ssershadOwlng power OF the Federal Government
would still be all the same. 1t alone has ma
tUpal existence, il alone can control fleets and
armies, it alone has common flag and com
mon history, it alone has public credit it alone
has al efficient organization in al its depart
seDts, it alone can command peace and CON-
nand war. Prudenty administered with do
tenned 'front.' with working majority in both
branches, il con ride any whirlwiDd aRd direct
any storm the secessiODsts can raise, with an
ease that will restore confidence and mPart sat
isfacticu TO The most timid and the most waver-
ilg. Pursuing firm and disereet line OF con
duct showing that it is not TO be triAed with.
1T will end all our political and financial difficult
ties without striking blow. But, for the pres
ent, TIE country must endure the infections put
upn il by the revOlutonists. They can make
mischief as they have made mischief, and VIII
male il. II is bad for all but it is worst for
them. They rush boldly upon their ruin. shall
lot criticize their conduct. They have chosen
their own ways and will pursue them till they |
get the discipline they seem so much TO need.
In respect TO compromising the questions at
issra fhnu0b tho caDacjties of |