The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-10-22

DUTY OF NEw YoRx. Whoever has the
opportunity and will take the pains to
look into those journals which represent
the opinion and sentiment Of the most
influential classes ir the leading States of
the South and Southwest must perceive that.
since the result Of the election in Pennsylvania.
there Ia remarkable accordance OF tone among
the organs Of different parties as to the necss-
sity Of presenting united front against Lin
coin. Incorporating hostility to President
purely sectional Is the rppermost feeling OF
even the most moderate and sober minded citi.
zens throughout the whole Of that region. But
the manner aud the occasions of demonstr rating
that hostility are subjects of great diversity Of
Judgment. The doctrine Of secession has been
so completely riddled in days Of old by most
honoFed democrats of the South, as well % the
North, that those who disapprove of that
particular mods aud measure of redress
need not go to any other armory in
order to furnish themselves with weapons Of the
best temper and strength, than to the speeches
General Jackson in 1888. The question Of the
constitutional right Of q State to withdraw
from the Union, therefore, is undoubtedly set
tied among all well informed persons, even in
those communities where the discomfort at
Linc0ln's probable success is deepest and most
pervading Such right, however plausible it
may be made to appear to hot and hasty null
titudes or to honest but uninformed patriots,
cannot be maintained as other than revolu-
tonary, without rejecting the letter and spirit Of
the constitution, and also the teachings of every
constitutional lawyer from the slaveholding
States that took a leading part in the Congress
sional discussions Of the subject, excepting
only Mr.. Calhoun and few disciples Of the
Carolina school. There can be no middle
ground between admitting the obligatory force
of the government of the Union and rebellion
or revolution Ii is well known to the really
influential minds Of the South and Southwest
that there can be no other alternative; and
hence the solicitude with which the present ex-
asperated state of popular feeling in those
quarters is regarded by them.
For the North to precipitate the South or
Southwest into secession is to precipitate either
or both into revolution, and that. also, against
the wishes, the remonstrances. the earnest sup
plications, Of our brethren. New York can pre-
vent even the chance Of this catastrophe. New
York ought, New York must, or prepare for the
hazards Of revolution beginning in one or two
States, where hot heads are apt to lead in these
hot times, but terminating, Providence only
knows where or how with what disasters to
all the great interests of every quarter of the
country, and with what ruin to the fairest IA
brio of constitutional government ever yet e.
tablished in the history Of our race.
II New York isso torn by contending factions
as to be incapable Of rendering verdict
against Lincoln In the electoral college, at least
some Of her Congressional districts may send
accessions Of sound, conservative Union and
Representatives to fight the battle Of the coun-
try against sectionalism.
Possessed Of the Senate, the House of
Representatives and the Supreme Court
backed by strong, enlightened and pstri-
otto minorities, even In the republican
States confident that no true South
ron will become the recipient Of black republi-
can patronage, and, above ell, relying on the
inviolability Of principle and the goodness Of
the cause, what has any opponent of Lincoln
to expect out of the Union which canno, be far
more effectively obtained by keeping IL the
Union?
Let the people Of New York. therefore, as
they deprecate and would avoid the mischiefs
and horrors Of revolution, first aim To cast the
Presidential electoral vote against Lincolr,
ard secondly, Increase the number of anti.
republican representatives in the house of the
neonle.