The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-12-11

present congress II mas been problem DIM
cult Of solution, what course would be pur-
sued, what measures, If any, be adopted,
and what tone of public feeling would be mi
tisted by the representatives of the people at
Washington in the present national crisis. The
Presidents Message, looked forward to with so
much anxiety, has complicated rather than
settled the question Of the course most expe-
dent to be adopted. That document was in
tended, from -le highest and most patriotic
point of view, to soothe the public mind and to
pour oil upon the troubled waters 1t exposed,
practically, the folly, wickedness and dan
ger OF extreme cOunsels and ultra measures,
and appealed to each good citizen to aid in
averting the periIs and preventing the disasters
with which passion. self-interest and Northern
and Southern demagoguism menace the country.
Unfortunately it has not been received with
anything like unanimity of opinion by the frag-
ments and cliques into which old parties, now
rent ssunder and united by no defined and
hiding policy, have become irrcconcilably di-
vided. II has not conciliated the extremists Of
The slave States, and the republicans of the
North are loud in their clamors Of indignation
at what they call the lukewarmness of It's re-
concentrations. The heated elements remain
where they were; and with every desire to cor
respond to the requirements of the emergency,
it is not probable that the outgoing admins
ration will be enabled to accomplish anything
effectively for the veal and safety of the cor
federation.
1t is different with the power which has been
chosen by the people to maintain their dignity
and represent their interests during the four
years to commence on the 4th of March, 1861.
Upon Mr.. Lincoln and his advisers will de-
volve the responsibility Of determining whether
his heretofore prosperous republic shall con-
Time in its integrity, and what means they will
! adopt to secure such result. They cannot
shirk from direct and energetic action in the
premises. crisis has arrived, which, if met
wisely, might possibly, Notwithstanding the
dark clouds which obscure the political hori-
zon, prove eventually beneficial to the Union.
If, on the other hand. unskilful pilotage and
evil counsels prevail, no modern Cassandra
can depict in gloomy enough colors the horrid
future Of disaster which inevitably awaits us.
And it is to be feared that those who are
destined to WELD the patronage and power Of
the incoming government have but an imper-
feet perception of the Importance of their mis-
sion. The cutlery Of the black republican
journals Of the country against the peaceful
tone of Mr.. Buchanan's Message began on the
very day Of its appearance. Mr.. Hale,
of New Hampshire, from his place in
the United States Senate, denounced it in the
most scurrilous, undignifed and unmeasured
terms of abuse. He secuted the notion Of
peaceful secession on the part of the Southern
States and appealed to the "incoming admin
istration not to quail in the performance of a
duty" which he compares with "the baptism of
blood" Italy is now undergoing to recover its
nationality and independence. "Deep answers
unto deep" and this incendiary harangue
elected corresponding note Of defiance from
Mr.. Iyeson, Of Georgia, who loudly pro-
claimed the "hatrcd" between North and
South, welcoming the citizens of the former to
"hospitable graves Could anything be more
deplorable! Any scene more unworthy of the
dignifed consultations of United States
dent elect silent and reserved, refraining from
the utterance Of word which should signify
rebuke of the sentiments of his followers, so
hasty in their advocacy of coercion and blood
shed, instead Of Cancellation and the exhaustion
Of every peaceful effort to save the Unionl AS
the country approaches the verge of the pre-
cipice over which its destinies are about to be
plunged into remediless destruction, those who
alone could save it hasten it on to ruin.
II was to have been hoped that the panic
making tendency Of Senator Hale's speech
would have caused the partisans Of the domi-
nant party in the North to pause and consider
before they continued their clamor for the
opening Of tie temple Of Janus, for a civil,
partisan war, which would reduce Us to a
lower level than Mexico, PROSTATE commerce,
destroy manufactures, annihilate the value OF
securities, reduce the laboring classes of the
country to pauperism, and render insecure the
possessions of the rich. But 80 far is this from
being the case that the leading republican
journals Of the country, those which are sup
posed TO represent correctly the views Of Mr..
Lincoln are loudest in their panic making out
cry for bloodshed and national ruin, 'ibe fire,
rape and slaughter" which are the inevitable
attendants Of civil discord, and declaim with
the utmost vehemence and rancor against the
friends Of peace and measures of concilia-
ton. SO late yesterday prominent black
| republican organ of this city cxclaims as fol.
| lows:--
Il is not in the power OF this administration, Of
this Congresperhsps not OF this generationto close
the volume which secession opens Those men have read
history little purpose and profoundly ignorant Of
the spirit and temper of the American people, who look
for peaceful separation OF this Union and the harmo
NOUS career the Northern and southern confederac
which 10 take It's place. If we have dsunon, we
shall have Mr. Buchanan IN encouraging the ono
il II not in his power 10 prevent thu other.
The prospect dreadful enough 10 make the most reek
ees pause and TO n the stouiest heart with gloomy ap
prehcnpions But II must be met with hrmness and
luton with the trembling mbec ty Of panic stricken
terror II the nrst time that great people has
teen called 10 pass through the nery furuace-uor has
great society bcen destroyed or materially injured
i IN any OF hs leading interests BY such trial