The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-10-24
THE Crfsis ut Hand.

Che Cribs NJ Hand.
To-day we publish another batch of reyolu-
tionaiy documents, which are of the most terri
BILE import. And the terror with which they
are invested is enhanced by the melancholy
fact that the people of the North do not realize
the danger which is at hand. They are buying
and selling, and marrying and making merry,
az If no cloud darkened the horizon, and as if
no calamity were looming up before them So
did the inhabitants of the buried cities of Her.
culaneum and Pompeii Just before their de-
strucdou. They fddled and danced and made
merry, and pursued their ordinary avocatious
without thought Of the future, when suddenly
they were overwhelmed from the crater of We
suvius with red hot cinders and scoria and
lava, and have only been disinterred from their
fiery grave after the lapse of centuries. We are
on the brink of a social and political volcano,
and we are lulled into perfect security,
notwithstanding the rumbliug sounds beneath
and the smoke above that always proceed from
fire. The explosion may take place at any mo.
ment, and yet We are apparently as uncon-
cerned a. il II were q thousand years ahead.
Some OF those who do pay attention to
the omnous signs Of the times say that the cry
Of secession at the South Is but the old CRY of
"wolt" But suppose II is: the wolf comes at
last, and We are unprepared for his attack on
the fold.
1t will be seen that Louisiana and Florida
are likely to identify themselves with the South
ern revolution while voice from Alabama
rei'erates her determination not to submit TO
the tyranny of the North: and In South Caro-
lima decisive measures are indicated for pre-
cipitaiing the crisis Mr.. Mason. Of Virginia.
Chairman Of the Committee on Foreign Rela.
tiOns in the United States Senate--the highest
official position in that body-delivered
speech two or three days ago at Richmond.
in which be shows the progress of the anti
slavery sentiment at the North. and that the re-
publican party are identical with the abolition
party that such are the aggressiops Of the
North that the South is now at their mercy In
the Union-t that the balance of power in Con.
gress which protected the South il lost-that not
only will the President be elected by the North,
but that majority Of the House OF Repre-.
sentaives and OF the Senate are from the same
section. In the next Congress the House Of
Representatives will probably be republican.
and the Senate will soon be Of the came com.
plexion. From fifteen free States In 1850
ton in the Senate, and only Eve Of these abol-
tionists. Now there are twenty five from the
same States, pledged members Of an organizs
ton upon the basis OF destroying the social
fabric Of the fifteen States If the South. The
leaders Of this sectional party. arrayed on a
geographical line. do not hesitate TO say that
they look forward to the time as near at
hand when. in addition to the President and the
two branches Of Congress, they will have the
control Of the Supreme Court Of the United
States all that is wanting being the death Of
two or three aged gentlemen. Having secured
a majority in that tribunal, who, contrary to lie
decision In the Dred Scott case, will decide that
the slave institution IL no, protected or reccg-
nied by the constitution, they have only to pro-
coed to lie total abolition by writs Of habeas
corpus and other measures foreshadowed In
their programme.
Under these circumstances, q writer In De
Botc's Rerielr, In q powerful article, shows that
the only chance for the safety Of the South and
its institutions Is 10 retire at once In peace
from the Union; and for the sake Of the North
we are sorry to say that we fear the danger of
this step Il imminent To those who talk OF CO.
ercing the Southern States into the Union, after
they have seeded, we recommend the reason.
ing Of this able paper Coercion Is much easier
said than done.
The apprehension Of what e coming has al.
ready operated on the banks in the South. and
u the panic should extend there. II will soon
b felt In the North; felt In the hc.