Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-12-25
THE NATIONAL CRISIS.

The bill authorizing the Governor Of Georgia
to accept the services Of 10, 900 volunteers and
also to appoint two Major Generals and four
Brigadier Generals to command in the field
when necessary, has passed both branches OF
the Legislature Of that State.
Important from mSprin.heId--Views Of
Lincoln'n Organ on Secession.
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, Dec 3O.-The Springfield
Journal CT to-day has a startling leader on Sc
cession, which, from the peculiar relations Of
the paper to the President elect has great sig
niiicance.
1t says that ''South Carolina cannot dissolve
the Union by the simple passage of resolutions
or other passive demonstrations. Her federal
officers may resign, and she may close her
courts and postollices, but she cannot get out
of this Union until she conquers this Govern.
ment. While this Government endureS there
can be no disunion. If South Carolina does
not obstruct the collection Of the revenues at
her ports, nor violate any other federal law,
there will be no trouble, and she will not be
out of the Union. If she violates the law then
comes the tug Of war The President Of the
United States in such an emergency, has q
plain duty to perform. Mr.. Buchanan may
Mirk ii, or the emergency may not erist during
tbs administration. i not, then the Union
pW last through his term Of office.
"lf the overt act on the part Of South Caro-
lima takes place on or after the fourth Of March,
1851, then the duty Of executing the laws will
devolye upon Mr. Lincoln The laws Of the
United States must be executed. The Presi-
dent has no discretionary power on the subject
His duty is elnphatically pronounced in the
Constitution. .Hr. Lincoln wW perform that
duty. Disunion by armed force is treason,
and treason must and will be put down at all
hazards"
Thurlow Weed arrived at Springfield on the
10Th, and was closeted with Mr.. Lincoln seve-
raj hours. 1t is rumored that Mr.. Lincoln did
not entirely approve Weeds programme, but
insisted on several important notifications
among which was that relative to the recogni-
ton OF slavery in the Territories. lie is also
reported as repudiating geographical lines Of
division The programme as modified will be
taken to Washington by Weed and submitted
to the Republican leaders.
Letter from Mr.. Ynncey.
The Hon. Wm L. Yancey is out in a letter,
in which he says:
81 hope that Georgia and Aabama-the
mother and daughter States-will not be found
separate and in opposing position in this great
struggle for State Rights and Southern Liber-
ties. Alabama will, most assuredly, seccde
first, and make efforts at cooperation for q
Southern Confederacy afterwards. No proiler
ed compromises, no amendments to the Consti-
tuition, no proilered additional guarantees can
delay her action for independence moment
There is no defect in our fundamental law {;
therefore it needs no alteration. The great
defect iu the Union is the public conscience
and education Of the Northern masses upon
the slavery question, which begets an irrecon-
silable and irrepressible conflict between them
and that institution, and, Of course, between
them and all constitutional provisions which
protect that institution. When parties and ru-
lers can control such conscience and eradicate
such education, and can then propose new
guarantees, it might be worth our while to
pause and consider them-but not till them
In the language Of Inv far-seeing, deep.think-
ing and fearless friend, Judge Benning there
should be but one watchword now for all the
sons of the South, and that Ilo! for Indepen-
dcnccr'
The Forts at Charleston.
The Charleston Mercury of Wednesday says !:
When the State is ont "f Ihe Union when the
forts are demanded and refused to be delivered
up to those in whom is vested the title Of emf
nent domain, and for whose protection and de-
fensc alone they were ccded and built up; and
whcn the federal government showing hos
tile purpose, it shall become necessary and
proper for us to obtain possession, then it will
be right for the world and black repubicanism
to expect that the State, by her authorities,
will move in the premises. The people will
obey the call for war, and take the forts.
Position of Rhode Island.
Gov. Spraguc, Of Rhode Island, publicly an,
nounces his opposition to the personal liberty
bill of that State, and says the Legislature,
which meets in January, will, without hesita.
ton, repeal it.
Tender Of Service.
Captain o Hara, formerly Of the 9. S. army
has raised cavalry company in Mobile, and
rendered his services to the Governor OF the
State. The Governor has accepted the offer.
Matters In Charleston--Hon. Caleb CusIl-
ing in tho Cny--Grand Proccssion, &c.
CmARLEsroS, Dec 2l.-Thc city is alive with
plcasurable excitement. 4 number Of private
residences, public places, newspaper offices and
establishments are illuminated
Mr. Gushing arrived in Charleston last nj ght.
He remained five hours, and departed for
Washington. Rumors are various as to his
mission here.
The Legislature, today, changed the name
of the committee of Federal to Foreign Rcla
tons, and also appointed committee TO report
the style of the State flag.
\ grand procession of the Minute Men took
;,-i. ~ N M;,nto Mar
citizens, strangers firemen and military were
in line The procession was headed by band o
ofmusic. Banners, ,transparencies, large and loco
motive reilectors were displayed oil along th'
line. The procession formed in front Of the
Secession Hall and proceeded to the Mills
House to sercnade Governor Pickcns, and sub
se0ucntly William D. Porter, President o
the Senate, General Simmons Speaker 0
the House, Gen. Jarnison, the President o
the Convention, Mayor Macbeth and others
each of whom returned thanks for the compll
ment. The flag borne in front of the process
sion was that of Capt. Berry Of the steamer Co
lumbia, which WAS hoisted of Governor!
Island.
1t is the disposition here not to elect thos
who have been to Congress and made enemies
to appear rs commissioners at Washington.
The declaration of causes justifying the SC
cession Of South Carolina from the Fedora
Union, as reported by the committee appointed
to prepare an address to the people Of the South
crn States, states that South Carolina having de
teYInncd to resume separate and equal place
among the nations of the world, deems it due t
herself to remind the United States of Amcri
ca and the nations of the world of the causes
which led to the act in 1765, which were tha
portion of the British Empire embracing
Great Britain, undertook 10 ma Ike laws for tn
government Of the American Colonies-a strug
glc for the right Of self.government cnsuet
which resulted, on the 4th Of July lTIG in th'
declaration, by the Colonies, that they are an'
of right ought to be free and independen
States, and that as free and Independent State:
they have the full power to lerey war
conclude peace contract alliances establish
commerce to do acts and things which indepen
dent States have right to do and they further
solemnly declared that whenever any form o