The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-12-04
Our Present Revolutionary Crfsis-IIow
Are We to Save the Uniony

Our Present. Revolutionary Crfsis-IIow
Are We to Save the Union!
We are truly in the midst OF revolution"
The very leaders of "the irrepressible conflict"
including Mr.. Seward himself, are at length
convinced of it He and they are ready now
for terms of compromise with the South, which
every republican a month ago would have
secuted as degrading TO the most servie
Northern doughface. Whence this sudden
change? How happens 1t that Mr. Seward, who
but yesterday declared that "Lincolns election
will be the downfall Of slavery is now re-
ported as ready to offer the most liberal con
cessions tor tho security Of slavery and the
pacidcation of the slave :" It all re-
suits from the discovery OF a single serious mis-
take In the calculations OF our over confident
Senator and the party sustaining his one idea
Of the abolition OF slavery That mistake has
been their absolute disbelief Of any substance,
or danger, or sincerity in these Southern warn
ings OF disunion.
At length, however, the leaders and organs
of the republican party being convinced of
their fatal mistake in this matter, we see them
taking position on the slavery question the
effect Of which will probably be to dis
band and disperse the party before the inaugu
ration Of the President they have just elected.
This extraordinary event could only occur
under the pressure Of revolution striking
Enthusiastically at the foundations Of the govern
ment itself. The simple truth is that the ext
gencies of this crisis call for comprehensive
revision OF the organic law Of the Union. The
workings Of the general government, under
sectional party issues and Northern anti slavery
msjorities, have outerown the adhesive powers
of the federal constitution Of 1885, The SUI
premacy, tie vital supremacy OF the institution
OF slavery In the South, and the overshado wing
and threatening hostile political anti-slavery
power Of the North, have reached point Of
collision under which the Southern States may
reasonably demand reconstruction of the
constitution as the condition OF their continu.
ance in the Union.
This, then, IL the issue:-A new constitution
Of tie United States for the better protection Of
the Institution Of slavery within the Union. or
the Withdrawal Of the slave States, or the bulk
Of them, into an independent Southern confedc.
racy. What next are the guarantees which
will satisfy tie South in the revision of the
terms OF their copsrtnership wi b the North.
writer TO the Richmond Eaq,tirer, whose
"Plan which m9y save the Union" we have
transferred to these columns, suggests the I'll.
loving items Of compromise under the consti.
tuition as It stands:--
l. The equality Of the rights Of the people Of
the South with those or the North, including
in the rights Of property Southern property in
slaves.
.. Good faith on the part Of the North in
the matter Of the Fugitive Slave law.
3. The concession 10 the people OF the South
of the common right to enter and settle In the
common Territories Of the Union with their
property. including slaves.
4. A resoe biiion, on this subject, by the
North Of the constitutional doctrines embodied
In the bred Scott decision.
s. The right Of transit 10 shareholders with
their property through the non slaveholdiog
States.
These acquisitions are to be met and accept.
I'd by the republican party In Congress, and by
the Northern States; but IL is certain tha, no
tuoh propositions CT compromise can be iopt-
cd except through the forms OF regular revi-
sion OF the constitution itself. But 10 save the
Union the constitution must be revised. The
processes OF state action. through Legisla-
lures or conventions, ard the votes Of Congress,
required 10 do this work, will occupy two or
three years Of lime at least. This interval
OF our transition from the cd 20 new cous,itu-
ton will inevitably be an interval Of terrible
agitation North and South, ruinous to banks,
railway corporations, stocks and stockholders,
merchants and manufacturers; disastrous, in
brief, 10 Northern capital, enterprise, adven-
turers, real estate and labor 10 every form.
But this comprehensive financial revulsion
will be the convincing argument to Northern
sntislavery fana,icism, and will cool II down
10 recognition OF the value OF Ii, Union, Ia.
GLIDING Southern slavery This Is the best
that we can hope for now. This Northern anti
slavery agitation has reached lis eliminating
point. II must now fall back, back, back 70
where Il was forty years ago, or the Union falls
10 pieces. We think this anti slavery alliance
may be driven back, aud rendered powerlcss
for the future, but only through the fiery
ordeal We have indicated. Our choice Is be
tween that and the very probable contingencies
OF an endless civil war 10 the event OF dis
union.
A political revolu Ion which IL but the ua-
turh Development Of forty years Of sectional
agi.auons Of the slavery question, cannot a,
once be reduced to treaty Of peace. A cribs,
which demands new organic Law for The
Union. cannot be disposed Of By fas,ious
Congress, nor BY friendly promises In behalf
Of Mr.. Lineoln's admins xaton. The public
mind Of every Northern State must be prObed
TO The bottom. All that has been done during
NE last forty years In the North to ALLEVIATE and
dive as sor,h o he wall must be m
-.-., - : %..sse - Tsscicn, evel