Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-12-24

TBR STATE OF FArRs.-On Saturday last the
Senate's special Committee Of Thirteen had
session, " herein IL became evident that Its Re-
publican members are as yet determined that, 80
far as they are concerned, net a hairs breadth
shall be accorded TO the end Of settling the pres
ent sectional difficulties without civil war. A
majority OF the Committee stand ready to report
the plan of Mr. Crittenden as the terms OF settle
ment They are the Democrats Of every shade
upon the Committee, including Messrs. Davis,
Toomb5 and Douglas, aud the rest Of its members
except the Republicans, who one and all adhere
to the views Of Mr. w ade announced in his re-
cent speech. That speech 10 for coercion; and the
Republicans Of the Committee Of Thirteen have
distinctly laid it down as their policy, we apPre-
bend.
We can look no longer to this Congress for any
solution of the difficulties whatever. Yet We do
not believe that an attempt at coercion will take
place at any time. Certainly not during the re-
maipder Of the term of President Buchanan; by the
end Of which the eyes Of the Republican managers
will be opened to the fact that their policy In this
respect has no substantial strength at the North
In the slaveholding States IL has not single
supporter; and elsewhere all the Breckinridge,
Bell, and Douglas men are against II, together
with thousands on thousands Of the supporters Of
Lincoln who have more to lose by civil war and
the destruction Of the confederacy, together, than
by the latter alone; the choice now being mar
rowed down between these two evils. By the 4th
of March the cotton States will have declared their
Independence Of the Government, and the other
southern States will have assembled conventions
70 determine their course In the emergency. They
will one and all determine to remain where they
are until the North has an opportunity to decide
In similar conventions, upon Its line OF duty.
That Ii, IL the General Government does not at
tempt TO coerce the seeding States In the mean
time II that policy be essayed, the border slave
holding States thus compelled to draw the sword
on one side or the other, will draw II for their
brethren Of the South.
The border non-slayeholding States will not be
idle spectators Of the mischief being worked OUT
for next 10 the border slaveholding States they
are to be the greatest sufferers from the madness
of the two extremes. They as little disposed
10 have the proposed fought In their territory
AZ are the border slaveholding States-Just as
little; and from them there will come up almost
az unanimous demonstrations against the policy
of coercion, as Will come from the border slave
holding States wherein there Is not single citi-
zsn Ia Its favor-not one.
On being inaugurated, Mr. Lincoln will appre-
ciate the fact that he is powerless to coercs and
that to essay tina, policy will instantly obiterate
his party. Thus, we do not fear the dreaded civil
war.
We have struggled against the madness Of the
extreme South with all the power and earnestness
which we are capable Of exercising. The contest
there Ii now over, however, and our struggle has
been Of no avail. The approaching disruption Of
the Government is now a ixed fact; and II be-
hooves rs, and all truly patriotic men, to turn our
attention to the point Of rendering secession as
little hurtfu to the general Interests Of the
munity possible, By preventing civil war from
growing out Of 1t; and thus securing Al opportu-
nifty for reconstruction Of the Government mainly
through the mediation of those who have all to
lose by 1.-THE people Of the border States
slayehoIding and non-slaveholding.
P.S.-Tbe Serate's Committee q Thirteen e
again In session. To-day they again took many
votes, all demonstrating that the Republic ans
upon II will not consent to favor the plan proffered
by the other side-Mr. Crittenden's-as the basis
Of settlement