The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-10-21


gagged to Liverpool, in ships bas', at l2ld s12Kd and
-four at 3s 3D. and cotton a. "a To London wheat, In
bulk, was taken at l2,fd l3d. and -four at 3s Cd.
The Disunion Question IN south caro-
lina-The Crisis IT Hand.
In nearly all the Southern States the public
mind, in anticipation Of Lincolns election,
appears to be confused and paralyzed, drifting
about, apprehensive Of danger and mischief to
Southern institutions, yet undetermined what
to do. There is one State, however, in which
il is very evident, from her organs Of public
opinion, that the minds of the people are made
UP. That State, OF course, is South Carolina.
Nearly all her public journals concur in the
opinion that che must and will secede on re-
| ceipt Of satisfactory information that Abraham
Lincoln is elected President Of the United
States.
Nor do the newspapers Of South Carolina
stand unsupported upon this point by the
action Of the people On the contrary, they
have lately elected State Legislature in which
the secession element including r. Barnwell
Rhett, from Charleston, largely predominates.
This Legislature is to meet at Columbia on the
9th day Of November, to elect the electors
whose duty it will be to cast the vote Of the
State for President and Vice President and
said Legislature is to attend to such other bust
ness on the occasion, according to the Cover
nor's proclamation, as the safety Of the State
may require" This is generally construed as
meaning that active legislation will be re-
quire5, providing for the withdrawal of South
Carolina from the Union, including the proper
notice in advance to the other copartners as to
the general government, that South Carolina,
from and after, say the 4th day OF March next,
must be counted out.
This idea of South Carolina leading of in the
work of a Southern coniederacy meets With en-
coursgement from the secessionis.s of Georgia
Alabama and Mississippi and even in Tennessee
they are sympathzers in the movement. Mean.
time the young men of the Palmetto chivalry
are organizing themselves as volunteer po
litico military body, of the style and title of
Minute Men," The badge adopted is "a blue
a military button in the centre, to be worn on
the side of the hat" Some of them also wear
"a red scarf with the letters NJ. NJ. imprinted on
It." The Columbia Carol7ian, speaking of this
organization, Gays ''the recent elections will
doubtless stimulate its growth, and we would
not be surprised it, ia month with proper
drill and discipline, it furnishes an army strong
enough to maintain any independent move that
may be made by the Southern States"
All this has a very revolutionary aspect; but we
find in our last received issue Of the Charleston
Mercury little paragraph which gives "a silver
lining to this cloud" of war. 1t is public no
tee In behalf of Senator Hammond whose
sound and statesmanlike conservatism is well
known to our readers, that "he will be q candi.
date before the Legislature for re election to
the United States Senator that "as rumors of
bis withdrawal have been current we deem IL
an act of Justice to him to state the fact" that be
does not withdraw; but that whatever may
have been bis intentions at previous period,
the present critical aspect Of affairs prevents his
voluntary retirement from the public service
Now We dare say that Senator Hammond is
not prepared to hold the election Of Lincoln as
our next President sufficient cause In itself for
the secession of South Carolina, but that he
the new administration some official action lie
yelled at the peace and safety Of the Southern
States. To this end, we presume, Mr. Ham
mond desires to be present in the Senate at
Washington after the 4th of March next, In
order that he may consult with Southern Sena-
tors and representatives as to the course they
shall pursue, should the composition OF "Old
Abe's" Cabinet. or the drift OF bis inaugural ad.
dress, foreshadow the prosecution of an active
abolition programme against Southern slavery
and ''the slave power"
On the day Of the Presidential election, how.
ever, the new secession Legislature OF South
Carolina will assemble to deliberate upon this
very question. The news of Lincoln's election
among these men will be very apt to drown all
considerations Of prudent delay; and so II Is by
no means impossible that South Carolina may
cross the Rubicon, or do something which will
compel Mr.. Buchanan, In his annual December
message, to call the attention OF Congress to the
subject, In order to avert the catastrophe OF Q
threatened collision between the federal and
the local authorities Of the State.
In any event, with Lincolns election we shall
have great upheaving, overturning and re-
construction 10 all our political affairs. II is
not surprising that, foreseeing this war OF the
elements gathering in the horizon, our kite-ay.
ers, spectators and fancy men Of Wall street
should be walking about with their heads to
the ground, impatiently awaiting the issue OF
this Presidential battle.
CONTROLLER HAws AND THE PUBLIC CaA-
Rrns.-It is stated tina, Comptroller Haws Is
preparing statement Of all the sums Of money
appropriated out Of the public funds for some
years past TO the different charitable institu.
tons Of the city, and, AZ far as can be obtained.