The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-12-13

to English ports a. rates given in another place.
The Crisis OF the CONFEDERATION OF the
Metropolis.
The action of the city Of New York upon
the present crisis in our national affairs is
matter of the highest Importance. In the city
of New York the representatives Of the old
Thirteen adopted the constitution of the United
States; in the city of New York Wash
ington took the oath Of Office and entered upon
his duties as the first President Of the republic;
and ever since that time the city of New York
has continued to be loyal to the Union, true
to the constitution, firm in its support Of the
compromises by which from time to time the
peace Of the country has been preserved; and,
more than all, devoted to the maintenance Of
the rights Of all the States, as guaranteed to
them by the organic law of the nation.
While this action on the part of the CONNER
cial metropolis has not been prompted, we
verify believe, by any sordid or avarcious
spirit ii is nevertheless true that we have
found il to be emncntly favorable to the de
velopement Of our resources, the extension of
our commerce and the advancement of our city,
which now stands prominent among the great
capitals Of the world Within circuit Of
twelve miles from our City Hall we have a
population of more than million of people,
seven-eighths of whom are at this moment
actively sympathizing with the South, and ear
nestly desiring to find some tangible method
by which that feeling may be expressed.
This is putting the case in the mildest posi-
BILE form. The city Of New York is now
undergoing punishment for the sins of other
people. The sectional candidate for the Presi
dency received only one-fourth Of the registered
votes in this city; and If the condition of public
sentiment could be tested at the polls to-day, it
would be found that the Lincoln vote has already
fallen of one-half, and by the 4th Of March
the black republican party hercabouts viii
be like the Massachusetts, democracy, "conve-
nicntly small" Notwithstanding all this, the
city of New York ha, already suffered very
severely on account Of Lincoln's election. The
panic has spread through all branches Of trade
and industry The merchants find that all the
money is going out and none coming ina state
Of affairs which must sooner or later break the
strongest houses. Manufacturers and master
mechanics have been compelled to discharge
a great many of their employees, and the retail
trade, which is usually very brisk at this sea-
son, has dwindled down to almost nothing.
Already the distress among the poorer classes
has been evidenced by procession of unem-
ployed working men, to whose numbers we are
oor,n allad N potica ovarv Jav alarpn;nc aococ-
sons. And the worst OF the matter is, that be-
yond this dark hour no man pretends to
see the faintes. glimmering Of the dawn.
The panic has been caused by events which
may result In one way or another, and human
sagacity is quite at a loss to distinguish upon
One thing is quite certain: the olive branch
must be rendered by the North, or the South
win never rest easy without confederacy
Of it own. Whence could conciliatory
overtures come with better grace than the
city Of New York; New England has already
shown signs of sorrow, New Jersey has taken a
strong Union ground, and we presume that to
day the city Of Philadelphia will follow in the
same path But the South, mindful of the dan.
ger of accepting gifts from her enemies, will
look with natural suspicion upon this deathbei
repentance, and will pay much more attention
to the action Of conservative New York.
In view Of this state Of things, the voice of
New York should be heard at once, and ex-
pressed in such a manner as to leave no doubt
about the real sentiments of our people. Mea-
sures should be taken TO gather together the
leading conservatives in the city and State
men WHO are in favor 81 the repeal Of the Per-
sonal Liberty bills and who have taken side.
with Tie South upon The question Of slavery in
the Territories. They should meet in council,
and call general convention OF tue people to
express the STATE OF feeling upon the present
crisis. The leading merchants, bankers, manu-
facturors professional men and mechanics
will undoubtedly join in the movement, and
We have NJ doubt that al least one hundred
thousand signatures will be eagerly affixed to
a call for NJ, ing which would express the
unanimous Union feeling Of the city and
suburbs Ii ! sale 10 say in advance
hat me sentiment Of this grand gather
iLg or he people would b. strongly In
favor Of meeting the South more than halfway
II would prove al any rate, hat New York is
n she always has been, free from the carsc OF
fanaticism. We trust that our leading men
will move In this matter without delay. We
believe that meeting such a. we suggest VIII
have more effect o. ihe South than any steps
that The government may take. lie, the voice OF
New York be heard in the South,
Tuosv Irf,Ns AGAN-Now that the election