The national Republican., 1860-12-03
THE IMMEDIATE QUESTION.

1t may now be regarded as certain, that the
responsibility of dealing with open rebellion on
the part of at least one of the States of this
Union, is not to be reserved for Mr.. Lincoln's
administration. South Carolina will beyond
doubt, precipitate that responsibility upon Mr..
Buchanan's administration, more than two
months prior to the expiration of his term of
office. ~ e..
The great question, therefore, which now i'm.
mediately challenges the solicitude of every
American citizen, is not, What will Mr.. Lin
coin do?" but, "What will Mr.. Buchanan
do?"
In less than three weeks from this time,
South Carolina will have solemnly declared
herself out of the Union, and have assumed the
position, towards the United States, of an in.
dependent foreign Government. Unless she is
to assume position finconeeivably ridiculous,
she must resist all Federal interference with
vessels entering or departing from her harbors,
and take possession Tor attempt to do SOY of
all United States military posts within her juris
diction- While assuming to be an independ-
ent, foreign Power, she will make herself the
Laughing stock Of the civilized world, if she
permits, without forcible opposition, the United
States authorities to collect duties from vessels
entering Charleston 'harbor, or United States
troops to hold possession of Fort Moultrie. No
one will do her the injustice to imagine that
abe could put herself in this rid diculous position
before the world. f.
In the face of this moral certainty that South
Carolina will, in less than three weeks, openly
resist the collection Of the Federal revenues
from vessels, entering the port Of Charleston,
and attempt to take forcible possession of Fort
Moultrie, what preparation is the Administra,
tion making to meet the emergency? Have
any troops been ordered to Fort Moultrie to
defend it against the threatened attack, or has
single naval vessel been ordered to the port
of Charleston, to aid in the enforcement of the
revenue laws? Does Mr.. Buchanan intend to
permit South Carolina to seize the Fort without
an effort to defend it? Will he permit her to
nullify the revenue laws, without an effort to
enforce them? These momentous questions
are now pressing themselves Immediately upon
the consideration of the country, and yet how
many ignore them, and eagerly inquire, " what
will Mr.. Lincoln do2" We are of the opinion,
that what it will be Mr.. Liucoln's duty to do,
will depend very much upon what Mr.. Blu.
chapan may do,t during the three months
which are to intervene before Mr.. Lincoln will
have power to do anything. The responsibility
of meeting the crisis must be assumed by the
present Administration, and the question, how
Il will be met is the question of absorbing in
terest at this moment 1t is no less question,
than whether the present Administration will
concede the right Of a State to go out of the
Union, and nulGfy:all Federal laws, and take
possession Of all. Federal property within her
Jurisdiction, at pleasure.
Mr.. Buchanan'st tannual message, which we
presume will be delivered to Congress before
this paper goes to press, may throw some light
upon this question, and we await its appear.
ance with intense solicitude.