The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-01-23

sales OF old mess SIC 90 SIC 56. do at SIT Is
ST. 60 old prime at sti 62k Sl TO- aud at SIS for
new Sugars easier and closed at &c per h. de-
cline on tho weeks sales for some descriptions The
transactions embraced 400 boo hhds. Freights were
steady and engagements fair TO Liverpool and London
The Presidential Elccton-Who II tn
Decide III
One of the most important points in the
struggle which is now going ON in Congress
nomjpaly for the Sperkershp, but really for
the PresideDcy-is the bold and determined
attitude taken by the leading politicians of the
South upon the question of secession. 1t has
been adopted AS finality by the Southern ora
Tors, that in the event Of the election of black
republican candidate for President, endorsing
the Helper book, which advocates interference
with slavery as it exists in the States, disunion
would be inevitable, and the South would con-
slider itself forced to take steps to secede peace
ably from the confederacy. This doctrine has
been promulgated in the House by several
speakers representing all sections of the South.
Mr.. Clingman and other Senator'S have pro-
claimed it in the upper branch of Congress.
The Legislature of Louisiana holds to it, and
all the popular meetings in the South endorse
il. So far as can be ascertained from the
Southern presses and politicians, the facts all
go to show that the Southern people are, almost
to man, united upon this subject The effect
of this Southern sentiment has already been felt
by the traders of the North; and as yet the
whole matter is in its initiatory stages.
Such, then, are the facts. The South pro-
claims secession as its inevitable resort in the
event of the election of Seward or
any other candidate representing the doctrines
of the Helper book and the Rochester
manifesto. The black republican journals
seize upon each new avowal made by the
Southern representatives, and argue from it
that it is the democratic, not the republican, Or
ganization which is the party of disunion. And
they attempt further to bully the South and to
force the conservative citizens of the North into
assisting them in their work. The South is to
be whipped into submission. That is the plat
form expressed in so many words by the Tribune,
Albany Evening Journal and other abolition
prints.
Now let us see how this game will work In
New England, and some of the thoroughly abo-
litionized Western States, it may answer; but
they, unfortunately for Greeley, Seward, Weed
& Co., who are now in tremendous hurry to
clutch the federal spoils, do not hold the ba-
lance of power in their hands. That balance is
in the hands of the people of the great Central
States, where all the commercial, manufacturing
and financial interests of the country centre.
In these States there is vast and busy popula-
ton engaged in buying and selling all over the
world. Their business transactions with the
South are far more important to them than
any political question whatever. In fact,
they are too busy to pay any special attention
to politics, and very rarely take the trouble to
vote. They are beginning, however, to lock at
these matters little more closely than before,
and we believe that there is gradual but
steady reaction in favor of the South among
our most influential business men. The effects
of that reaction will not be felt until the Presi-
| Dental election, when the democrats and black
republicans will come into the field with their
full strength. That strength does not include
| the floating or reserved vote, which may be e.
imated at million of electors They take no
active part in politics, are attached to no or
ganization, and are not partisans even in the
mildest sense of the term. But when the ques-
ton is put to them as it is now presented by
the South-no Union with black republican
President-they will come to the polls en-
masse, and vote for the preservation of the
Union and against the Seward agitators. The
question has been presented indirectly already,
and the result has been against the republicans.
In the present aspect of things they would be
as badly whipped as the French at Waterloo
The floating vote would be given for
any candidate to keep the Union together.
In this state of the case we warn our republi-
can contemporaries against the very stupid
course they are pursuing in hammeriDg away
at this disunion idea They are advertising
and assisting their opponents plan of opera
tions, and helping to roll the stone against the
| door Of their own political sepulchre. This
| cry of disunion and secession, forced upon the
North by the black republicans, will most
| surely place the next Presidential election in
the hands Of the Southern democracy; and If the
republican leaders cannot see it they are
greater fools than we take them to be.
| Our DISPATCHES FROM LAWRENCE - AID
| WANTED FOR THE RELIEF FUNp.-We print to-
day several interesting communications from