The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-08-13
NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY AUGUST H. 1860 ..fa-,

steamers. This circumstance proves how ra-
pidly the revolution from canvass to steam Is
progressing, and indicates that before very
long sailing vessels will be superseded by
steamers altogether especially for the coasting
trade. II Is remarkable, too, how many OF the
steam vessels now on the stocks are designed
for coasting traffic particularly to and from
our Southern ports-a branch of the merchant
marine service which appears to be extending
considerably.
There is, first, side wheel steamer for the
Charleston line, another for the Savannah line,
a propeller for the New York and Wilmington,
N. c. trade, and q eide wheel steamer to run
from Cedar Keys Florida, to New Orleans.
continent there are now in construction new
steamer for the Havana trade, another to run
from Portland to ST. John, N. B.. an Ericsson
engine propeller to run from Mexico to Cuba,
three ferry boats to ply in the harbor of Rio
Janeiro, and a steamer to be used as a tug by
the Spanish government in the harbor of Ha.
vana. In addition to these there are also on
the stocks two paddle wheel steamers intended
to run between different points on the rivers
of China. Everywhere along the shores of the
East river, at both sides, the shipyards are in
full work, and as we have seen among the YES
sells in course of construction, those propelled
by steam have large preponderance.
SECESSION OF THE CoTToN STATEs--In another
RI If this do NO nor v,rhlich turn Ioftaxo
from men of distinction in the South, stating
their conviction that in the event of the
election of the republican candidate to the
Presidency next November, the cotton States
will secede from the Union One of these
gentemen-Mr. Burwell, of whom Gov Foote
says in his Introductory note to us that he
is " one of the most respectable and infuen-
tal citizens to be found in any part of the
South" deprecates most sincerely such rash
action on the part OF the South" because he
"does not conceive it is warranted by the
emergency yet cannot get rid of the convic-
ton that this calamity is about to happen in the
contingency indicated. If this be really so-if
We are within three months of 4 revolution of
this enormous magnitude-it is strange that we
are all taking the matter so quietly. We are
sleeping, as it were, on gunpowder, with the
lighted slow match applied to the train; and in
the short space of quarter Of year, which in
the life of a nation is but as an instant, we may
be all blown up-blown up to certainty-un-
less we are reused from our lethargy and the
match removed by our selfsacrifcing hero.
That Lincoln win be elected every sign
of the times forebodes; so that the con-
ditions on which Mr.. Burwell, Mr.. Boyce
and others predicate the explosion will, in
all human probability take place. As we
have lately seen, ex-Speaker Orr assumes
it as foregone conclusion;" and the convic-
ton every day gains ground that it is inevita-
bic unless by the Intervention of some unfore.
seen political miracle. There is, indeed, pos
sibility of something yet being done which
would effectually prevent the election of Lin
coin but it is only possible, not probable.
We ought then to be prepared for the worst,
and not permit the revolution to take us by
surprise.
But If the apprehensions Of Mr.. Burwell and
others who have spoken out be well founded,
why do not more of the Southern statesmen
come forward and give the alarm? 1t is not
enough that Keitt and Foote, and Burwell and
Boyce, and Orr should issue their manifestos.
To produce any effect It will be necessary that
Hammond and Letcher, and Wise and the
other Governors and ex- Governors of the South
ern States should pronounce. Let all the able
and distinguished Southern statesmen sound
loud the trumpet of warning. We do not refer
to such noisy fellows as Pryor-who sends
challenges, but does not fght-Forsyth of Mo.
bile, or Yeadon of South Carolina, but to the
men Of pith and influence and sense, who know
the public sentiment Of their respective States.
and will honestly declare it, ifthey speak at ALL
Let not the conservative men of the North, who
have always stood by the South, be taken I'M
awares-men who have an equal stake in the
country with those at the other side of Mason
and Dixon's line Let them know their danger
in time, that they may make adequate exertions
to avert it. II this sentiment therefore, exists at
the South TO the extent alleged, we call on
every statesman in the cotton States, and every
influential political leader in the border States,
to declare as honest men tbe truth and the
whole TRUTH before II Is too late. There Is not
moment to be lost. A great responsibility de-
wolves upon them. Unless they come out, the peo-
pie here will think that the voices of four or FIVE
men do not reflect the sentiment of the South,
and that such letters as we publish to-day, and
have hitherto published, are but a repetition Of
the old cry Of Wolf! WOLFF If the wolf be
really coming at last, we want to know IL.
WHAT Is TO BEcoMEor THE GREAT E,srsRN7--
The Great Eastern left the Chesapeake on Satur-
day morning, after her Southern trip, and ar
rived here at six o'clock yesterday after
noon She passed Long Branch nj eleven