The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-29

We have, on several occasious since the
Presidential election, sdvcrted . an syeged
soathesn coasSaPScy,; having NJ ~ 0S9ecs
the seizure of the city Of Washington on or be-
fore the 4th Of March, tho forciblo expui.
sion Of the President elect, and revolutionary
usurpation Of the federal government In our
last examination of the subject, from the IN
disguised pronuncidsnien&os of Ex-Governor
Wise, Of Virginia, and his Richmond organ,
and from the testimony Of Governor Hicks, Of
Maryland, we expressed our approximations Of
danger in this matter, and our approval of the
course of Mr.. Buchanan in turning over the
national capital TO the care Of that tried and
trusty old patriot and soldier, General Win
field Scott Assured of this guardianship, such
has been the public confidence In the safety Of
the capital that no subsequent report Of the
conspiracy in question has attracted any spe-
cisl attention.
We Ere at length admonished, however, by
the leading coercion organ Of the republican
party. that "wbile alarm is being quoted by
the report that General SCOTS preparations
have caused an abandonment of the plot to
seize the capital. proofs multiply from various
sources that the arrangements Of the rebels
are progressing with sieepless vigilance" and
that % letter from naval officer at Washing
ton declares that, by the most candid and we'll
informed secessionists, the successful capture
of the city is regarded as foregone conclu-
sion." We are further advised by cur alarmed
contemporary that this coup d'etat is deemed
a pressing necessity, in order to dragon
the States Of Maryland and Virginia into rebel
lion; that even temporary Southern occupa-
ton of Washington is considered desirable,
inasmuch as it "would demoralize the army
and navy, and would, also, by distraoting the
country, give temporary foothold TO their
Northern allies" that "those allies, especially
in New York. now compelled to caution, wait
impatiently the expected opportunity to inau-
gurate instruction in our seaboard Cities"
and that, with the opportunity, "they will rival
their Southern coryreres in nlching our navy
yards, forts and arsenals."
In corroboraton of this projected coup dftat,
doubtless suggested by that through which
Louis Napoleon restored the imperial dynasty
to France, one of our Washington correspon-
dents has apprised us that "the most intense
excitement exists in certain Congressional cir
Giles in consequence of the fact leaking out that
the Howard Select Committee of the House
have positive evidence before them positive is
the wordD of conspiracy existing in this city"
(Washington) duplicating prominent officials
and citizens, but that decisive action will be
taken in the matter, and every man, from
ex-Cabinet officers down to the humblest de-
partment clerk or Senate employe, will be held
TO the strictest account" In this connection it
has been Animated that every official at
Washington, civil, military and naval,
| oath Of allegiance to the government;
but to render the city secure against all posi-
BILE contingencies, our Tribune philosopher
| says:-"Let Northern policemen and Northern
troops in sufficient numbers be joined to the
police and militia of the District, that Washing
| ton may be in the hands Of its defenders"
But is ii not dreadful state Of things which
| calls for such violent remedies? Will nothing
but Northern troops" suffice to maintain law
| and order in Washington and the peaceable
Inauguration Of the President elects We an
swer that one line of instructions from Abra-
ham Lincoln to the republican party in Con-
gress would probably change the whole face
of things in Washington in twenty-four hours.
Let Mr.. Lincoln say, 81 am in favor of the Crit
| tenden compromise" and this Southern conspi-
racy for the seizure of the federal capital will
speedily vanish, and the Northern border
slave States will rally to the support of the
Union and the laws. We believe that single
line in behalf of compromise from the Pres-
dent elect would do this, and place the border
slave States in the best position to act as me-
diators with the seeded States for their resto-
| ration to the Union.
Where, then, will lie the responsibility,
should the day appointed for the Inauguration
If the new President be marked in history as
day in Washington of bloody revolutionary
resistance, fnaugurating general civil
war; The responsibility for this reign
Of bloody terrorism and anarchy will rest
upon this republican party, which, having
The power To save the capital and the country
through patriotic compromise, will have re-
fused it as incompatible with the Chicago plat
form. Mr.. Lincoln has intimated that it is too
late for a compromise; that the seeded States
are beyond the reach of reason. Mr.. Seward
says it is too soon for a compromise, and that
one, two or three years hence, when calmness
shall have returned to the public mind, then,
and not till then, will he be ready for a new
treaty Of union with the South. We tell them
both that there is not day TO be lost when
every day is widening and deepening the
chasm of dissolution, and bringing US, South
and North, nearer and nearer to the bloody
anarchy of Mexico.
Are the teachings Of history of no value to
our republican leaders, Can they not comprc-
bend that silly notions Of sectional pride, rival
| ry and jealousies FIRST destroyed the con
iederacy, and next the petty undergraduates of
Greece; that the Israelitcs, from similar