Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-02-18
Tn darkest lourof our connlFy's peril.

mummy morning, fep. TO- 1861.
THE iarkest hOnrof our connIFy's peril,
We believe, is past. A CLEAN Of hOpeful-
ness is now disrerned all over the land
The tone of the press everywhere is be.
coming more cheerful; and many from be-
ing seriously alarmed, begin to look.upon
secession as a farce, and one, too, that will
shortly DO played ont. The present crisis,
although no less alarming than that of 81,
yet arose from entirely different causes
That was financial crisis, brought about
y,OVer-speculation and looseness in busi-
ness cirrles-by Overlapping aud shortness
of productions this is political crisis
growing out of a train of political events,
altogether independent in themselves of
the material interests Of the country
growing more Immediately out Of the in
fatuAtioh OF one portion of the Republic
that ar institution of theirs should, in the
eyes OF the Government, occupy tile upper
stratum intbe national Legislation. FOrthe
present gloom and anxiety there is no ma
tertsl reasOn, The whole country, excepting
the distant State Of Kansas, has an abund.
ance of the productions of the soil. TX
ports are increasing aud imports diminish.
ing, and specie, in consequence, instead Of
going out is coming in from Europe. Our
own manufactures, in the North and else
where, are in state of moderate activity.
In no class of society is there any UNI
usual suffering. The business Of the coun-
try IS really on better basis than it has
been.siace the great panic Of 81, and were
it not for the wicked naturalization of
defeated party, the opening year would
give promise Of uncommon prosperity. 1t
is undcniable that for time the fictitious
excitement of secession shook the conf
dence OF many in the stability of our gov
crnment; but that feeling is rapidly giving
place to Que of faith and reliance
Secession has done its utmost. If it be
true that revolutions never go backward"
then secession is not revolution; for al.
ready secession is retrOgrading, The Peo-
pie are not all fools nor fanatics even in the
cotton States. Those States have met in
Convention, and elected as provisional
President, man who is in favor of
"resoustructtou," aud as Vice President,
strong, decided conservative. Already, at
these sensible demonstrations, South Caro-
lima is kicking in the traces; and we see
in her conduct. II disposition to secede
from the new iledged Confederacy, when
ever she cannot rule it. These things are
beginning to open the peoples eyes to the
real aspect of secession. The people of
the South are regaining their balance the
border slave States are swinging back to
their accustomed place while the popula-
ton of tho whole North aud West are self
poised ana determined.
The Spring of 1861 is approaching, and
bringing with it work for all classes-seed
time for farmtrs-the opening of nayfga-
ton and increased activity for internal
eOmmerce-the revival of all branches of
trade, art aud manufacture-in abort,
employment for the idle eyerywhere-all
tending to draw away the popular mind
from the engrossiug excitemeuts of the
past winter. These influences will assist
in allaying the passions of the hour, and
inducing moderation and delay. When the
country has had time for reflection, there
need be no fears rs to the result. The
time has not yet come tor.the prostratiOn
of our liberties. "Dlmmed and dishonor.
ed9 though they have been by the events
Of the past few weeks, still they arc not
destroyed, but, like gold tried by ere, they
willsmerge all tho more glorious aud en-
during.