The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-26

tainment, theatrical or otherwise, which is not
in itself Objectionable, and which the public
taste calls for.
The Southern RevOlution-A Southern
Conftderacy-The Folly OF Coercion.
The seizure by the local authorities of Geor.
gia OF the United States Arsenal at Augusta
with its store Of arms, adds but another to the
numerous proceedings of similar character
which have placed all the seeded States in the
attitude Of undeniable revolution against the
general government of the Union. AT the same
time the Conventions, Legislatures and people
Of said States are steadily and tremendously
progressing to Southern confedcracy. A
general Convention Of the cotton States will
meet at Montgomery, Alabama, on the 4th of
February, for the purpose of organizing their
general government, and, with some modifica
tons, it is understood that they will adopt
the federal system embraced in the constitution
of the United States. We may thus safely pre-
dict that in advance of the day of Mr.. Lincoln's
Inauguration. Southern confcderacy will be
organized, comprehending the States of South
Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Missis-
sippi, Louisiana and Texas, and, perhaps,
several others, all banded together as unit
FOR Southern independence.
The first difficulty, therefore, that will
present itself to President Lincoln, as the Off
Ger charged with the execution Of the laws of
the United States, will be their eyecu
zion within the limits of the seeded
States. To meet the acquisitions Of the law
he must restore to his government the possess
- g - cnr lie r1c
&C. seized and held in the seeded States as
State property under the law of revolution.
How is this to be dones We are answered that
it will be done through "the enforcement of
the laws Fleets and armies are to be en-
ployed, and the seeded States, like rcbelious
provinces, are to be subjngated by the strong
arm of federal power. 1t is granted that the
regular army and navy of the Union will be
unequal to this task; but it is supposed by the
republican party that, in a call upon the militia
the Northern States will furnish any number Of
troops that may be demanded by the President
TO assist him in the execution of the laws
such, fairly stated, is the programme resolved
upon by the incoming administration and the
party supporting it.
Let us briefly consider the probable conse-
4uences Of this policy. Several federal forts
at Charleston arc occupied by the revolutionists.
They must be dispossessed. Accordingly
fleet of armed vessels and transports bearing
an army are despatched to Charleston. The
forts in question are recovered. But what then?
The war has been commenced, in anticipation
Of WHICH not only the States Of the Southern
confederacy, but all the other slave States,
stand pledged to make common cause with
South Carolina against this policy Of coercion.
Thus it is apparent that any attempt by force
5f arms to reinstate the federal government
IN any United States fort, arsenal or dockyard,
seized by any Southern State, will be the inau-
duration of war in which all the military
forces and resources of the South will be COM
bined against the general government. The
very first blow, then, or coercion will involve
Mr.. Lincoln administration in war for the
subugaton Of the South, an enterprise crmi-
nally foolish and utterly impracticable.
The Southern States, leaving out Maryland
and Delaware, have a population close upon
twelve millions. OF this aggregate over four
millions arc slaves and free blacks the work
iup agricultural element OF the South. From
The eight millions, more or less, Of whites,
rnillion of soldiers, in great emergency, could
be drawn. There would be no difficulty in
raising from this white population movable
army Of two hundred thousand able men, Gould
Mr. Lincoln's administration muster sufficient
force to subduc this army Of resistance No
He might raise larger army from the rcpubli-
can ranks CT the North; but with their move
ment to the South the reign Of chaos would
most probably commence in the Northern
States. in which event their existing general
government would be utterly destroyed by cou-
tending factions in arms and the South Ameri-
can system Of republics would be fairly intro
duccd amongst us.
The subiugation of The south into sub
mission to the Union Is, then, out OF
the question. What then! We are next
starved into submissions that they have not the
resources or capabilities required to sustain a
respectable independent government, and that
IL would not take a long time to convince them
of their dependence upon the North for COM
mercial facilities and domestic necessities.
which the South cannot supply. Here, too,
however the organs and orators OF the repub.
licau party are under great dclusion. Al
the agricultural staples produced in the North
are produced in The South. in addition TO the
treat staples peculiar TO The Southern States.
,rbe beet materials employed ~ our ship and
l.nse builders. in The way 81 timber and
l,,,,her an. drawn from thu South. IN mine
Ia and f.r lanp%cfN~'ag facilities 'hc ~