The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1861-05-09
Correspondence Of the Pac. Com. Advertiser
Waif- from the Bay State.

hESTBORO, Mass. March -, 1861.
My DEAR COMMERCIAL The present unhappy
and critical condition Of affairs in our American Re-
public, (no longer alas the uDitei States.) is the all
absorbing topic Of interest on this side the Atlantic,
and IS watched with intense anxiety by the nations
of Europe. England, and to some extent France, are
too intimately connected with rs by commercial ties,
and too dependent upon the Cotton States for the sup
ply Of the great staple TO their manufactures, to view
with Indifference the revolutionary movement now in
progress in that section. And the crumbling desDot-
isms Of the Old World, whose greatest stumbling
block has been the hitherto wonderful prosperity Of
our country under democratic institutions, take fresh
courage as they see this mighty fabric suddenly,
AMI without apparent cause. lettering 10 its base,
while the struggling and oppressed nationalities Of
Europe, TO whom our progress and example has been
a shining beacon If hope, are startled and dismayei
at the impending disintegratiou Of the Great Re
public.
Since my last waif. President Lincoln has been
inauguratei, and the new Administration has come
into Office, / cannot say potrer, for Of that very desir-
able quality in a Government. it has ns yet but the
semblluce. Seven powerful States, in the excitement
caused 10y the election Of Lincoln, aud under the
management Of skilliul and desperate leaders, have
thrown of their allegiance to the Federal Govern
ment. and in hot haste, have formed a new Confed-
'A+NF . hW' w HfA FA'N' Va NHtAA - tAt lA-l4tuAalu u
negro slavery. \ Provisional Government has been
formed, an army raised, a Constitution adopted. the
forts, arsenals, navy yards. mint, and other Federal
property within their limits seized, with few excep-
tions,) and a menaciug attitude assumed towards the
North, while every effort is being made to induce the
Border States 10 join them in their rebellion.
This formidable movement, 1t : now admitted by its
leaders, has been contemplated for many years, and
the election Of Lincoln was seized upon as pretext for
a step FOR which the political Southern
leaders have been long preparing. The Border States
as yet. have declined TO join the Cotton Coufed-
eracy,'' but they are wayering. and demanding Of
the North concessions TO the slave interest which
hardly be granted, as the condition Of their re-
naming Ia the Union. The new President, sworn to
uphold the Constitution and execute the Laws in all
the States Of the Union, finds his authority set at de-
in the seeding States, and IS without the ne
ccs-ary force TO assert it. Already his Cabinet, COM
posed Of the most able statesmen OF the Republican
party, is divided as TO the policy 10 be pursued to-
the rebellious States, and the disruption Of the
party itself on this great question seems inevitable. I
This, however, is a minor matter compared with the !
-raver results which must follow the adoption Of
lther policy. It Is a question Of peace or var; and
Z the latter, one of unparalleled horrors. The ultra
republicans advocate an un~compromising c]oerciye
,5!icy. the %rctIkiug Of the forts and other Federal
z'operty now in the hands Of the s~eceiers. and the
election Of the revenue in their ports. They hold 4
AT the Government should not yield an iota Of its
-lthority to rebels with arms in their hands, and
IA, the reyolutionists should be compelled to yield
. the Federal property seized by them. and in every
.spcct acknowledge the Federal authority, before
ieir desire o. leave the C0nfeieracy should be listen
10. This course would undoubtedly be followed If ]
Ie rebellion was confined to one or two States. ard no [
:ubt existed Of the power Of the Government TO en-
its demands. But in the present case, such a ]
llicy is out Of the question. The Border States dis L
ac;ly declare that If coerciye measures are taken. :
10y will make common cause with the Cotton States,
the President Is without the sinews Of war to
q efficiently, having neither the force nor the :
Sans 1t his command. lie cannot even collect the !
venue from ON board vessels uf war stationed off the .
srhorS without special authority Of Congress. which .
not DOW IN session. The moderate wing Of the .
lrty, Of which the President and his able Secretary :,
state. Mr.. Seward, are the leaders, are in favor Of =
.uciIil;ory measures, and the avoidance Of a coils -
"a, even AZ the sacrifice Of national pride and dignity. p
= this policy o; mastery inactivity, they hope TO
the Border States, unite the North in support
the Administration, and create a strong Union h
in the South, which, in view Of the heavy %
Ke- which the support Of q separate government Il
III necessarily entail, and the evident grOuui!ess- (!
- Of their fears respecting the designs Of the b
publican party, will organize. ard demand the
.'orafion Of the Federal Authority. Ou the con- b.
should the sober second thought OF the people Il
the Cotton State sustain their present action and VI