New-York daily tribune., 1861-02-16

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ever pleasant and glorious it may be for tho
father of family to stand up in great pas
sion and swear by all the gods that he will de-
fend bis home, his altar, and his freside,"
to the last drop of his blood, it becomes slightly
ridiculous TO strike the defensive" attitude
around said home, altar, and fircside, when not
the slightest prospect opens for the appearance
of the said enemy. When, on the contrary,
Uncle Samuel, about to be ousted from his fa-
yorte seats, demurs TO szch dispossessioH, and
remarks, in some beat, that "by the eternal"
he will defend his home, hts altar, and his fire.
side, somehow the tables seem to be turned
around all at once, and an involuntary respect
as well as fear, arise to stay the impious hand
of violence. All sensible and sober minded men,
here as well as elsewhere, desire to avoid blood
shed. They desire also to escape the response
bity Of occasiening it. But how can that be
effected Forts Sumter and Pickens are the
centers about which gather the destinies of the
future. That blood is soon to flow there, seems
not unlikely. Those who wOad fain prevent It,
RODS of excitement likely to soon arise. The
Provisional Government of the South, if one is
formed, can do nothing to escape the RESPONSE
bility Of attack upon the National Government.
If it permits, or promotes the assault of United
States forts, it is equally responsible for the
opening of reasonable war. With the dawning
of this consciousness of really offensive and re-
behous attitude, begins to disappear all that bosh
about "coerciOu;" and the fumiDg passion of
man preparing TO resist oppression, is forced to
give way to the serious consideration Of conse-
queHces for which no one is responsible but him
self.
Such, then, is the anxious and troubled aspect
of Southern affairs. The first jubilant frenzy of
Secession abated, leaves q dreary consciousness
of the deep ncertitude hanging over the future.
Even those who augur peaceable separation from
the North express but little hope of union at
home. Peace with the North in fact dissolyes
the only real bond of union among the seeding
States. Seceders themselves say, 1.-The Confed-
eracy viii not last ten years" This want of
faith in the permanence of q condition which
they seemed so anxious 10 secure, arises in part,
perhaps mostly, from their knowledge Of the pas
sionate, impatient aud selfwi'led character of
their politicians. II was in hopes" says one,
" that these old politicians would have been left
out of the Convention altogether" Yet they
all there. And they have q right TO be. The
people allowed these men TO mislead them into
their present quagmire; theirs should be the effort
and the responsibility Of rescung their victims.
Should their efforts prove unavailug, as most as-
suredly they will; should they prove unable to
show the occasion for the ills the future has sure
ly in store, and TO provide better condition Of
things than the much-abused past has offered,
then the reHuI Of this popular wave is not far off,
which will overwhelm them past resurrection.
There is a considerable number Of foolish and
rum m-inspired men who desire war, who would
welcome blood.hed, and who for u time would
riot in the horrors which peaceable men shrink
from. Blu. the mass of the Southern people, as
of oil others, have enc dominant desire. and that
is for peace. They are willing TO let well enough
alone. They have no desire to reaisN the condi-
ton Of that simpleton who having dosed himself
with Drug, r~asstAd upon his folly in this wise:
II was well; wished TO be better-and here
am l."