The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-03-02
The Border States In the Present Crisiss
Dark Clouds Over the Future.

Dark Clouds Over the Future.
The latest intelligence from North Carolina
and Arkansas, renders it not improbable that
the vote of both of those States has been cast
in favor of secession. In Virginia, also, since
the failure of the Peace Conferences, marked
symptoms of powerful reaction have been
manifested; ard, a.iac1gh majority Ofthe de-
legates to the Richuon. Convention were, orr
ginally, in favor Of the u on, Il - not unlikely
that they may now decide 10 ca. their lot with
the Southern confederation. Until within the
last three days, saBguipe expectations had been
entertained that the incoming administration,
under the auspices of Mr.. Seward, would inau-
guiate an empbatically peaceful and concilia-
tory policy. The manner in which the Peace
Congress was fostered by conservative repub-
licans, encouraged this hope, and no doubt was
entertained that the report of the Senate COM
mittee, on Thursday last, would be unanimous
The minority resolution of the Senators from
New York and Illinois, took every one by sur
prise and must have a tendency to convince
the border slaveholdipg States that they have
been unwarrantably trihed with, If not de-
ceived. 1t is evident, from the most favorable
point Of view that even the more solid of the
republican leaders, are behind the requirements
Of the time; and that, through lukewarmness,
iDactivity, or an overweening desire to retain
popularity with the ultraists of New England
and the Northwest, they are failing, as the hour
Of action approaches, to come up boldly to the
standard, which they have beguiled the public
into the belief that they would unfurl.
Republican jour- als at the North, which are
DESTROYS Of being considered organs of the
Premier have been at pains, since Wednesday,
to re echo congratulations that slime has been
gained" by the negotiations of the last three
weeks. Everything" they say, lis to be hoped
for from deley." They ayow, unhesitatngly,
the belief that an eternal iteration Of honeyed
| phrases, will convince the border States that
'the North mean them no HARM" and cause
them to sink, passive and supinc, into willing
acquiescence in republican rule. If these dicta
| OF pseudo mouthpieces of Mr.. Seward, approx
mate in any measure, to bis own sentiments
and intentions, the prospect opening upon the
country, is darker, gloomier and more despe-
rate, than 1t has been at any time before. The
people Of North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland,
Arkansas and Kentucky, have only been held
in check, and prevented from joining the cot
top States, by the emphatic assurance of their
conservative leaders, that every reasonable de-
mand of the South would be explicitly granted
by the incoming government. Not one slave
holding State will be satisfied with so paltry a
sop as the Corwin bill, which passed the House
Of Representatives on Thursday, or witb.an en-
abling act IKE that of Mr.. Adams, which Is but
q sneaking adaptation Of the Chicago platform
to new music, and is avowedly intended to ac-
complish abolitionist objects, under plausible
disguise. Such propositions are simply insult
ing, and their inevitable result must be to
kindle into blaze the secession feeling 10 the
border States. Yet there are indications that
the inaugural OF Mr. Lincoln will recommend
little if anything more, and that Mr.. Seward
will attempt to enforce no programme based
upon more enlarged views of interstate DO
Icy.
1t has been supposed that the more far-sight-
ed statesmen in the republican ranks had de-
termined TO accept, as the necessary basis for
a reconstruction of the Union, and the perpe-
tuation Of their own supremacy. the balance of
power as it exists in the border slaveholding
States and that whatever should be persistcntly
asked for by these latter, would be substan-
tally conceded. The rejection by the Senate,
at the instance Of Mr.. Seward, Of the peace
propositions, shows that this hope was over
saDguine. The errors that are being made by
Mr.. Lincoln, in choosing bis future advisers;
his strong bias in favor Of the Massachusetts,
school of abolition politics; Stewards own in
eradicable craft, subuety, and, IL must be
added, want Of moral courage; are discourage
ing signs, to which the warlike preparations
that are being made by the cotton States and
the care that has been taken by republicans
to provide the new government, at Washing.
ton, with an abundance OF money, give fear.
full potency. Had the selection Of thoroughly
homogeneous and conservative Cabinet ex-
Guiding every ultrast element, been succeeded
by an inaugural, recommending broad mea.
sures OF Cancellation, and promising to call to-
gether, ut once, an extra session Of Congress
to carry them out new era of prosperity
would have dawned upon grateful country;
but IL is TO be feared that none Of these things
are 10 be hoped for; and from the hour that
the border States become persuaded that their
just demands have been slighted, IL Is not to
be doubted that they will retrograde their re-
cent action and cast their lot with their ha-
bitual allies, of over seventy years past.
President Davis, at Montgomery. is making
every preparation for bloody contest. lie
has no apparent faith in the promises that have
been made, or the dclusive expectations thai
have been held out by the North. His govern
ment l. evidently well informed respecting
everything that takes place at Washington, aud
the threats have undoubtedly reached him that
after the Fourth Of March, Fort Sumter will be
reinforced, Fort Plckens retaken, and the rev.
enue collected, at The entrance OF Southern bar