The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-15


OF civil war, which may reduce US to lower
level than Mexico-all this is the consequence
of that agitation of the slavery question,
against the constitutional rights of the slave
holding States, which has been steadily perse-
vered in for thirty years, and which has, within
three months, reached the climax of evil The
catastrophe has not come upon us of a sudden,
nor without premonitory signs visible to the
most ordinary observation. Its latest colossal
steps may have taken many by surprise; but
historical experience shows that the passions
and purposes of revolution, once unloosed,
outstrip in consummation the keenest magma
tions of those even who have inspired them
and given them birth. If, in the deplorable
predicament into which the Union has been
hurried by the blind heat of anti-slavery zeal
OTIS, crazy ambitious New England preachers
and pseudo philanthropists could not or
would not stop to calculate the cost-the coun-
sells should be listened to of those who would
at any hazard, attempt to coerce the Southern
States, the mischief would become despe-
rate and irremediable. The faint rem
nant of hope which still remains for the cause
of national unity is to be found in the praise
worthy moderation with which Mr. Buchanan
in the present crisis, has adhered to policy of
the utmost forbearance in the midst of the diff
fculties by which he has been surrounded.
Fifteen States, before the 4th of March next,
will probably have separated themselves from
the Union. AS the weeks have passed by since
the opening of the present session of Congress,
the eyes of the people have been turned first
upon their national representatives, and then
upon the incoming administration to dispel the
tempest that threatens to engulf us. The
shiftless imbecility, incapacity, stupidity igno
rance, together with the gross venality and
selfshness, of the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives, have literally filled the country
with stupor and amazement. AT moment
when the discretion, judgment, patriotism and
prestige of statesmen, similar to those that
surrounded Washington Jefferson and Madison,
were needed, there has been only seen a
the source whence sound and healthy legisla
tion should have proceeded. And while Con-
gress has been burrowing in its molehill Mr..
Lincoln has also RETAINED from saying word
which could allay fears of terrible impending
disaster. Thus we have drifted to a point
where the question has ceased to be, "shall :,
the Union be dissolved" and shall the South
be permitted to go out peaceably, or must
there be civil war? has taken its place. Can
anything be more horrible? In the annals of
history does there exist the parallel of q nation
at the height of its prosperity, surrounded by
every external and rejoicing in every internal
essential of happiness, sxicidally plunging its
future destiny, its wealth, fair fame and the
hopes which humanity had founded upon il,
into an abyss of utter ruin, desolation
and misery, without the slightest hope,
and scarce possibility, of recovery. The mind
shrinks in dismay from prospect equally hui
initiating and disastrous. Far better that The
Union should perish forever than that frater-
nal hands should be turned against one another
to deluge the land in blood.
'Let there be peace" Below all the fires of
discord that now burn, there stands out clear,
unmistakeable, demonstrated, the inextin-
guishable love Of country Of fve-sixths of the
population Of the United States. Neither abo
lition fanatics nor fre-eating mobocrats can
quench it. Let it all be employed now in avert
ing the miseries which factions, wrought up to
frenzy by the exaggcrations Of sectional emo
lions, would bring upon us. If the Southern
States-one, ten, or all-shall depart from us in
peace and smity, there will remain founda-
tion upon which to reconstruct confederation
upon a basis so solid that it cannot be easily
again shaken. Through the means of a Con-
etituent Southern Convention, and the presen-
tation by it of propositions to the North of
amendments to the constitution, this may be
done, even though it should involve the exclu-
once commenced would render impossible the
accomplishment of SO happy result. The
strenuous efforts of every citizen should be
bent, therefore, towards the one end of pre-
serving peace; and it is good omen that, un-
derlying the antiquities of Mr.. Stewards
speech, he tacitly scouts the shortsighted, in
tolerant, unrefecting outcry Of the petty poll
ticians who surround him, in favor Of coercion.
1t is to be deplored that he did not advance a
few steps farther, and, throwing off the shackles
of party which bind him, make at once those
clear concessions which the exigency Of the
case demands, and which he virtually admits
cannot be long postponed.
COERCION SYMPTOMS IN THE WEST AND NoRTn-
wEsr-While the people of the South are
agitating, and those of New York, Pennsylva-
mia, New Jersey and New England are talking
as though they were the whole country, private
accounts from the Western and Northwestern
States show that the most intense excitement
IT. NJ