The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-11

events which have transpired within the brief
space of four-and-twenty hours Yet, while
the Southern States are thus acting and going
one by one out Of the Union, there are
many people in the North who do not YET
believe that the South is in earnest who think
that the trouble is coming to an end, and who
refused to recognise the possibility of the South
Carolinians obstructing the Star of the West in
her attempt to land government troops at Fort
Sumter; while the demagogues of the republi-
can party, who produced this fearful calamity,
fearing to meet their constituents with this
weight of responsibility upon their heads,
still hold out that it all amounts to nothing in
the face of circumstances which too plainly in
dictate that the country is rapidly drifting into
civil war.
| The pressure Of this terrible crisis now rests
upon Congress, and upon the incoming admi-
nistration; and it is to be hoped that the events
of the last twenty four hours--the meaning of
which cannot be mistaken-will have the
effect Of leading to an immediate settlement of
the question. Now that the new President has
in part selected his Cabinet, with Mr. Seward
| at its head, we entertain some expectations that
before serious collision takes place some
proposition will be made tending to preserve
us from the most frightful catastrophe that
ever befel nation. Such are the fears enter
tanned by the State Of Virginia, that one branch
of the Legislature has just passed resolutions
proffering its services as mediator between
The North and the South to avert the impend-
ing disaster; and these fears, we may say, are
now shared by everybody throughout the
entire country who values the existence of the
confederacy, and who shrinks from the bloody
horrors of desolating civil war.
As the present administration can do no more
towards pacifcation-the Executive having ex
hausted its constitutional powers, as Mr.. Blu
chanan states in his Message-it is the new adj
minisratjon which must accomplish this grand
result, by fairly and boldly settling the differ
cnccs between the Southern States, who are
contending for their constitutional rights and
that party at the North which, for the sake of a
mere abstraction, is disposed to deny them
From the character of Mr.. Seward, the Premier
| of the new administration, it is expected of him
that he will take decided stand in this mo-
mentous crisis; and as he is expected to speak
upon the state Of the country in the Senate to-
morrow, ii is earnestly to be hoped that he will
unfold some portion of the policy which Mr.
Lincoln's government intends to pursue with
regard to the vital questions of the day.
The Crisis-W. Fl. Seward vs.. Abraham
Lincoln ON the Question of Conn
promise.
| We reproduce in this article, for the informa-
4 ~ A.
Stewards late conservative speech at the Aston
House, and the editorial from the Albany
Journal Of Wednesday last, announcing that
"on or before the 4th of March Governor
Seward will resign his seat in the Senate, pre-
| paratory to his entrance upon other public
duties" meaning the duties that will dcvolve
upon the Secretary of State under Mr.. Lincoln's
administration.
Our object is to show that there were and
are good grounds for the late warnings of the
New York Tribune to the republican party, to
| wits that the oompromisers in the camp were at
work, and that the anti-slavery radicalsms of
the Chicago platform were IN danger Of being
| cast overheard at Washington. These fears of
our implacable antislavery contemporary are
doubtless due to the appointment Of Mr.. Seward
as Mr.. Lincoln's Secretary Of State, and to the
interesting conservative manifestations result
ing from this appointment. The Albany Jour
nal says that, "early in December, Mr.. Lincoln
addressed to Mr.. Seward, at Washington,
letter kindly expressive of his confidence
and regard, and cordially offering him
the Department Of State, to which Mr..
Seward Immediately replied, expressing his
grateful sense both Of the honor conferred and
of the gratifying manner in which the offer
was made" but asking little time for refec-
ton, after the manner of modest damsel, on
the receipt of the very proposition desired, and
from the identical gentleman who is not the
man to be refused
Mr.. Seward accordingly reflects upon the
subject, and all his reasons for a negative
answer are "overruled by sense of duty"
"He had been largely instrumental" says Mr..
Weed, in bringing about that condition of
public affairs which adds to the responsible
ties of the incoming administration, and he
cannot refuse to stand by it." Mr. Weed then,
in the mantle Of prophet puts on record the
prediction " that President and Premier will so
discharge their duties, amid all the difficulties
that surround them, as to preserve the bless
ings Of Union, and to deserve and receive the
homage Of their countrymcn." Mark the
words-"the blessings Of Union,' and "the hon.
age of their countrymen." Surely these beau
tiful promises cannot mean coercion, civil war,
fire and sword, chaos, anarchy, and still be-
ginning and never ending revolutions, No !
This prediction Of Union and public gratitude,
unless mere glittering generality" means
peace, Cancellation, compromise, and a restora-
ton Of harmony between the North and the
South
But howY Mr.. Seward, in his Astor House
speech, tells us how lie says:-"lf we keep
entirely cool, and entirely calm, and entirely
| kind debate will cnsne which will be kindly