The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-05
Frcgress OF the Revolution In the South
CLEANS Of Light.


proposition for the reorganization of the Union
on the basis of such a revision Of the federal
constitution as may be indicated by the South
era States. We transfer to this paper lead
ing editorial on the same subject from the
Richmond Enquirer, from which we conclude
that, notwithstanding the apparently uncom-
promising secession proclivtics OF that Journal,
there is predominant public sentiment be-
hind it in Virginia strongly in favor Of the
Union.
We accordingly accept the suggestions of
eur Richmond contemporary on this subject of
reforming the constitution in the light Of
peace offering. 1t is possible that in this eau
tious manifestation we may have clue to
conservative reaction not only in Virginia,
but throughout the South. We know that the
late revolutionary proceedings in South Caro-
lima, although committed under the assumed
sovereign authority of an independent natona
government, meet with very little sympathy
even among the loyal advocates of Southern
rights in the North. The local authorities ana
people of South Carolina, however, fully recog
nizing the right Of secession, and the absolute
sovereignty of seeded State, may plead
the conscientious discharge of sovereign
rights and personal duty in their revo-
lutionary acts, including the act of treason.
This plea renders the offending individual none
the less liable to the penalties of the crime,
but il opens the door to forbearancc and for
gveness.
Hence the generous and wise forbearance of
MIR. Buchanan in reference to the revolutonists
Of South Carolina. They comprehend oil the
authorities and all the people of the State.
They believe themselves absolyed from all con-
necton with and allegiance to the federal GO
yernmcnt, and they act accordingly. But what
can we gay in excuse for the seizure Of a fede-
raj fortress by the Governor of Georgia, while
tLat State is still in full communion with the
general government. And what Of similar
revolutionary acts reported as having been
committed in North Carolina and Floriday
They are to be commended if justified by the
plea of Intervention in behalf Of the federal
government against the mob; but we fear that
the local authorities, in these proceedings, have
been led astray by the noise Of the mob, or by
their sympathies with the mob, and have thus
descended to the level of the mob.
We apprehcnd indeed, that the mob has risen
10 the control of the community and the au-
tkoritics of South Carolina, and that
there is a substantial conservative ele-
ment in that State, in the Convention in
the Legislature and among the people, which
would gladly avail itself of the first inviting
opportunity TO escape from the pressure Of the
mob. AS in South Carolina, so, we believe,
and to a greater extent, this conservative,
anti-revolutonary element exists in every
| other Southern State We believe that it may
be specified in what Mr.. Seward has heretofore
designated "the slave oligarchy,' the three
hundred and fifty thousand shareholders of the
South, or the bulk of them. They appreciate
the expenses, the losses and the probable dis
asters Of revolution, peaceable or warlike, and
they arc necessarily conservative. They are
now powerless and submissive under the wild
excitement which surrounds them; but with a
little time gained for reflection, this excitement
may cool down. and then these holders OF the
thir,y.fve hundred millions Of Southern slave
property will be heard
There are between six and seven millions Of
non-savcholding whites in the South. They
under the control Of the politicians, control the
Southern elections Excited, on the ono hand
by the advances, the power and the declared
purposes Of the anti-slavery alliance of the
North; and inspired on the other hand, by
fre-eating politicians with visions of great
homogeneous Southern confederscy, CHASED
upon military principles" and absorbing,
| in rapid succession, Mexico, Central America,
Cuba and other West India islands, the mass Of
the Southern non-slavehoiding whites are car
ried away. They have been encouraged, also,
with the prospect Of slave or two, at least, for
every Southern white man with the revival Of
The African slave traffic under Southern con-
| fcdeIacy.
The Southern fre-eating politicians have thus
! raised spirit Of revolution which they cannot
control We know that among the non-slave-
holding whites OF the South are numbered many
! good wise and excellent men; but we know,
( 100, that the mob in the South, as it il every
where else, is drawn from the ranks Of poverty,
and il always ready for revolution. Our South
ern Shareholders, as class, in all the accom-
plishments and virtues Of law and order loving
men, will compare favorably with any other
class Of the American people. But they are
borne along with the current which they can
no longer resist. The pressure of superior
numbers is against thcm and they only sub
NIT to the will Of the majority Of the communi-
~ as TO the political remedies for their political
grievances.
i, A little time, however, secured for reAec-
ton, South and North, may bring all things
right again. Let the Southern states,
in general convention, indicate the terms
\ of their continuance in the Union,
and their propositions of peace will command a
hearing in the North. State Conventions will
be called in every Northern State to consider
this great subject Of a new compromise, and in
the end a new compromise, in the revision Of
| the constitution, will be adopted. that will