The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-02-02
The Next Congress-An Appeal to tn
People Unavoidable.


The leaders Of the republican party find
themselves in peculiarly perplexing posi-
ton. They are opposing with all their might
the meeting of Commissioners to consd-
er the Virginia resolutions and they are de-
termined TO resist the Bigler proposition
to submit the whole question to the people, In
both of Mr.. Stewards speeches he has clearly
indicated that the policy Of the new admins
tration is the strict party policy, and that the
republican leaders believe that the secession
lists will exhaust themselves in time. Mr..
Seward adheres to his former position, that
after one, two or three years shall have elapsed
the Southern storm will blow over. Then will
be the proper time for a Constitutional Con-
vention Of all he States; but if all else fails,
and "this Union by force of arms is to stand or
fall, he will advise his people to stand or
perish with it'-that is, to fight for it to the
death.
The republican leaders, Mr.. Seward included,
have no confidence in the masses of their par
ty. They fear that if the question of compro-
North they would vote in the affirmative,
when the republican party would be broken
into half dozen cliques, and finally
perish of strangulation at the hands of its own
friends. They will therefore take the risk of
losing the border States rather than run the
chance of destroying their party organization.
If the matter could be left to the people, it
would be very soon settled; but the politicians
are bound to keep it in their own hands, on the
principle of rule or ruin. So there is nothing
to be hoped for from the republicans. They
go in for the Inauguration of Lincoln and the
spoils first, and adjustment afterwards, if ad-
justment is practicable. 1t is probable that
nothing practical will result from the efforts
now being made to bring about settlement,
and that all or nearly all the border States will
withdraw from the Union on or about the 4th
of March. When Mr.. Lincoln takes Office he
will be compelled to call an extra session of
Congress, to assemble at the earliest possible
moment. As will be seen by the tables we have
given elsewhere, fourteen States-namely: Ala
bama, California Connecticut, Georgia, Ken
lucky, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, New
Hampshire, North Carolina, Mississippi,
Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas and
Virginia--have still to elect repre-
sentativcs to the next Congress. OF course
the seeding States will disregard the Pre-
sident's proclamation altogether; but we shall
obtain from New England, California, and, we
trust, from the border States, an expression of
the public sentiment, which may 60 far towards
bringing about peaceable settlement Of ex-
listing difficulties.
The New England States choose in March,
and elsewhere special Congressional elec-
tons will be ordered. 1t is claimed that
there has been great change in the opinions
of the New England people since the elec-
ton of Lincoln, and it is very evident,
from the frantic appeals of Hon. Massa Gree
ley, in the Tribune, that the concessionists are
rapidly gaining strength. No pains should be
spared in building up this conciliatory senti.
ment in the republican party That organiza-
ton is clearly responsible for the troubles
which now menace the nation and the remedy
must come, if it comes at all, from the repub-
lican ranks. The question is, whether the fe-
deral Union, the prosperity of the United
States the interests Of civilization, progress
and free government, are Of less Importance
than the preservation Of the republican party.
Mr.. Seward and his friends seem TO think so.
but we disagree with them entirely. Let the
matter go to the people, and we will be willing
TO abide by their verdict