The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-21

The Crfttenaen Resolutions and Bigler
sabstitute--Hiu Republicans i'm Con-
sress Prevent nm Appeal to the People!
The question transcending all others in i'm
portance to the country. at the present mo-
ment, is, whether the republican party in Con-
gress will continue to interpose the screen of
its authority between the popular voice
throughout the Union, and peaceful settle
ment of the difficulties by which the nation is
convulsed, or whether it will aid in disspating
the dangers by which it is menaced? VIII the
Senate and House of Representatives rise to
the dignity Of their position as the faithful
stewards Of the people will they clothe them
selves with the discretion, Judgment and pa
triotism of statesmen, or must they still show
themselves to be utterly lost to every sense of
uprightness and independence? We are in the
midst of a revolutionary PERIOD when the
wisest and most sagacious find ii impossible to
foretell what new disasters any hour may bring
forth. Imagination cannot picture a more
dreary, desolate future than awaits u.s. il the
vis ine,tir Of ignorant, malicious stupefaction,
which has thus far, during this session of Con-
gress, characterized its proceedings, any longer
prevails. The republican party hold veal
and woe, good and evil, the perpetuation of
he integrity of the confederation or its dis
memberment, in their own hands. They may
decide, this very day, whether the States,
united together, shall remain the example and
pride of the universe, or whether the brightest
light that the sun of liberty ever cast upon the
earth shall be extinguished in darkness. On
Friday last every republican member Of the
United States Senate voted against the recon-
sideration of Mr.. Crittendens resolutions. If
they adhere to the same policy to-day, when
his bill shall become the subject Of debate if
they treat, with like contempt, the proposition
Of Mr.. Bigler, to submit to the peo-
pie the issues that sunder the coun-
try in twain, upon them alone will rest the re-
sponsibility Of every evil that may grow out
Of their reputation of the last pacific solu-
ton Of our sectional troubles, that will per-
haps be attempted, between now and the 4th
of March next If civil war comes. they will
have brought it upon US. If death blow is
given to our national prosperity, theirs will
be the blame. The guilt will lie at their door
of the most stupendous act of national suicide
that the worlds history has ever known.
1t has become evident that no remedy what
ever can be applied to the political disease
under which the Union is now laboring, cx-
themselves. The decay Of parties has thrown
leadership and actual power, as well in the
different States as at Washington. into the
hands of REGULATORS, spectators, and the most
venal corrupt class OF individuals that ever held
rule t. any land. Incumbcnts Of Office al
Nasd On live in mortal fear Of the displea.
sure o! a.'r own paltry local constituencies.
and W. larc to act rightly, even should
they rcoc.ee the affiatus Of genuine statesman
/ like inspiration. A desolate blank of every
noble impulse is beheld at the very source
whence sound and healthy legislation should
proceed Representatives from the North and
| South want, respectively, the moral courage 70
cas-, off the shackles Of a clergy-beridden and Of
= mobocrat fire-eatng dominion, or else they
| are actuatcd by the reasonable motive Of has
| tening the country into bloodshcd, in order to
/ complete the anarchy towards which il has
progressed with gigantic footsteps. Yet the
L
vast masses Of our population, in all Of the
States, are Onqucstionably conservative
| Fivc-siSths Of those who are entitled
| 10 vote dcplore the agitation by
which the popular surface is tossed to and FRO
and condemn the demayogues who have brought
us TO the present stage Of deplorable national
crisis. The voice of the intelligence, worth, in
tegrity and wealth in all Of the States Of the
Union, excepting probably South Carolina and
Massachusetts, is struggling to make itsek heard.
Public feeling demands precisely such an OPP
portunity as the adoption Of the Bigler substi-
tute to Mr.. Crittenden's bill would afford, to
stamp sectional tyranny with condemnation,
from whatever quarter itmayb be arrogatcd. Its
adoption would be the signal for an universal
cry 70 Re echo from New \ ogk to Louisiana, and
from tle Nlantic 10 lc lie coast, in favor
of the pioscrvatiot of the Union, at whatever
sacrifice. BY will BE- INC exclusive act of the
republican members Of Congress if such an
outburst of feeling is stihed
The imperious necessity upon which the Big
Ter bill IL framed IL 10 be- found in the limited
interval between now and the Ali day OF March,