The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-06-16

tine specified, they will be held 10 heavy
responsibility for it. Their personal influences
or party affiliations would not In such case
avail them much against the justly excited
anger and vengeance Of the people.
TIL Plans OF jefferson Davis and His
Fellow ConsPtratsrs.
] gradual unmasking OF the designs OF
Soi thern politicians, which began to take
p'i c., in the columns of the HERALD, as long
a. o as last October, rendered 1t evideat that a
existed, to overthrow the constitution, and re-
construct the Union on q military basis, with
Washington as It's central point. One OF our
Richmond correspondents, Of that early period,
exposed the plans of the secret secession or
ganization that had been formed; but his
revelations unfortunately attracted little atten-
ton, as they were supposed to amount to
nothing more than suporabundant 6re-eating
effervescence, which would exhaust itself in
empty threats. but would never dare to carry
itself into execution. The rapid develope-
ments of the last six months, have proved,
however, that the schemes of Messrs. jefferson
Davis and Lis associates, were projected il
sober, diabolical earnest, and that they would
have been cerried into effect, but for the fore
sight and sagacity Of General Scott, Not only
such men, from the cotton States, as Slidell,
Toombs, Mallory, Yulee, Benjamin, with their
aentatiYes, and several reasonable members of
Mr.. Buchanans Cabinet, were engaged 10
Davis Interest," but large number OF gentle
men from the border States, and in the States
Of New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, ard
even Massachusetts, had deliberately deter
mined to destroy the republic, to connive q;
the occupation of the national capital BY rebel
troops, and to issue from thence manifesto,
inviting the separate members Of the confede-
racy to take part in national convention,
under Southern auspices, for the purpose Of
the remoulding Of our institutions in subser-
viency to the ambitious views of slave State
demagogues.
Every one knows that there was NO nece5-
sity for the election 10 the Presidency Of Mr.
Lincoln. Republican votes could never have
bestowed upon him the Chief Magistracy of the
country, if the corspirators had not availed
themselves of their position in the democratic
party to split 1t into pieces, with the avowed
object OF obtaining o plausible pretext for
Withdrawing from the Union, and then occu-
plying Washington. Confding in the treachery
Of Messrs Floyd, Cobb, and Thompson, they
were foolhardy enough to believe that sufi-
cient preparations would have been made, pre-
vious to the 4th Of March, to enable them to
seize the capital bya coup d'ftat, and pre-
vent the Inauguration of Mr.. Lincoln alto
gether. Even as late as the bombGrdment of
Fort Sumter, the Montgomery Secretary of
War proclaimed that the Confederate flag
would wave over the Capitol within two weeks
Washington, was in fact the rallying cry of the
rebel leaders Governor Wise had announced
how easily it could be captured, as early as
1856. 1t was their pet scheme, and though
they affect to have abandoned it, we entertain
but small doubts that its accomplishment will
be attempted, within very limited period, and
that all promulgated Intentions to the contrary,
are sham and snare, for the purpose of
throwing the federal government off from its
guard.
1t is impossible to study closely the speeches,
official reports, proclamations, and NANTES
toee that have proceeded from leaders of
the Southern rebellion, since the Goth of
April-the day when Davis sent his very humble
deprecatory message to the Congress, which
had just assembled at Montgomery without
remarking that they have all taken their cue
from that document, and exaggerated rather
than covered over the weakness of the Southern
strength. Causeless retreats, including the last
from Harper's Ferry; sham fast days; ostenta-
ious parades of grim courage, in desperate cir
cumstances, have eliminated in such bu1foon-
cry Of affectation Of weakness, as was dis
played, the other Gay, at Richmond, by ex-
Governor Wise, who compared Virginia to the
"victim of an anaconda, about to be crushed
in lis folds" and exhorted his hearers, in de.
fault of firearms or good swords, TO "get a
spear, lauce!" "Manufacture," he ex.
claimed, ''your blades Of old iron, even though
it be the tires Of your cart wheels. Get a
piece of carriage spring, and grind and bur-
nish it in the shape of q bowie knife, and put it
to any sort Of handle, 80 that it be strong
ssh, hickory, oak. But, il possible, get dou-
BILE bar1elled gun, and dozen rounds of buck
shot, and go upon the battle field with these.''
Such an attempt at deceit is pure mountebarke.
ry. 1t betrays itself. Thanks to stealings
from armories, arsenals, and fortresses. end
long preparation for hostiliies, the South is
too well supplied with the means to carry
on war. The able commanders who lead its
armies, are practising the deceit of decrying
their numbers, discipline, and means Of
offence, for the transparent object Of striking
securely the blow at Washington, which has
become such part of Southern aspirations
that it might be even dangerous 10 give it up.
The rebel force on the soil of Virginia is
mr. 1oh <ar Nav