The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-18

The Crisis Before the PeopIe-Thc APP
preaching New England state Elec-
lions.
The ultmatum of Mr. Buchanan to the war
like requisition of South Carolina, through Colo
mel Hayne, for the surrender of Fort Sumter,
has concentrated the public attention upon the
issue thus made up of peace or war. Antici-
pating bloody collision, which may summon
the whole country to arms, we apprchend that
our readers Of all parties are thus brought to
the opinion that prompt measures, calculated
to avoid war, without sacrificing the honor or
the prestige Of the general government, are
much more important now than any sectional
movements, propositions or concessions for the
salvation Of the Union.
Admitting the force Of this opinion, but still
entertaining the hope that war in the interim
will be avoided, SO as to leave the incoming ad-
ministration free to make its election between
Cancellation and coercion, we have the whole
field of the argument-peace OF war; conciiia-
ton or coercion. Union or disunion-still open
before us. Our republican contemporaries adj
monish us that "the first question to be decided
is whether we have a government or not"
They demand, too, that the rights and the in
tegrity of the government of the Union shall
first be vindicated in the enforcement Of the
laws, before any propositions involving further
concessions to slavery can be entertained.
Nor can it be denied that the moral strength of
this government materially depends upon its
capacity to enforce, il necessary, its constitu-
~ - 10
well as in resistance to foreign expressions.
The powers of the federal government are
well defined. They are tho powers surrendered
by the States for the general welfare; and so
far they make the United States q single
sovereignty. Furthermore. as there is nothing
in the constitution recognizing the right of q
State to secede from the Union and as there
are no exceptional constitutional provisions,
making any discrimination between acts Of re-
bellion against the federal government under
State authority and similar acts without any
such authority, we must concede the power OF
the federal government to enforce the laws of
the Union not less to-day in South Carolina
than in New York. But the exercise of this
power, and the conditions aud the extent of its
exercise, at crisis like this, and considering
all thsttubborn facts with which we have to
deal, involve W. in duties and dangers of the
most difficult and delicate nature. There il
the duty Of executing the laws; but there is
tho danger Of precipitating civil war, in
which all laws, all political rights, all safe
guards of society, federal and local. may be
destroyed.
The trainers Of the constitution never
dreamed of the possibility of sectional re-
evolutionary ipbreglio such as this; but for all
causes Of State or sectional complains against
the general government the needful remedy
was provided in the ways and means ordained
for the revision Of tho constitution. This
brings us to The main proposition OF this arti-
Gle, TO wit:--that If we maintain relations Of
peace between the general government and
each and all Of the Southern States for a
month or two longer, we may arrive at some
manifestations directly from the people Of tho
North which win bring the administration OF
Mr.. Lincoln and the republican party prac,i-
cally to the work of such concessions to the
South as will save the Union
A State election will come of 10 New Hamp-
shire on the 18th Of March in Connecticut on
the lst OF April and Ia Rhode Island on the
Sd Of the same month, comprehending in each
case the election of members OF Congress
Beginning with New Hampshire, let the advo-
Gates IN that State Of concessions TO the South
'or oe FAKE Of the Union prepare, upon this
lssue' Tor trial Of strength with the republican
paiy ana Their Congressional candidates. Let
,De friends OF q compromise in New Hampshire
begin with adopting something like tho Critten.
aen propositions Of paciaca,ion a. the olaf.
'orm OF their Congressional ticket and we be.
leve that upon this test the people Of Tia, State
viii do tLeir duty for The Iio,oa W.. -,