The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-04-06


firm with m derste engagements
The Administration Dragging the Soun-
try into Civil War.
Civil war like the sword of Damocles hangs
suspended over this country as by single
hair AS we predicted, the ant-slavery radi-
Gals Of our new administration have gained
the control Of it, and "the rebels and traitors"
Of the seeded States are to be whipped into
submission. The formidable military prepare
tons of Mr. Lincoln, his mastering OF ships OF
war, and transports, and troops, for active
operations on the sea and on the land, remove
all doubts as TO the policy which he intends to
pursue To the extent Of his resources, his
policy will be the maintenance of the autho-
rity of the United States over the seeded
States by force Of arms
The precise plan of operations projected Is
of course undisclosed to the world; but we
have reason to believe that 1t comprchends,
first, the reinforcement and continued occu-
patton of Fort Pickens, at all hazards, and 10
the face of an inevitable collision with be-
seging army of the Confederate or seeded
States of from five to ten thousand fighting
men; and, secondly, the collection Of our fe.
deral revenues from the customs at or near
the ports of the seeded States, by means of q
| blockade. Several ships Of war, for example,
are to be stationed at the outlet Of
,barleston harbor, to collect the du-
ties ppon Imports at that point
another blockading squadron Is to guard
the several mouths of the Mississippi, aud so
on. Such appears to be the practical inter-
probation resolved upon Of Mr.. Lincolns inau-
gural, wherein he promised to hold the forts
still under our federal flag In the seeded
States. and to execute in said States our re-
venue laws.
Sow VIC think 1t can be no longer disputed
that Fort Pickens must be peaceably evacuated
by the United States, or that between their
military forces and those of the seeded States
there will be bloody collision for the occuPa-
ton of said fortress. We are semi-oficially
assured that it will not be peaceably evacuated,
and therefore bloody collision at that point
seems to be inevitable. In he event of such
collision we know what will Immediately fol,
low. Virginia will lead of the border slave
States into the Southern confederacy, and an
alliance offensive and defensive, among all the
slave States, will be the next act In the drama.
And what next The movement perhaps of
a Southern army of twenty, thirty or fftY
thousand men upon Washington, largely col
lected from the revolutionary secession ele-
ments of Virginia and Maryland.
In discussing the fearful chances Of a civil
war, is not necessary to 60 beyond
Fort Pickens. But the revenue policy
Of our administration is also policy
Of war. Has our executive government
any constitutional authority to blockade
any of the ports of the United States, assuming,
with Mr.. Lincoln that the seeded States are
still In the Unions We are not aware of the
existence of any such authority. Has our
President any legal right or legal means for
the collection on board ship, In the manner
proposed of our federal duties upon imports
None that we are aware of. A blockade, of
ITSELF Is an act Of war; and the war making
power belongs, not to the President, but to
Congress. Thus, in usurping powers not to be
found of our federal constitution, Mr. Lincoln
will cease TO have any further claims upon
the loyalty Of the border slave States, aud
they will unqucstionaby transfer their ale
glance from Washington to Montgomery.
Our readers will thus perceive tina. we are
standing upon the threshold of "a house d.
vidcd against Itself" In battle array: that we
are upon the verge Of q civil war, in which all
the slave States will be combined against the
government at Washington; and that there Is
OF least some manifest danger of that Southern
armed invasion of Washington which, IL Is
thought, only General SCOTS formidable
warlke precautions prevented on the oc-
casion of Mr.. Lincoln's inauguration. Civil
warl Our people have no actual kao Wedge
OF the terrible import of these two dreadful
words civil war! We read Of Its horrors in
France, England, Scotland, ireland, Spain
and Mexico, and we shuddcr at its
desolatng and brutal atrocities. But at
length we are suddenly arrested in our bril-
liant career Of national prosperity, happiness
and power, by this horrid apparltlon OF civil
war. There appears TO be no hope of escape.
We must then prepare for the worst. The
civil wars OF the Roses and Of Cromwell, and of |
La Vendee, will serve 10 warn us of coming |
events In our midst- fire and sword, con6sea. |
lions, forced contributions, terrorism, ANARCHY
ind military despoiism. Our merchants |
banks, corporations and indus.
rial classes, our men of property and our
children Of poverty, would do we'll to prepare
1t once for these overshadowing and appalling
We may soon expect eh ,ngc In |
he specie tide Witch Las bceu flowing 10 upoa |
IS !or spiue tlae past ttiI IL las oo-ocl our