Gazette and sentinel., 1861-03-02
The Political Barometer.

The public pulse for the last week or two
seems to be in a passive or quiescent state,
apparently awaiting events anticipated to
come with the ldes Of March-and upon the
nature Of those events there seems to be no
settled opinion. Indeed, no one appears to
have a decided opinion upon any subiGsf-r.
policy Of the U. S. GovernmSR.at lies in the
ence to the seeded StstSe veIoned within the
womb Of time 80
or fortnight.
War or Peace-which is it 10 be} Opin-
ions upon this subject seem to be about equal
ly divided in the public mind. Our wisest
aud shrewdest politicians favor the former,
many OF whom considering it an inevitable
event; while there are others, cautious and
discreet in the formation Of their opinions,
who adhere to the belief that peace will pre-
vail. If so, it will be the first instance on re
cord Of the withdrawal OF a body of people
from their Government and the formation Of
another or new Government within the origi-
nal boundaries of the first, without the COLI
sion Of arms. However, this unprecedented
occurrence may take place. Much that is
uaprsce3eHtCd-much that is great and god.
Ike may be hoped for and looked for through
the superior intelligence and expanded minds
of a free and viItuous people such as ours
The "Pen IS mightier than the Sword"--and
the epoch of its sublimest victory may now
be at hand.
Late intelligence from Washington seems to
verify the belief that this victory is TO ensue.
Dispatches in the PicdyuHe of Wednesday,
which that cautious journal says can be i'm
plicitly relied upon, assert that the incoming
administration will not blockade our ports nor
attempt to collect the revenue, aud that a vol
untary surrender of the forts and military
posts will be made if they are Tot attacked
before the new administration c mes into
| power. If this is so-if this declaration, the
truth Of which the PicdyuRs so read y en-
dorses, really emenates from the official head
to be inausurated next Monday, asserted in
all earnestness, then there Will be no cause
for war-peace will continue, and prosperity,
and quiet and happy homes, which have for a
season been disturbed, viii again revisit our
people. II, -howeyer, this declaration should
be a ruse, to deceive the South, We cannot see
what advantage could accrue from I to the
| Government Of Lincoln, as the very first In
dication to retske the forts, &c, or il they are
not surrendered, or the Northern troops are
not withdrawn from Sumter and Pickens im-
mediately after the Inauguration, the Southern
Confederacywill consider such evidence rs tan
tamount to q declaration of war, and at once
order our troops TO take them-and TO order
is to accomplish.
While Washington is now the attractive
centre, the Congress at Montgomery is pro.
ceeding quietly but energetically in the organ
i~zation Of the Government Of the Southern
Conlederacy. 10 the construction of its con-
s~titution, which was to have been reported
on "Wednesday, the people may rest assured
that the fullest latitude will be given to Sou.
thern industry and interest, and that the fu.
ture Of the Confederated States, if unaccom.
panied by war, will be frightened with a gran.
deur that Republics and a united people, hi
therto, have never experienced.
Looking then to the political barometer a,
indicated by the sentiments and expression.
Of the people North and South, as well as by
events, We can see nothing that ~foreteIls tia
the hurricane OF human passions and ambi
tons, typiiei by the clash Of arms and tn,
roar of artillery, is soon to orerspread anC
darken our sunny land. We shall continu,
to believe, till stern realities undeceive us
tibet the present is an age of peace as well Al
an age Of reason.