New-York daily tribune., 1861-02-16

last tOur m0nthe. In lnese sparse settfinents
news travels s.swly. 1t is in cities, fostering with
corruption, and debased by intoxication, that
political as well as other fevers have their sud-
den rise, their e1trayagant progress, and their
deplorabio results. Here the mob, to whose pas
sons politicians play the pander, now and then
take it into their heads 10 Lead their leaders, and
to put period to their extravaganza by some
act of oyergOwn insOlence and presumption,
from which even the most unscrupulous shrink.
Such is now the case in Savannah. All through
the past Summer and Fall, the political associa-
tions, secret and others, have been hotbeds Of
violence. One Of these was the " Rattlesnake
Club" secret association in the interest of
Secession. Under the pretense of protecting the
peace of the city from ineeDdiaries and slave in.
surrectiOns, such associations as this have taken
upon them to crush all freedom Of speech, TO
empty the vials of drunken wrath upon whomso-
ever aroused suspicion of the least ailiation with
Republicanism, or upon any whom public or pri-
vate prejudice saw fit to denOunce as fit subjects
for their attentions 1t may be that these organ
izations included many persons of respectablity,
and Of good intentions. But as usually results
with secret societies founded upon prejudice and
passion, the control of them speedily passed into
the hands of the most unprincipled and violent
Their cOurse before election was such as 10
prompt the remonstra ance and resistance of the
city authorities; for no one could help seeing
that if things went on thus, the end would be
that no citizen, however worthy, could have the
least security against outrage. Recently this
ruffian spirit has eliminated in an act which, it
may be hoped, will put an end to such associa-
tons altogether. An English captain, for some
trivial cause, having aroused the passions or
prejudice of some member or members of the
" "Rattlesnake Club" has been recently seized
upon, whipped, tsrred and feathered, and bru-
tally maltreated. The news of the act came like
a thunder-clap upon the city. 1t is plain to
every one who knows the spirit of the English
nation that they would rise as one man to re-
sent and summarily punish at any cost such
an outrage upon one of their citizens. Even for
an ofense against the laws of the State, the
English people would insist upon the application
of legal punishment and no other. But for an
unauthorized and unmitigated outrage upon the
gsh nation would not hesitate moment to de-
clare and wsge war TO the bitter end, unless
reparatiOn were made In this case the British
Consul instantly offered reward Of s 900 for
the conviction Of the guilty parties. The Gov
ernor follows with an Executive offer of tho
same amount; and the City Government followed
suit. So much to appease the wrath of the Brit.
n ~ T.l -. L
gested to every mind, that it is full time that
the United States Government had manifested a
similar sense of It's obligations TO its citizens.
Truly, for the past decade, it has utterly dis
owned al its responsibilities Of this sort in the
Southern States. Had it recognized them sooner,
and shown itself TO be really and truly a Gov.
ernment, it would not now be thrown off and
discarded win such contempt by the Southern
people themselves.
To be sure, the Southern State Governments
themselves have been equally regardless of the
rights Of their own citizens. They have allowed
the mob spirit to have its way in all cases of
partisan prejudice and passion: and it is only
when this spirit threatens TO culmiRate in utter
anarchy, or TO bring down the vengeance of enc
of the real "powers of the EARTH" that South
ern authorities awaken 10 a sense of duty. This
is, indeed the great characteristic fault of South
ern society-its rant Of respect for the lac. This
will show itself yet more plainly in the future of
the South, if it become purely saveholding con-
federacy. The more complex the relations of
society," the greater its need Of law. Simplify
the structure of Southern society 10 that of a
mere slaveholding agricultural community, and the
law of private redress for wrongs, and private
vengeance for injuries, gradually and completely
supplants the arm Of constituted authorities.
Compare the present state Of Southern sentiment |
on this subject of law, with the public sentiment
of England with its nicely arranged network of |
interests, and the contrast is very great indeed. |
In the one case, it may be said that the public |
voice demands the rigid execution Of the laws for |
the sake of the community, at whatever expense |
10 the individuals; while in the other, the public |
sentiment approves the exercise of sudden pas
sion and revenge or the part Of the in
diyidual at whatever expense TO the public |
security or wellbeiDg In the one society, the |
humblest individual feels assured against personal |
violence by the broad shield which the law holds |
over him; in the other, protection is sought 10
ones self, or in social connections-in reputation
for courage or in popularity" However much
this necessary dependence upon self for protec- |
ton may tend to promote respectful and concilia-
tory intercourse in Southern society it as evil
IDENTIFY tends to educate the people to disrespect
for law, and to develop in them prematurey and
excessively the passions of pride and revenge.
Disunon will serve to aggravate all this; for in
tercourse with the NORTH with its diversity of |