The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-03

generally, have just causes OF complaint against
the anti-siavery spirit and power Of the North.
But there Is way Of redress, even in the re-
sort to secession, without resorting 10 war; Let
all the Southern States, for instance, meet to-
gether in convention and adopt suoh amend
ments to the federal constitution as they may
think indispensable to their future security and
welfare, and upon this basis let them form
new Union. Let it at first be limited to the
Southern States, but open to all the other States
on the condition of the adoption by each Of this
new constitution, and we will answer for the
best results.
We believe that Southern movement Of this
comprehensive character would soon bring the
Central States and the Western States into a
happy accord with the Southern States. The
New England States might hold out, and the
best thing that could be done with them would
probably be 10 assist them in the expert
ment of little Puritanical c0nfederacy all
to themselves. Despairing Of any relief
for the Union from this factious and lncompe-
tent Congress, and of any seasonable PROPOSE
the President elect--who seems to un-
derstand neither his position nor the condi-
ton Of our public affairs-we present to the
Southern States our proposition for Southern
National Convention, a new constitution, and
reconstruction of the Union upon new South
ern basis.
To this end we appeal to the local authori-
ties and to the people Of South Carolina to de-
lay yet little longer the ruinous alternative
of the sword. There Ia limit beyond which
the President cannot forbear; he has indicated
it. Let not that limit be hastily passed by
those to whom it is addressed, If they would
escape the sweeping disasters Of civil war.
The GovEnNoR's MEssAGE.-This document,
which we lay before our readers this
morning, has not many points to mark it
as anything out of the course Of ordi-
nary messages coming from the Executive Of
this State under the present political regime.
1t is in many respects very commonplace
production. In the references made to the
present agitated condition Of national affairs,
evidence enough is furnished that the Governor
does not understand the crisis through which the
country is passing He deals in old, stale platl-
tudes and ideas that might have passed current
before the crisis set in, but which are nothing
better than mere words in the face of those mo-
mentous events which are transporting from day
to day. lie does not seem to realize in its en-
tirety the question which is shaking the whole
country from Its centre to its EXTREMIST bor-
ders.
In fact, the Governor would have done bet
ter had he borrowed few fresh ideas from
Thurlow Weed, which Mr.. Morgan needs very
much. Mr.. Weed has the sagacity to see that
the Chicago platform will not do for the pre-
sent crisis. He knows that il has done all 1t
was intended to do-namely, to elect Lincoln
but that 1t by no means contains all the duties
Of man. The Chicago platform is nothing in
the present exigency but pile Of rotten, use
less boards. AS q thing Of life and substance,
1t expired on the evening Of the 9Th Of last No
vember. Since then we have taken a stride in
advance OF about quarter Of century, and
have fallen upon times demanding new ideas,
new principles and new men.
Upon the affairs OF the State Mr.. Morgan
makes few good suggestions. For example, he
recommends the repeal Of the absurd and mis-
chievous law in regard to capital punishment
enacted by the last Legislature, which the Court
Of Appeals decided was void as applied TO cases
Of murder in the first degree, and which we all
know has acted as premium on coldblooded
murder generally But the best recommended
ton in the message is decidedly that which re- |
fcrs to the appointment of Board Of Commits
sioners, composed Of respectable citizens of
New York, to draw up now charter for this
misgoyerned metropolis, and submit the same
to avote of the people-the officers provided for
under it to be elected next December. This Is
precisely what we want, and 1t Is pity It was
not done a year sooner. But the suggestion
that the new charter should be drawn up by
commission Of citizens, and not by the Legisla-
ture, shows that the Governor appreciates the
status Of his republican friends In that body;
and in so recommending he speaks more like
citizen Of the metropolis, whose interests are
centred here, than a Governor Of the State,
elected by the votes of the rural districts.
Governor Morgan takes this occasion to boast
that he has granted fewer pardons TO State pri-
son convicts than his predecessors of the oppo-
site party-which, perhaps, may be readily ac-
counted for by the fact that the republicans
have not yet enlisted in their service so large .
detachment of that class Of physical force politi-
clans as would render il politically expcdient 10
relieve the State prisons Of their inmates. The
Metropolitan police come In for share Of the
Governors praise. He tells us that they have
grown into popular favor, and command gene
raj APPRECIATION fact with which we were
not acquainted until now; and as an evidence