The national Republican., 1861-03-30

oSOh'o III oiih6"S opoue tnV pssoS"N -
things at the South. Not q solitary appoint.
ment south Of the Potomac has been made for
ten years, Of which the recipient was not be
lieved to be in the interest Of the great con-
spiracy.
A MOTTO FOR THE SOUTHERN CON-
FEDERACY.
- II appears that among the weighty matters
which occupied the attention Of the distin.
guishsd gentlemen composing the Montgomery
Convention, one of the most important was the
flag under which they are to be arrayed. A
very brief period seems to have been consumed
in framing Constitution for their government
In the portfolio Of the Able Sieyes, and in the
prolific brains of Rhett, Meminger, Toombs,
and others, hundreds Of projects might have
been found or framed. A very short time,
however, led to the conclusion that the instru.
ment," recently so contemptuously referred to
as being called the Constitution Of the United
States" was about the best thing they could
adopt
With very few additions and alterations,
this was accepted, notwithstanding the world
had recently been informed, from high author.
ity, that half dozen Southern gentlemen, &C.
cidentally assembled, would, in the course Of
half an hour, frame system Of government
infinitely superior. This, however, would seem
to have been regarded as Of little consequence.
Constitutions and forms Of government were
merely the baubles and playthings Of the hour.
They could command no obedience; they could
enforce no respect. They could impose no OBJ.
legations. The most solemn pledges and oaths
to support them were even lighter than those
which Jove laughs at The creations of an
hour of madness, they may be as transitory as
an April shadow. Little time was therefore
required to agree upon Constitution which
much shorter time might annihilate.
But the momentous matter Of forming flag
demanded the exercise Of all the inventive ge-
MUS, the cultivated taste, the classical educa
ton, Of the most accomplished members of this
pre-eminently distinguished body. The desig.
nation of a coat Of arms called into requisition
all its antiquarian and heraldic knowledge.
To settle these important matters required
more time, demanded more consideration, than
the comparatively insignificant concern of
breaking up one Government and constructing
new one.
So far as we have yet learned, Constitution
has been determined upon, but the grand con.
Germs Of a coat Of arms and flag are yet to
be deliberately considered. These are matters
too important to be hastily determined. "The
honor and dignity" Of the entire Confederacy,
and Of each Of its component members, SO
profusely invoked, though practically SO little
exemplifed, may be jeoparded by an unsuitable
standard, or by an injudiciously- y-adopted coat
of arms. Here there must be no error COM
mitted, or the consequences may be fatal.
We are not, however, informed that the equal.
ly important subject of a motto to be inscribed
upon the coat of arms, (yet to be fabricated)
or emblazoned upon the flag, (yet to be agreed
on,) has yet been made the subject of discus
| sion.
Such motto should be terse in expression,
classical in authority, and significant in char.
acter. While condescending to lend some
countenance to the instrument called the
Constitution Of the United States, it would
| hoiaJ oho"ch W otSoiJ VIII Jul ioitoj aiSehdlS,
mint and arms, our venerated hotto, E pluri.
bus unum. This would cause blush of shame
even upon cheeks sufficiently bronzed to ex.
hibit no symptoms of remorse or disgrace in
respect to what has already been accomplished.
In the present emergency, therefore, it may
be permitted to suggest to these very honorable
and distinguished gentlemen motto well
adapted to indicate the principle by which they
are actuated and the conduct they have pur-
sued. 1t is terse classical, and significant:
"Secedant improbi, secernart Sc bonis."
Such is the language of Cicero under some
what analogous circumstances. We commend
it to the seeding Convention, and we trust that
the classical Meminger, and Rhett, and others
versed in ancient lore, will furnish translation
adapted to the comprehension of their less edu.
Gated compstriots. Until these accomplished
gentlemen shall perform this task of transla.
ton, we give the following version:
"Let the aoicked secede; let them separate
themselves from the pirtuous."