The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-04-17

or inclination for vaporing talk. Action
prompt action, is demanded by the country,
ard that such as will materially aid In co-opera-
ton with the executive in restoring peace
and accomplish ing eunion of the States.
The Great Crisis-The Duty OF Govern
ment and or the People.
After the terrible per cd of political excite
ment, preceding the first election of Thomas
Jefferson to the Presidency of the United
States, that great statesman exclaimed in his
Inaugural-"We are all federalists, we are
all republicans" 1t was solemn invitation
to unity and peace. The proclamation Of Pre-
sident Lincoln, succeeding to the lombard
ment of Fort Sumter, is a similar call upon the
people of the Northern States, to forget party
wranglings, at this most critical moment in the
history of the country. Whatever opinions
may have prevailed, and whatever views of ex-
pediency may have been advocated, hitherto,
there is clearly no other course for government
to pursue now, than to "retake the places and
properties" that have been seized and occu-
pied, in the Southern States. Upon this point,
the people Of the Northern and Western States
will be nearly unit. AS consequence, past
organizations md platforms are virtually swept
away, and none of the issues remain of present
importance which recently agitated the public
mind. Whether slavery shall or shall not be
carried into the Territories; to what extent the
tariff shall be modified; what internal improve
ments or means of interoceanie commnica-
ton are required, are questions, the next or
some future Congress may be called upon to
decide, but which are buried out of sight by
the paramount consideration of the day.
The sentiment of the North requires that the
programme laid down by the administration,
should be carried out in the most vigorous and
effective manner. There will be no difficulty
ia procuring troops, and the full quota should
be summoned, which is necessary to the COM
plete attainment of the end in view. Half
measures must be abandoned, and force
enough employed to retake every fort, custom
house. arsenal, and vessel, belonging to the
United States. New York city is able to sup
ply all the funds that are needed, and its CAPT
talists will meet the demands that are made
upon them, just in proportion to the prompti-
tude that's displayed in bringing the crisis to an
end, under which the country is suffering. Two
hundred millions of dollars will be considered
a cheap price to have paid for peace, and q
reconstruction of the Union upon permanent
basis.
The naval establishment of the United States
will require the utmost development which
Mr.. Lincoln can constitutionally give it. The
seat of war will undoubtedly be the line of
coast of the Gulf States, and vast energy must
be displayed to produce an effective result
there. General Scott supposes that twenty
thousand troops will be needed in Charleston
harhor alone. Fort Pulaski will require long
siege, and is thought by many to be impregna-
BILE. The defences Of the Belize, have been
constructed under the directions of the best
military engineers in the world, and IL is to be
feared that multtudes Of lives will be sacri-
feed in accomplishing the sad duty which Mr..
Lincoln has pledged himself to fulfil He has
law, however, on his side, and his right is I'M
doubted in the premises. 1t behooves him,
nevertheless, to count the cost, and to employ
the power he possesses, in calling to arms the
full number that may be wanted in the emer-
gency.
The course that will be taken by the border
States, if dictated by policy and selfiAterest,
can scarcely be doubtful. The example OF
Virginia will, probably, be emulated by the
remainder, and it is most unlikely that she will
volunteer to surrender her territory as USE
less battle field for the whole United States
The border States, by seeding now, would
render frontier war inevitable. Destruction
and carnage would prevail along the borders
of the Ohio and Mississippi, while Northwestern
troops would pour down the latter river, into
Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisi-
ana. By preserving as far as is possible,
neutral posture, Virginia, Maryland, and the
other border States, retain their power as
mediators, and may be able, later, to render
far greater services to the friends Of the Union,
North and South, than they could do by join
ing them. The chances of war offer but small
hopes to the cotton States Before many weeks
their ports may be closed, their commerce an
initiated, their treasury depleted, and their
pride humbled; and in such an hour of misery
and desolation, the protecting strength of
States friendly to them in the Union, may
prove greatly to their advantage.
The time for undue excitement has passed.
The passing events Of each hour are so solemn,
that every pulse should beat equally, and
every aspiration be for speedy restoration Of
the republic to peace, and Its pristine unity and
greatness. The utmost unanimity of feeling
should prevail in sustaining the only policy
which is any longer practicable; and every
nerve should be strained to aid the govern
ment in rendering its measures as efficient as
possible.
REvIvNG PROSPECTS, OF TRADE IN THE NORTH
The settled policy which the administration
has adopted, and which 1t is believed will be
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