The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-10

were without change Of moment
The Presidents Message ON the Crisis
The Immediate Issue a Compromise or
- Southern Confcderncy.
The Presidents Message on the crisis, COM
municated to Congress yesterday is before our
readers. Mr.. Buchanan, in solemn, earnest
and patriotic view of the dangers and difficult
ties to be overcome in behalf Of the Union, sub
mits the whole subject to the immediate con-
sideration of the two houses, and upon the
basis Of General Jackson's immortal ultimatum
that 'tbe Union must be preserved
Pleading the exigencies OF positive state Of
revolution in the South. Mr.. Buchanan renders
this gloomy picture still darker with the de-
claration that the hope of bloodless settle
ment is fast diminishing. Civil war. he says,
is impending, and we all must confess the
fear that the beginning OF civil war between
the federal government and the Southern States
would be, not only the end Of this Union, but
the end Of law and order and social security,
and the Inauguration in both sections Of
anarchy and petty belligercnt military despot-
isms. The Presidents Message throws the
issue upon Congress of peace or war, Union
or disunion; and this revolutionary excitement
which is spreading over the Southern States
like raging epidemic calls for the instant ap-
plication Of the necdful remedies.
Immediate action on the part of Congress
striking at the very roots of these Southern
revolutionary movements. is imperatively de-
handed. There must be broad and salts
factory compromise initiated within the next
ten days, or we must choose between the
recognition Of an Independent Southern con-
fedcracy and the suicidal folly Of civil war
The responsibility for either alternative rests
upon the republican party. The election Of
mr. Lincoln to the Presidency by an over
whelming sectional majority and as the repre-
sentative Of the Northern ''irreprcssible con-
Aict" with the "slave power" has precipitatcd
this genepal Southern revolt upon us. The i'm
preston is almost universal throughout the
South that submission to an administration
thus elected will be the downfall of Southern
institutions, unless the amplest securities shall
be interposed to arrest the onward hostile
march of this Northern ant-slavery alliance.
II is an important question, meantime, to
determine whether, under this present Southern
revolutionary condition Of things, there Is or is
not such thing as the government of the
United States. Mr.. Buchanan holds fast to
the doctrine that the laws OF the Union
are still paramount even in South Carolina !;
that q State has no constitutional right to
secede but that secession is a revolutionary act,
for which Congress must provide the remedy.
Mr.. Buchanan will execute the federal laws
and protect the federal property in the seced-
ing States to the extent Of his power; but he
iInplorcs Congress to act without further delay
in behalf OF peace and for the restoration of
the Union through the agencies Of peace
To this end he recommends the Missouri line
as the basis of compromise; but We apprc-
bend that something more Is essential TO create
timely Southern reaction. II is possible that
the door on that side OF the house may even
now be closed against all compromises. The
responsibility, however, Of the most liberal
overtures rests upon the President elect; upon
Mr. Seward. his chosen Secretary Of State;
upon every other man singled out for Cabi-
net appointment by Mr.. Lincoln, and upon the
republican party in Congress Let Mr. Lin
coin, through Mr.. Seward aud his Cabinet as
sociates, urge this policy at once upon the re-
publican members of the two houses as the
initiative measure of peace and union in be-
half Of the incoming administration, and these
dreadful sounds of war may be silenccd in
general movement for q reconciliation
The demands Of the Southern States as the
terms of their adhesion TO the Union embrace
the recognition Of the property right in slaves
in the Territories during their territorial con.
dition; more efficient Fugitive Slave law; the
privileges OF transit and temporary sojourn
to the Southern master with his slave or
slaves in every State OF The Union; federal
non-interyention In the interstate slave trade;
additional securities against future John Brown
iorays; non-ntervenion in the matter Of sla-
very In the District OF Columbia and federal
dockyards, &c. These securities our Soathcrn
brethren believe are indispensable TO their
safety In the Union, ia view Of this over
snadoWing anti-slaycry power Of the North
about 70 step into the occupation of the genera,
government. Let the republican party In Con
gress, then, be advised at once from their Pre-
sident elect to pu. oil these Southern condi-
ions Of Union 10 the form OF coustitutional