The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-16
The Union Element in the South-Con-
ciltatton the True Policy.


ciltattOn the True Policy.
OF all the distractions which stand in the
way OF a Union-saving compromise, the most
embarrassing to Northern conservative men Is
the belief that SO overwhelmingly strong, inn
petuous and irresistible Is the cause of dis
union in the Southern States, that it cannot be
now arrested by any peace Offering whatso-
ever. The impression has become almost uni
versal in the North that all parties and all
classes of our Southern brethren have been
drawn into and are borne along by this re-
sistless current of revolution, so that none of
them are disposed any longer to believe in or
listen to any terms of reconciliation.
This prevailing Northern impression was
fully betrayed on the part Of Mr.. Seward in
his late carefully elaborated speech in the
Senate, in which he says that "when these &C.
centric movements of secession and disunion
shall have ended-One, two or three years
hence-then but not till them" will he be in
favor Of a convention to revise the constitu
ton. In other words, Mr.. Seward concurs in
the opinion entertained by the great body OF
the republican party, rank and file, that,
pending "these eccentric" movements Of
secession and disunion," all attempts to
bring the South to reason and an
accommodation with the North would be
'love's labor lost" He and his party, there
FORE have apparently resolved 10 rest upon
their oars, so far as any compromises may be
concerned, until this wild Southern torrent OF
revolution shall have exhausted itself, and
"calmpess shall have resumed its wonted sway
over the public mind"
But the question here recurs, is it true that
every conservative element in the South has
been drawn beyond recovery into this rushing
tide OF revolution Our answer, too. Is at
hand; and we answer no. Even from q gu
evolutionary movements, we can detect in them
The existence OF q strong conservative party
now silent or passiyely submissive to a despot-
70 eataide pressure, but awaiting only an en-
couraging invitation from the Nortn " vvmr 70
The rescue OF the Union. The popular vote
cast in Alabama and Mississippi in the election
Of delegates to their secession conventions
turns out to be at least twenty-five per cent
less than that cast in the late Presidential cleo
ton. TIE Natchez (MssssippD Courier says
that the vote for the direct secession candidates
in that State was far less in every county than
was anticipated, and that in the aggregate II
does not perhaps exceed one-third of the popu-
lar vote of the 9th of November.
Thus it is apparent that secession in Missis-
sippi and in Alabama has gone through by de-
fault, and that ii this test had been regarded
as decisive and final and beyond the reach of
the ''sober second thought of the people, the
secessionists in both these leading secession
States would have been signally defeated. In
Arkansas, hitherto ranked as under the abso-
lutte control Of the fire eaters, it appears that
the conservatives have 80 far triumphed as to
defeat the proposed legislative call Of q seces-
sion State Convention. In Virginia and Ten
nessee the motion to call Convention has beer
carried, but with the very significant savin.
provision that the acts of the Convention shall
be submitted for ratification or rejection to the
people.
The only State which has manifested anything
like resolute faith and unanimity In its revolu-
tionary programme of Southern confederacy
is South Carolina But her faith and her unani-
nifty are the results of thirty years Of incessant
training Thus thoroughly inoculated with the
beauties Of Southern independence, nothing
but the practical experiment itself would satisfy
her people. Having entered upon the expert
ment, and with something Of that Independent
spirit Of the prodigal son, we are inclined to
the impression, notwithstanding the extraor-
binary demands Of Col Hayne in his interview
yesterday with the President, that even South
Carolina will be anxious to be invited
back to the cheaper and more album
dainty supplied table Of the strong, grand
and glorious government OF the Union
Upon this point we are materially strength.
ened by a late message Of Gov. Pckens to the
Legislature on the subject Of the two regiments
| of troops authorized by the State Convention
| for the defensive purposes of the Common.
wealth. In pursuance Of this authority the
Governor has called out one regiment for a
beginning, and he informs the Legislature that
for twelve months this preliminary regiment
| will dispose Of some 100000, or that the two
regiments, for six months, will require the same
amount The next item demanded is $4,000
| for the sea coast police authorized: next, the
act passed to provide for on armed military
force demands an item OF $4,000, and pro-
vision has been made for raising $500, 900 more
for the purchase of arms and munitions These
several sums the Governor says amount to
one million four hundred thousand dollars.
which, we submit as preliminary drail upon
her three hundred Thousand white popula-
ton, Is well calculated TO suggest 10 South
Carolina the idea that the dawning rlories of
secession are too costly to be long endured.
Her Governor is evidently inclining to this
opinion, for Immediately after these emu
merated items be says :-"lt Is hoped that cir.
cumstances may arise which will give a pacific
settlement to our difficulties; and IL 80, every
reasonable sndeavor shall be made TO prevent