New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-01-23
wrATuRHrNG THE CApEs.

much past the Cape Of the present crisis. we
have had for years past perfect Cape Horn tem-
pest but Pacific breezes now begin to fan the
brows of our voyagers. Congress seems almost re-
spectacle. The missing eight votes of the Senate
offer occasional opportunity to get majority IN
that body for benefcent propositions. And when
we think Of the half dozen or dozen more who
say they are on the eve of going it is difficult to
restrain the iubilant feeling Occasioncd thereby.
| The fiery debates are closed The halls oil
| either branch no longer ring with fierce coils
ions, and their iercer reverbe-ations The spirits
of discord have taken their flight. 1t Is quiet
within, and sunny without. 1t is difficult, under
such circumstances, TO refuse TO ENJOY Secession
| We think of it, look at it, and incontinently
| smile at the spectacle. 1t is so small thing
| accomplished with such tremendous noise. For
| there is really nothing oh earth TO hinder these
people who leave their seats this week IN Con-
| gress from resuming them next. And the only
sad view of the case is the danger that they Will
do if. For now that they are ont, it is but JUS
! tice that they should be kept out awhile. But
alas two lines on slip of paper, adopted by
any convention Ol dll dDSCOHuIIS Itd'N, ~
has concluded to resume relations with the Fed
eral Government, ends the whole of this mighty
revolution In fact, it does not even need that'
The men who have left Congress in both branches
may come trOttng back OF any time, and resume
all their functions as legislators, without even
going through this form. And it is quite likely
they will do it. We don't suppose, if this thing
IL Hapo IN that
we should even hang Gov. Pickens, but only
make foreign Minister of him again.
The States which have not gone, are begging
to have something done to keep them. They
lovingly project their coat tails behind, and im-
plore that they may be held, be it ever gently.
The slightest twitch would be satisfactory.
good pull would ell them with delight This
may seem to be indulging in unbecoming leyily
for 50 grave an occasion. But it is really difficult
to take a more sober view of the case.
These Seceders apparently thought they were
breaking up the Government by cutting up
% their didoes," as Senator Simmons expressed it,
II seems Jest, that they have been, and are,
proposing what they call :" reconstruction of
the Union, while the Union still stands and the
Government is in full force over it. What short
sighted statesmanship this is. time will quickly
disclose.
1t is to be hoped, for their own sakes, that
some of the interior Slave States will save them
selves from the Notifying dilemma which they
viii be placed in by joining the Seceders. There
| is Kentucky, and Tennessee, and Missouri, who
have furnished the country with a Clay, Jack
son, and Benton, that surely need not hurry
| into course which they will forever lament,
| and whose misstep in this mad career is suih-
Gent to shock even the spirits of the great de-
parted. Let them at least not ask to be held BY
! the cOat-tail Let them consult their own dig
nifty their own selfrespect, their own sense of
discretion and of manhood, and refuse TO rush
| into 1, movement which they viii hereafter pray
in vain may be kept out of history. These in
terror Slave States cannot be attacked, nor op-
pressed, nor operated upon in any way by the
Federal Government, except by acts Of bene6-
cepce. If they say they are out OF the Union,
it will practically amount to nothing. They will
still be recognized as members Of it by the Fed
eral authority. They will enjoy free trade and
unrestricted intercourse with all its parts. Posi-
IL
manners, their mails will sti be carried
and delivered az now TO every nook and cor
| ner and the United States Congress every
year will make appropriations to foot the
bills. They will be asked TO do nothing
| and suffer nothing They neither pay a
| tax nor bear burden. The Federal power rests
so lightly upon them that no living man can tell
| where it touches. And when they look round to
see where to begin resistance, they will find alb.
solutely nothing to resist. Not one burden to be
| lifted, not one tax TO be refused payment not
one grievance to be assailed. They cannot rebel,
FOR there is positively nothing to rebel against;
unless il be the blessings of the Government,
hourly conferred. VIII the Federal power strike
| a blow against Kentucky, or Tennessee, or Mia
| souri,, or Arkansasl Not one. For no cOnceva-
| bic reason exists why it should. The abSurdity
OF leaving the Union, or attempting to leave it,
40 far az these States are concerned, is too
great for sane mind to conceive of. The act
is only st subject for the ridicule of circus
clown.
The more Southern States viii have their own
special grievances TO bear, if the Federal Gov
ernment shall be compelled to shut the door
of their external commerce. But this will only
convert them into interior States finding an out
let through the Free States. This will be tho
main effect OF shutting their scaports. This will
be the principal if not the only thing they will
have to complain Of. And this they will have to
submit to till they can defeat and break up the
Coast Squadron Of the United States. Meantime,