The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-03-03
The Most stupcndous Political Cheat o.
tho Age.

The Most StuPend0us Political Cheat OF
the Age.
It begins to be but too probable, that the
whole course of the so-called conservative
leaders of the republican party, within the
last three months, has been fraud and cheat,
from beginning to end. There would appear
to have been deliberate double game going
on, since the middle of November, to con-
solidste the sentiment of the North, BY cir
culating false, incendiary and irritating
reports from the South, while, at the same
time, delusive hopes and expectations have
been held out to the border States, In
order to gain time and money. No po-
litical school has ever shown itself less
scrupulous in employing means to retain poll
teal power, than that TO which Mr.. Seward has
been affiliated; but both aagacity and ambition,
seemed to point 80 directly towards straight
forward, patriotic and generous policy, in the
present crisis, that the people of the country
have been perfectly willing to ''let bygones
be bygones," and have reposed confidence in
him, for nearly whole month 1t was for the
first time, and, if it really proves that he has
disappointed them, it will probably be the last
From the beginning Of disturbances in South
Carolina, the Albany Erening Journal, justly
regarded as the especial organ Of Mr.. Seward,
adopted tone of moderation, different from
any it had previously used, and bearing the
impress of determination to yield SO much of
republican dogma, as should be requisite to
satisfy the demands of the South In
Mr.. Stewards speech to the Senate, Of
the 18th Of January, he more than endorsed
the sentiments d his friend Mr.. Weed. he said
that the very name .'republicanism, was subor-
dinate to, and ought to disappear, in the pre-
sence of the great question Of the Union" His
advocacy of National Convention was unqua-
lifted, and he declared that "whatever sacri-
fees, private or public should be needed,
would be made" "Woe to the man. he ex-
claimed, "that shall madly lift his hand against
the Union. Men in after times shall declare
that this generation, which. saved it from such
sudden and unlocked for dangers, surpassed in
magnanimity even that one which laid its foun-
dations in the eternal principles of liberty,
justice and humanity And with re-
spect to coercive measures he said:-T
dread, as in my innermost soul l abhor civil
war. do not know what the Union would be
worth if saved by the use of the sword" Acts
gave additional potency to these words, and,
at later period, we find the New York Senator
on the very eve of being denounced as traitor
by Senator Fessenden Of Maine, because of his
overt committals to the cause of Cancellation.
He carefully fostered the Peace Conferences,
and was understood to be.tacitly pledged to
abide by their decisions. The altered tone Of
Mr.. Lincoln's speeches, from the time he arrived
at Buffalo, was also attributed to the remon
strances of his future Premier, and buoyant
hopes began to be entertained of speedy re-
construction of the Union, and of satisfactory
settlement of our national difficulties.
Within four short days all this has changed.
The minority resolution Of the Senators from
New York and Illinois, on the question Of the
adoption of the Franklin scheme Of adjustment,
which it was believed they would support, had
the effect upon the public mind Of thunder
clap. The speeches Of men like ex-President
Tyler and others at the Richmond Con-
vention, show that the immediate result
was to sbatter confidence in the border
States, and to convince the people of vir-
ginia, North Carolina, Maryland and Arkansas,
that they had been unwarrantably triaed with
Indeed, the latest accounts render it highly
probable that all of these States will now Sc
cede. Upon the heels of this incomprehensible
action of Messrs. Seward and Trumbull, came
the intelligence that the former had accepted
Chase, Of Ohio, turbulent demagogue as a
colleague in the Cabinet had compounded
matters with the abolitionist fanatics; and that
coercion plans were in the ascendant. 1t is
now asserted that Forts Sumter and Pickens
will be reinforced. Immediately after the 4th
Of March; that the Southern ports win be block
AIDED and the revenue collected at all hazards;
that the inaugural will be made up of plati-
tudes, with no further effort at paciication than
a recommendation of Corwin's resolution, and
perhaps the enabling act Of Adams; that, in
a word, we are on the eve Of bloody inter-
State conflict, which will consign to ruin the
prosperity Of the republic
If Mr.. Seward has been sincere in his utter
ances to the country, hitherto, he should prove
1t by proper display Of moral courage and
persistence now. He should not consent to re-
main in the Cabinet under present auspices.
He will cover himself with ignominy II he does
80, and sink from the highest to the lowest po-
sition in the scale Of American statesmen. He
should take example from his rivals of the
Greeley, Fessenden, Sumner school, who never
yield, and are untiringly industrious in
carrying out their ends Look at the
impostures they have practised on the
people Of the non-slaveholding States,
within two months, in order to keep Sec
tional feeling in a blaze. First came the
story of burning negroes. II was adhered to,
In spite Of every refutation, until it had pro-
dnced its full effect upon the public mind
Then tale succeeded tale Of Earrings and fea-
therings and torturings, practised upon North
erners by shareholders, in which every circum-
stance was added, which could lend plausible