, 1861-01-25
Letters from the National Cani,,I

WASHINGTON CRY, Dec 10 1oco

ther development IN regard to the secession
movements have been made. Il il a a.
widespread, earnest movement reouirino -
be treated with moderation, steadiness ~ "
frmness. Its advocates are numeron, SUI SUI
influential. The weight of ability ana
perience in the Cotton States are in il, !.
Vor. 1t has been and is still spreadiD, T.
the border Slave States. The PresideptiD
his message, controverts the doctrine Of 81.
cession, and maintains that secession il rsv.
oluton. All persons, however, admit that
as practical question, in its present a.
pect, it matters little whether it be a r.vo.
luton, or the exercise Of constitutional
right, the remedy is not to be sought in
coercion. 1t is to be settled, If possible
by the parties TO the original compact
either on the basis of union, or on the basis
of separation. The most sanguine friends
Of the Union look TO its preservation
through reconstruction. South Carolina
and in all probability all the Cotton States
will either 60 out, or be in readiness to 90
out, unless such guarantees are given as win
ensure their rights, peace, and domestic
tranquility. The idea now has become
favorite one, that q convention Of all the
States can alone meet the issue and settle
it satisfactorily. Such q convention, If
called to consider the whole question, NAV
be able to do much. If it cannot cement
or re-establish the present government it
may possibly arrange the terms Of peace
and good will between its several parts.
The crisis is indeed momentous one
Should Carolina attack the Forts or seize
the revenue, there must be collision. The
government must protect its property and
execute the laws. Nothing less than a con-
vention Of all the States can make arrange
ments with Carolina, and so wide spread
and determined is the secession feeling,
that only this mode Of arrangement ought
to be entertained 1t is believed, however,
that moderation and wisdom will in these
respects govern the councils Of the South,
and that no overt acts will be committed
against the United States. There is indeed
need of wisdom, and wisdom from above
The revolutionary feeling is not restricted
to the South. 1t will extend to the North.
Our great cities are now filed with thou.
sands Of starving men and starving families.
The political panic has brought about
business panic worse than that Of 1857.
The panic has just commenced. Not SIM
ply stocks have fallen, but ell the products
Of trade, commerce, and manufactures. The
operatives Of New England have no bread
for their families. The farmers Of the West
cannot sell their produce. The people Of
the South have already lost forty millions
in their cotton crop and it is not even NOV
| ing to its several markets. They must
sell their cotton to supply their large def
ciencies in bread and bacon, and these must
be supplied from the Northwest Thus the
strife of the sections has in day plunged
into distress a great people, filled with
wealth, and having more Of the comforts
and Injuries Of life than they or any other
people ever had before. Irepeat, this con-
dition Of things will, IL trouble of serious
character occurs South, tend to trouble the
north, and in our large cities within sixty
days, yea within thirty days, we may wit
ness commotions and sneRtss like those Of
Paris in the days Of the Revolution. Pop
ular phrenzy, urged on by hunger, may vim
dictate its strength and force, BY hanging on
lamp posts, by conAagration and rapine.
The leaders Of sectional strife, the anathe.
matisers of institutions not their own, may
instead of the cheers and acclamations Of
admring m1litudes, be welcomed with
mocks and gfS&ns to improTised scaholdS
aud guillotines.
Again, if secession occurs South, and II
o reconstruction does not follow, 1t will not
simply be the case Of two confederacies.
The one slaveholdiDg, the other non-slave-
holding. There are two interests in the
Slave States. The cotton States ore some
what antagonistical to the Slave States
that do not raise cotton. The one would
favor the re-opening Of the African Slave
Trade; the other would oppose it. The
one would stand on the EXTREMIST verge Of
Southern rights; the other would be salts
fed with less rigorous guarantees. But
granted that the whole South go together,
will there be no strife in the NorthH no
jealousy between the East and the West2
The slavery question removed and this strife
would at once break out, leading as direct
ly to trouble, secession, the forming OF two
or three coufederacies, as the present strife.
New York might very well declare herself
free port, the metropolis Of the New
World, and she would have large resources
to vindicate such step.
Thoughtful men are weighing all these
things. Depend upon it, mems minds are
not now so filled with the triumphs and de-
feats of sections; with the spOils of victory
and the possession of place and power, as
with the fearful consequences which will
surely flow, if secession be inaugurated as
the remedy Of our wrongs. The disposi-
ton has been already evinced by the mod
crate republicans to conciliate. The olive
branch has been extended in the Senate
aud in the House. A rapid change is tax.
ing place in northern sentiment. The re-
ceut elections in the cities of Massachusetts,
exhibit reversal of their Presidential vote.
All we want is time. l have ever believed
that the party would fall to pieces by its
own weight when it come to inaugurate the
government. Not simply republicans, but
! old line WhUs. men in favor of Bell but