New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-01-16
NEW YORK DAILY TRIBUNE WEDNESDAY JANUARY Is 1851

Formidable vessels Of wpr OF course people are
naturally on the hp-toe Of expectation, and NEST
Of the citizens are buoy about the forts and the
pert. But, although the agitation Ia extreme,
the determination of resistance 10 tbs death gives
the city an apYcarssOe Of comparative tran
guilty. .
The movement for independence, commencing
in drawing. rooms, has descended through the ig-
sD6snt ranks of society, aud now comprises oil,
ps,ricians, citizens, and plebs. This rebellion
differs from all Others am boastingly told, in
hsying spread through society from above, and
cot from below, from the gentlemen Of society
and not from the rabble In fact the rebellion
has become fashionable and all classes vie with
each other to such an extent that the feeling OF
resistance to coercion has become well nigh IRE
sistible. The passions Of the multitude also have
been aroused, and the authorities now find some
difficulty in depressing the wsrlike ardor of the
patriots.
question now discussed here is the right Of the
Federal Government to force the seeding states
to remain in the Union. This right is affirmed
by the retention Of Fort Sumter and the efforts
to succor Maj. Anderson and TO blockade the
port. II is contested by the cannon balls which
drove away the Star of the West, and will be
contested by other cannon balls against any
attacking force from the Government at Wash.
irgton. Unless the whole right of coercion is
given up, / see no issue for events here except
q bloody civil war. AT the same time one tend
epcy is plain to me here, now; / mean the
tendency 10 military despotism. Unless mat
ters take q new course. this must be the fate Of
South Carolina, and for all ] can ace, Of the
whole South; that is, supposing the Federal Gov
eminent does not prevent it By putting down re-
bellion.
There ia no anarchy here yet; the Legislature
holds its sessions with its customary dignity; the
higher officials Of the State fulfil their duties like
men accustomed 10 the exercise of authority.
Nor il the city unhealthy. People here are
laughing at the news of the pestlence which, we
hear BY the Northern papers, lie ravsging Charles
ion. There is an abundance of provisions, 50 far
as / can learn; and, although the higher branches
Of commerce have received considerable check,
yet the general prosperity Of the city is not
seriously affected for this is an agricultural
country. The prosperity OF the Southern cities,
unlike that Of the Northern, does not depend to
any considerable degree on the employment
which is supplied BY manufacturing establish
ments. Southern commerce may suffer in some
measure by the stagnation at the North, but the
occupation Of the working classes here can hardly
be intercepted. Even should Charleston be bonn
banded, am told that the State would suffer no
very great inconvenience; the cotton and corn
and rice would be raised just ~ il always has
been.
do not see any great cause for apprehendng
slave instruction. The majority Of the
negroes whom / hear speak are full Of devotion
to their masters, and anxiety for their masters
success is an amusing passion With the we'll
disposed among them. Still there are many more
who do not speak, in public at least and Of
what they say in private am not informed.
have been struck by the number Of the vol
unteers who are Of good family; they are fond Of
tracing resemblance in this respect between them
selves and the volunteers who focked to Carl
baldi from Northern Italy. Many Of them are
entirely without experience in the art Of war;
but they make up for that BY a very ardent en-
thusinsm, from which something may be eN-
pected.
A collision is expected mOmentary, and as
close my letter hear the report Of heavy guns,