The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-04-20
Great mass Meeting on the Crisis.

Ana5 oateIuOOn ~ tuTee CLOCK WILL DO neiu
in Union square, great mass meeting, with
out regard to party, to express the sentiments
Of the people in the present crisis, and to
support the government The stores, public
buildings, insurance offices and other places
of business will be closed, and the demonstra-
ton will be one Of the greatest and most en-
thusiastic ever witnessed In this city.
War is begun, and the object of IL on the part
Of the administration is not to destroy the pro-
perry Of the Southern people, but to protect its
own property war for the very existence Of
the government founded by Washington, Jeffer
termine whether we have government and
laws, or whether we shall drift into the anarchy
and confusion Of Mexico. tits not war against
the South, but war to put down instruction
and jacquerie and plumber, like that which
prevailed in the French Revolution.
The Southern people have been forced into
their present position by secessionist leaders,
and this war is to emancipate them from
the tyranny. When the present government
came into power it indicated its willingness to
protect and guarantee the Southern institution
in the States in which it exists. 1t is no. there
fore, war to destroy the property of the
Southern States in slaves, but to vindicate the
authority of the government aud maintain the
integrity Of the Union.
1t is war which must prove disastrous to
the interests of the South, while it will
infict but little injury, comparatively, upon
the North. The scene of the war and its
desolations will be chiefly, If not alto
gether, South. Business is going on here
almost as well as usual, and 1t will continue to
do 30, while all business will be destroyed in
the Southern States. Already the government
has issued an order prohibiting ships clearing
10 any of the seeded States This will cut of
their supplies of food Their ports will be
blockaded and their commerce extinguished.
1t is true that proclamation has been issued
by the President of the Confederate States
letting loose privateers to prey upon North
ern commerce. But these ships will be re-
garded as pirates, and those who command
and man them be hanged If captured.
There are some privateers now being fitted
out at New Orleans. Their object is probably
to seize the first California steamship, with the
gold on board. For the fate Of the Champion,
due on Tuesday next, great anxiety is felt
She will probably have upwards of million of
dollars on board; and in eleven days more the
Northern Light will be due with about an
equal quantity. The revolutionists may, per-
haps, succeed in this plundering enterprise.
In one respect the government at Montgo-
merry has the advantage of the North. Its
preparations for fighting are more advanced.
1t has its troops longer in the field and better
drilled, and nearer, perhaps, to the scene of
operations; for while we were talking at the
North, the revolutonists were preparing to
fight and the treachery of Buchanan's Cabinet
placed in their hands the munitions of war,
and permitted them to occupy forts which are
| now Of great Importance to them. 1t is posi-
BILE, therefore that in some of the first encoun-
tiers they may be successful, as they were at
Charleston; but their present advantages are
only temporary; and the longest purse and
largest population, where both races are
equally brave, must tell in the end, and give
the final end decisive victory to the North.
Then woe TO the vanquished.