The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-02-12

The President elect left Springfield, Illinois,
yesterday morning, en- route for the White
House at Washington, via Buffalo, Albany and
New York. He will reach this city, according
to the published programme of "the pilgrims
progress" on Tuesday, the 10Th instant. His
journey is divided into easy stages, and all the
arrangements thereof have been adapted to the
contingencies of triumphal march. Holding
over several days in this metropolis, and day
or two, perhaps, at Philadelphia and Baltimore,
Mr.. Lincoln may not reach Washington till the
end of the month. 1t is understood, however,
that he desires to be there in season to appro-
pirate several days and evenings to consulta-
tons with the republican members of Congress
upon the important subject of his Cabinet,
which does not as yet appear to be half made
up.
But, dismissing all these incidentals, the
question still rccurs, what will be the line of
policy marked out in Mr.. Lincoln's inaugural
touching the revolutionary troubles and Sec
tional difficulties which his election has precipi-
tated upon the country? For many weeks
past his reputed home organ at Springfield,
and our special correspondent there, and
the Hon. Massa Greeley, and everybody
else supposed to speak by authority, have
had only one report to make-to wit: that
the President elect stands firm upon the Chi
cago platform, that he has no compromises to
make with rebels and traitors, but that his
fixed and unalterable purpose is "the enforce
ment Of the laws"
We are at length however, possessed of in
formation from which we feel authorized to de-
clare that the President elect in his inaugural
address, will submit proposition of pacifica-
ton to the country, in the form of National
Convention for the reconstruction of the Union.
Mr.. Seward, in his first speech in the Senate
after his appointment as Mr. Lincoln's Premier,
pretty broadly suggested that he would be
ready to go for something of that sort "after
these eccentric secession and disunon move
ments shall have subsidized, and when camness
shall have resumed its wonted sway over the
public mind" In this suggestion, we now
perceive, our cautious Senator foreshadowed
the intended peace offering from the incoming
administrations National Convention for the
revision of the federal constitution. whereby
s'N p'"s,S sVasN"pi~tiib S'NtrSlOu duu the Sc
ceded States may be restored to the Union.
A National Conventional good thing; but
how Is II to be reached? The fifth article OF our
federal constitution DEGREES that "the Congress.
whenever two-thirds of both houses shall deem II
necessary, shall propose amendments to the con-
stitution, or, on The application Of he legislatures
Of t,co-hirdS Of The several States, shall cali n con-
uention "a National Conyention) for promising
amendments, which in either case. shall be
valid 10 all intents aud purposes, as part of
the constitution, when ratified by the Legisla-
lures OF three-fourths of the several States. or
by conventions in three-fourths thereof. as the
one or the other mode Of ratification may be
proposed by Congress-
Here are two modes Of amendment provided
q short and long one. The short one il the
adoption of amendments by two-thirds vote
Of each house Of Congress, and their submits
sion to the several States for ratification If
the republican party in Congress and in the
States we're willing to accept it, and ready. the
Crittenden proposition in this way could be
submitted to the States to-day, and before the
4th Of March Ii could be ratified by the re
quired threefourths Of the States. AT all
events, the acceptance by the republicans In