The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-09-04

H"iioScoh, III LYNN, ou Jne pTcsehV 0iiSio VI
our national affairs. Twomore important and
interesting documents have not been published
in connection with the war.
The Bishop of Charleston, although evidently
not insensible to some of the weak points of his
arguments, tells us that he has arrived at the
conclusion that the separation of the Southern
States is .fau aocompH, and that it is not in
the power of the federal government to reverse
it. The South, he says, is not only abundantly
supplied with food and even clothing for
couple of years to come, but is making
rapid progress in furnishing itself from its
it has hitherto been compelled to import from
the North. This being the state of things, he
deprecates the idea of the inevitable recognition
Of the independence Of the seeded States being
prefaccd by war equally needless and
bloody" He is bitterly sarcastic on the re-
publican party, on whom he lays the whole
blame of the war. eff there is to be fighting"
he says, "let those who voted the black repub-
lican ticket shoulder their muskets and bear the
responsibility. Let them not send Irishmen to
fight in their stead and then stand looking on at
the conflict, when in their heart of hearts they
care little which of the combatants wins"
To all this the Archbishop replies, by show
ing that there had been no violation of the con-
stitutional rights of the South and that in re-
gard to slavery she is to-day in statu qlo-just
as she was at the period of the Declaration of
Independence. Although an advocate for the
sovereignty of every State in the Union within
the limits recognized and approved Of by its
own representative authority when the consti-
tuition was agreed upon, he maintains that no
State has right to secede except in the man.
ner provided for in that document. Out of
the seventy or eighty years administration
of the government the South had had a fifty
two years monopoly Of the supreme power.
The patronage of the army and navy had been
also during that period almost entirely in its
hands. The election of the present Chief Magis-
trate was not, then a cause sufficient to justify
the course which the South has adopted. He
black republicans Of the North, but indirectly
and negatively by democrats North and South,
who split upon three candidates, and thus in
sured the success Of the republican nominee.
1t was under these circumstances that Mr. Lin
coin won the contest, and that he was constitu-
dispute. The Archbishop denies that there is
any disposition on the part of the loyal States
to subjugate or conquer the South, and ex-
presses his belief that they look only to the
purpose of bringing back the seeded States to
their organic condition-dnte delum. In reply
him Of the story told by Russell, of the Lon
don Times, who was assured by Southern
editor that as soon as the war was over
the Confederates would get rid of all
the Irish and foreigners who had fought
for them, and that no man should have
o vote in the seeded States unless he was an
American born. The Archbishop is opposed to
the peace cry at the North. In crisis like this,
he says, 1t is expressive neither of sound prin-
ciple nor safe policy, and would only have the
effect of changing the basis of the war from that
of sectional into great party conflict. The
only peace suggestion that he thinks practical
BILE at the present moments the holding, during
the progress of hostilities, of two conventions
one in the seeded, and the other in the
loyal States-where, in the former, statement
of grievances and reclamations might be pre-
pared, and in the latter reconsideration of the
points in which the constitution may have
proved inadequate to meet the present difficult
ties, the whole to be submitted to convention
of delegates frgsn all the States as soon as
common agreement can be effected for that
purpose.
The first reflection which this correspondence
suggests is the characteristic fidelity with which,
though ranged on opposite sides, both its reve-
rend authors adhere to the traditions of the
Catholic church and its canonical respect for
the principle of authority. They remind us of
the adroitness with which, in the dissensions
which led to the division of the Roman empire,
the Catholic hierarchy managed to play
their cards, always preserving an int.
rest in both parties, but taking care to
array themselves with the most powerful. On
the present question Archbishop Hughes is on
the right side Of the hedge, and will find favor
at the Vatican, which always goes in for the
Integrity of the empire" Unless we have
mscalculated the strength of our own position,
he will win as the prize of his logic the cardi-
nails hat which has so long been trembling in
the balance between the sees Of New York and
St. Louis.
The heads Of the Protestant Episcopal Church
Of England, borrowing lesson from Catholic
policy, have also censured in strong terms the
conduct of the Southern members of that de-
nomination in withdrawing themselves from the
parent church at the North. Thus the evil ex-
ample set by rebellion to the civil authority is
destroying all social and religious organization
in the seeded States, and bringing its people
under the ban Of all whose opinions are worth
caring for.
The statesman!ike views and admirable tenn
per displayed in the correspondence Of the
Catholic bishops will obtain for it wide
spread and attentive consideration both here
and abroad. It is closely reasoned on both
sides, and presents the clearest resume of the
arguments used by the leaders Of the two Sec