The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-05-10

How Congress May Restore the Integri
~ or the Republic.
The developments Of each successive day
make II more manifest, that the chord which
was struck by the bombardment Of Fort SaE-
obscuring our political horizon have been dis
PEELED. The rebound from apathy to keen
sense -of the perils, to which neglected rebel
lion hasexposed the prosperity and power of
the republic, is the effect of no ephemeral ex-
but the solemn resolve to restore the
country to its lost position of greatness and
unity, will endure until that end shall have
been accomplished. No States rights special
pleading will avail against the national sensus
conan,mis of the American people. 1t is
founded in ineradicable instincts, and patriotic
traditions, which have become q part of the
very atmosphere we breathe. The attempt to
impair it, is sacrilege from which the sensi
tive mind shudders and the odiousness of the
word treason, with the revolving associations
the names Of Arnold and Burr have connected
with it, attaches to those who would rend the
pats of The homogeneous whole asundcr. To
it, exclusively, is attributable the spontaneous
outburst of enthusiasm, in favor of a vigorous
and efficient policy, to re-establish the confede-
ration upon its wonted basis, which has been
witnessed within the last four weeks. The
government of the Confederate States, has
taken up arms, and commenced hostilities, In
order to dash to pieces the fabric which cost
our forefathers so much toll and blood
Its unnatural and atrocisus aspiration
can find no response in the intellect
or conscience of the masses of citizens
even in the revolted States. The action
of the loyal part of the Union, claims,
on the contrary, the admiration of all who re-
we're the memories Of the past respect estab.
lished authority, or are proud Of the glory
among nations which three-quarters of cen
tuIy Of successful energy and enterprise have
acquired for our flag.
Past history should warn every thinking
Piles, whose pelicy has been to disintegrate
and decentralize, have almost invariably been
destroyed, while sympathy, strength and vic
tory have chung TO those, who have cherished
and fought for an extended, self sufficient auto
nomy. The republics of Greece were all
powerful against foreign enemies, so long as
they were leagued together; but the mutual
jealousies which prevented their establishing
permanent confederacy led to their ruin.
The annals of Rome, on the other baud, show
that even liberty was more readily given up
than unity, and that autocratic authority was
yielded to dictatoIs, to prevent the latter from
being violated. Under the Caesars, before
Roman dominion was cut to pieces by the
swords of barbarians, every Emperor persisted,
who endeevored to sustain partial sway,
against rival, aiming at universal rule. The
annals of England, from the Wars of the
perpetual illustration of the same theory and
recent French writer has Justly remarked, of
his own people, that their history has been a
perpetual strife for consolidation against divi-
sion, and that to the defeat Of the latter is
owing the present greatness OF the empire
The sympathy that is so universally felt for Italy
grows out of the conviction Of its right to be
homogeneous power, and an adherence of
partitions between those who are Of kindred
race. The uprising which conyulses the popu-
lar mind, on this continent, il not, therefore, to
be wondered at. II proves that the cause of
national union is sacredly cherished in the
United States, and that on this account alone,
it is sure, eventually to prevail The selfish,
malignant and sordid elements invoked against
it, contain inherent sources Of decay, which
would involve speedy destruction, even il not
threatened from without
The pretext for the rebellion in the seeding
States, has been that substantial grievances.
and an invasion of acknowledged rights, iusli'
fed the South in Withdrawing it, allegiance
Such was not the principle that was acted on,
in l776, by the sjgners of the Declaration of
Independence They bore oppression patiently
and long, before they passed the boundary of
protests and petitions, They exhausted every
legal effort to succumb the yoke that weighed
them down, and the blood Of colonists had
been shed for refusing active acquiescence ia
despotic rule, ere they had resort to the ultima
rotio of oppressed peoples. Had Southern
statesmen conducted in q similar manner,
they would have possessed a majority in the
next Congress, and republican administra-
ton would have been powerless to egislate
against them. Their revolt was equally crimi-
nal and impolitc. Nevertheless, the masses of
people, in the loyal States are convinced tha
every trace of the abolition conspiracy from
which secession derived its plea, and which
goeded the South TO deplorable and desperate
measures, must be swept away. While com.
pelling every inhabitant oil the United States
to yield obedience to the laws, The rights
guaranteed to each and all unde
the constitution, must be restored, and
an efficient remedy be applied 10
past abuses 1t will be the bounden duty
the extra session of Congress, convened by Mr..
Lincoln, to assemble on the ith Of July next,
TO pass acts which shall accomplish this result
The enthusiastic ardor which now thrills