The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-08


comes to the worst, Why then we must all go to
smash together. But We have not yet arrived
at SO desperate q condition of things, the
Mayors message to the contrary notwithstand-
ing.
War Pronune ia INTO Of Wise, of Viz
gizaia.
Henry A. Wise, Ex-Governor OF Virginia,
and late candidate for the democratic 40
mination for President, has come ont IN fam
ing, waglike pronuncianaienio, which viii Dc
found IN our columns today II is IA inter
estins document at the present moment Any
manifesto from Mr.. Wise just nov would COM
mand public attention, not only in his own
State, but throughout the Union. But the ma
ture of his letter, the topics which he % elo-
ouently handles and the resolves to which he
has come, impart more than ordinary interest to
his letter.
M. Wise says he utterly despairs of obtain
ing any redress of Southern wrongs by peace
allie means, and further patience and forbcar
ance cease 10 be virtue. He il, therefore in
favor OF revolution and resistance at once. He
makes no demand from the North or
from the federal power, has no remedy
to propose, no plan of reconciliation.
His voice is for war, and he calls
upon the Old Dominion to buckle on its
armor in defence of South Carolina, whose
course in seeding he approves, though he
thinks that for the present Virginia will best
serve her own interests, the interests of South
Carolina, "the van State of defence and the
common cause of all the Southern States, by
Sighting in the Union. He thinks every State
ought to act on its own hook, though in con-
cert with the other aggrieved States, and take
its own mode and measure Of redress. This
looks like an indication Of an independent que
rilla warfare, after the fashion Of the Mexican
inflicted by the Northern States upon the
South, their aggressions and transgressions;
shows how, in the western counties of Virginia,
slavery is as efectually abolished as in the
free States that she has the greatest interest in
the question, her slaves amounting to more
than half q million; and he rejects with scorn
the counsel of waiting for an overt act on the
part Of the incoming administration.
Indeed, Mr.. Wise's idea seems to be to forci-
bly, prevent the Inauguration Of Lincoln at
Washington-a course of action indicated in
Richmond papers supposed to speak his views
and confirmed by subsequent military pre-
parations in several counties of the State. He
maintains that there are overt acts already,
and that it would be folly to wait till their ene
mics are installed in power, and in position
to accomplish the avowcd purposes for which
they were organized. His advice is to call
convention at once; if the Governor
will not do it, then the Legislature ought
to be applied TO to overrule his decision; and If
the Legislature will not act, then let the people
assemble spontaneously in convention at Rich
mond and act for themselves. They may thus
save the State from disgrace, and, if they can
do nothing better, they can at least go to the
aid Of South Carolina. As for himself, if he
should see any decided symptoms of joining
the North in tho coming struggle, he would re-
pair TO some other Southern State TO obtain a
sufficient armed force to prevent it; in other
words TO effect a revolution in the State. On
the hazard of this die he says he is ''ready to
stake his all"
Mr.. Wise's reason Cor fighting the battle in
the Union is to protect, preserve and defend
The constitution which the revolutionary re-
| publcans have in part already overthrown,
and intend TO completely subvert. Then, he says,
lie docs not wish to shock the pious attach
| ment of the people 10 the Union flag, He
suggests that the State Of Virginia in pur-
suance Of the special condition on which she
entered into the Union namely, that she might
resume whatever rights Of sovereignty she had
coded 10 the federal power, among them the
right to maintain an army and navy make war
and peace, &c.-dcmand possession Of all
the forts and arscnals within the domain of the
State. IL the United States government will
not give up the forts, then they must be taken
by the people; for, suddenly just before the
4th Of March, Fortress Monroe, Harpcr's Ferry
Arsenal and Gosport Navy Yard may be filed
with arms OF coercion. Mr.. Wise has no faith
in Mr. Buchanan.
From these limitations il is probable that
the forts in Virginia will be seized as in South
Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. Whether any
attempt will be made on Washington. which
lies within the territory ccded by Maryland,
will depend, We suppose on the strength OF the
force which the revolutionists in Virginia can
bring into the field. and the strength Of the
force which the federal authority can conccn-
trate 10 defend the capital. But the seizure of
the forts can only result in stirring up greater
hostility at The North to The Southern cause.
which has been already greatly damaged