The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-02-07


cine, which, If it does no good, viii do no harm
TO the poor patient. The compromise demand
I'd by Virginia is . rvision of the federal
constitution upon the basis Of the Crittenden
propositions of amendment; and the first prac-
teal step towards such . compromise is its
submission TO the several Stairs fer ratiAcs-
ton, by two-thirds vote Of both houses of
Congress. THIS is the test question upon
which Virginia, in behalf Of the Union. has de-
cided to wait little longer
Here, then, We begin to appreciate the
true state of the case. We see that. in
stead Of passive submission, there Is serious
danger in the general results of this
Virginia election; and that II only de-
lays the act of secession to await an answer
from the republican party In Congress upon
the test question of the CrittcDden compromise.
The remnant Of the term allotted to this Con-
gress is reduced to twenty-five days; and If
within this interval the Cri'tenden adjustment
or something Of that sort, shall not be endorsed
by the required two-thirds vote Of the House
and the Senate, we dare say that the Virginia
State Convention will unanimously declare In
favor Of the Southern confederacy. The re-
publican party demand the Inauguration of Mr..
Lincoln drst, and suggest compromise by
and-by, say zone, two or three years hence"
II convenient but Virginia demands compro-
mise in advance, as pledge and measure Of
security against an incoming anti-slavery adj
ministration.
Tie responsibility rests upon the republican
party in the two houses of Congress. They
have only by two thirds vote in each house to
pass the Crittenden compromise, or some equi-
valent, and submit it to the several States for
ratification, and Virginia and all the border
slave States will be secured to the Union, and
cOvery Of the seeded States. On the other
hand, the fat rejection of Virginia's ultimatum
will be The signal to Virginia for secession, and
as she leads the other border slave States will
follow. She holds them in the palm other hand,
and, as the republicans decree, she will move
them to the right or to the left. She is simply
awaiting the decision of the republican party
upon the alternative Of tho Union or the Chi
cago platform.
MIR Seward, should the exigency require it,
has signfed his willingness to abandon the
Chicago platform, and to disband the republ-
can organization as an anti slavery party, in
order to save the Union. Let him, then, pro-
ceed to make good his promise. The exigency
has arisen for the sacrifices suggested, and the
danger admits Of no delay. Let him consult
he necessities, not only of the Union, but of
Mr. LincOib's administration, and he will COM
preheDd the necessity now for compromise.
The federal government is bankrupt; its loans
go of heavily at twelve per cent interest; yet
still to reheve it new loans are demanded.
thus, in addition to the balance Of fourteen
millions of a late loan nndiposed Of Mr..
he, man, of the House Committee Of Ways
and Means, is pushing through new loan of
twenty five MILLIONS to meet the wants Of the
nee ming administration. In addition to this
expedient the Morrill, high tariff bill is resort
ed TO, including the abolition of the warehous-
ing system. in order to raise at once some
needful resources Of actual cash. But Mr..
Seward and Mr. Sherman must know that their
loans and tariffs will fail, If the republicans,
ieJtCuuB tnc NIMs VI peace pIOposcu, I'LL 10
hold the border slave States in the Union
The issne, then, to the republican party In
Congress is between the Crittcndcn compro-
mise, the Union. peace and abundant re-
sources and credit to the new administration
on the one hand, and the Chicago platform,
the secession of the border slave States, gene
raj confusion and ruin, involving treasury
without resources and without credit, on the
other hand. This is our Interpretation of this
late Virginia election. 1t does not mean un-
conditional submission; but it means little
delay, in order, il necessary, to make the work
of Southern revolution complete and decisive
against submission to the incoming administra-
ton. Let not the republican party in Congress
be deluded by any rose colored views of this
late Virginia election. The result calls for a
compromise before the 4th of March, or for the
secession Of Virginia from the Union.