The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-03-11

The Crisis and the Issue Before Us-Our
Policy and Our Duty.
We have arrived at the crisis Of life or death
to the rebellion. Its leading Southern advo-
Gates and organs have confessed that their sink
ing cause can only be saved from speedy
collapse by the most desperate efforts Of resist
ance From Richmond to Mobile, from Charles
ton to Vicksburg, 1t Is admitted that the land
and naval forces OF the Union which now encir-
Gle the rebellious States are truly formidable at
every important point, and are resolutsly pre-
pairing for decisive work; but still the chiefs
and trumpeters of the rebellion are insolent,
defiant and hopeful. With unaffected contempt
and disgust they renounce their despicable
Northern sympathizers, and ell their degrading
propositions in the way Of srmistices, peace
conventions and constitutional concessions. In
the strongest possible expressions Of scorn and
hate the rebel leaders tell these Northern
peace politiclans:-"We want NO reconciliation
with you upon any terms; we are fighting for
an independent Southern confederacy; we will
not listen to the syren song Of peace upon any
other terms short Of our subjugation."
The issue before US Is thus clearly and broadly
defined. We must put down this rebellion by
focss a. arms, e. IL will tear the country to-
pieces. There = No other Alternative. BE,
therefore, who b mot with ne government In
this contest Is with tho rebellion-sn enemy Of
the Union and ally Of Davis, whatever dis
guises he may assume. We grant that "the
powers that be" at Washington have done
many foolish things, have committed many
plumbers, have brought upon our armies many
needless disasters, and by their extreme abolition
expedisnts and experiments have lost much OF
public confidence and excited much Of public
indignation. We grant all this; we grant that
the revulsion in the Northern public mind
against the administration In the State elections
Of last autumn involved righteous rebuke
from the offended majesty Of the people; we
grant that the late Congress was fanatical,
factious and demoralizing one, and that Presi-
dent Lincoln and his Cabinet have signally
failed to meet the reasonable expectations OF
the country. We regard the radical abolition
programme as q budget of denominations, wild,
impracticable and full of mischief but, above
all things, we hold that the salvation Of tho
country and of our established order Of society
from dissolution, anarchy and universal mob
law, depends now upon the adhesion Of the peo-
pie Of the loyal States Of all creeds and all par
ties, to the government the cause Of the govern
ment, "the powers that be-" and the laws Of the
land. '-'>-s.iG;:: *. : 7, . 7
This is and has been the position Of this jour-
mol from fho ka~ d nos
sure which we have deemed to be Of dangerous
tendencies or doubtful utility has been unde-
cided by Congress we have freely and earnestly
opposed It but when any such measure has
become Law Of the land we recognize no other
alternative than that Of submission to the law.
There can be NO departure from this course
without passing into the breakers and quick
sands which lead to shipwreck. Hence 1t is that
we feel called upon by every consideration of
law, order and the public safety to denounce
these Northern copperhead peacem0ngers of the
day as public enemies. When such reckless, BIZ
goted and narrow-sighted and brawling dema-
gogues as Vallandigham and Pendleton of Ohio,
Ben Wood, BOBBY Brooks and their confederates
begin to preach the doctrine of resistance to Pre-
sident Lincoln and the doctrine Of submission to
jeff Davis, 1t is at least due to the community that
the tendencies of their absurd and dangerous in
structions should be exposed. They counsel re-
sistance to the laws. Let us suppose that here
and there these copperhead apostles Of mob law
succeed in securing body. Of adherents re.
solved upon resistance to the CONSUMPTION. The
government undertakes to enforce the law; a
bloody collision ensues; the contagion of resist
ance spreads throughout the ranks of the party
infected, and civil war; with all its fearful con-
Under such a state Of things what citizens pro-
perty, home or life would be secure? What
family would be safe from night to night
against the intrusion of gang of hungry ruff
fans and Wholesale spoliation! And with the
loyal States in this horrible condition, how
would it be possible to prevent the breaking up
of our armies in the field. the occupation of the
national capital by JEFF Davis, and the absolute
destruction of the government Of the United
States?
A reign of terror would inevitably follow
throughout the length and breadth of the land,
result of foreign armed Intervention and divi-
sion Of the broken fragments Of the Union be-
tween England and France. Such are the ten
denotes of the reasonable doctrines Of resist
ance to the laws preached by such silly malig-
nants as vallandigham and Company. In
. milder view, such preachings are the
absurd rawlings of miserable mounte-
banks and political charlatans. They want m
armistice; they want national peace conven-
ton; they want change Of the constitution to
suit the dainty stomachs Of Davis and his con-
fedsrates; they even want, Is last resort, q
capitulation 70 Davis, Union or no Union, for
the sake Of peace. But to all these base expe-
dents Of base and stupid peace impostors the
responsible and ruling chiefs Of the rebellion
have No other answer than that Of scorn and
H. Il x1>~Ax ~rnp