The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-01-17

ASS~ S'o~s gu eOsstoCs OI W0iOn NO P1O
lshed yesterday, and he whole of which we
give this morning. is of more than ordinary
Importance. 1t Is evidently inspired by con-
scious security which has never hitherto
Characterised any manifesto which emsnsted
from the rebel Executive, and it breathes
an air Of determination and defiance which
il not justified by what meets the public eye.
II is true that the Confederate President is
aware Of the divisions and disgust at the North
produced by the abolition policy, and particu-
larly the emancipation edict extOrted from Mr.
Lincoln, which is worth two hundred thousand
men 10 the cause of the rebellion; for 1t on.
ables the rebel government TO provo that their
anticipations of the designs Of the radical party
are fully realized, and to mako out plausible
case Of justification before the people for the
rebellion of the South.
The rebel President gives extracts from Mr..
Lincolns inaugural address, and quotes the
resolution of Congress defining the war to be
war for the vindication of the constitution and
the maintenance Of the Union, and not = war of
subjugation or for the purpose Of interfering
in any way with the domestic institutions
of the Southern States; and he then cites the
subsequent acts of Congress and the policy Of
tho administration as totally opposite to the
pledges under which the war was insugurated.
In relation to the proclamation be adroitly sp-
peals to the sentiment Of the civilized world
"to the instincts of that common humanity
which bene6cent Creator has implanted in the
breasts of our fellow mon Of all countries to
pass Judgment on measure of which several
millions Of human beings of an inferior race
peaceful and contented laborers in their sphere
are doomed to determination, while. at the same
time, they are encouraged to general assassi-
nation of their masters by the insidious recon-
mendation to abstain from violence, unless in
necessary self-defsnce."
The administration and the radicals seem to
have given him chance to appeal to the SYM
the Caucasian race throughout the world
They have enabled him to consolidate the mill
tary strength of the South by conscript law,
to control its financial resources, and unite the
people, morally and politically, as one man,
while their programme has had most disas-
trous effect at the North in dividing and dis
tracing the popular sentiment; and, according
to the abolition press, it has utterly demoralized
and destroyed the Army of the Potomac, on
which the success Of the Union cause so greatly
depended. Hence the President of the rebel
lious States is confident in his expectations and
rampant in his threats Of retaliation. He says
he has directed the execution Of Gen. Butler
vhn
prisoners Of war in cold blood" If they should
fall into the hands of any Of the Confederate
forces; and he has also marked ont for ven
geanse "anothsr general by the name of Mil
roy" charged with hidesus atrocities in West
ern Virginia. Then he expresses his determine
ton "to deliver to the several State authorities
all commissioned officers Of the United States
that may hereafter be captured in any Of the
States embraced in the proclamation, that they
may be dealt with in accordance with the laws
Of those States providing for the punishment Of
criminals engaged In exciting servile insurrec-
tons"
There may be little in these threats as the
and are not likely soon to be. But there
may be something in these menaces after all,
something more than the mere military,
political and financial situation would
warrant. 1t is more than possible, notwith-
standing the general terms in which Mr.. Davis
complains Of the European Powers for not
recognizing the independence Of the Southern
confederacy, and for shutting out from their
ports privatcers and their prizes, he has some
understanding with the Emperor Of the French,
which will be brought to light in due time. In
confirmation Of this view it is worthy Of remark
that in the rebel Congress, on Monday, reso-
luton was introduced eulogizing France "for
her endeavors to induce European interven-
ton" And when we cast glance at the other
side of the Atlantic, we find that the relations
Of Mr.. Slidell with Napoleon and his ministers
are far more cordial than is consistent with
strict neutrality, much less with the warm pro-
LESSONS of friendship for the United States
which he has constantly made. The greeting
of the Emperor to Mr.. Dayton on New Years
day was, to say the least, decidedly cold If it
was not piece Of bitter irony under the cir
cumstances.
Here, then, 10 abundant food for the calm
reflection Of Mr. Lincoln. The earnest deter
nination Of the South must be met by cores
ponding determination on his part and on the
part of the people Of the loyal States; otherwise
the Union is irretrievably lest The same
unity Of purpose and Of action must be de-
velopea at the North as at the South. The
rebels are terribly in earnest, while everything
that transpirss at Washington shows that the
administration are, like Nero, adding while
Rome was burning" There is but one path of
safety fer the President, and that il to remove
from his Cabinet the radicals, fanatics and in
beetles who have brought our national affairs
to crisis SO full Of peril, and to put in their
places men Of well known capacity and Of
conservative principles, who hold the salvation
Of the Union paramount to ell theories about
negro equality, and who will advise Mr. Lincoln