Year: 1861

MADNESS-A STRONG ARTICLE


FROM THE LONDON TIMES.


When, with difficulty, and against the
grain, we cndeavor to understand the pres
ent crisis in the Union, the thing that
strikes us is that nothing whatever has oc-
Cured thus far, except that the Southern
States have not carried the Presidential G.
lection. There is no reason why Mr.. Lin
coin, were he of ever such strong opinions
and ever so strong party, should not fol-
low the example of all his predecessors.
and set about winning the favor of all sides
by quiet and conservative administration.
We look in vain through all the letters
and leading articles before us for hint at
any one dangerous or offensive step that he
would take if he could, or could take if he
would. There is simply a great disap-
pointment, and an exasperating sense of
defeat. In South Carolina, and Alabama,
and Georgia, an appeal is to be made to
the last powers vested in the State Consti-
tuition, with view to disuniOn, on no
ground whatever, that can be discovered.
except that they do not like Mr.. Lincoln.
He has committed himself to declarations
against slavery, and it is assumed that he
will do all he can to prevent the extension
of slavery to new States, and to maintain
the existing freedom to slaves found in free
States, but even this assumption, whatcv-
er its political value waits for proof.


To all our political notions there is no
more reason for the violence reported from
the Southern States than there would be
for the electors of Southwark refusing to
pay assessed taxes because Lord Palmcrs-
ton had declared against the ballot The
writers and orators from South Carolina
and her cOnfederates threaten vengeance
and destruction. They threaten to seize
the property Of nOrtherners, their bales or
their portmanteauS, in retaliation for the
emancipation or the escape of fugitive slaves
in the free States. They have taken down
all the federal flags, except where they hap
pen to be protected by federal guns. They
have voted immense sums for arms, though
it appears that there is no lack of arms.
though there is of money. They demand
a southern confederation that shall do what
it pleases with its own, and which would
certainly 60 to war with the northern
States on their first refusal to deliver up
runaway. 1t is scarcely possible % con-
ceive without reading the par,trs themselves,
the greatness of the indignation or the
smallness of tie ground. There is no rea-
son why AIr. Lincoln should not prove as
Unless a mouse as ever nibbled his way
into good quarters; but the fiery spirits of
the South are frantic with rage and fever
cd with apprchensIous. The mere Whit Of
the ball has knocked them down, and they
are screaming with rage and terror with
out hurt or scratch.


This has to be accounted for Were the
language of these mon at all reasonable,
or even decent, We should be disposed te
explain it thus They live on a Volcano
We know not how many millions of strong
men are living among them, round their
houses, and under their very roofs, not in
misery ,r in more degradation than is al.
most inseparable from labor. but with more
work than they like, and obliged to do it.
These slaves are ignorant and exeitable.-
They hear, and the language of their mas
ters is likely enough to foster the delusiOn
that great slave emancipist has been C.
lected President, and now, if ever, is the
time to attempt Se.fdeliverance.


On the other hand, their masters are, by
position, desPots, and accustomed to strong
measures, in word and In decd. = If it be
the fact that the Southern States are threat
ened with servile war-the most hOrri-
bic thing that can happen to any nation
then the Southern States are justified in
taking any steps they may think necessa-
~ against u real danger. But, strange to
say. not a word is said about any such real
danger. The slaves. we are told. are not
excited, they are not cOnspirine, they are
not armed, they are not in condition to
free themselves, por do they seem to have
any feelings on the subject beyond those
which are natural to ali men compelled to
work hard for their bread There is no
prospect of rising If there wers, the
whole Union would join to put it down,
and we venture to say that in fortnight
the last negro found in arms would have
been hung upon the nearest tree. On the
distant horizon, indeed. there loom certain
arising from the increase of the
slave population in the old Slave States
and the consequent necessity of more room
for them; but these difficulties are very re-
mote, they are not aggravated or brought
nearer by the election of Mr.. Lincoln, they
may be met by a suitable policy, they '0iH
not be remored, or mitigated or deferred
Jy di.suRion, and they afford no excuse for
any attempt in that direction.