Year: 1860

Congress meets to-day-probaby the last ma
tional Congress that will ever assemble at Wash
ington City. The session terminates by law on the
4th of March, but it would not greatly surprise US
if it terminated much earlier than that time, SO
far at least as respects the Southern States and
their Representatives. Unless we greatly mistake
the signs Of the times-unless we interpret incor-
rectly the steady development of the plan OF seces
sion, requiring time only for its contamination,
several of the Southern States will be out Of the
Union before the session has half expired and, of
course, no Representative in either branch of Con
gress will remain there after his State shall have
formally closed her connection with the Federal
Government Some of the South Carolina mem.
bers, in anticipation of the future, have already
declined to go to Washington at all, and have re-
signed their commissions as representatives of the
people.


Probably the unhappiest man. this day, within
the whole limits of the Union, is James Buchanan
the President Of these nearly dfsunited States. In
common with nne-tenths of the people of the
North, he has been accustomed to regard the
threats of withdrawal at the South as mere idle
talk, which really amounted to nothing. He finds
out, now how much he is mistaken. He finds out
that it is not mere idle talk on the part of the
South, but stern. and infexible determination.
He finds ont how terribly in earnest the South is,
and with what confident step she marches to poll
tical independence. The difficulty which Mr. Bu-
chanan has to confront is different from that which
Gen. Jackson had to meet in 1882. Then, South
Carolina proposed to stay in the Union, but at
the same time to nullfy the laws of the Union.
She claimed the right TO stay in the Union, and
obey only such Federal laws as suited her, and dis
regard those that did not Now, her attitude is
changed. She is going to disseyer her connection
with the Central Government, and resume what
she claims to be her original sovereignty as an in
dependent State. This is the lion in the path y
which the Old Public Functionary has to meet, and
which we are warranted in believing, from his
conduct in the past, has made the Funetionary BIT
| terly curse the hour when, thirty years ago. he
| fxed his eye upon what was then the glittering
| prize of the Presidency.


That Mr. Buchanan will, in his message to be de.
yered to Congress to-day, take ground against the
right Of secession on the part of State we conf
IDENTIFY predict. That he will plead with the people
of the South-entreat them to forego their purpose
| of fndependence--beg them to remain in the Union
and take another chance Of subduing the anti-sla.
very element of the North--we have no manner oi
doubt. The old sing-song cry of q compromise
COMPROMISED y will again be raised. The traditions
| of the past, the gories Of the revolutionary war
the experiment of selfgoyernment, the spectacle
we will make before the other nations of the world
if the Union be dissolved, the taunts and reproach
| es they will cast at us-al these will be invoked tc
''plead trumpet tongued" for Southern forbear
| ance. But James Buchanan will now learn that the
| day Of sentiment and claptrap has gone by, an6
| that revolutions once commenced, rarely 20 back
| wards He is now in position where bold mar
| and brave man and an honest and conscientiou.
man might make his mark upon the times, and lv;
in history. Without reference to old party antago
nisms, we may say that such is not our estimate o
the President--but we shall make haste to do hin
ample justice, if, in his message, he shall give
cause to reverse our Judgment.


The Congress which meets to-day will, of course
be occupied mainly, if not exclusively, with til
political affairs of the people Little, if any, o
ordinary routine legislation will be attended to
The peaceful revolution now going ON dwarf
everything else. 1t is the grand salient conspicu
Gus and absorbing topic Of the times; and neithe
Congress nor the people will have any heart 70
other and inferior issues. That there will b
stormy debates, violent political harangues, excit
ing scenes and untimely exhibitions of bad temper





reach the ear of Southern representatives, W
would counsel them to mild but firm bearing
| calm demeanor, and patient but yet fearles
assertion of their rights and their remedies.


1t is hardly within the range of probability tha
there can be any present adjustment of our troubles
There may be politicians, South as well as NORTH
who will make the attempt-but the people of tn
South are in advance of the politicians, and thei
potential voice must and will be obeyed. The
have come to the conclusion that they have atleas
been driven to the wall, aud it is a question now
life or death-of political and personal indepent
ence, or of perpetual serfdom and yassalage Th
issue has to be met sooner or later, and it had o
well be met now, and be done with it. If the mac
men who have gained control of the ship of stat
are determined to run her upon the breakers an
dash her to pieces, the South can, as a last resor
take to the long-boat and save her people from til
wreck.


|