The New York Herald Newspaper, December 21, 1860, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. eee or: N. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS. TERMS, cash in adean «Money sent hy mail will be at the Wisk of the sender. None wt Banh ? vent ia New York uken. THE DAILY HERALT THE WEERLY WEL Li dnesday, at four cents per No. 355 Volume X3V.. a AMUSEMENTS NIPLO'S GARDBN, Broadway,—Ricuarp YT WINTER GARDEN, Broadway, opposite Bond sireet.— Hauer ry.—Srarping & Rogri's Broadway.~To Maney on Nor LAURA KEENE’S THEATRE, No. 624 Broadway.— BEVEN SUsTRKS. NEW BOWERY THFAT Hunrée—hicuany I1i.—Hou Bowery ——Ueiwe, rae Wat mE BARNUM'S AMERICAN ML ting. —Tuk SEA OF lon—Az! M, Broadway.—Day and MiLOKEN—Livixe (UK ° echanies’ Tall, 472 Broad. BRYANTS’ MINSTRELS, ances, &¢.—Ricianp 11, Way. —BURLusauEs, SONGS, NSTRELS, Niblo's Satoo Bukixsgoxs, £0 — HOOLEY & CAMPBELL'S M Brondway.—Ermortax Songs, Danors, AND. Dixres! 10 HALL, 663 Broadway.—Sonas, RY M No, 589 Broadway.—Soxgs, Daxces, Bun- TALIAN Opera Concent popworTH’s ROOM } New York, F: iday, December 21, 1560, MAILS FOR THE PACIFIC. raid—California Edition. p North star, Captain Jones, will { noon, for Aspinwall. for California and other parts of the Pacifle New York F will close at ten o’cleck this morning. The New Yous Weixty Hersco—Culifornia edition— containing the lat 5 rom all parts of the world, with « Lis matter, will be Single coy Agents will ple eible. South Carolina has crossed the Rubicon. The ordinance of secession was passed unanimously by the Convention yesterday afternoon, and immedi- ately telegraphed to the representatives of the State at Washington. tion was received with great cheering in the Considerable debate fol- solution as to the new The action of the Conven- streets of Charleston. Jowed the passage of the position assumed by the S: A report is given elsewhere. Important advices from Springfield, foreshadow- ing the views and probabie course of the President elect, are given under our telegraphic head this morning. yesterday morning, and was closeted with Mr. Thurlow Weed arrived at Springfield Lincoln several hours. [t is said that Mr. Lincoln Gid not entirely approve Weed’s programme, but insisted on several important modifications, among which was that relative to the recognition of flavery in the Territories. He is also reported as repudiating geographical lines of division. The programme as modified will be taken to Washing- ton by Weed and submitted to the republican leaders. The New York appointments were agreed upon during the interview. Moses H. Grinnell! is mentioned a8 Secretary of the Treasury aud Mr. Draper as Collector of the Port. The Pacific Railroad bill passed the House of niatives yesterday, after considerable de- 2 vote of % to 74. During the course of the debate Mr. Garnett, of Virginia, announced his holiof thas Vu ginta would not hold herself respon- sible for the debt to be incurred in the issue of the necessary bonds for the construction of the road. Nothing of special moment occurred in the Senate, except the deli of ® speech by Mr. Pugh on the absorbing topic of the day. The steams Persia, from Literpool on the Sth, via Qu stown on the 9th inst., arrived at ber dock at Jersey City at half-past one o'clock yesterday afternoon, bringing one 1 red and twenty-five N passengers and upwards of three millions of irs in gold. The political news by this arrival is not im. portant. A despateh re London, on the eived at the Foreign morning of the 9th inst., s that the Allies have captured Pekin, and that the Emperor had fled to Tartary. The Em- peror's summer palffce had been sacked and an amount of spoil taken. Of the six Eng- lish prisoners recently captured by the Chinese, two, Messrs. Parks and Loch, had returned to the Allied camp, two had died of ill treatment, and two are unaccounted for. Several serious popular outbreaks had occurred in different parts of Italy and Hongary, causing in some instances loss of life. It is reported “by hority"’’ that the Princess Alice is betrothed to his Grand Ducal Highness Prince Louis of Hesse, who is now a visiter at Windsor Castle ligence is unimportant ng in England, that secession is merely a bugbear, and that the present excitement n America niust soon be succeeded by a season of tially free from the influence of the panic. The fear of a failure in the cotton supply is at present attracting more attention among the manufacturers and politicians of England than the rise and fail of stocks. We publish below a tabular statement showing the amounts of specie which have arrived in this country per steamships from Europe, and that have departed thence since the arrival out of the news of Mr. Lincoln's election to the Presi- dency:— Port of Arrival. Amount of Specie + Boston, Dee. 16... occ ec.. $580,000 New York, Doe. 18, 310,000 New York, Dee. 19; 850,000 New York, Deo. 20. 8,107 035 New York, Dec. 20. 17,500 Total $4,854,535, The steamship Borussia, from Hamburg on the 4th inst., arrived at this port early yesterday morning. She brings # small amount of specie, but her dates are anticipated. The Quaker City, Captain Shafeldt, from New Orleans and Mavana the 15th, arrived here at an early hoar yesterday morning. She ex- perienced heavy weather on her passage to New York. Business continued dull, in consequence of ‘the unsettled condition of affairs in the United States, and an effort was being made by the go- vernment to relieve the business community by authorizing the Spanish bank to issue immediate- ly two millions of dollars in paper. The &; ficet left Havana on the 13th, ostensibly for a short cruise, but it is rumored its destination is Vera Cruz, We have received by the Quaker City files of St. Thomas papers. They contain nothing of interest. The Board of Councilmen werd ig session last fvening, and adopted a resolution inquiring of the Btreet Commissioner what improvement was con- templated upon the ground formerly occupied by the Crystal Palace, wud whether the plot fs to be d the effect to keep the Londonmoney | thrown open to the public or to be kept for ex- clusixe private use. The Board concurred to ad- vertise for a location for Hook and Ladder Com- pany No. 18, A report recommending the appro- priation of $4,403 for expenses incurred at the re- ception of the Prince of Wales was laid over. The veto of the Mayor of the bill giving permission to the Third Avenue Railroad Company to lay a track on Seventieth and 130th streets was taken up, and the Noard adhered to its former action by a vote of 16 to 8 A resolution was adopted appropriating $7,720 to meet the deficien- cies in the funds of the Broadway Street ‘ing Association. Mr. Lent claimed that the city had no right to vote away this amount— the storekeepers on Broadway having contributed to clean that street. An ordinance presented by the Comptroller, estimating the amount necessary to meet the expenses of the city, was 9 ‘opted. ‘The total amount is $575,922 73, and tl item is $82,822 73, being the expense of entortain- ing the Japanese Embassy, T oncurred in a joint resolution to pure) se m fire engines for engine compani 2 a1 6, at an ex- pense of $4,800 for each engine. They also con- curred with a recommendation of the Comptroller to take the sum of $14,529 38 from the appropria- tion of the Russ pavement, and credit that amount to the appropriation for election expenses. They also concurred in a joint resolution to purchase a portrait of Harry Howard for the sum of $500. The Board of Aldermen were in session yester- but the proceedings were of little moment. ghteen of the crew of the alleged slayer Bonito, ptured by the San Jacinto on the coast of Africa ds | with upwards of seven hundred negroes on board, were brought up before Commissioner Morell yes- terday, charged with having voluntarily served on board the Bonito. After hearing some evidence on the part of the government, the Commissioner ad- journed the case over to Saturday. An application to restrain the government from compelling George Law and Gustavus A. Conover » pay the amount of their bonds as sureties for ex-Postmaster Fowler, was made in the United States court yesterday. After hearing the re- marks of counsel, Judge Betts adjourned the ease over to the 27th inst. The three hundredth anniversary of the Scottish Reformation was celebrated last evening in the Jane street United Presbyterian church. Rev. John Brash delivered a discourse appropriate to the occasion, after which a collection was taken up to aid the Protestant Institute in Edinburg. Judge Mullins, of the Superior Court, rendered a decision yesterday directing that Edwin Jefferds should be admitted to bail. Jefferds is a witness in the double murder case of Walton aud Mathews. The inquest in the case of John Myers, the negro who was scalded to death on the occasion of the late explosion on board the steamboat Com- monwealth, was postponed yesterday by Coroner Schirmer until two o'clock this afternoon, in con- sequence of the absence of material witnesses. ‘The trial of Colonel Corcoran, of the Sixty-ninth regiment, for refusing to promulgate the orders of Major General Sandford to parade his regiment onthe occasion of the visit of the Prince of Wales to this city, commenced yesterday afternoon at the Arsenal, before Brigadier General Spicer and Colonels Postley and Pinckney. Without coming to any conclusion, the case was adjourned until January next. The Commissioners of Charities and Correction held their usual meeting yesterday. The re- port of the Committee of the Whole stated that orders have been given to remove all lunatics whom the Emigration Commissioners are obliged to take care of to Ward's Island. This step wil not go far towards settling the long pending diffi- culty between the two Boards. The report pre- sented no other feature of special public interest. The number in the institutions now is 8,126, an in- crease of 192 during the past week. The number admitted since the last return was 1,838, while charged, transferred, or who died, num- bered 1,046. The steamship Kedar, to sail to-day for Liver- pool, wid take a mail. Letters can be posted at d's office till eleven A. M. market yesterday was firm, and the advance ticed fully sustained. The sales embraced pensniengnen of Noning Brme am the banka af 30%¢0. per Ib, A private telegraphic despatch received by a house in this city from a responsible firm in New Orleans stated that the sales Mode within the three previous days had reached and that the receipts were 82,000 bales in middling cotton at 10%0. The total decrease in the receipts at all the ports amounted to 402,000 bales, m hand in that port was 230,000 bales, the recent depression in cotton some capitalists ty invested money in it and shipped it for Liver. theory that, in the face of a short crop, ables boing setiled the future pres fuur days of th pool, on thy prices would, in case of political g0 Up, and that should dissolution « pects of supplies would be so inuch influenced as to en hance the value of the article in Liverpool. Private let ters by the Atlantic and Persia, up to the latest moment state that more or less panic prevailed among merchants afucturers regarding the supplies of cotton, A tion of the specie brought over is said to be in tended for its purchase for Dills drawn against it; the Southern markets being the cheapest, were, of course, to bo firet resorted to. New England manufacturers have confined their purchases chiefly to this market; finding the English about to compete with the South, they have despatched agents is and other ports for its purchase, One individual proceeded direct to Memphis this week, with a s, to obtain a supply for Rhode be forwarded inland by rail- road. Flour was in fair demand, and prices advanced a shade. The sales amounted te 14,400 bbls. Wheat was in good request, and holders were asking higher prices, which checked sales somewhat. An active business was transacted in corn, which was a trifle dearer. Provisions were generally inactive; pork was teading dowoward Ro coffee was in request at steady rates. Sugars were pretty brisk and prices were advancing. Molaases was quiet. Spirite turpentine was higher, with sales of 500 bbls. A foir demand existed for hay, as well as for tal low ond whiekey. The changes in other branches of trade were unimportant, large amount of docume Island, which will like Loox Ovr ron Cueats.—There will be a creat many demands this winter for assistance by the poor and unemployed upon the more fortunate class of the community, who have wherewith to relieve the wants of the destitute, and no doubt a great many appeals will be made hy impostors, who are not in need of aid or sympathy, but who will take advantage of the times to cheat the benevolent. Our citi- zens, then, should beware of such, and should in all cases exercise discrimination in the be- stowal of alms. From abroad, too, there will come many claims for assistance, and in every instance the merits of the case should be care- fully considered. Kansas has already appealed to us for help—indeed she has always been ap- pealing for relief since her organization as a Territory. There is no doubt that at present & portion of the people in Kansas are suffering from want; but then they brought it on them- selves, and it may be a wholesome lesson for them, perhaps. But, unhappily for the whole country, the same mischievous policy which spread want throughout Kansas has now brought distress and poverty to our own doors. We advise our merchants and others, there- fore, when an appeal on behalf of Kansas is made to them, to button up their pockets and keep their money for our own laborers, me chanics and other working people, who will sadly need it, in consequence of the present po- litical crisis, There will be ample necessity in this city for every dollar they can afford to give; and let them remember that charity begins at home, NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, Il'ghly Important from the Soutlp-Seces- sion of South Carolina. Hwill be seen by our telegraphie despatches that the Convention of South Carolina, now in session at Charleston, bas decided by*a unani- mous vote that that State should secede from the Union.) On the receipt of this important news in Wavhington, notwithstanding the fact of it having been confidently anticipated by all the Southern, and by many Northern mem- bers, it produced a profound sensation. In al- luding to the passage of the Paeifie Railroad bill m the House, Mr. Garnett, of Virginia, spoke of the utter inefficacy of any sueh enact- ment as a national measure, intimating that the whole South would unite with South Carolina in seceding from the Union, In full view of the great fact here announced, and which has been staring ns in the face ever since the election of Lincoln, we do not find thut any practical measure has been introduced in Congress, or has been initiated in any pari of the country, for the settlement of the most vital question by which it has ever been agi- tated, and which is just beginning to produce its effects upon Europe. Instead of agreeing upon some plan of conciliation, some measure by which the country might be restored to its former tranquillity and prosperity, we see mem- bers of Congress and republican journals using the most violent language towards the South- ern States, threatening coercion as the most effective means of retaining them within the Union, and of preventing the terrible calanity impending over the nation. We have had occasion already to advert to the violent and dangerous speeches of Hale and Iverson, Wigfall and Wade, in the United States Senate, and now Mr. Johnson, of Tennessee, as our readers have seen from the report in yester- day’s Henarp, enters the arena, and mingles in the troubled scene, not as a peacemaker, but as a political incendiary, feeding the already ra- ging flames with the most inflammable materials. His denunciation and defiance of the people of South Carolina, like the ill-judged and rash harangue of the Senator from Ohio, have stirred up to the boiling point passions already too heated ; have driven the Convention now sitting at Charleston into precipitate action ; have put all the other seceding States upoa their mettle, and would seem to have rendered the settlement of the family quarrel of this great Union impossible by any other means than the arbitrament of thé sword, and an appeal to the God of battles. We are ac- customed to scenes of violence in the popular branch of Congress, but something better might have been expected at such a time as this from “the grave and reverend seignors” of the conservative Senate. Vituperation of the South Carolinians, by ealling them “traitors,” can never restore peace and harmony. On the contrary, it will rouse into activity the sym- pathy of thousands who have not yet identified themselves with the secession movement. The effect of the menaces of Johnson on the Senator from Oregon “is but a sample of their effect upon millions both North and South, And what practical difference does it make whether the act of South Carolina is treason or a justifiable legal secession? Take it at the worst, it is a revolution such as Massa- chusetts, Virginia and North Carolina inaugu- rated, and the thirteen colonies adopted, against the mother country. To stop it by peaceable means is the proper business of statesmen. Coercion is out of the question, and every re- source ought to be exhausted before such a word is named. Those who advocate an internecine, fratrici- dal war are far more deserving of the epithet of “traitors” than those to whom they apply it, The citizens of the Palmetto State are nat enemies, but brothers of our own house- hold; and whatever may be their errors, they are not half so bad as the Northern States whose anti-slavery propagandism and whose aggressions have provoked their Southern confederates into an attitude of self-defence and retaliation. Why not make war against Massachusetts and other States at the North who have raised the standard of re- bellion against the federal authority in nullify- ing the constitution and laws of Congress? Has not Governor Denison, of Obio, refused to de- liver up a fugitive from justice, charged with enticing slaves from Kentucky, upon the requisi- tion of the Governor of that State? If it is necessary to strike terror by making examples, why not begin with the aggressors at the North, and see what effvet that may have npon South Carolina? Congress may have the legal and constitutional right to commence a civil war in the case of that: little State; but no wise or good men would advise Congress to exercise it. Even if the other Southern States would not make common cause with her from the moment the sword was drawn, and if the whole country, from Maine to Texas, should not be involved in the mad, sanguinary struggle, still it would be the duty of fraternal States and of a fraternal government to conciliate and do justice to South Carolina, even if she should etand alone. This government can never exist by force. Its basis, its structure and whole theory entirely preclude such an idea; and to keep unwilling States in the Union it will become necessary to subvert the princi- ples of the Declaration of Independence, and change the Union into a military despotism, resting for its support, not on public opinion, but on bayonets. The people of the North will never give their consent to the raising of a standing army which, if successful in subjugat- ing the Southern States, would very soon be turned against their own liberties, It is not then by coercion or armed invasion of the South that the present unhappy strife can be healed, It is therefore with deep regret that we find, by our telegraphic de- spatch from Springfield last night, that on the very day South Carolina decides to secede from the Union the organ of the President elect in that town comes out with a semi-official mani- festo of the most emphatic character in favor of coercion. We still hope that Mr. Lincoln will see the necessity of adopting another policy; and he can easily do this by issuing a manifesto of another kind, developing to the South what his administration will do for the purpose of preserving the future integrity of this great confederacy. It is only by compro- mise, concession and conciliation, embodied in amendments to the constitution, and by the public opinion of the North frowning down the fanati- cal anti-slavery propagandism of New England, which is the real source of all our troubles, that we can avoid the fearful catastrophe which we are threatened. ” Ixpecenctes oF THE Prerss—Some of the hewepapers appear to be losing their good manners lately, and are indulging in very bad langage, There is the Chevalier Webb, for DECEMBER instance, in a@ article yesterdsy appli abuse to Mr. Buetidtian, who is certainly the first citizen in the United States, and aa such is entitled to be spoken of, at least, in decent phraseology. The CheValier, however, calls him “2 wholesale murderer” and “a traitor,” and says that he “basely skalks from the dis- charge of his duty;” that he is “the instigator and author of a contemplated massacro,” anda good deal more of that sort, What does Web® mean by using such language to the President of the United States? We always thought that Chevalier Webb had something of the gentleman about him. We new that he was slow in paying his debts, and that the old United States Bank suffered some- what from that frailty of his nature; but then we always supposed that he could be polite even when he had not the money to pay. If the President elect should decide to send him Minister to Austria, and give him a chance to wear out that old court suit of his, he will have to take a few lessons in politeness before he goes. Such language as we have quoted is not at all according to Chesterfield, and will never do for the court of the Kaiser. We are afraid the Chevalier has been keeping very bad company lately; he must have been mixing with some very low people, Has he had any social intercourse with Aldermen, or Council- men, or members of the Legislature? Because if he has that would account for it entirely. Important from China—Tho Allies in Pe~ kin—Flight of the Emperor, The Persia brings the intelligence of the fall of Pekin and the flight of the Emperor into Tartary. The imperial palace was sacked and immense spoils found in it. It will be re- membered that on the 18th of September the Chinese effected the capture of Lord Elgin’s private secretary and interpreter, a captain and lieutenant in the army, the London Times’ special correspondent and two others, who were out in search of a camping ground. Nothing was heard of them for several days, when an imperial commissioner addressed a letter to Lord, Elgin on the subject of peace, in which it was stated that all the prisoners were perfectly safe in Pekin, to which they were conveyed immediately after their capture, and lodged in alarge public building, where they met with good treatment. Lord Elgin very reasonably demanded the restoration of the prisoners to |e his camp before renewing any negotiations whatever, but no attention was paid to his re- clamation. On the entry of the Allies into Pe- kin they found two of the parties alive, two dead and two unaccounted for. If living the latter will soon be forthcoming, as the victors will accede to no terms without being assured of their fate. It must be owned that the Allies have had anything but smooth work “before them in the Flowery Land. They found themselves beset with difficulties at every step, owing to the peculiar objects they had in view. They were not, a8 in ordinary warfare, desirous of in- flicting as much punishment and loss upon the enemy as possible, but only just enough to produce a certain definite effect—to wit, the humiliation of the Emperor at Pekin sufficiently to induce his compliance with the terms of a proposed commercial treaty, and to exact the payment of an indemnity. They were aware that too much humiliation would probably result in an immediate over- throw of the present dynasty in favor of the Tae-ping insurgents, and that in such event they would have to do their fighting over again with & new party. The consequence was that they labored under disadvantages, which were construed by the Chinese into weakness and ir- resolution. Thus the Celestials were alter- nately puzzled and encouraged. The mode of action adopted by the Allies was calculated to quicken them to resistance, and we were therefore not surprised to hear of fresh difficulties in the march upon Pekin. Engagements were fought on the 18th and 21st of September at Chang-kia-wan and Jang-chan, on each of which occasions the allied forces were opposed by 30,000 Tartar cavalry, who were repulsed with a loss of 2,000 killed and fifty guns taken, while the Allies had only cighteen wounded—a significant fact, showing the immense disproportion of military strength. Tows and arrows and gingalls are evidently no match for Armstrong artillery; but taking into consideration the inferiority of their wea- pons, the Chinese have fought well throughout the campaign. . However much we may disapprove the pro- cess of making customers by force, we can- not but wish the Allies well out of this, the ug- liest and most unsatisfactory of conquests. Our belief is that, although successful in the capture of Pekin, matters will re- sume their old way in the empire. The Chinese are no respectors of treatica, and only agree to one for the sake of get- ting rid of an unwelcome visiter, and then turn round and by its direct violation show how little it is worth. They may be penny wise and pound foolish in pursuing such a line of policy; but it is their nature to do what they say they will not do, and vice versa. Perfidy and deceit are the great elements of Celestial diplomacy, and to these they still ad- here, notwithstanding the carnage, and ruin which they have suffered as the bitter penalty Srcxsston Rey iyto Tux Grocyp.—Some of our emall newspapers and small potato ward and grogshop politicians, seized with this Southern idea of secession, are very industri- ously agitating the separation of this great metropolis from the State. Their plan is to secede from the State, and to make of Manhat- tan Island, Blackwell's Island, Randall's Island, Ward's Island, Governor's Island, Bedloe’s Island, Staten Island, Coney Island, Long Island, Hellgate and Communipaw an indepen- dent State, to be ruled by the rowdies of Man- hattan Island. As this beautiful commonwealth would include Fort Washington and the Heights hereof, we have a direct interest in the conse- quences of this speculation, and so we enter our protest against it. Suppose, for instance, that this independent State of many islands is established, under this right of secession, how long would it hold to- gether? Blackwell's Island, falling back upon this right to secede, might bolt with the election of an unsatisfactory Governor; and then, with he penitentiary gone, what would become of New York? Coney Island, we know, wouldn't stand any nonsense in this proposed union of islands, but would, upon the first provocation, fall back upon her rights and her hard shell clams. And so the Five Points might secede from Chatham atreet, Chatham from the Bowery, and the Bowery from Broadway. In fact, every sireet, ward or eqnare in the city, if we start 21, 1860. ea the | most discourtecwi# terma in the vouabulary of | upon thts right of secésston from the State, will | liberty, he is denounced in the most ribald have the right to set up for itself. Dat we kaow where the workers in this charming metropolitan scheme of secession come from. They come from the stews and the grogshops, from the Pewter Mug, Tammany Hall, the Coal Hele, Mozart Hall and other disreputable holes and dens of ward politicians and loafers; and many of these chaps are doubtless dreaming of a perfect paradise under their projected independent State organization. They are dreaming of houses to be had in the | Fifth avenue on the free squatter principle of eccupation, and of banks fall of money and stores fulf of costly goods to be seized and ap- propriated ander the sovereign anthority of our “governing elasses,” and upon the broad lumgnitarian prineiple that every maa is en- titled to.go shares iu the good things of this world, Suck are the extremities to which this thing of secession may be’ earried if applied to the dismemberment of a State. And how are we to know that secession will not result in these extremities, if once fairly under way in the se- cession of States from the Union? Secession means revolution, and it may bea civil war, which will carry with it consternation and hor- ror throughout the civilized world. But of all things by our honest fellow citizens of this city most to be dreaded is the turning loose upon us those swarms of remorseless savages that would be unearthed in our midst with the se- cession of this city from the State. It is trae, as we thus perceive, that our very lives may depend upon the preservation of the Union, and in arresting, if they can be arrested, these Southern secession movements before it will be too late. As for the secession of this city from the State, it would be the secession of the market from the garden, the dairy and the farm from which its supplies are drawn. No, we want no seces- sion. What we want is a new city charter, which will take the city government out of the hands of the loafers and ruffians who now control it—a charter which, among other reforms, will provide for the election of our Aldermen, Coun- cilmen, &c., by general ticket, This would put down the little knots of ward politicians and rowdies who now rule the roast. They have ruled long enough. We ask to be relieved of them in a new city charter, and we trust that our Legislature will give it to us before the winter is over. The Reaction of Our Political Troubles Abroad—The English Press Waking Up to Its Dangers. The Persia brings out over three millions of dollars in gold. The drain, continued at this rate for some weeks longer, cannot fail to open the eyes of the mercantile community in Eng- jand and elsewhere to the stern realities of our situation. The English press is, we are glad to see, be- ginning to exhibit a juster appreciation of the existing state of things than was apparent from its first comments on the secession movement. It perceives now that the confident tone of the republican journals, from which it took its im- pressions of the effect of Lincoln's election, re- flected but the feeling of a faction which had secured a triumph only through the division of its opponents, The gloom and discourage- ment that have subsequently pervaded the ad- vices from this side, if they have not entirely convinced them of the imminency of the dan- gers impending over the Union, have at all events suggested doubts whether their interests are not going to be alarmingly affected by the continuance of the present agitation. They will not remain long in uncertainty up- on this point. The news that went out by the last two steamers, and the intelligence of the actual secession of South Carolina, which will go out by the steamer to-morrow, must satisly them that the present movement on the part of the South is no vaporing demonstration, such as the republicans pretend, but the result of a well con- sidered and long determined action, in view of an event which it regarded as pregnant with menace to its institutions. The great centres of industry in England, once impressed with this fact, cannot fail to appreciat® its ruinous conse- quences to their own interests. They are al- most as much identified with the prosperity of the Southern States as are the mercantile com- munity of New York. They are conscious that what depresses or injures the former must obstruct the regular and healthy progress of their own operations. They are in reality no more favorable to abolitionism than are the people of this city, amongst whom neither abolition journals nor abolition incendiaries find en- couragement. They know as well as we do that secession means civil war, and that civil war must bring about an almost total suspension of those staple productions of the South and Northwest which keep the manufac- turing industry of Great Britain alive, and pre- serve her overcrowded population from the pinghings of want. But, in addition to these prospects, disquiet- ing as they are, there are others which cannot fail to make themselves painfully felt in Eu rope. It is impossible that the disturbance o such vast commercial interests, and the enor mous losses which it entails, should not be foi lowed by political consequences of a grayer character. Such widespread commercial re vulsions rarely occur without bringing in their train revolution and anarchy, With the knowledge of this truth before them, who can foretell where the results of an agitation, com- menced by a few crazy fanatics, and taken up by a corrupt political organization as a stepping stone to power, will end? From the clamorings of discharged and starving mechanics and pro- letarians they may assume the form of resist- ance to organized government, with the demo- lition of existing institutions as their object. If the Southern States secede, let the European nations prepare for sudden and violent changes in their own condition. -The axiom that “cot- ton is king” is perhaps destined to receive a more sweeping and sanguinary illustration than any other that those with whom it is a pet saying have as yet dreamt of. Foroxnres oF THe Names or THe PRestpeNt axp Prestpent Exect.—These are times whieh equally try the souls of statesmen and the mo- ral and intellectual calibre of journalists. One portion of the republican press is now exhibit ing ita corruption and depravity by urging & terms a8 an “imbecile,” “a coward’ and “a hoary headed traitor.” Another portion of the republican press and the democratic party press ate engaged in publishing forgeries calculated to bin, odium and contempt upon the names of bork «the President and President elect, the two mew w"0 hold the highest positions of honor and trust ‘# ethe gift of the people. In another past of thi#day”’s Henan will be found two let- ters, one of whi’ is falsely attributed to Mr. Buchanan andi the other to Mr. Lincoln, The former we found iv the New York Times of yes- terday, edited and owned, we believe, by Ray- mond & Co., men whax® respectability seemed to have placed them ts, yond the meanness of publishing a forged pots ical letter to inflict a wound upon the head of th ¢ nation, and that at a time when the difficuty a his position ought to command for him the symq ‘thy of all good men and the forbearance of a's bitterest ene- mies, But in revolutionary tim °S there is no telling beforehand what mm Qwill do, The mental and moral balance is o verthrown in weak minds, and in the heat of ya ‘sion or in coldblooded malignity things sve nay ¥ said and done of which their authors woot fee, * ashamed under any other circumstances: Th ¢ forged “manifesto” attributed to the Preside ut pur- ports to be a private letter ad tressed by him to “Wm. H. Conkle, Bag, Phi- ladelphia,” and intended for ga ivate circulation among friends in that city. The gist of this letter is that Mr. Buel nan places himself in 2 most ridiculous, self-csn@tra- dictory light on the question of coerting Sea ‘th Carolina. The intention is to bring him imto contempt, and it is a scandalous, seditious tivel upon the government. The other letter pwhi into the mouth of Mr. Liacoln sentiments tha reverse of those which he is known to entertaiz, ‘This isa democratic fobrication, intended to make the President elect ridiculous in tha eyes of the people. Such are specimens of what may be expected in times like the present from that portion of the partisan press which is destitute alike of moral principle and intellectual power. Under the influence of passing, events journals which heretofore claimed to be regarded as respectable now develope their true character, and sink to the degradation of unscrupulous organs of forgery. IMPORTANT FROM SPRINGFIELD. Startling Leader in the Home Organ of Mr. Lincoln. The Seceding States to be Coerced Into the Union. Since ok Theanies Weed and the President Elect. Weed Goes to Washington with His Programme as Modified by Mr. Lineoln. THE NEW YORK APPOINTMENTS, ke. he. he. Srrivcrmp, Il, Dec. 20, 1860. The Springfield Journal of to-day bas a startling leader on secession, which, from the peculiar relations of the paper to the President elect, has great significance. It says that South Carolina cannot dissolve the Union by the simple passage of resolutions or other passive demonstrations. Her fedora) officers may resign, and she may close b€r courts and post offices, but she cannot get out of this Union until she conquers this govern ment. While this government endures there can be no disunion. If South Carolina does not obstruct the collection of the revenues at her ports, nor violate any other federal law, there will be no trouble, and she w ll not be out of the Union. If she violates tho law then comes the tug of war ‘The President of the United State’, in such an emer- gency, has a plain duty to perform. Mr. Buchanan may shirk it, or the emergency may not exist during his ad ministration. If not then the Union will last through his term of office. If the overt act on the part of South Carolina takes place on or after the Ist of March, 1861, then the duty of executing the laws will devolve upon Mr, Lincoln. The laws of the United States must be executed. The President has no discretionary power on the subject. His duty is emphatically pronounced in the constitution. Mr Lincoln will perform that duty. Disunion by armed force is treason, and treason must and wil be put down at all hazards, Sraivcrmn, Dl, Dec. 20, 1960. Thurlow Weed, Judge Slosson and J. H. Vanalin, of New York, arrived here from the East ia the carly morn- og train. Weed was closeted with Lincoln from nine o'clock until , bree. He bronght his compromise along, which was ne sunject of earnest discussion. It is suid that modifications were insisted on by (he President elect relative to the recognition of the right of Slavery ia the Territories, and that the idea of a restora- tion of geographical lincs of division was repudiated, ‘Weed returns East this evening. it is reported that he will take the modified programme to Washington, whore it will be submitted to the republican members of Con- gress. He saw no one but Lincoln and a few of the lat- ter’s friends. ‘The New York city appointments were parceiied out during Weed’s interview with Lincoln. Moves Grinnell is mentioned as Secretary of the Trea sury, and Mr. Draper as Collector. * Seward’s declination of @ seat ia the Cabivet is said to have been intimated. ‘The news from Charleston produced great sensation in political circles. Mr, Lincoln, however, received it cammly. The President cleet is eroesly misrepresented in Cobb's ‘nat letter. pe OUR SPRINGFIELD CORRESPONDENCE. Srvrvcrntun, Dec. 17, 1800 Mr. Lincoln Speaks Again Thraugh Iie Organ—He Desires he Republicans to Stond Firm—Kifect of J. M. Botts! LAter— Mr. Lincoln Will Not Speak—Mr. Bates Again— The News from Washington—What is Thought of Mr. Cas’ Resignation, de. Imentioned in a former letter that among the most civil war, the end and the consequences of which | noteworthy phenomena in the political spheres of this lati no man can foresee, and are heaping obloquy and reproach upon the head of the I’resident because he will notinaugarate the bloody con- flict at Charleston, and bequeath it uss legacy tude, at the present time. was the fact that the Daily Journal of this city, the central organ of the republicans ef lilinois, had of late boon evidently made the author’ tative vehicle of Mr. Lincoln's views on curremt events. Since the publication on Wednesday last of the pora to his successor, Because he will not imitate | graph bearing upon the proposed selection of repre Cwear of old, who crossed the Rubicon and | *ntatives of the South of the John Bell school, waged # war wpon his fellow countrymen, which resulted in the establishment of an im- hardly an ieus appears without containing some editorial «matter enmistakably stamped with « sctpl-offielal character, This morning's Jown) again perial despotism apon the ruins of Roman! contains ecme very signifeant articles, the mow