Indiana State Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 42, Indianapolis, Marion County, 13 March 1861 — Page 2

WEEKLY SENTINEL

to EutNu vv HAKtll I t, t-i ; The Legislature. The regular session of the General Assembly virtually cloned on Saturday night, as no laws co ild be enacted at a later period, under the reatr ctionr or limitations of the Constituion. The re envjf and appropriation bilk, both general and sp. cific, were passed, but beyond this but little was accomplished of general interest. An era be zlement law was enacted, intended to compel j R. publican office holders to be honest, but we ! do lbt whether the result will show any more inif, rity upon the part of the present incumbents j th n their predecessors, and we think our Republi j ca i friceais will find hol large enough in th. act to hire an ox wagon through them, j A de from those we hTe named, but few laws j of general interest have been passe In fact, j th. present Legislature has been more barren hi . go k1 works than any previous one since the State ws4 organised. In a few days we shall give a suamary of the acts of the present Legislature, foi such was the contusion on Saturday, in both br Dches, that it is almost impossible to report j ju t tint has been done. We think the people , ot the State will be disappointed in the action of th- Genera! Assembly. The Republicans obtained, po ver, however, by representing that the Democr. tic Administration had been extravagant and pr digate, and by the promise of retrenchment an 1 reform in the public expenditures. In this rega J the results will show that there will be bu Utile, if any, improvement for the better. Tl e enure legislation of the present Assembly wi 1 demonstrate that party and partl.an interests ha e .nduenced its action. That consideration -e ins tj have predominated. The public welf.r. e was not consulted, unless party interests co ild thereby be promoted. A desire for change in he administration of public affairs often overru.es every other consideration in the public miid. This impulse or sentiment has occasional!.defeated the Democratic party, but experie: e has shown tint the public interests have not be a advanced or promoted by the change. We an confident that the present experiment of a R publican administration wi" convince the peoflu of Indiana that the public interests will not be advanced or subserved therebv. ytr. Lincoln on Jaaiciary Deelsions. ,f, by the mere torce of numbers, a mijontv sh uld deprive a minority of any cletrly written constitutional right, it might in a moral point of riew, jjstify revolution ; certainly would, if uch rLiit werea vital one. But such is not our case. A the vital rights of minorities and of individual are so plainly assured to them by affirmations and negations, guarantees and prohibitions in the Constitution, that controversies never arise co tcerning them. But no organic law can ever be framed with a provision specially applicable to ev ry question which may occur in practical adm nistration. No foresight can anticipate, nor anv document of reasonable length contain expr -as provisions for all possible questions. Shall fu itives from labor be surrendered by national or by State authority ? The Constitution does nc expressly say. Must Congress protect slave rv in the Territories ? The Constitution does not expressly say. From questions of this class spring all our constitutional controversies, and r div.de upon them into majorities and minori ties. If the minorities will not acquiesce, the m jorities must, or the Government must cease. There Ls no alternative for continuing the Cover, merit hut acquiescence on the one side or the ot .er. I do not forget the positions assumed by some, that constitutional question are to be decided by the Supreme Court, no-do I deny that such decision must be bindin. iu any case upon the parties to a suit, as to th" object of that suit, while they are also entitled to very high respect and consideration in ail p Allel cu?es by all other "departments of the Ot revnmem ; and whlie it is obviously possible th .t such decision may be erroneous in any given ca e. stil the evil effect following it, being liinite 1 to that particular case, with the chance that it may be overruled, and never become a precede it for other cases, can better he borne than co ild the evils of a different practice. At the aa le time, the candid ei'izen must confess that -ii' -he policy of the Go rar iment upon the vital qu sstioas affc Cng. th bole Srvple is to be irreto rably fixei b the i.ifli.j is ot the Supreme Court, the instant tliey are made in ordinary liti-g-i ion between parties in personal actions, the pe pie will have ceased to be their own rulers, h i ring to that extent practically resigned their jr .'eminent into the hands of that eminent tribu lal. President Lincoln $ Inaugural. t follows from all this, says the New York Jo trnal of Commerce, that the minority have no pn tection in the Constitution against the tyranny of he majority, inasmuch as the latter can inter -pri t the Constitution for themselves, and their inter nretation is final and conclusive. They ar; jm ge, jury and executioner. If any one wishes to know how easily the plainest declarations of th Constitution can be made to conform to the r'u ws and prejudices of the interpreter, let him e mine one of the standard publications of the A: ti-Slavery Society, entitled "The Constitution of the United States," with Notes by William Gi jdell. Mr. Goodell is a man of respectable ta nts, and we suppose means to he honest. But hi comments make the Constitution a very diffe ent thing from what it was intended to be by I frame-s: and as the commenUrv is so highly I va ued by the Anti-Slavery Society, it is fair to pr sume that a Congress of Abolitionists would in

te pre tie Constitution in the same way. A portant committees and it is there fiat business C n gress of any other description of ultraists or is matured for the action of the Legislature are fanatics might interpret it in some other way, under the control of the Republicans, and they er, tally contrary to its fair intent and meaning, ' have the entire organization of both branches in an I destructive to the rights and interests of the I their hands. Under thesecircum-'taiicei, w hat posm aority. gib'e excuse can the domiuant party offer,

ConsttattMM, it has been said, were made for tl 1 protection of minorities; majorities do not need I th ;m. Constitutions.in other words, were designed as a check upon the otherwise uncontrolled power of the majority. What check do they afford, if

As msjority ca:, determine for itself what the j General Assembly offer any satisfactory apology? G institution means? Yet this is the position They knew the exact time they had to accomm untained by President Lincoln. Among other j plish legislation, and if it was neglected to ad-

th ngs, the Constitution specifies and defines the powers of Congress. Now if Congress can interpvt those provisions, it will be very likely to flj ke them as broad as its own ambition. At : y rate, there is no chance for minorities, accordl to this theory, except what the majority may . 'to i,ive them; and this despotism. The .-. o rat of Russia can do as much for his vassals. It was doubtless to guard against this monstrous w oui of concentrating in the same hands the P wer of interpreting the Constitution and also of c rrymg its provisions into effect, that the Convention which framed that instrument, provided a ther interpreter, viz., the Supreme Court of t: e United States. The Judges of this high trinal. being selected from the very best, most fl trned, impartial and high minded men in the n tion. and keeping aloof from party politics and p pular excitements, might be expected to approach any subject of differences much more calmly, deliberately, fairly, and intelligently, th.ua a political body whose ascendancy might de p nd entirely upon the result. But Mr. Lincoln says that 5f the decisions of te Supreme Court are to be binding upon Cong ess. then "the people will to that extent have ceased to be their own rulers." now so? Did n t the people make the Constitution? Did they mot appoint the Supremo Court to interpret it.be- j liering that they would he more reliable than C ngress for the performance of that duty? If sr , then to nullify that act of the people, is "to tl at extent" to deprive tketn of the right of selfg tvernment. It is, to usurp in behalf of Cong ess, rights irhich the people never gave to Cong ess, but placed in other hands. Why did not t ii FKOPUt. through their delegates in the Con t -ntion which framed the Constitution give to C n gress the power of amending the Constitu ti n ? Because they would not tSQflt them with such a work. Congress is not the people, neither a e its members representatives of the people, in tl e same sense as were the members of the Conv ntion which framed the Constitution. If Cong ess can not amend the Constitution, it can not or o .ght not authoritatively to interpret it; since in e ther ease the effect would be to give Congre an a gregaiion of powers and an amount of power w ich eaanot safely be concentrated in a single b inch of the gorernment. What the President means by "vital rights," it is not easy to comprehend; since he immedi

a ely instances as not involving such, rights, pre- feat the military bill. A law of the character proc ly those questions which for years past hare posed would be a millstone around the neck of any a itated the nation from centre to circumference, J party, and if the Democrats desired to "effect a a id now hare ran the Union asunder. If there ' party purpose" alone, tbey would permit the Re

arc no "vital rights" involved, why have the Republicans rawed an issue of life and death on such a basis,? Why have they safl'ere.l 'the Union t- slide," r.ither than yield the'.r pretaitions or a part of them? The President hag however given us one test by which we may determine what rights are not "vital." Hia language is. "All the vital rights of minorities and of indi-

iduals are so plainly assured to them by aftirma tjOIW ftIul egatioaa, guarantees and prohibitions, in tne Constitution, that controversies never arise concerning them ." It follows that all rights ahout hu-n controversies ever arise, are not "vital;" and condequentlj (the umpirage of the Supreme Court discarued) that in all such coritroj either the majority or the minority must yiel(1 or the Govemment must cease." As in ,hse fre fights either thc majority or the m;nority mur yield , it is uot difficult to say which win to tfae wall The mnj0rity will say to the minoritv aa Uncle John UäeJ to sav t0 his boys, You or I must do so and so, and I won't." ..you or I must vield. and I won't." Is it possi ble that the framers of the Constitution intended to leave their work in so imperfect and rickety a BUte as jj thiä jmpije? We do not believe it. Tne ,Mt ot- thc President in repudiating the decisions 0f the Supreme Court as of any binding force upon "the Government," or indeed upon anybody else except "the parties to a suit, as to the object of that suit," is obvious. He wishes to destroy the effect of that memorable production, "the Drei Scott decision;" a decision which, if admitted, would be fatal to the leading doctrines of the Republican party. We are aware that there has been a difference of opinion, and doubtless will continue to be, as to tiie relations of the Su pre me Court and its decisions, to Congress. But we can not believe that the theory which the President opposes on this he.id, will le id to any greater evils and absurdities than that which he advocates. And here we will stop for the present. We, however, append a few remarks from the Albany Atlas and Ar jut, in answer to a plea which is often set up by Mr. Lincoln's party, touching the authority of the Supreme Court. From the Albany Atlas and Argus. It must not be lorgotten that two-thirds of the people, in the recent election, declared, w ith the Supreme Court, against the right of Congress to prohibit slavery in the Territories, and that thus, instead of being a new doctrine, it is the doctriue of the gre itjurists and public meu of the country for sixty yeirs. For tins defense of the decisions of the Supreme Court, the partisans of Mr. Lincoln pretend to find a precedent in the history of General Jackson s struggle with the Lintel states uank. The Supreme Court had declared in regard to the United States Bank, that if Congress deemed such a me isure necessary to the fiscal fuuetions of the Government, it might pass. When the Bank came up for re charter, Gen. Jackson declared that a bank corporation w,ts not necessary for the collection and disbursement of Federal revenues; and he vetoed it. Congress and the people sustained him, and time has vindicated the justice of his views. There was, in this in stance, no collision between the executive or representative branches on one side, and the judicial power on the other, such as Mr Lincoln refers to. In the one case, the Court says Congress has power, if it deems fit, to incorporate a Govern men: Bank. Congress merely refuses to exerCia the power. In the other, the Supreme Court decides that Congress has no power to interfere with the rights of citizens to slave property in the territories Mr. Lincoln says that if in Congress ne would disregard the .decision and would exercise the power; and in his inaugural he declares that such a decision shall not bind him as President. In the case of the Democratic Congress, under Jackson, there was an abstiuence from the exercise of power which the Courts conceded. In the case of Lincoln and the Black Republican Con gress, there is a usurpation of power denied by the Courts, and a disregard of the rights of private citizens to their property. If Mr. Lincoln had declared, after election, that he n-ould regard the popular will on the rubject of the Territories, as manifeste! in tiie vote of about two-thirds against him, there would liave 1 been no disturbance at the South, no secession, no necessity for coercion ur civil war. If President Lincoln, upon taking the oath of office, had simply declared that lie would respect the constitutional rights of citizens in the Terri tories as well as in the States, as declare 1 by the highestjudieial tribunal, and that he w ould enforce those rights, he would now disarm the South and command the support of the North. His false position is, that he haf taken the platform of the "Higher Law" instead of the Constitution; and while defying the decisions of she courts in regard to the property of private citizens, threatens civil war to recover the property (as he calls it) of the Federal Government. He can not stand in this position and command the confidence of the people. "Hreaking a Quornm." The Journal devotes a column and a half to misrepresentations of the action of the Democratic Senators in reference to party legislation. In neither branch of the General Assembly h ive the Democratic members interposed any obstacle to legitimate legislation. On the contrary, they have done all in their power, and have ever been ready to do their whole duty to advance and pass any measures required by the public interests, or hich would promote the welfare of the State. In both houses the Republicans have large werkhkg majorities, and if auj necessary legislation fail, with them rests the responsibility, and the people will hold them accountable thereibr. All the imif any neceasiry le.i-lat i wi fails'.' If they have neglected to mature the measures required by the public interests, and if for want of time, at the heels of the session, any necessary laws are lost, can the party which has the entire control of the v.mce partisan schemes nnd party interests the people will know just where the blame rests. During the 'ast hours of the session when bills can be constitutionally passed, the nio-.t important measures are passed throiiL'ii with railroad dispatch, without the opportunity of investigating their character. This is the cause of so m my loose and inefficient laws. But to the charges of the Journal. The Democratic members hare not attempted to dictate legislation. They had not the power to do so. Mere party measures they have done all in their power to dele it. The Republicans have attempted to force the passage of apportionment bills, districting the State for Congressional and representative purposes, which were framed for the express object of perpetuating their power, without regard to public sentiment or the rights of the minority. Thc honest Republican voters of the State who look more to the interests of the public than to those of party, will not care the snap of a finger if all such incisures are defeited. What objection to the present apportionment? Under it the Rcpub licans have elected seven out of the eleven Cm grcssmen and a majority in both blanches of the Legislature. Should n t tint be satisfactory? O J Is any change necessary unless to advance party interests? What violation of allegiance t the Constitution is it, if the present apportloaawol remains when no necessity exists for a change? The Journal nays the Democrats have com mitted another great outrage. We quote its complaint: "And the militia bill is required by the trouble some and dangerous times we are now passing through. Hut the Democrats were willing to spit upon their oaths, and leave the St tte defenceless in case of civil war, to effect a party purpose." Who is going to attack Indiana ? What occasion to put the State upon a war footing ? Will Keutuckians ever invade our soil with hostile iu tent, unless we provoke, nay drive them to do it ? The militia bill to which the Journal refers, it' enacted into a law, would have added largelv to the burdens of the tax payers, without any neces sity requiring it. We need no standing army in Indiana. We nee i no expensive militia system. It can do no good, but on the other hand it mi-hr breed mischief aud bring about the very evil which would give occasion for it. Nothing but party purposes instigated the proposed measure. The sober and reflecting citizens of the St ite will have no words of censure for those who aided to de

public ans to pass the bill. The Democratic mem- The Position of Judge Douglas. bers of the Legislature have done no injury to the The Republican press are exceedingly profuse public interests by placing obstacles in the way of just now in their compliments to Judge Doi glas passing au iniquitous apportionment bill, and an for interpreting Mr. Lincoln's inaugural not to unwise, uncr.lled-lor, and an expensive militia mean coercion, and for stating that he should system. But the Journal think the failure of stand by him in his efforts to preserve the Union these bills "is a blow at the very existence of the by peaceful me ins, and t settle the slavery ques Government." We think the Government will I tion by amendments to the Constitution. Mr. survive the blow, and, in fact, will never know it j Doiglas took occasion on Wednesday, in a dewas hurt. Our neighbor will find that the crisis, bate in the Senate, to explain his position. Bewhicb looms ir terribly in his imagination, will i cau-e he had said that he should sustain Mr.

be altogether an artificial one. Nobody will he injured outside of the Republican party. Oot. Moetox will be able to defend the State just as

well without the militia bill as with it, but its de- contingency that he and the President would be feat may prevent him from providing quite as ; associated, for he expected to oppose the Adminwell for his party friends. istration on those great principles which separated The military and apportionment bills that the I parties in former times. Mr. Douglas expresses Republicans attempted to force through the Leg- ! the sentiments of every Democrat. If Mr. Lisislature were not only unfair and uncalled for by coln is willing to save the country by adopting any public exigency, but they were purely parly the policy recommended hy Democrats, every measures and designed solely to advance partisan Democrat will bid hitn "God speed" and sustain interests. This Senator Claytooi. had the frank- him in the patriotic effort, but when Mr. Lin-

uess to avow. In a speech in the Senate on Wednesday he said: I do not think there is any use in whipping thc aevn arouna me stump J ,1 . Tl " . 1 . W e are in the majority. and I am for putting the rowels into the Democratic party pretty strong. I know if they had the majority they would make every district in the State Democratic if they could. I have but one objection to the bill it gives them three tf"Vti (rrajjion I , i t- , u-hnrn thnv , ' i i ' . I ' . ' h., tw,. If ,a .r-ntlpmpn aas to .lt 1 sav let them bolt. If this thing is to beheld over the Legislature, as it has been from the commencem nn t . t ' T e ,'nr 1rn'ti lst if Pi m P Hilf! tii- i i ' vii. uvijiu m v uvwaj m m come quickly. These gentlemen are demanding that we shall legislate according to the will ami behests of thc minority here. I won't do it. It is uselesto bandy words. We h ive got to some to the oint, and we have got a rope around your necks. And yet for the defeat of a partisan schemes a bill for "putting the rowels into the Democratic party prettv strong" the Journal whines about its being "a blow at the very existence of the Government" Bah! Who will blame the Democracy for not allowing the Republicans to "put a rope around their necks?" flow it Came About. In the following passage from a lecture delivered a few days ago by Hon. Geokoe Lunt, of Boston, the process is shown by which the judgment of rnanv Northern men has been corrupted, the conscience perverted, and the popular mind poisoned by deep rooted prejudice toward our fellow citizens of the South: There can be no doubt that a systematic scheme has been on loot in certain quarters, for several yeirs past, to alienate by every possible means both parts of the country lrom each other. Multitudes, who hive been unconscious of the objects and agencies of this flagitious plan, hive been insensibly inveigled into its direct or indirect support. Journals, lecture-rooms, and other places claiming even a more sacred mission, have been m ide tj contribute to the same fatal purpose. A lecture, in recent days, before a miscellaneous audience, would hardly have been reckoned acceptable, without some sly inueudo or jeering allusion to certain of our distant fellow-citizens, and to their usages and supposed peculiarities of life and disposition. Literature, which ought to be universal, has been made the special minister to local passions and prejudices, even more de moralizing to ourselves, th in uncharitable and offensive to others. To n very marked decree, both the school book and the hymn book the elementary implement of common education, and perhaps the most emotional vehicle of religious :eeling have been used to impress the idei upon youthful and discriminating minds, that multitudes of our countrymen were wilfuily persisting in an uupalliated wrong toward another race that those persons were guilty of a mortal offense in the sight of God and mtn, who maint lined in stkutioiis recognized, under the clear necessities of the case, by the great charter of our liberties, and fully entitled to. as it haJ solemnly received, the obedient sanction of national legislation. Tne sense of moral accountability, throughout one half the country, and its equal constitutional immunities, were both thus impugned. Many there are, I know, who deny all hostility to the South, of those w ho most stiffly and ceaselessly heap upon it the bitterest vituperation. Hostility to the South! Why it is by no means confined to tlj.it quarter alone; but it is wreaked upon those at the North, too, who are denounced as the friends ot the South, because they are the friends and supporters of the Constitution. To such lengths lias this sectional sentiment been carried into practical operation among ourselves, that it has produced even here the most intolerant, if not almost intolerable, political and social distinctions. Those whose opinions did not accord w ith the prevalent idea have been sometimes practically ostracised, by large bodies of our citizens. They have been maligned and insulted, depreciated, and sometimes even threatened with summary retribution. They have ap;eared at times to have nothing to depend upon, but their reliance upon their own integrity, and thc good name, which somehow seems to stand by every mau ho de rerves it, under whatever infliction of calumnies. And sometimes it has haptiencd, that those who were all conspicuous for the preservation of their own reason, and ior their efforts to stem the tide of fiery zeal for an object totally impracticable upui its face and in its nature, have found them selves with a sort of mark set upon them, so that even their professed friends felt a little hesitation about too familiar intercourse with them. It has never been in many quarters, and especially in political circles, more than half way sincere which is one reason, perhaps, why this prancing hobby horse of the time has been ridden with such signal success, by such a mustering swarm of adventurous and unscrupulous politicians. So far from being the entire sentiment f the com munity. it may be said to have been rather, in a great degree, their unconscious action but quite enough so to control society in many important relations, by the factious eigerness and activity of its busiest agents. It has had prevalence, at any rate, and influence enough, often to put stability and character aside, and to raise taose without ability or without character, and jmrhaps without both, to places of distinction and trust. In a word, under the sunlight and the shadow of these noblest of all Republican institutions, vhile the good man of the house has been asleep, the enemy has been sou-irig tarts. In the meantime, it may well be doubted, whether one m in of a hundred in New England ever read the Constitution of his country. And did time permit me. I might proceed to trace many of the demoralizing influences of the times to other works, so extensively read by large classes of men and wotntn works often e milly mischievous and shallow, taking away strength lrom the mind, instead of rendering support and nourislime it to its better faculties and too fre quently the vehicles of pernicious error, and ill enough fitted to make men and woman what they ought M be in this country, or in any oilier, and. oh. how different from the nobler classics of our mother literature, perused by those who read at all, at the firesides of our fathers, and which were in general ns choice in merit, as thy were select and few in number. 1 do not care to pursue this topic further; but such unquestionably has been the more recent educa tion of the North, through these and many other channels, by no means difficult to trace. Iam sure that such, and similar causes, have been the occasion of a vast deal of misapprehension between the South and the North, and without them no such serious controversy could have arisen, and no such present or future consequences could be at hand. In the eigerness ami absorption of our business pursuits, and, as the flickering flame f our patiotism w is fast going down this, out of the ordinary range of many d' us and quite apart from ourselves, has been the active, and. therefore, the external working sentiment of our community. It did not truly represent the the inner mind of our people; but byits energy it led multitudes into political and social errors, who gave it only a cursory thought, and who apprehended from it no danger and no evil. The state of sentiment it has producee is unnatural and unwholesome, but at the same time superficial, and could not long last. The end of it is, as might have leen expected, tiie. civil convulsion around us. and, unless we are e ,ii i! to the emergency, all tliat can be meant by the ruin of the country :-i any event, the fatal sentiment, which is the root of bitterness, is sure to die out. I only earnestly pray it may not he already loo late. J in- Inuufuralien. The new Republican Administration at Washington has been installed with all the usual formulas and without one particle of disturbance. The wagon loads of torpedos that beset Lincoln in every railroad car ami station-house, have all failed to explode. The immense efforts of unknown consjiirators to destroy thc trains upon which he made his triumphal inarch to the Whitehouse, have pro veil signally abortive. The grand plot of the "statesmen and bankers" of the South to kill him, fell utterly harmless. The tiie hundred men sworn to kill him with an "air gun," have gone the way of all men in "buck t un " or Lincoln green." Not a torpedo I nary pop gun ! nor nothing. This is as it should be; and, as a patriot, we are glad of it. But for the sake of Pinkerton ami old "Fuss and Feathers." one can not let off a squib; or some unlucky wight, with a bad cold Ml a good "coak." had not blown his nose iu the basement of thc Capitol! Something ought to have leen done to give color to the miserable lies of the secret police, and the patched up flight of Lincoln's. With this minor oversight, the inauguration went off secundum artem. Chicago Time.

Lincoln in his efforts to preserve the Union by peaceful nieins, he did not w ish it inferred that he sympathized with the Administration, or in anycoln attempts to enforce the doctrines of the , i Chicago platform as the policy of the country, he ; will tnd the Democracy arrayed against mm in a solid mass, and Mr. Douglas will be found foremost iu the fight. I lie Cabinet. Mr. Likcoln selected the following geutlemen as his constitutional advisers, and the nomination ! s unanimously confirmed by the Senate, with the exception of Messrs. Baths and Blair : Secretary of State William II. SxwABn, of i . i -cw 1 or,c Secretary of Treasury Saimon P. Cuase, of Ghio. Secretary of War Smox Camekon, of Pennsylvania. Secretary of Navy Gideon Welles, of Connecticut. Secretary of Interior Caleb B. Smith, of Indiana. Postmaster General Montgomery Blair, of Maryland. Attorney General Edward Bates, of Mis souri. This is a sectional Cabinet. The Southern States have no representation in the new Administration, for Messrs. Blair and Bates can not be regarded M the representatives of Southern seutiment. Messrs. Chase, Wllles and Blair are regarded as coercionists, while the rest of the Cabinet now profess more moderate views. It is somewhat singular that not a Southern man could be found who would occupy a place in Mr. Lincoln's Cabinet. This is an ill omen for the peace and harmony of the country. It will be noticed that Mr. Smith, whom we recommended to Mr. Lincoln for a Cabinet appointment, has the important position of Secretary of Interior. We hope that the President will have no occasion to regret our suggestion in the matter, and that Mr. Smith will not disappoint the expectations of his Chief. Washington Correspondence of the Charleston Mercury. Seward's Peace Policy. Washington, February 28, 1H61. seward's grand plan ok reconstruction. The patchwork compromise has not passed yet, nor is it likely to do so. Indeed, the chances are quite the other way. Seward himself seems to be opposed to to it. So likewise the straightest southern men inbo'-h houses. Sew ard's idea, as I he r lrom a reliable source, is to have no settlement while Buchanan is in power. The moment he is dethroned peice will be proclaimed, and the honor of saving the country will redound, not to the Republicans but to the new Union party which Seward is forming, with the help of Bell and Douglas, Letcher and Botts. Peice re stored, and the Confederate State recognized, the next step will be to c ill National Convention. This Convention will reuiodei the whole structure of the government in such a way as t bring back the seceded States, and place the Union on a perm iiient and enduring foundation. Such is the grand project which Seward contemplates. What is to become of the "irrepressible conflict" between free and slave society he has not vouchsafed to inform us. Tlic Declaration of War. Mr. Lincoln'.-- Inuuuurul Address is before our ) readers couched in the cool, uniiupassioned, de- , liberate language of the fanatic, with the purpose of pursuing the promptings of fanaticism even to the dismemberment of the Government with the horrors of civil war. Virginia has the long looked for and promised peice offering before her and she has more, she has the denial of all hope of peace. Civil war must now come. Sectional war, declared by Mr. Lincoln, awaits only the signal gun from the insulted Southern Con federacy, to light its horrid fires all along the borders of Virginia. No action of our Convention can now maintain the peace. She must fight! The liberty of choice is jet ben. She may march to the contest w ith her sister States of the South, or she must march to the conflict against them. There is left no middle cOBTM; there is left no more peace; war must settle the conflict, and the God of battle give victory to the right! We must be invaded by Davis or by Lincoln. The former can rally fifty thousand of the best and bravest sons of Virginia, who will rush with willing hearts and reuly hands to the standard that protects the rights and defends the honor of the South for every traitor heirt that offers aid to Lincoln there will he many, many who wiB glory in the opportunity to avenge the treason by a sharp and certai death. Let not Virginians be arrayed against each other, and rioec we cannot avoid war. let us determine that together, as people of the same Stite, we will defend each other, and preserve the soil of the State from thc polluting foot of the Black Republican invader. The question "where shall Virginia go?" is answered bj Mr. Lincoln. She must go to tear and she must decide with whom she wars whether with those who have suffered her wrongs, or with those who hive inflicted her injuries. Our ultimate deitructiop pale before the pres ent emergency. To war! to arms! is now the cry, and w hen prace is declared, if ever, in our day, Virginia may decide where she will finally rest. But for the present she has no choice left; war with Lincoln or with Davis is the choice left us. Read the inaugural carefully, and then let every readyer demand of his delegate in the Convention the prompt measures of defense wdiich it is now apparent we IB net make Richmond En quirer. Another Version. It is a favorite charge of the Republican press ag.iiust the Democratic press, that the latter's misrepresentations of the purposes of Republican ism has cau.-e I the existing feeling at the South. The New York World, a Republican paper, seems to have another view of it. It says: The dominant party has its fiery zealots, its im placable radicals, its jacobinical mountain. They bear, we believe, but a small proportion to the body of the party, and yet their ever active audacity iias giveu them an undue figure in the movements of the times. The gross misconception w Inch prevails at the South, hi regard to the aims of the Republicans has been derived mainly from the extravagant speeches and acts of this wing of the party. This evil influence must be dis carded. It is morally impossible to settle uKin tx sound practical policy that shall revive the old sentiment of nationality, and carry the Administration smely mid honorably through, without a firm resistance to ultraism in every form. Lien though such resistance threaten schism in the party, the duty remains the same. The party would sustain no loss by the separation of this portion of it, which would be more than made up by the accession of good men; but flwen were it ttthsi jin tiie obligation would be unchanged. The interests of the country are supreme uot the interests of party. Lincoln Consistency. The following paragraphs of the inaugural we put in juxtaposition: Iu your hand;, my iliat- The power confi'led to mo Utied ruuutry tuen, and not will be iird to hold, occupy in mine, is the momentous and possesu the property question of civil war. The und places helonpinc to the rjovernnvnt will not assail Government, and collect the you. duties and impo-ts. In other words, though you do not recognize me as President, 1 shall not molest you if you will pay taxes for the support of my Government. We must have your money, that w e can not bitog ourselves t decline, and if you do not let us have it peacefully, why we shall be compelled to take it from you by force; in which ca.e you. not we. w ill be the aggresrs. This means coercion and civil war, and nothing else Nrw York Day Book. üew Form TT Prayer. CHASJotsTos, February 19, 1861. To the C'trgy the PciUnl.int fVyt Church in iHocete y .South Carolina: Beloved Brethren: South Carolina having now become one of the "Confederate States of America," a Provisional Government having been e-t bfienerl, and the President inaugurated, permit me to request that hereafter in the prayer for "all iu civil authority" now used, you substitute the words "Governor of South Carolinn.," the words, ' President of the Confederate States of America;" and that iu the "praver for Congress," instead of the words, "United States," the words, "Confederate States" be used, and thc words "Senate and" omitted. I remain, very truly, your brother in Christ. Tinw. F. Davis, Bishop of the Diorse of South Carolina.

fcltiirajjljir.

Wasai.nutok, Thursday, March 7. SENATE The Vice President laid before the Senate a letter from Mr. Chase resigning his seat as Senator from Ohio, and asking him to have the goodness to make this known to the Senate and the Governor of Ohio. On motion of Mr. Lane a copy was ordered to be furnished to the Governor of Ohio. The Senate then resumed consideration of Mr. Dixon's resolution that there be printed the usual number of the President's inaugural. Mr. Wigfall said that as Mr. Douglas yesterday had entered into a discussion of the meaning of Mr. Lincoln's inaugural it was proper that his (Wigfall'sj construction of it should also be given to thc country. It was impossible for an administration dealing in generalities whether glittering or not, to give peace to the country. It is a fact that seven States have withdrawn from the Union, entered into a compact and formed a Government. Though the fact is not officially announced, the whole country knevf that the representatives of the Southern Confederation are now here prepared to be received at this court. Waving all questions of regularity as to the existence of their Government they arc here to enter into a tre if y with the Federal Government, and thc matters of controversy must be settled, either by treaty or by the sword. It is easy to talk about enforcing the laws and holding and occupying and possessing the forts. When you come to this, bayonets and not words must settle the question; and he would say that for this Pickens and Sumpter can not be held much longer. Forts Moultrie, and Johnson and Castle Pinckey are in the possession of the Confederate States, and the Confederate States w ill not leive Fort Sumter in the hands of the Federal Government. In reply to Mr. Douglas he denied that the Union is now as it was formerly, legally and constitutionally. The evil is upon us. The disease is seated. A blue pill at night and a cup of coffee next morning may relieve the liver, but when the disease is on you, blistering aud blood letting is necessary, and when the patient dies it is necessary to have a coffin, a funeral service, and things of that sort. As he said the other night, the only question is whether there shall be a decent, quiet funeral after the Protestant form or an Irish wake. The Union is dead, and has to be buried. If you w ant a Protestant funeral, you can have it, or an Irish wake. Mr. Wigfall proceeded to speak of the difficulty of enforcing the revenue laws, adding that troubles will envelop all around. Had you not better deal with this question practicabl) ? Unfortunately, Mr. Lincoln will have but a briefduring which to decide the question. 1 1 he supposes the re enforcement of Fort Sumter will lead to peace, lie can make the experiment, and so as to recapturing Fort Moultrie. If he should not remove the troops from Fort Sumter, they will be removed for him. Thc adoption of the Crittenden compromise proposition might have adjusted the difficulties of the country, but in only re ceived nineteen votes in the Senate. The Senator from Illinois (Mr. Douglas) has said that war can not preserve the Union. The Union, however, is lved. Seven Southern States have formeda Confederation; and to tell, as thc President has done, that their acts of secession are no more than pieces of blank paper, is au insult. He repeated, there is no Union left; the seceded States will never come back, they will not now coine back under any circumstances, they will not live under this Administration. Withdraw your troops, then make no attempts to collect tribute, and enter into a treaty with these States, do this and you will have peace. Send your flag of thirty four siars thither and it will be fired into and war will ensue. Wiil you divide the public property and make a fair assessment of public debt, or will you sit stupidly and idly doing noth ing. until there is a conflict of arms, because you cannot compromise with traitors? Let the re maining States reform their Government and if it is acceptable the Southern Confederacy will enter into a treaty of peace and amity with them, if you want peace you shall have it. If you want war, you shall have it. The time for platforms mid demagoguism is past. Treat with the Confederate States as independent States, and you will have peace. Treat them as States of this Union, and you will have war. Mr. Lincoln has to remove the troops from forts Pickens and Sumter, or they will he removed for him. He has to collect the revenue at Charleston, Savannah and New Orleans, or it will be collected for him. If he attempts to collect the revcnue.resistance will be made. It is useless to blind your eyes. No compromise or amendment to the resolutions, no arrangement you may enter into will satisty the South unless you recognize slaves as property as you would buy other sjiecies of property. These States withdrew from the Union because their property w;is not protected. The Republicans have preserved an ominious silence on the subject of the inaugural. The speech of Senator Douglas was calculated to produce the impression that Mr. Lincoln win do nothing; but the masterly inactivity policy can not prevail. "Action! action!" as the great Athenean orator said, is now r.'Vissary; you can not longer serve God and mammon. You must answer quickly the question. You must withdraw your flag from our country and allow us to h ive our own and enter into a t e ty w ith us. Do this or make up your minds for war in the ste.iniest aspect and all its accu mu'nted horrors. Mr. Douglas replied in substantially the same terms as yesterday. He feared Forts Sumter and Ptekens could not be held much longer by Federal troops. There was a time when Fort Sumter could have been reinforced. He did not believe it could be now without the aid of 10.000 men bv sei and land. There was but few who were not exhausted, and they had not bread and salt enough to last thirty days. There must be prompt action in favor of peace. He believed the Presi dent was in favor of peice. Mr. Wtgfall asked if Mr. Douglas would advise the withdrawal of troops from Forts Sumter and Pickens and from the borders of the Confederate States and that no attempt be made to collect the revenue. Mr. DouLd is replied that he was not in the (4) limits or confidence of the admin stration and should not tender his advice till it was asked for; whenever the administration wanted advice it would doubtless ask it. It would be hardly the part of wisdom to state what his policy might be to one who may so soon lie in the councils of the enemy ami commander of an nrmv. In reply to a remark of Mr. Wigfall Mr. Douglas said he siwno reason to modify any sentiment in his Norfolk speech. After further debate Mr. Mnson spoke against the inaugural as a proclamation of war. Virginia would become a party to the war by the tin tnimons consent of her people when the first gun was fired aga'nst a seceding State. Mr. Deogtai sn ike further to the effect that if the administration anticipate the use of arms we shall see a proclamation for an extra session of Congress in order to increase the regular forces and call volunteers into the field. Washington, Friday, March 8. SEN AT E Mr. Dixon's resolution that tin, usual number of ihe President' inaugural shall be printed was adopted. Mr. Foster offered the following: Whlkeas, As Mr. Wigfall, now a Senator of the North States from Texas, has declared in dc bate that he is a foreigner and owes no allegiance to this Government, therefore. Resolved, That he he expelled from thisbo iv. Mr. Ciiiiftnan moved to amend Mr. Fostei 's resolution by striking out all after the word whereas and insert: It is understood that the State of Texas has aeceded from the Union and is no longer of us. therefore. Resolved. That Texas is not entitled to be represented in this body. Mr. Foster, not seeing Mr. Wigfall in his eat, moved that the resolution lie over for the present. Mr. Bright presented a list oi the standing committees which had been previously agreed on by both parties. By his motion the list was iinani mously adopted. On motion of Mr. Anthony, it was Resulted, That a Committee of three be appointed to consider and report what additional ar raugements and regulations are nejessai y to pre ierve order in the galleries of the Senate. On motion of Mr. Sumner, the Senate referred to the Committee on the Judiciary the resolution heretofore submitted by Mr Mason, that there be paid out of the contingent fund such actual cost as shall be incurred pursuant to law by Silas Carlton and those associated with him iu prosecuting in civil suits, now pending in the Circuit Court of Massachusetts against I hem, f ounded in their act in executing a process of the Scute again-t a certain F. 13. Sanborn, ot said State Ou motion of Mr. Sumner, certain papers in the same case were similarly referred. The Senate then went into executive session. When the doors were opened, on motion of Mr. Hale 2.00ft extra copies of the act of tern porary patent office laws were ordered to be printed, it being he said very low and frequent applications being made for it. There being no public business to transact, seven! ineffectual motions were made to adjourn but were rejected, the majority being willing to wait sometime for executive communications. After waiting some time no communications being sent in. the Senate adjourned till Monday. The iollowing are Semite Committees: On Foreign Relations Messrs. Sumner, Colla DMT, Doolittle, Harris, Douglas, Polk and Breck inridge. On Finance Messrs. Fessenden, Sumner, Wade. Wells, Hunter, Pearcc and Bright. Of Commerce Messi-s. Chandler, King, M-r-rilK Wils n. Chimin in. SauUbury and Johnson. On Military Messrs. Wilson, King, Baker, Lane, Rice, Latham and Breckinridge. On N.nal Affairs Messrs. Hale, Grimes, Foot, Cowan, Thompson. Nicholson and Kennedy. On Judiciary Messrs. TtumbullFoster, Ten Eyck, CoTan. Bsyard. Powell and Clingman.

On Post Office Messrs. Collamer, Dixon, Wade, Trumbull, Rice, Bright and Latham. On Public Lands Messrs. Harlan, Bingham. Clark, Wilkinson. Johnson. Mitchell and Bragg. On Private Lands Messrs. Harris, Ten Eyck, Sumner and Bayard. On Indian Affairs Messrs. Doolittle, Baker, Cowan, Ten Eyck, Sebastian, Rice and Nesmith. On Pensions Messrs. Foster, Bingham, Lane, Simmons, S.iulsbury, Powell and Mitchell On Revolutionary Claims Messrs. Chindler, King. Wilkinson, Nicholson and Nesmith. On Claims Messrs. Clark, Simmons, Howe, Cowan, Bragg and Polk. On the District of Columbia Mers Grimes, Anthony. Morrill, Wade, Kennedy, Clingman and Powell. On Patents Messrs. Simmons, Sumner, Doolittle, Thompson and Sebastian. On Public Buildings Messrs. Foot. Dixon, Chandler, Bright and Kennedy. On Terri tones Messrs. Wa'de.Wilkinson.Hale, Cowan, Douglas, Sebastian and Bragg On Audit Expenses Messrs. Dixon, Clark and Johnson. On Printing Messrs. Anthony, Harlan and Nicholson. On Engrossed Bills Messrs. Lane. Morrill and Mitchell. On Enrolled Bills Messrs. Bingham, Baker and S.iulsbury. On Library Messrs. Pearce, and Fessenden.

Washington Items Washington, Wednesday, March 6. The debate in the Senate between Clingman and Douglas was quite lengthy to-day. In the course of his remarks Douglas said lie did not desire it to be inferred that he sympathised with the Administration, or in any contingency that he and the President would be associated, for he expected to oppose his Administration on those great principles which separated parties in former . times. But on questions for the preservation of the Union by peaceful means, and the settlement of the slavery question by amendments to the ' Constitution, if he understoood the President's ! true meaning, he was with him. Commodore Stewart is appointed President at the trial of Captain Armstrong. Commodores. Shubrick, Paulding; Jarvis and Reed, with eight Captains will comprise the court. Charges against Armstrong are: First, disobeying of orders; second failure to re-enforce Fort Pickens when requested by Lieutenant Slemmer; third failure to supply the Fort with provisions. Andrew Johnson says publicly he wants nothing more to go to Tennessee upon, than Corwin's joint resolution. Mrs. Lincoln was to day presented with a s; an of magnificent horses upon the part of several New ork gentlemen. The feeling among diplomatists is that the inaugural will be very acceptable to European powers. Judge Douglas received the following dispatch to-day from Richmond: "Is there any hope? Can we remain in the Union?" To which Douglas and Crittenden replied: "Yes, there is hope. Stand firm and all will yet be right." Mr. Douglas said to-day that the inaugural shows that Lincoln has nerve to say what is right. Platform or no platform, I defend the inaugural, believing it an emanation from the brain and heart of a patriot. Mr. Douglas strongly favors the appointment of Crittenden to the Supreme Bench. Mr. Van Wyck, of New York, and Frank Blair are going to stump New Hampshire. N. B. Judd is nominated as Minister to Berlin, and H. M. Keysman, Secretary of Legation to the same post. John A. K isson, of Ohio, is nominated for First Assistant Postmaster General. No nomination is yet made of a successor to Qen. Twiggs. The President has Major Ander son under advisement. Probabilities favor Col. Sumner. Influential parties are pressing Phillip Dorsheimer for naw officer at New York. Judge Wilmot and others are urging S. N. Pettis for Governor of Nebraska. Carl Schurz will doubtless have thc Sardinian mission, Burlingame, the only other applicant, having withdrawn in his favor. Mr. A. M. Clapp. of the Buffalo Express is to have the Buffalo Postofficc. The Californians, 144 strong, called upon the President this evening. Eugene Sullivan, Lelaiul Stronglbrd and Dr. Robea, a committee on behalf of the Califomians, introduced them to the President. From the White House they proceeded to the residence of Senator Latham, ot California, who invited them; and, after a toast; on California of wine, to himself and wife, he made a stirring Union speech, closing with expressions of hope that al! his visitors would get offices. This was received with hearty concurrence. They then called on Senator Baker, VicePresdent Hamlin, and Senator Johnson. Their visit o Gen. Scott is deferred till to-morrow. Numerous other State delegations w ere engaged in visiting to-day. ien. Scott was called upon to make two speecnes, in itie course of aa bom and half. Messrs. Crawford, Forsyth and Rowan, the Commissioners from the Southern Confederacy, are in Washington, and, it is said, will make known the object of their visit to the President on Tuesday. A number of Senators of the late Congress left to-day. Among them is Ex-Senator Bigler, of Pennsylvania. The Republican Senators contemplate holding a caucus to agree upon new officers for the Senate. Wasiiingtox, Thursday, March 6. The War Department to-day received letters from Major Anderson, dated the 4th, but they contained nothing of special importance. The most friendly feeling exist between him and the South Carolina authorities. Postal facilities are still open to him, and privileges of marketing, to a limited extent, continues. General Cameron leaves here to day for Pennsylvania. He has not yet been qualified, and will return probably on Monday. In the mean time, Gen. Scott, by request, will continue to discharge the duties of Secretary of War. Jno. A. Jones, of Illinois, w as to-day appointed Superintcndant of Statistics in the State Department, vice H. C. McLaughlin. Numerous visitors were at the different departments this morning, and many applications for office filed. Thc new Cabinet held their first meeting today. Dispatches from Plag Officer Stribling were received to day at the Navy Department. He savs that in consequence of the disturbed state of the Union, he had not, until January 1st, COOflidete i proper to send any vessel to Southward. The John Adams had sailed for Manilla, Siam and Singapore. The commerce of thc United States with Siam, he savs, is of considerable importance, and an occasion al visit of a man-of war to that country is advisable. At all the countries around the China Sea and Japan the frequent presence of men-of-war is beneficial to our commerce, as well as to our countrymen residing there. He expected to go north w ith the Hart ford and Saganair The New Orleans Picayune of the 2d contains Galveston and Texas dales of the 26th ult. The Texas forces under Col. Ford, accompanied by Commissioner Nichols, found at Brazos twenty soldiers under Lieut. Thompson, about twenty heavy guns, plenty of artillery, stores, amunitiou, &c. Capt Hill had previously withdraw n his light battery and with his party was en route to Brazos to destroy the gun carriages and moveables there. On demanding of Capt. Hill the surrender of Fort Brown he called Capt. Nichols and his men traitors and sent to Fort Ringgold for 200 men. '.'apt Hill's men say he is determined to defend Fort Brown to the last and would not obey any orders from Gen. Tw iggs to surrender. The troops at Fort Brown were in excellent health and spirits. Texas troops were being sent fron QaJreetQn to reioMee Cel. Ford who was at Brownsville The Corps Diplomatic called upon the Presi dent this afternoon. The Prussian Minister made the address Horatio King will probably be appointed 2d A"istant Postmaster General. Gilbert Rodman is the leading candidate for the chief clerkship of the Treasury department. Hon. John Bell will go to Richmond to-morrow to visit the convention and exert his influence for ieace. It is rumored that Senator Sumner prefers to remain in the Senate as chairman of the Committee or. Foreign Relatious rather than accept the appointment of Minister to England, which it is understoiKl is likely to be tendered him. It is rumored that Gen. Abbott is to go to Cal lao. Peru. The apointment of John J. Crittenden to one of the raoflirt .-eats on the Supreme Court bench is v. . u mly favored by Senator Sumner and others. They take the DOflittoa that his appointment will be a peace offering to the bonier States and sig niticant of Mr. Lincoln's regard to the South. Senator Trumbull and others oppose Mr. Critten den's appointment. Lincoln is determined to present no appointment which will have a tendency to div ide the party. The diplomatic corps, in full costume. aid an official visit to the President to day, and verein troduced by Secretary Seward. Faganiere, the Portuguese Minister, delivered an address in French, a copy of which had been previously furnished Mr. Lincoln, expressing the good will and feeling of the respective Govern ments to that of the United States, and for thc success of the Administration. The President replied briefly w ith much w armth, heartily reciprocating the kindly sentiments expressed. All the members of the corps were then intro duced; after which the Cabinet were severally in troduced to the corps. Mrs. Lincoln was subsequently presented, and for some moments there was general unrestrained social conversation. Senator Harlan his been appointed Commis

siouer for convention under the Cass-Herran treaty with New Grenada. He is expected here by the end of the month. J udge Campbell, of the Supreme Court, has not resigned. No nominations w ere made by the President to the Senate to-day. Passed Assistant Surgeon Carrii-gton, of Va., Lieuts. Simmon and Hall, of S. C, and Mid shipman Hall, of Georgia, have resigned the r positions in the Navy. There will be a public reception at thc Execu tive mansion to morrow evening. The Charleston Courier of the 5th says Gen. Beiureig ird expresses perfect confidence after viewing the fortifications of Sumter, that it can be reduced and it was only a question of time. Senator Crittenden was serenaded to-night by citizens of Washiugton. There was an immense crowd He expressed confidence in the people, who now alone can settle the distracting questions which now agitate the country. These troubles were fomented and kept alive by petty cross-road politicians for selfish purposes. If "we preserve the Union, the Union will preserve us. General Scott, Senator Johnson aud others, were also serenaded, and responded to the compliment. President Lincoln said to Southern gentlemen, who called upon him to-night to know how his inaugural was to be understood, that it meant peace. Commissioners from the Southern Confederacy arrived last evening, dining with Senator Wigfall. They held a conference in Wigfall's rooms this morning, when it was agreed to postpone for a few days their communication to Presdent Lincoln until Mr Seward had an opportunity to develop his programme of policy toward seceding States. Wigfall urged them to act immeniately and bring their mission to a close, in order to allow President Davis an opportunity to capture forts Sumter and Pickens before reinforcements could reach them. Mr. Forsyth ignored the proposition, and some high words occurred. At the Diplomatic visit last night President Lincoln made the following reply to the address of the Prussian Minister in behalf the Diplomatic Corps: Gentlkmex ok the Diplomatic bodt: Please accept my sincere thanks for your kind congratulations. It affords pleesure to confirm the confidence you so generously express in friendly disposition to us, through me. toward the Sovereigns and Governments you represent. Allow me to express the hope that friendly relations may remain undisturbed , and also my fervent wish for the health ami happiness of yourselves personally. It seems to be pretty generally understood that Cassius M. Clay will receive the mission to Mexico. This is regarded by the Administration as bemg. at the present juncture of affairs in that country and our own, the most important mission in the Government. Emerson Etheridge, of Tennessee, is strongly urged for the mission to Spain. Several removals occurred to-day. The son of Mr. Smith, Secretary of the Inte rior. was appointed Librarian to the Interior De partment, vice Lester, of Mississippi, a seces ionist. General Granger, Recorder of the General Land Office, and brother-in-law to Senator Doug las, was removed to-day. The Secretary to the President to sign land warrants, Mr. Leonard, received notice that his services were no lonper required. Reliable information was received this evening that (Jen. Houston had resigned and retires to private life. Major Anderson lias not been promoted, and the interests oppose it earnestly. The correspondence which reached the War Department to-day shows that Gen. Twiggs received the order of Secretary Holt, retiring from the command three days before he surrendered. All the statement, therefore, representing that he was unable to ascertnin the views of the De partment are entirely false. His treachery was deliberate and infamous. Col. Cooper. Adjutant General Withers and Capt. Watson, Paymaster, resigned their com missions to-day. Cooper is a bpjther in law of Senator Mason, and his resignation has been expected for some time. Jeff. Davis has sent a secret agent to Mexico with a view of the recognition of the cotton Confederacy. Washixoto, Friday. March 8. The President has accepted the resignation of Adjiitnit General Cooper and assistant Adjutant General Withers. Cooper is a connection of Senator Mason, and his resignation is attributed more to family than political reasons.. Withers is a Tennesseean. A report is prevalent that Quarter Master General Johnson, of Virginia, is about to resign. But he said this morning the occasion for such a course has not arrived. The resignation of Adjutant CiKper has occasioned general regret. He was appointed from and is a native of New York. The Southern Stat .- are making overtures for some of the best officers in the service. It is known that several officers of the army located here hive leen offered lucrative appointments under the government of the confederacy. Chas. Jones, late of the registers office in the treasury, has left for Montgomery to take a place under that Government. A large crowd at the State Department this morning were much disappointed at the absence of Mr. Seward, who is detained at home by physical indisposition. The United States Supreme Court has adjourned over until Thursday, when various decisions will be delivered. Commissioners Forsyth and Crawford from South Carolina, are daily expecting their col

league, Roman. Much solicitude is expressed as to their business with the Government. The Senate in executive session to-dav conti med Norman B. Judd as Minister to Berlin, Herman Christman. also of Illinois, as Secretary of Legation, and John A. Kasson, of Iowa, as First Assistant Postmaster General. The President did not send in any nominations to-day. Messrs. Forsyth and Crawford have as yet made no official communication to the administration owing to sickness. Sen or Roman gave informal information that a little more time would be agreeable. The Commissioners have been actively occu pied since their their arrival in consultation and an official interview having reference to the object to their mission. The subject of collection of the revenue and re in forcing Sumter has not engaged the attention of the Cabinet. Great efforts being made to effect a peaceable solution of the forts and revenues. Ex-Secretary Floyd has publfshed a statement vindicatory of acceptances in favor of Russell. Majors k Co., and of their legality. Instead of their being six million of them outtanding. He shoivs there are only six huu drcd thousand, and declares that the couitV action have secured these by the assignment of property ample for their protection, and that if the government will permit the earn ings of the transportation for 161 to be applied to the acceptances, they will be liquidated in that way without recourse to assignments. It would seem also that government uvi the contractors upwards of $500,000, which is equivalent to the cash value of the Indian trust bonds, of the abstraction of wdiich Mr. Floyd repudiates all previous knowledge. He denounces the conduct of the proceedings of the Select Committee with great severity, and says their object was political HTseculiou and defamation. Brevet Lieut. Col. Lorenzo Thomas, second in rank in the Adjutant General's office, has been promoted to be Adjutant General, vice Cooper, resign ed. Southern evi. .w Otutm, Thursday, March 7. The opinion is rapidly settling down in political and commercial circles that Lincoln's inaugural is a declaration of w ar. The Louisiana Legislature passed a resolution approving of the conduct of Gen. Twiggs, in his surrender of Federal property in Texas to the authorities of that State. It is reported that Fort Brown, Texas, has sur rendered to the State forces. Pensacola advices state that Lieut. Slimmer is engaged in raising a sand battery about a quarter of a mile cwt of Fort Pickens. Work on the land batteries on the beach opposite Warrington was progressing. Virginia Convrniisn, rticimown. FrMaj . March S. In the Convention to-day Mr. Wisor, of Pulaski, offered an ordinance dissolving the noliti cal connection of Virginia and other States of the Union and establishing the independence of the former. Mr. Brent, of Alexandria, made a Union speech, opposed the policy of secession, but admitted the right; opposed coercion. That Mr. Lincoln's inaugural is susceptible of a warlike construction, but disagreed with many of the doctrines. Mr. Ambler, of Louis, approved prompt action and attacked the in iiigurai. Adjourned without action. trrn cws. r'lttrr Kr. iR.vrv. Saturday, March 9. The Pony Express, with dates from San Francisco to thc'iI ult.. passe 1 here at 'i 'AO this morn ing. The celebration of the 22d of February at San Francisco alrsorbed all attention. The day was universal!; olerved by abstaining from busi ness. It is estimated that over 20,000 were in attend ance at the Union meeting. ' Speeches were made by Edward Stanley .Eugfcne Cassadv, Col. Crockett "and others. Resolutions were adopted unanimously declar ing the unalterable attachment of California to the Union; that there exists no power under the Constitution for a State to secede; that California will cheerfully acquiesce in honorable plans for adjusting the existing difficulties so aa to secure the rights of all the States, and thai California re pudiates the project of the Pacific Republic. James A. McDougal was nominated as candidate for United States Senator by a caucus of twenty eight Douglas Democrats, on the ".f'th of Fcbnnrv

ashinirton Items. Wamuum.tox, Saturday. March S. D. P. Holloway, editor of the Richmond (Ind.) Palladium, is strimglv pressed by Secretary Smith as Commissioner of Patents. The statement that Mr. Sumner opposes Mr. Crittecden's nomination to the Supreme Bench is erroneous. Mr. Sumner approves of the nomination. The nomination, however, continues te challenge decided opposition from influential quarters, and it is feared it will not be made. Messrs. Badger and Ruffin of North Carolina, and Holt of Kentucky, are now talked of. Mr. Lincoln found about seventy vacancies in

: the Departments under the Government. These will be filled while the Senate is in session, or can not till Congress meets again, consequently they must first engross the President's attention. When these are disposed of, Mr. Lincoln's present purpose is to take up for action the appointments for the new Territories of Dacotah, Colorado and Nevada. Col. Lorenzo Thomas, of Delaware, will succeed Cooper as Adjutant General. The overland mail contractors on the central route have determined to run the Ponv Express between St. Joseph and Piacerville. California, three times instead of twice a week, after July next. They also propose, when they get ready, to run their coaches across the continent in sixteen days' time, to arrange for the conveyance of messengers, at a cost of not more than $150 each. The nominations of Mr. Dale of Illinois, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and Mr. Williams of Illinois, as Judge of Kansas, were sent to the Senate; but, before the messenger reached the Capitol, the Senate had adjourned. Sou i lie rn tsnfrrst, MoxroostatT, Ala., Thursday, March 7. Mr. Clavton reported a bill providing that, in the event of conflict or refusal of the United States to recognize the independence of the Confederacy, the courts in the Confederate States shall have cognizance of civil cases of citizens of the United States, and all pending cases shall be dismissed. Braxton Bragg was confirmed as Brigadier General. Com. J. Hardee was confirmed as Colonel of the First Regiment of Infantry. Mr. Clayton introduced a bill tj establish an admiralty court at Key West. Mr. Sparrow introduced a resolution of inquiry into the condition of the Custom house at New Orleans. Mr. Conrad jiresented a communication proposing changes in the law regulating juries. The army bill passed as reported, and 50,000 men will soon le ready to take the field. Rlla- Raii-nit Cbstaoo, Saturday. March S. The Tribune, this morning, publishes an elaborate railway article, showing that the earnings of all the railroads centering at Chicago, in 1p60, were $17,6iW,000. The earnings of ten trunk roads show an increase over 15& of $2,630,000. The article exhibits a very encouraging degree of prosperity at the West. "sontli.ru v . FrnTiinu, Aas:., Saturday, March 9. On the reception of President Lincoln's in augural . the Secessionists, in consequenceof some ai es-ions to their rank-, called a meeting of the citizens of the county to day to instruct delegates to the convention. It proved, however, that a Union sentiment prevailed, and the meeting ad journed without action, amid great enthusiasm. The stars and stripes were triumphant Ileuri l i ic ixia i ii i . Sr. bovis, Saturday, March f. Gov. Jackson has signed the relief bill passed by the Legislature a few days since. This law extends the time for the return of executions issued by a Court of Record to the second term after the date of the execution, and extends the time for the return of executions issued br J ust ices of the Peace to one year after the date thereof. Louisiana Convention. Nrw Obxka, Friday, Ms ch a The convention adopted an ordinance to transfer certain funds to the Govemment of the Con federated States, now in the bands of the State. A private telegram from Montgomery says the revenue laws have been adjusted by the regulation of the Treasury Department, and will avoid prejudice to steamboat interests. I.ATF.H I HUI EI KOPC. ARRIVAL OF THK STEAMER NORTH BRITON PoarruAJn, Friday, Marek a The steamship ArorfA Briton which left Liver pool at three P. M. on the 21st and Londonderry on the 22d. arrived here at six o'clock this even ing, with $25,000 in specie. On the 3d of March she pasted icebergs and was an hour in immense fields of ice. Gold shipments to America are expected to be resumed on a considerable scale by the ensuing steamers. GaxAT Britain Parliament proceedings are unimportant. Army estimates issued show a net decrease of 165,000. notwithstanding the number of land forces, 146,000, is slightly in excess of last year. The total sum required is 14,606,000. FaACF.. Reinforcements for the French army at Rome were continually leaving Marseilles. Eugene Scribe, the celebrated dramatist, n dead. Several persons in Paris, connected with the transactions in the mines, had been arrested. Customs and du ies at Forpolis and Magadere are to be hypothecated to sustain for remaining indemnity, Ai'STBiA. It is reported via Hamburgh l!tat orders have been sent to Trieste to arm at once all sailing vessels of the Austrian navy. Tbey are to be stationed at Gerecastoero, Tiume, Ragusia, tc. Twelve gunboats are to be sent to the Gulf of Guarrero to watch the coast of Turkey. l.Nf i. The Bombay mail to the 36fh of January had reached England. Import markets were weak and lower. Exchange steady. London, February 21. The funds continued to droop, mainly on account of the high prices of money and unfavorable American advices. London. February 22. A violent gale which swept over the country on Wednesday continued till Thursday . The Crystal Palace is seriously damaged. A part of the north wing is in ruins. It is reported that the Bank of England contemplates a rise to 9 or 10 per cent, in their rate of discount. In the discount money market demand is mod erate several capitalists lending money for four or six months at comparatively low terms. Paxis, Thursday evening. A telegram from Vienna aunounces that affairs ii. Hungary are becoming very serious. Several districts among them Roab. Somogry, PReworden and Wardenwill be declared in a state of seige. French occupation in Syria is to be prolonged two or three month bevond the time originally fixed. The report of the committee of investigation of the Great Western Railroad of Canada is ready for issne. It is likely to excite much public dis cussion. Ti bi. 22d. The inauguration of the Julian Parliament was celebrated in several towns in Venetia. t PtsTH," 23d. A Royal decree convokes the Diet at Buda for the 2d of April, to make ar rangements for the coronation of the Emperor as King of Hungary, etc. ARRIVAL OF THE STK AMER PRKfCF. AI.BF.RT. Sr. Joans. Saturday, March M. T!ie steamer Prince Albert, which left Oalwsy on the evening of Frtwiisry 2H, arrived here this morning. Her date are four days later than those by the North Briton ' The Arabia, from New York, arrived at Queenstown on the 22d of February. The Niagara sailed from Queenstown on the 23d ult., for Halifax and Boston. Political news unimortant. The Prince Albert brings no news of the Australasian. LATEST. The Empmu- of France has enjoined Prince XapolfjtMi to remain at Paris, as a visit to Italy at the present time might be regarded as an intention to influence the nuestion of the people's tern poral sworeignty. .ifisaonri Convention. St Loess, Friday, March a, The committee report to morrow strongly for Union, and against secession, military coercion or hostilities on the port of seceding States, aod recommends the Crittenden resolutions. tfiosoan I . 1 1 I . t ii r. . St Loras. Friday, Marek 6 The lower branch of the Legislature passed a joint resolution, to day, to go into election for U. 8. Senator on Wednesday next. SVorth ( srollna Klertivn. Kalksss, Friday. Marek 8 This State h voted against holding a Con vention bv orer 1,01 miontv Members alactoi in case a convention was ,.r fM ire t I M oi.e for Union. I roil l HOl OH. Host. a. Friday. March In the Senate to day a personal liberty bill as reportol by the committee some three weeks since ws passed to be engrossed by a decisive rote This modifies and explains the present law making writ of habeas corpus returnable only to the Supreme Court and providing that proceedings, evidence, 4c., shall be governed by common law. The schooner . dead from New York for Salem, went ashore at Wot Fleet, and bilged, vessel and cargo a total los; crew tared.