The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1861-01-17 00:00:00

THE NEWS FROM AMERICA.

BY the Cunard steamer Jura,. we have advices
from New York to the 3rd instant inclusive.
President liircatistAN' has at last mustered np the
necessary courage to give a categorical refusal to
the demands of the South Carolina Committee.
He infornis them that he not only intends to
continue to collect revenue and execute the law in
the State of South Carolina, but also to defend the
rights and property of the Federal Government
*ith all the force at his eoniniandi It sounds
strange to us Europeans to learn that the force
which the chief of the American Republic pro-
poses to employ in the collection of the revenue,
is a revenue cutter !
The Communication in which Mr. BUCHANAN
conveys his decision to the Coiiimissicthersi is
stated to occupy fifteen pages of foolscap, and its
contents are said to have produced the utmost
consternation among the Commissioners and their
friends, who are, however, continuing their war-
like preparations for the conflict with the North,
which their conduct has provoked. Mete is also
a report that the secession mania has seized upon
North Carolina and Georgia, and that the
Government fortifications and arsenals have been
seized in these States also.

• J.,
tin the other hthid; We learn that all the
important military posts in the southern States are
to be reinforced ; that the militia of the extensive
district of Columbia is to be reorganised : and
that the New York Legislature which was
opened the other day with a message from
Governor MORGAN, occuPying no less than seven
dloseivinifited eolith:a-is of the Arkti York Herald,
and which touches upon almost every conceivable
topic of local and universal interest—has offered
to Place'a force of 10,000 militia at the service of
the President, for crushing the rebellion.
The American Cabinet and the people of the
Northern States aft tints forced to realise that
crisis in the constitution of the Federal Union,
which, after innumerable disregarded warnings
and forebodings, has at length been developed in
the most unmistakable manner, but, whether the
nature of American institutions, or the powers
with which the executive is invested by the con-
stitution of the Union, will prove competent to
deal successfully .with so alarming an emergency;
seems more than doubtful. According to the
Yeiv York Herald, which desires to occupy an
intermediate position in the present quarrel so
long as it finds any room to stand on, there are
only three possible solutions of the difficulty :
" First, civil war, whose result it would be impos-
sible to predict. Second, a peaceable separation
of the seceding from the other States. Third, a
prompt conciliation, tempered ' with firmness,
which will prevent either of the two solutions,
and; sate from disruption that great political fabric
erected by the sages of 1787—a structure cemented
by the patriot blood of a seven years' war, con-
secrated by the holiest memories, and radiant
with the brightest hopes of the human race."
The last 'course is evidently the one to which this
journal Would give the preference ; but we are
much afraid that, notwithstanding the compliments
which are here paid to the federal structure as re-
gards its foundation, its past growth, and its
present radiance, the policy of " prompt concilia-
tion, tempered with firmness" recommended, has
become inapplicable. The proper occasion for the
exhibition of that policy has not been taken ad-
vantage of, and, besides, even if it were not so,
we are convinced that if such a course were now
to be acted upon it would fail 'of success. The
SOutherners have arrived at that condition of mind
which will continue to impel them to prefer a
state of discord with their Northern brethren,
,to one of peace, at almost any price. It is
fel. this reason, therefore,. that we think that
all the good advice which the 'inhabitants of
South Carolina receive in the following remarks,
we quote from the journal to which we
have referred; will be entirely thrown away :
.‘ The inquiry naturally arises; does the ultimatuth

of Mr. BUCHANAN to South Carolina inaugurate a
civil war ? We hope not. The President desires
to avoid an appeal to arms. He will seek, as he
has sought by all available means of conciliation
and forbearance) to preserve peace. The South
iarolina Convention; on the receipt of his
ultimatum to their ComniissionerS, may pro=
teed to extreme measures. It is probable,
however; that the strength of Fort SuMter
will StiggeSt the Oliedieri6y of delay in
that grimier, rihd that a i'essei of War or trio
will be able to look after the federal revenues at
Charleston,•withont any warlike collision with
the local authoritieS. Under a rigid interpre-
tation of the constitution, the President might
proceed to the arrest, not only of the South
Carolinians in occupation of federal property in
a warlike attitude) but to the seizure of those
three olinnissioners; oh charges or treason: The
Presicierdi hoi'veVer, acting rimier the fraternal
considerations of good will bid reconciliation,
will oVerlotk e'terytia_g in this iiiistrieEs acelit
the overt act of war against the United States.
We would therefore kindly admonish our fel-
low-citizens of South Carolina to the exercise on
their part of the saving virtues of reflection and
forbearance. They may yet secure all that is
necessary for their protection and safety, as a
community, whether in or out of the Union,
without war. On the other hand, a resort
to war would be more disastrous to South Uaro-
from her eirpOsed SitilAtion; than to any
other State of the Union. Tlie tiedple df that
State, in common with our Southern brethren
generally, have just causes of complaint against
the anti-slavery spirit and power of the North.
But there is a way of redress, even in the resort
to secession, without resorting to war. Let all
the Southern States, for instance, meet together
in convention. and adopt such amendments to the
Federal Constitution as they may think indis-
pensable to their future security and welfare,.
and upon this basis let them form a new Union.
Let it at first be lithited to the Southern States,
but open to all the other States on the condition
of the adoption by each of this new constitution,
and we will answer for the best results.

" We believe that a Southern movement of this
comprehensive character would soon bring the
Central States and the Western States into a
happy accord with the Southern States. The
New England States might hold out, and the
best thing that could be done with them would
prOloably be to assist them in the experiment of
a little Puritanical confederacy all to themselves.
Despairing of any relief for the Union from this
factious and incompetent Congress, and of any
seasonable propositions in behalf of peace and
harmony from the President elect—who seems to
understand neither his position nor the condition
of our public affairs—we present to the Southern
States our proposition for a Southern National
Convention, a new Constitution, and a reconstruc-
tion of' the Union upon a new Southern basis.
" To this end we appeal to the local authorities
and to the people of South Carolina to delay yet
a little longer the ruinous alternative of the
sword. There is a limit beyond which the Pre-
sident cannot forbear ;he has indicated it. Let
not that limit be hastily passed by those to whom
it is addressed, if they Would escape the sweeping
disasters of civil war."

Has not this limit already been passed ?
suspect that Mr. LINCOLN will be of that opinion,
and we believe he will act upon it. The Southerners
themselves, and Pot the future President, will be
responsible for the:consequences,

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

FRANCE.
(moat (Alt OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
l'Attfs, Jan. 15, 1861.

The intelligence from Naples and Palermo is
rather more favourable—the changes in the vice-
regal Government in both instances being in
favour of tranquility. The entire policy of
Count Cavour appears at this moment to calm the
public mind, and to hinder all rash outbursts of
zeal in favour of Italian unity, the only effect of
which, in present circumstances, mhst be to re-
tard and to compromise the definitive organisa-
tion of the Peninsula. The attack against
Venetia, announced so long in advance, is the
principal subject of his apprehensions, and M.
Cavour is at this moment more afraid of the slight-
est rumour which comes from the little Island of
Caprera than from all those which reach him from
the whole of the courts of Europe put together.
The question still is, what preparations is Gari-
baldi making, and what will he do ? According
to a letter from Turin, in the Cologne Gazette,
some endeavours will be made to induce the ex-
Dictator to agree to postpone his projects relative
to Venetia; and General Tnrr, who has just gone
to Caprera, has been entrusted with this delicate
task. The same letter adds as a remarkable
coincidence, that on the very day on which Gene-
ral Turr set out for Caprera, a great many A nglo-
Garibaldians were embarked for England, but,
every
one knows, that the dissolution of the
British Brigade was due to causes altogether
unconnected with Garibaldi's future policy.
In the National Gazette of Berlin, there is
also a letter on the same subject, the writer
of which declares that he has been assured
by one of the intimate friends of Garibaldi that
he has actually renounced his intention of enter-
ing upon another campaign next spring. At:
Turin, the general impression seems now to be
that the ex-Dictator's patriotic feelings and prin-
ciples will predominate over his regard for popu-
larity; and that in a few days an announcement
of his having abandoned his proposed attack on
Austria' at least for the present, will appear in
the public journals. Such a resolution would be
a severe blow to his influence with the Maziini
party; but it would nevertheless be rendering '
a most important service to the cause of order.
Meantime, Austria continues her preparations for
war without intermission, and is constantly send-
ing reinforcements to Venetia.
The city of Naples still maintains the bad repu-
tation it has acquired for assassinations and
disturbances of all hinds. Another sentinel has
been stabbed at his post, and an attempt has been
made to assassinate M. Scialoja, the minister of
finance. The dagger of the assassin was happily
turned aside by some portion of the clothing
worn by M. Scialoja, who escaped with a slight
wound. It is said, however, that a great im-
provement is about to be introduced into this
capital, viz. the better lighting of the streets,
which may tend to make them less dangerous to
wayfarers. The Mazzinist journal, the Italia del
Popolo, has been seized for publishing the pro-
clamation of Francis 11. This seemed an un-
neces,sary step, as the document was to be found
in all the other Italian journals which arrived in
Naples. •

With reference to the announcement recently
made, that the French Government was about .to
issue a medal for the recent operations in. China,
it is now stated that the ribbon will be yellow, and
that " Pekin" will be engraved upon the medal in
Chinese characters.

Paris at this moment offers a sight which is
rarely numbered among its attractions, and that
only
for a few days each year. The Bois de Bou-
logne, during the intense cold which has prevailed
of late, is really quite a remarkable scene. On
the lake there are myriads of skaters of both sexes
and of all ages, and the brilliant clearness and
bracing nature of the atmosphere, together with
the beauty of the scenery and of the situation, afford
both to the skaters and to the spectators of their
performances, a degree of enjoyment which even,
in Paris has seldom been exceeded. Among the
most assiduous and most accomplished of the
skaters are to be noticed the Count de Morny
and the Countess. In France, some years ago,
everybody would have been astonished to the last
degree to have seen a statesman skating ; for
exercise of this kind was viewed as utterly incom-
patible with the grave occupations of any man
whose shoulders had to sustain any portion of the
burden of conducting the affairs .of Govern-
ment. But, as one of the Paris papers remarks,
" Dieu merei, the example of England has
entirely altered our views on this subject,
and we now readily recognise the perfect
right of every statesman, in his moments of

leisure, to indulge in healthy exercise like ordi-
nary mortals." The Emperor and Empress make
frequent visits to the lake, sometimes on foot, and at
other times en traineau. Several of the ladies skate
very nicely; at the same time, there are very few
French ladies who do so, which is not surprising,
considering that a severe winter seldom lasts long
enough in France to afford the fair Parisiennes
the same opportunities of acquiring this graceitil
art as those which are enjoyed by the ladies in
Holland and in Russia, for example, where the
canals and 'rivers remain frozen up for several
months continuously: AlMo;t all the ladies who
distinguish themselves by the stroller grace fgrid
nimbleness of their movements on the ice, are Rus-
sian. Among the men, M. Stevens, the celebrated
painter of animals, is considered to carry off the
palm. As in Russia and in Holland, the leading
skaters in the Bois have set to work to get up
races of night trains by torch-light, and some of
them are announced to come off forthwith►

The terriperatnre has beets eitremely variable
of late; and the present frost has been remarkable
for some a the densest fogi that hale ever been
,
There are frightful ncbounts of the iniindationts
in various parts of France, as well as iii the o L"W
Countries, and enormous loss of life and damage
has been caused in many instances.
There is little or nothing doing at the Bourse.
Rente is still very low.