The Express.
London, England, 1861-01-03 00:00:00

THE UNITED STATES.

Attoniey-General Black had been appointed to
eucceed General Can, and entered upon hie duties
on the 15th ult.

The legislature of South Carolina bad succeeded
in electing a governor, Colonel Pickens being the
successful candidate. " This election," the New
York Times says, " may be regarded as somewhat
significant, inasmuch as Colonel Pickens is looked
upon by the extremists in the state as much too
moderate in his principles. It is well known that
he strenuously opposed the secession movement
until after the election of Mr. Lincoln, when by
the sheer feral of the current he was pressed into
the movement. His election may be regarded as
an anti-revolution victory, as it is generally believed
in the state that he will not proceed to extremities
until all negotiations and argument with the gene-
ral government have failed."
The New York Times, of the 18th ult., Rays :
The South Carolina State Convention called to consider
the question of seceding from the Federal Union assembled
at Columbia on the 17th. General D. F. Jamison was
elected permanent president. A resolution was then pro.
posed that when the convention adjourned it should be to
meet in Charleston in the afternoon. This was adopted by
• lass 'e majority. Nothing else of importance was done.
The New ruel; Berad, of the 19th, mays :
The delegates of the South Carolina Convention and the
members of the legislature arrived at Charleston yeaterds,
afternoon, mid were received with mili honours. The
convention met at 4 o'clock, and proceeded to business.
Nothing, however, of importance transpired beyond this
appointment of committees, and the offering of • resolution
to ascertain what property the United States claims the
ownership of in South Carolina, how it was acquired, sad
whether the claim can be enforced after South Carolina
shall have seceded. The resolution also calls for informa-
tics as to the value of such other property as the United
States may possess, and the value of the share to which
South Chmlina would be entitled on an equitable division.
A doccusentriporting to be an gladrags from a portion of
the Georgia mature was Lid on the table. The convex.
Lion will meet is morning at 11 o'clock.
A despatch from Baltimore of the 17th ult. states
that finances were greatly depressed.
Judge Handy, of Mississippi, commissioner to
visit Maryland, had arrived at Baltimore, end pro-
ceeded to Annapolis? to confer with Governor
Hicks. He said Mississippi would certainly secede
unless the Southern states adopt prompt measures
fora mutual conference.

A petition had been signed by.pearly all the
leading business men of Baltimore requesting
Governor Hicks to call an extra session of the
Maryland legislature to consider upon the crisis.
It was believed that the governor must respond to
the appeal favourably.
A despatch from Toronto announces that the
decision of the Court of Queen's Bench in the
extradition case of the fugitive slave Jones, alias
Anderion, was delivered on the 15th ult. ft was
in favour of giving up the fugitive to the United
States authorities. One of the judges dissented
from the decision. An appeal had been made.
The prisoner was strongly guarded. No attempt
at rescue had yet been made, but great excitement
prevailed.

A bottlenose shark was caught a fewiiyhte
since is Chriafehoreb•bsy. in a sprat net, and donw the
fishing smack with its tail before it was killed. r t was
seven feet long. A seal was shot a short time since at the
iss.k of the Isle of Wight Two of them were together
basking close to the beach.