The Sun.
London, England, 1860-12-24 00:00:00

AMERICA.

LIVERPOOL, SUNDAY.
The Royal Mail steamship Arabia, Captain Stone,
which left Boston on the 12th, and Halifax on the
th, arrived in the Mersey at noon to-day, bringing
SI passengers. On the 16th passed the steamship
Persia, and on the 19th the steamship Canada, both
bound west. The Arabia touched at QueenstoWn
yesterday (Saturday).
The steamship Europa was intercepted off Cape
Race on the 11th instant by the newsboat of tke
Associated Press.
Advices from Washington show a more hopeful
political feeling and some slightly better prospect
of the pacification of the country.
The New York Times of the 10th says :—Con-
gress, after resting since the 6th, will meet again
to-day, when the final determination of those mem-
bers of the house who have expressed a disinclina-
tion to serve on the Special Committee will be
known. It will probably be an exciting session,
and the reports of the proceedings will be looked
for with much anxiety. Meantime our despatches
from Washington are not of a very encouraging
character. The senators from the slaveholding
states held a conference at the capitol on Saturday,
at which the present condition of the country
was freely discussed. The only result which seems
to have been arrived at was the conviction
that secession is a certainty. A large majority,
according to our correspondent, considered it too
late to save the present confederacy; but they
expressed the belief that a new one would be
speedily formed. They do not seem to hare given
any opinion as to the basis on which it would be
constructed. Persons recently arrived at Washing-
ton from the south report the excitement there as
intense. At Charleston, if we are to be-
lieve the statements which reach us, s
misunderstanding has already arisen between
the Federal authorities and those of the city
or State. Major Anderson, commanding Fort
Moultrie, has been refused the privilege of sending
to the arsenal for supplies, and his messengers have
been sent back without them, simply because among
the articles desired were some percussion caps. The
Government, it is understood, has been appealed to
to send an additional force, as Major Anderson
has at present only sixty or seventy men poorly
supplied ; but the Administration has absolutely
refused to do so. In connection., with this
refusal vague rumours prevail that a formal
notification will soon be given by South
Carolina that she intends to capture the fort,
when the Government will order it to be evacuated
without a contest, to avoid a civil war. Of course
it is impossible to tell how much truth there may
be in such rumours. Secretary Cobb, it is asserted,
has already resigned, and will vacate his post to-
day, in which case it is believed he will be fol-
lowed by the representatives from South Carolina
and others. There is one thing, however, which
tnay serve as a check upon too hasty action, and
that is the character of advices from England. Tile
sympathy expressed there for the Federal Govern-
ment on the reception of the first reports of the
secession movement somewhat surprises the Die-
unionists, and they have no hesitation in saying
that it is not what they expected. As a measure or
financial relief to the Government the House Com-
mittee of Ways and Means have resolved upon the
issue of treasury notes.
The Hon. Mr. Cobb, the Secretary of the Trea-
sury, resigned his office on the 11th instant. The
Secretary of the Navy would fulfil the duties until
a successor to Mr. Cobb was appointed.
The Hew York Tones of the 11th says :—The
session of Congress yesterday was attended with
far less excitement than we were led to anticipate
from the tenor of our despatches on Sunday night.
The discussions upon all topics connected with the
subject of secession were conducted with calmness,
and altogether a decidedly better feeling was exhi-
bited on every side. In the Senate, the standing
committees of the last session were continued. A
memorial from Mr. Thaddeus Hyatt, presented
by Mr. Sumner, relative to the suffering
people of Kansas, was referred to the
committee on Territories- and the Homestead bill
was read the first time. Mr. Powell, of Kentucky,
then called up his resolution, presented on Thurs-
day, relative to the present condition of the
country, and made a few remarks expressive of
his views. Mr. Collanner, of Vermont, made a
motion, which was agreed to by Mr. Powell, to
strike out everything from the resolution except-
ing that which referred to Federal affairs, and
that it be referred to a Special Committee.
Daring a discussion which intervened Mr. Sathana,
of California, said that his state would remain
with the Union under all circumstances, inti-
mating that she could otherwise never secure that
great desideratum, the Pacific Railroad.
Mr. Douglas hoped that there would be no more
talk of party until this grave question was settled.
Mr. Davis, of Mississippi, did not regard the
proposition as one promising a good result.
Several other speeches were made on the subject,
amongst which was one by Mr. Dixon, of Connecti.
cut, who combated the idea that it is impossibl
for the two systems of free and slave labour to
exist in the Confederacy, and the Senate adjourned
at a late hour.
In the house Mr. Hawkins, of Florida, proceeded
to give additional reasons for asking to be excused
from sitting on the Special Committee on the
Perilous Condition of the Union. He concladed
by a warning that Mississippi, Alabama, Florida,
Georgia, and South Carolina were certain to secede,
and to be followed by Arkansas, Louisiana, and
Texas. The tone of his remarks, however, was
rather more moderate than was expected.
The vote on Mr. Hawkins' request
was not
taken, being interrupted by the introduction, from
the Committee of Ways and Means, of a bill
authorising the issue of ten millions in Treasury
notes for the relief of the Government.
The bill was passed after a brief debate, and the
house adjourned.
The Ten Million Treasury Note Bill, which
passed the House on the 10th, gives power to the
Secretary of the Treasury to sell them at the
market rates, as the wants of the Government may
requii e, bids being limited by a ten days' notice.
A Washington telegram of the 11th, to the
says :—" General Scott has pre'
adjustment which the committee
desire should be placed before
paredfao
rstet
thirty-three
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them. The select committee was organised to-day;
the members of it from Arkansas, Florida, and
South Carolina declining to appear. Mr. Houston,
of Alabama, urged prompt action, freely expres•
sing an opinion that the committee might adopt a
report which would restore the Union feeling in
the South, and thus avert secession. The com-
mittee, after organising, adjourned until to-
morrow."

The Democratic members of Congress from the
North 'West have had several conferences, and
generally adopt Mr. M'Clarnaud's and Vallandig-
ham's position that the Union cannot be peaceablf
dissolved, and that under no circumstances will the
North West consent to be cut off from the Gulf of
Mexico or the•city of New York, The leading Well
is that of a central government, embracing the
middle, Western, and border Slave States, which,
however, is to be dependent upon future circum-
stances for its consummation.

The President has just been assured from all
authentic source that the authorities of South
Carolina will make no resistance either to the
collection of duties, or to the possession of the forts
guarding Charleston harbour during the remainder
of his administration.

There is a better feeling among politicians, but
every mail brings news of the spread of the dis-

union sentiments.

On the 10th the extra session of the Louisiana
Legislature commenced, and -the Governor sent in
his message. He recommends a convention, and
. _

says that Louisiana ought not to refuse to meet her
sister slave stares in demanding a repeal of

obnoxious laws at the North, and a guaranty

against such legislation in the future.
These questions should be met before the inaugu
ration of Mr. Lincoln, and because the honour and
self-respect of the State does not comport with her