The Sun.
London, England, 1861-03-19 00:00:00

THE UNITED STATES.

The New York Times sketches some of the inci-
dents of the scenes in the Senate :
" Everything being in readiness, Senator Baker
came forward and said—' Fellow-citizens, I intro-
duce to you Abraham Lincoln, the President elect
of the United States of America.' Whereupon, Mr.
Lincoln arose, walked deliberately and composedly
to the table, and bent low in honour of the repeated
and enthusiastic cheering of the countless host be-
fore him. Having put on his spectacles, he arranged
his manuscripts on the small table, keeping the
paper thereon by the aid of his cane, and com-
menced in a clear, ringing voice, that was easily
heard by those on the outer limits of the crowd, to
read his first address to the people, as President of
the United States. The opening sentence,' Fellow
citizens of the United States,' was the signal for
prolonged applause, the good Union sentiment
thereof striking a tender chord in the popular
breast. Again, when after defining certain actions
to be his duty, he said, And I shall perform it,'
there was a spontaneous and uproarious manifesta-
tion of approval, which continued for some moments.
Every sentence which indicated firmness in the
Presidential chair, and every statenaent of a conci-
liatory nature, was cheered to the echo; while his
appeal to his dissatisfied fellow-countrymen,' de-
siring them to reflect calmly, and not hurry into
false steps, was welcomed by one and all most
heartily and cordially. The closing sentence' upset
the watering-pot' of many of his hearers, and at this
point alone did the melodious voice of the President
elect faulter. Judge Taney did not remove his eyes
from Mr. Lincoln during the entire delivery, while
Mr. Buchanan, who was probably sleepy and tired,
sat looking as straight as he could at the toe of his
right boot. Mr. Douglas, who stood by the right of
the railing, was apparently satisfied, as he ex-
claimed, sotto voce, ,‘ Good,' That's so,' No coer-
cion,' and Good again.' After the delivery of the
address Judge Taney stood up, and all removed
their hats while he administered the oath to Mr.
Lincoln. Speaking in a low tone the form of the
oath, he signified to Mr. Lincoln that he should
repeat the words, and in a fizm but modest voice
the President took the oath as prescribed by the
law, while the people, who waited until they saw
the final boa, tossed their hats, wiped their eyes,
cheered at the top of their voices, hurrahed them-
selves hoarse, and, had the crowd not been so very
dense, they would have demonstrated in more lively
ways their joy, satisfaction, and delight.
" Judge Taney was the first person who shook
hands with Mr. Lincoln, and was followed by
Messrs. Buchanan, Chase, Douglas, and a host of
minor great men. A Southern gentleman, whose
name I did not catch, seized him by the hand, and
said, 6 God bless you, my dear Sir; you will save
us.' To which Mr. Lincoln replied, lam very
glad that what I have said causes pleasure to
Southerners, because I then know they are pleased
with what is right.'
" On the steps were Governor King, and many
influential New Yorkers; Governors Hoppin and
Sprague, of Rhode Island ; Buckingham, of Con-
necticut, and the entire Cabinet of the outgoing
Administration.
" In reply to questions, Mr. Buchanan said, with
a wretched and suspicious leer, I cannot say what
he means until I read his inaugural ; I cannot un-
derstand the secret meaning of the document,
which has been simply read in my hearing.'
" Mr. Douglas said, He does not mean coercion,
he says nothing about retaking the forts, or Fede-
ral property—he's all right.'
" Subsequently, to another querist, Douglas
said, 'Well, I hardly know what he means. Every
I point in the address is susceptible of a double con-
struetion ; but I think he does not mean coercion.' "
The same journal describes the inaugural ball :
"The ball is a decided success. The room is very
tastefully decorated with shields and flags, and is
brilliantly lighted with gas. Dancing commenced
precisely at 10 o'clock, at which hour the Presi-
dent had not arrived. Robert Lincoln came in
with Miss Campbell, of Galena, Illinois, accom-
panied by Colonel Lemon, Colonel Ellsworth, Lot
Todd, and Private Secretary Hays. The room is
pleasantly filled, and toilettes of ladies are notice-
able, with but few exceptions, for elegance and
good taste. Captain Comstock, Captain Woodhull,
of the United States Navy • J. Watson Webb,
Abraham Wakeman, James Humphrey, wife and
daughter ; General Scroggs and wife ; and Mrs.
Chancellor Walworth are among the prominent
New Yorkers present. Mrs. Drake Mills is gor-
geously attired in 2,000 dollars' worth of lace and
20,000 dollars' worth of diamonds. The army is
well represented. Lord Lyons and other diplomats
in plain dress, are present. Senator Harris and
lady, Marshall 0. Roberts, Edward Fiske, and
Charlos Sodgwiek, of New York, are also here.
Mrs. Casson, of lowa, presented Mr. Seward with
an elegant but chaste bouquet, which was the envy
of the Senators' confreres. Mr. Seward entered the
room with his daughter-in-law. A queerly-dressed
man, with a large shepherd's crook, is on the floor
endeavouring to find Mr. Seward. At a quarter to
11 o'clock the Presidential party came in, Senator
Anthony and Vice-President Hamlin supported the
President, Senator Douglas escorted Mrs. Lincoln.
Senator Baker Mrs Hamlin, Governor Yates Mrs.
Baker, and Dr. Baleche Miss Edwards. The band
struck up Hail Columbia,' and the party marched
from one end of the hart to the other, amid inspir-
ing strains of the national air, causing an era of
tremendous good feeling. After a brief promenade
the President, with Mrs. Hamlin, took stations at
the upper end of the room, and a large number of
persons availed themselves of the :opportunity of
being presented to Mr. Lincoln, who shook hands
with everybody. At half-past 11 o'clock the Presi-
dent and suite went into the supper-room in the
same order as they entered the hall. At a quarter-
past 12 o'clock the quadrille of the evening was
danced—Douglas and Mrs. Lincoln, Hamlin and
Miss Edwards, Mayor Berret and Mrs. Bergman,
Mr. Harrard 'and Mrs. Baker composing the set.
Miss Edwards, niece of Mrs. Lincoln, is acknow-
ledged to be the belle of the evening. The ladies
of the Presidential party are dressed exquisitely, ,
and in perfect taste."

On the 2d the Senate made no appreciable pro-
gress in the adjustment offered by the Peace Con-
ference. The discussion was carried on chiefly by
Lane (Oregon) and Johnson (Tennessee), the
latter's appeal for the Union being received 'with
tumultuous applause from the galleries. This re-
sulted in closing them and in locking the doors of
the Senate. Later during the session the doors
of the gallery were opened, and masses of people
poured in. Mr. Crittenden's motion, that
when the Senate adjourn it adjourn until Sun-
day, was discussed. Mr. Douglas's motion to
postpone prior orders so as to take up the joint
resolutions of the house was carried, and
they were agreed to, 19 against 19, the President
casting his vote in the affirmative. After spending
the rest of the session in talking and preventing
action on bills, the Senate, at midnight, took a re-
cess until Sunday, the 3d, at 7 p.m. The Senate
continued in session during the whole of the Sunday
night until 7 o'clock a.m. on Monday the 4th morn-
ing, the principal matter under discussion being the
joint resolution from the House providing against
any amendment to the Constitution. Messrs.
Mason, of Virginia ; Wade, of Ohio; Wigfall, of
Texas; Douglas, of Illinois; and others, engaged in
the debate. Various amendments were offered, but
they were all voted down, and the resolution as it
came from the lrouse was finally passed-24 to 12.
The amendment is as follows :

" No amendment shall be made to the Constitu-
tution which will authorise or give to Congress the
power to abolish or interfere within any State with
the domestic institutions thereof, including
persons held to labour or servitude by the laws of
the said State." ,that of

The Crittenden resolutions weretaktehem.
n up,
Theand
were lost-19 voting for and 20 against
Senate then took a recess until 10 o'clock, at which
hour the members again assembled, though nothing
of consequence was done until 12 o'clock, when the
ceremonies incident to the close of the session and
the commencement of the new Administration took
place. Vice-President Breckenridge took leave of
the Senators in a short speech, and introduced his
successor, Mr. Hamlin, who, in a few brief remarks,
announced his readiness to take the requisite oath,
which was administered by Mr. Breckenridge, and
so the old Senate went out of existence.
The House of Representatives, on the 2d, refused
to suspend the rules in order to take up the bill
providing for the collection of the revenue at the
Gulf ports. The vole stood 103 to 62, which was
not the necessary two-thirds. The iesolution cen-
suring the Secretary of the Navy for accepting cer-
tain naval resignations without delay or inquiry
was adopted, 95 to 62. On the 4th the House dis-
posed of a variety of miscellaneous business, though
nothing of special importance. When the hour for
adjournment arrived Speaker Pennington, in a feel-
ing and patriotic speech, bade the members fare-
well, and declared the House adjourned sine die.
The closing scenes were characterised by an exhi-
bition of much good feeling.
The folloNving Cabinet appointments by the Pre-
sident has been confirmed by the Senate :
"Wm. H. Seward, of New York, Secretary of

State ; Samuel P. Chase, of Ohio, Secretary of the
Treasury; Simon Cameron, of Pennsylvania, Secre-
tary of War; Gideon Wells, of Connecticut, Secre-
tary of the Navy ; Caleb B. Smith, of Indiana,
Secretary of the Interior ; Montgomery Blair, of
Maryland, Postmaster-General; Edward Bates, of
Mobile, Attorney-General."

The new Tariff Act was signed by President
Buchanan on the 3d. The last section of the new
tariff provides that—
" All goods, wares, and merchandise actually on
shipboard and bound to the United States, within
15 days after the passage of this Act, and all goods,
wares, and merchandise in warehouse or public
store on the Ist day of April, 1861, shall be subject
to pay such duties as provided by law before and
at the time of the passage of this Act ; and goods in
warehouse at the time this Act takes effect, on which
the duties are lessened by its provisions, may be
withdrawn on
,payment of the duties herein pro-
vided."

The President was in great doubt for some time
as to whether he would sign the Bill. He said he
had examined some of its more important features,
and he regarded it as a very imperfect and loosely
drawn Bill. He yielded, however, to the persua-
sions of some of his Pennsylvania friends.
A despatch from Washington states that the
Border Slave States' men had condemned the tons
of the Presidential address.

On Mr. Buchanan's departure from the capital he
was escorted to the station by four military com-
panies and many prominent citizens. He exchanged
many farewell hand-shakings, and appeared deeply
affected by the manifestations of friendship. He
was vigorously cheered by the crowd as the train
was about to start.

Mr. Preston, United States' Minister to Spain,
had resigned.
Arkansas had elected a majority of Unionists.
North Carolina had elected 65 Unionists and 33
Secessionists. The Texan State troops were con-
templating an attack on Fort Brown. The revenue
cutter Dodge had been seized by the authorities of
Texas in Galveston Bay. The second officer in
command resigned, and tendered his services to the
Governor. In Virginia and Louisiana the Presi-
dent's Message wa►s received with disapprobation.
Missouri declined to secede. The collector at
Charleston had received the following despatch
from the Secretary of the Treasury of the Southern
Confederaey.:—

"I wrote you that the exclusion of foreigners
from the coasting trade, and all discriminating
duties are abolished. The Act of the 18th of
February makes no distinction between citizens
and foreigners. I see, then, no objection to the
exemption claimed by the citizens of Massa-
chusetts."

A telegram from Savannah says :
" It has been decided here that all goods shipped
via this port for Tennessee must pay duties here,
as Tennessee is not one of the Southern Confede-
racy, unless the goods were purchased before
February 28, and loaded in the vessel before
March 14."

From Louisville we learn that General Twiggs
had been enthusiastically received. Draughts by
ex-Secretary Dix on the Assistant Treasurer at New
Orleans, to pay for work on the Custom-house in
that city, also draughts on the Postmaster of New
Orleans from Postmaster-General King, in con-
nection with the postal service, amounting to be-
tween 200,000 and 300,000 dollars, has been returned
unpaid. The Montgomery Convention had adopted
a new flag. Among other resolutions passed by
the Convention was the following :

" That the Committee on Naval Affairs be
instructed to inquire into the propriety of contract-
ing by this Government, for two iron-plated
frigates, and such iron-plated gunboats as may be
necessary to protect the commerce and provide for
the safety of this Confederacy."
The commercial advices from New York report
the rate of exchange firm at 106. The trade in im-
ported goods was active, and although the entries
during the week had been £750,000, against
539,000 in the corresponding week of last year, the
stocks in the warehouses were diminishing. The
new Tariff Bill was signed by Mr. Buchanan on
the 2d inst., and will take effect on the Ist of April.
The schedules were expected to be published in an
official form in the course of a few days. Iron and
woollen manufactures are those which will suffer
most. With regard to a majority of the other de-
scriptions of imports, it is thought that the increase
in the duties over those now in force will not aver-
age more than 5 per cent., but the vexatious
mode
in which they are levied is likely to prove as serious
as has been anticipated. The nett steamer to sail
was the Adriatic, on the 9th of March, which may
be expected to-morrow. Subjoined is an extract of
a letter from a leading New York banker :
" The President's Message came to hand last
evening. It would have been a very valuable docu-
ment if the six States were only talking about se-
ceding ; bat they have seceded, and have taken
possession of Federal forts and other property, and
have elected their own revenue and other officers;
and if the President attempt to retake this property
in the seceded States, or collect revenue there, war
will immediately take place.
" I doubt much if the South will wait for this
action, but expect, so soon as the Message is re-
ceived at Charleston, Fort Sumter will be attacked ;
and when this civil war commences no one can tell
when it will cease.

"In commercial matters there is little or no
change. The new Tariff Bill has passed, but it will
have to be changed next winter.' In the mean-
time it will do very little harm, as in the present
unsettled state cf the country the imports this year
would be very small under any tariff.
" As Congress has adjourned without passing any
measure to conciliate the border stave States, I
expect they will secede and the join Southern Con-
federation.'