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-
forehim. 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 statement 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, ho signified. to Mr. Lincoln that he should
repeat the words, and in a firm but modest voice
the President took the oath as prescribed by the
law, while the people, who waited until they saw
the final bow, 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, 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, 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
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
Charles Sedgwick, 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. Baloche 'Miss Edwards. The band
struck up Hail Columbia,' and the party marched
from one end of the hall 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
the debate. Various amendments were offered, but
they were all voted down, and the resolution as it
came from the House 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 that of
persons held to labour or servitude by the laws of
the said State."

The Crittenden resolutions were taken up, and
were lost-19 voting for and 20 against them. The
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 vote stood 103 to 62, which was
not the necessary two-thirds. The resolution cen-
suring the Secretary of the Navy for accepting cer•
tarn naval resignations without delay or inquiry
was adopted, 95 to 62. On the 4th the House dis-
posed of a variety of miscellaneous business, fla—Toug
nothing of special importance. When the hour for
adjournment arrived Speaker Pennington, in a feel-
ing and patriotic speech, bade the members far-
well, and declared the House adjourned •-•
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04414 bar ...net appointments by the Pre-
...;en confirmed by the Senate :
1:: Wm, H. Seward, of New York, Secretary of

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