The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-25 00:00:00

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE,
THIS DAY.—Morning, 2h. Om.—Afternoon, 2h. 18m.
To-MORRO W, -Morning, 2h. 42m.—Afternoon, 3b. sm.

THE WEATHER.—SUN OFFICE, FEB. 24, 1561.
THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADB.
48 —highest since noon yesterday.
41—lowest this morning and during the night.
43 —this day at noon.
BAROMETER-29.Q3; rising rapidly in the midst of rain.
Wpm—North-Easterly ; fresh, and rainy for the last
24 hours,

FEB. 25.
THERMOMETER, TN THE SHADE.
44 —highest since noon yesterday.
39—lowest this morning and during the night.
12—this day at noon.

BAROMETER-30.20.
WIND—N.N.-East ; light, with dull weather, but dry.

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4•4'?2 '174"
- 412

THE SUN.
LONDON, MONDAY, FEB. 25, 1861.

~~-_.._

Every mail shows that the Secession is more and
more likely to become a permanent fact. The pro-
visional organisation of the six or seven States
which have seceded is' now complete. They have
organised their Congress and elected a Presi-
dent and Vice-President--the former bearing the
name so much heard of since Secession began,
though hardly known to us before, of JEFFERSON
Div's. He is described as a " fire eater"—a man
prepared to run all hazards; the Vice-President,
Mr. A. H. STEVENS, is represented as being a man
of
-more intelligence and moderation, though, of
course, a thorough Secessionist; the instinct of
self-preservation probably pointed him out as a
kind of governor to the steam-engine. A smash or
an explosion being likely enough at the high pres-
sure maintained by the President. The grave fact is,
however, now on record that a large portion of the
States are as much at variance with another part
of them as their forefathers were with ours, or rather
with our Government, when the first colonial Con-
gress assembled. And, for aught that yet appears,
the results seem likely to be as permanent.
The worst is, the Border States, whose interest,
to impartial observers, obviously seems to be to
make terms with the wealthier and more powerful
North, are evidently preparing to throw them-
selves, with sentimental self-sacrifice, into the
Southern confederation. The Peace Convention
convened by Virginia at Washington has not, in-
deed, yet published its programme, but it is under-
stood to be such as the North cannot, with self-
respect, accept; besides, it already has begun to be
laughed at for its pains. Missouri, Kentucky Vir-
ginia, and Maryland, the four principal Border
States, have indeed numerous slaves—not far from
a million—but then the whole white population is
treble that number, being nearly three millions. Ob-
viously if these States could make a fair bargain with
the North for the emancipation of their slaves, and
enter into the confederacy of the Free States, they
might not only be a part of a great and strong
nation, but would soon rise, as the free States have
done, through the mightier energies of free labour;
at present Tennessee, a State near the seceding
States, seems more disposed to union than these
Border States. How the latter could even keep
their slaves at all if the Northern Confederation
should adopt the British principle, that their soil
frees the slave who steps on it, we do not know.
It is one of the weapons which the North can wield
with great effect if it chooses, and probably will
do so if the separation becomes
irreversible, and
only the feelings of exasperation remain.
All eyes are now turned to the new PRESIDENT.
The object ofJEFFERSON )Avis and the hot Seceders
has been to anticipate his advent to power. So far
they plainly know their man, that they have en-
deavoured to complete their workunderßuenANAN.
It can be no longer doubted that there was really
a conspiracy in his Cabinet to leave the Federal
Governmen t powerless in the South. The perfectly
undefended state of the Southern forts and arsenals,
except the very small garrison now in Fort*Sum.
ter, coupled with the resignation of General CASS,
while the betrayal policy was upheld, and the
resignation of the defaulter, Secretary FLOYD,