The Sun.
London, England, 1861-01-11 00:00:00

THE UNITED STATES.

THE SEIZURE OF THE FORTS BY THE
CHARLESTON MILITIA.
We have received New York papers to Dec. 29.
The ;most important intelligence is that of the
abandonment of Fort Moultrie by the United
States troops, and the taking possession of that
fort, as well as Castle Pinckney, and the Custom-
house, Post-office, and Arsenal, by the Charleston
Militia. The New York Herald, of Dec. 28, says :
The news from Charleston yesterday was of a
most exciting character, and, until the details were
received, created no little alarm throughout the
city, as the first despatches led people to believe
that a collision had taken place between the popu-
lation of Charleston and the United States troops
garrisoning Fort Moultrie, and that we were
actually at war with the independent State of South
Carolina.
The facts, however, show that Major Anderson,
who commands Fort Moultrie, knowing the posi-
tion to be untenable, evacuated it and took posses-
sion of Fort Sumpter, an almost impregnable post,
where, in the event of an attack upon United
States property, he would be enabled to defend it
against great odds. Before leaving Fort Moultrie
Major Anderson spiked the guns and set fire to the
gun carriages; and this latter action no doubt led
to the report that the whole fort was in flames,
leaving the inference that it had been taken by the
populace, and the garrison driven out. This, how-
ever, is not the fact, Anderson withdrew for stra-
tegic p es ; for it is known that General Scott
expressenritt opinion that Fort Moultrie could not
be held against a resolute attack for 24 hours, but
that Sumpter was the strongest fort of its size in
the world, and could only be taken by starving out
the garrison. In this opinion the mostexperienced
military, officers in the country coincide. It is
conceded that it would require a continuous bom-
bardment of six months with guns of the heaviest
metal to destroy Fort Sumpter and then it could
only be done, if at all, by chipping the masonry
piece by piece. This fort, moreover, commands the
entire city and harbour of Charleston, as well as
Fort Moultrie itself; being built on an island in
the middle of the channel, it can easily be relieved
from the sea. Thus it will be seen that the eva-
cuation of a weak and comparatively worthless
position for a stronger one was a wise military
movement. It was rumoured that a train was laid
by Major Anderson before leaving the Fort to blow
it up ; but that was not believed. Captain Foster,
with a small force, still remains there.
The following is from the same paper of the 29th
nit.:—
The excitement occasioned by the intelligence of
the abandonment of Fort Moultrie was augmented
yesterday the by receipt of news that the troops of
South Carolina had taken possession of Fort Moll-
trio and Castle Pinckney, and the Custom-house,
Post-office, and Arsenal at Charleston. There were
about a dozen men in the forts, and they made no
opposition to the troops. As soon as the intelli-
gence of these movements was communicated to the
President he called the Cabinet together, but it is
believed that they could not agree upon any deci-
sive method of meeting the emergency.
The South Carolina commissioners visited the
President yesterday, and had a long interview with
him. It was strictly private, however, but it is
known that the executive gave no positive answer
to the propositions submitted to him by the com-
missioners.
The special committees of congress on the cri-
sis will accomplish nothing. The senate commit-
tee met yesterday, and, after voting down all
the propositions before it, agreed to report to the
Senate on Monday that they could agree upon no
basis of adjustment for existing difficulties. The
house committee were also in session, but accom-
plished nothing. Representatives of fourteen bor-
der states held a caucus, at which several proposi-
tions having in view a settlement of the pending
difficulties were presented and referred to a
committee.
On the 26th December the following ordinance
was passed by the South Carolina Convention :
An Ordinance to make Provisional Arrangements
for the continuance of the Commercial Facilities
of South Carolina.
Whereas, it is due to our late confederates, known
as the United States of America, as also the citizens
of South Carolina engaged in commerce, that no
abrupt or sudden change be made in the rate of
duties on imports into the state; and whereas, it is
not desired by this state to secure advantage in
trade to her own ports above those of any of the
slaveholding states, her late confederates in the
said union ; and whereas, this ordinance, for con-
siderations indicated, is designed to be provisional
merely, therefore we, the people of South Carolina,
in convention assembled, do declare, ordain, and it
is hereby declared and ordained-
1. That all citizens of this state who at the date
of the ordinance of secession were holding office
connected with the customs, under the general
government of the United States, within the limits
of South Carolina, be, and they are hereby appointed
to hold, under the government of this state exclu-
sively, without any further connexion whatever
with the Federal Government of the United States,
the same offices they now fill, until otherwise
directed, and that they receive the same pay and
emoluments for their services.
2. That until this convention or the general
assembly shall otherwise provide, the governor shall
appoint to all vacancies which may occur in such
offices.
3. That until it is otherwise provided by this
convention or the general assembly, the revenue
collection and navigation laws of the United States,
as far as may be practicable, be, and they are hereby
adopted and made laws of this State, saving that
no duties shall be collected upon imports from the
States forming the late federal union, known as the
United States of America, nor upon the tonnage of
vessels owned in whole or in part by the citizens
of said States, saving and excepting the act of Con-
gress adopted on the 3d day of March, 1857, en-
titled " An act authorising the deposit of the papers
of foreign vessels with the consuls of their respec-
tive nations," which said act is hereby declared to
be of no force within the limits of this State.
4. All vessels built in South Carolina or elsewhere,
and owned to the amount of one-third by a citizen
or citizens of South Carolina, or any of the* slave-
holding commonwealths of North America, and
commanded by citizens thereof, and no other, shall
be registered as vessels of South Carolina, under
the authority of the collector and naval officer,
5. All official acts of the officers aforesaid, in
which it is usual and proper to set forth the autho-
rity under which they act, or style of documents
issued by them or any of them, shall be in the name
of the State of South Carolina.
6. All moneys hereafter collected by any officers
aforesaid shall, after deducting the sums necessary
for the compensation of the officers and other
expenses, be paid into the treasury of the State of
South Carolina, for the use of said State, subject to
the order of this convention, or of the general
assembly.
7. The officers aforesaid shall retain in their hands
all property of the United states in their possession,
custody, or control, subject to the disposal of the
State, who will account for the same upon a final
settlement with the Government of the United
States.
Done at Charleston the 26th day of December,
in the year of our Lord 1860.
D. F. JAMISON, President.

B. F. Arthur, Clark.
The following are the latest despatches from
Charleston :

CIIARLESTON, Dec. 28.
An ordinance, entitled " An ordinance to amend
the constitution of South Carolina in
respect to the
Executive Department," was
passed in tha secret
session of the convention yesterday. It provides as
follows :
1. That the Governor have power to receive am-
bassadors, ministers, consuls, and agents of foreign
Powers; to conduct negotiations; with foreign
Powers; to make treaties, by and with the advice
and consent of the Senate ; to nominate all officers,
by and with the advice and consent of the Senate;
to appoint ambassadors, public ministers, and con-
suls, as the general assembly may previously direct,
and also all othea• officers whose appointment has
not otherwise been provided for by law; to fill
vacancies during the recess of the Senate by grant-
ing commissions, -which shall expire at the end of
the next session of the Senate ; to convene the
Senate whenever he thinks it necessary ; provided,
nevertheless, dining the etistence of the conven-
tion, that all treatt.es, directions for the appointment
of ambassadors, ministers, consuls, &c., be subject
to the advice and consent of the convention.
2. That the Gcr vernor immediately appoint four
persons, with the :advice and consent of the conven-
tion, who with 6.4 Lieutenant-Governor shall form
a council to be cal led the Executive Council, whose
duty it shall be to advise with him.
obligations -of secrecy in regard to the above
ordinance were is-ithdrawn.
The convention met at noon to-day.

Mr. Ithett spot o eon the report of-the committee
which had had ul a der consideration the address to
the people of the Southern States, and also oil the
ordinance for the :formation of a Southern confede-
racy. He said the. object was to ensure a speedy or-
ganisation fora pi z rmanent protectior. of our rights.
Lexas and Arkan E as were at last active in favour of
the proposition. I'. te advocated the election of double
the number of rep resentatives to the General Con-
vention as were i, a the present Congress, and was