The Sun.
London, England, 1861-03-25 00:00:00

AMERICA.

SOUTHAMPTON, MARCH 24.

The steamship Adriatic, Capt. Jefferson Maury,
which landed mails at Queenstown yesterday morn-
ing, arrived here early this morning. She brings 53
passengers for this port and 22 for Havre, but has
neither specie nor' cargo. The Adriatic left her dock
at New York at 8 a.m, on the 13th inst., but was
detained by fog until 6 p.m. ; arrived at Queens-
town at 3 a.m. on the 23d, and, having landed
mails (which would in due. course have come by the
Australian) left again at 6 a.m., arriving off Cowes
at 6.30 a.m. to•day, and came cm immediately to
Southampton. Moderate weather was experienced
during the passage. The Adriatic will be docked
and surveyed here previous to taking her place on
the Galway line, having been purchased, 'la already
stated, by the Atlantic Royal Mail Company.
The steamers City of Manchester and Niagara,
from Liverpool, arrived out on the 11th, the former,
at New York and the latter at Boston.

It appears by the latest advices from Washington
that very little doubt was entertained that Fort
Sumter would be evacuated, and the impression was
general that the Cabinet had decided to issue an
order to that effect. A despatch of the 12th says:
"It is generally conceded among military men
here of longest experience that Fort Sumter cannot
be reinforced without great loss of life and the ex-
penditure of millions of money. In this opinion
General Scott and Secretary Cameron fully concur.
It is understood that the President and Secretary
Chase have been strongly opposed to abandoning
the post, and they are constantly receiving remon-
strances from Northern Radicals against the evacu-
ation. Some of these even go so far as to threaten
political retribution and the destruction of the
party. Several letters and papers with marked
articles upon the subject have been received by the
President and Cabinet. All this, however, will have
no effect upon the settled policy of the Administra-
tion, which I have the strongest reasons for believ-
ing is to avoid any collision at Charleston. Forts
Pickens and M'Rea will not be disturbed, however,
at present, as it is deemed necessary to have forces
along the coast in case of an emergency. Rumours
about the evacuation of Fort Sumter are at least
premature. No such orders have yet been given,
but nearly all consider it inevitable."
Another despatch of the same date announces the
refusal of the Administration to receive the Southern
Commissioners :

" Washington, March 12.
" Yesterday Mr. Seward informed the Southern
Commissioners that he would see and confer with
them, and was glad of the opportunity, and that he
would inform them this morning of the time and
place of interview. This morning he addressed to
them a briefly written communication, stating that,
upon reflection, and for political considerations, he
must decline to see them. It appears that
in the meantime he had conferred with the Cabi-
net on the subject, and that they had changed
their policy. The Commissioners will now
address an official and formal communication
to Secretary Seward, setting forth the character
and purpose of their mission. It is believed that
this change of policy on the part of Mr. Lincoln,
in declining to receive them, grows out of the fact
that he has got to abandon Fort Sumter, and that
is as much as, and more than, the Republican party
can stand at once. If the Administration abandon
Fort Sumter, it by no means follows that they in-
tend to abandon the public property within the
limits of the Confederate States. They will pursue
a policy towards them that will lead to complica-
tions and difficulties innumerable."
A despatch of the 12th inst., from Montgomery,
gives the following synopsis of the permanent Con-
stitution adopted by the Congress of the Confede-
rate States of America for the fundamental law of
the seceded States :

" No person who is foreign and not a citizen of
the Confederate States is allowed to vote for any
officer, civil or political, State or Federal.
" Under the first census, South Carolina is en-
titled to five representatives in Congress ; Georgia,
10 ; Alabama, 9 ; Florida, 2 ; Mississippi, 7 ; Lousi-
siana, 6 ; Texas, 6 ; and each State to two senators.
" The State Legislatures may impeach judicial or
Federal officers resident and active in said States
by a two-thirds vote.
" Both Houses of Congress may grant seats on
the,floor to either of the principal officers of each
Executive department, with the privilege of dis-
cussing measures of his department.
" The representation on the basis of three-fifths
for slaves is continued.

Coligress is not allowed through duties to foster
any branch of industry.
" The foreign slave trade is prohibited.
" Congress is prohibited from making appropria-
tions unless by a vote of two-thirds.of both houses,
pacept the appropriations be asked by the head of
some department, or the President.
"No extra compensation to be allowed to any
contractor, officer, or agent after the contract is
made or the service rendered.
" Every law shall relate to but one subject, and
be expressed by titles.
"The President and Vice-President are to hold
office for six years.
The principal officers of departments and the
diplomatic service are removable at the pleasure
of the President. Other civil officers are removable
when their services are unnecessary, or for other
god causes and reasons, Reraoya) s must be re.