The Sun.
London, England, 1861-01-19 00:00:00

AMERICA.

SOUTHAMPTON, FRIDAY.

The United States mail .steamer Fulton, Captain
J. A. Wotton, arrived off Cowes at noon from New
York, with mails of the sth inst., and went on to
Havre. She brings 17 passengers for this port ;
35 passengers, 16,299 dols. in specie, and a cargo of
wheat, &c., for Havre. No specie for England.
Spoke the bark Sovereign, and ship Medway, going
into New York.

The advises by this arrival, which are two days
later than those previously to hand, are interesting
and important.
The National Fast Day, appointed by the Presi-
dent, and accordingly recommended by the Gover-
nor of the State of New York, was observed on the
4th in the city of New York by an almost universal
cessation of business. The city churches were nume-
rously attended, and sermons appropriate to the oc-
casion were preached in all the churches and
chapels.
The galleries of the United States Senate at
Washington were densely crowded again on the 3d
with people who desired to hear the conclusion of
Senator Baker's speech, and the address of Senator
Douglas on the great question of the day. Memo-
rials, numerou sly signed by citizens of Philadelphia,
were presented by Mr. Bigler, asking the Senate to
pass the resolutions recently presented by Mr.
Crittenden, and the latter gentleman followed
with a resolution that provision be made by
law for takiig the sense of the people with
reference to them. The natter was laid over for the
consideration of unfinished business, and Senator
Baker, of Oregon, proceeded to finish his speech
in reply to Senator Benjamin, of Louisiana, com-
menced on the previous day. He was followed by
Mr. Douglas, who took the position that the laws
could only oe enforced by civil process, or by a
force headed by a civil officer, and that when rebel-
lion became revolution and a de facto Government
was formed then war could be declared. In the
House the proceedings of a meeting held in Jeffer-
son, Ohio, repudiating the idea of compromise and
endorsing the sentiments of Senator Wade, Hale,
and others, were referred to the Committee of
Thirty-three, after considerable opposition. Mr.
Bingham reported back from the Judiciary Com-
mittee the Bill further to provide for the collection
of duties on imports, with various amendments. It
gives the President power, whenever the laws are
likely to be interfered with, to establish a Custom-
house in any secure place on the land, or on board a
vessel, and the collecter of the port, when such ar-
rangement is made, must have his residence where-
ever the Custom-house may be. The matter, by
special agreement, was to come under the head of
unfinished business on the following Tuesday. The
House, for want of a quorum, adjourned over
until the 7th inst.

In Washington, on the 4th, matters were rather
dull, Congress not being in Session, and the day
being generally observed in accordance with the
President's request. The most important item of
news is in reference to the efforts of the Govern-
ment to obtain and retain a proper respect for the
Federal laws and Federal authority at Charleston.
It was intimated that should the Senate confirm
the nomination of Mr. M'lntyre to the collectorship
he would, instead of going on board a man-of-war,
proceed direct to Charleston, and endeavour to
perform his duty on shore. The President, it was
thought, would nominate a marshal for the district

to accompany the collector.
Warlike movements were still reported in the.
'Southern States. A telegram from Mobile an-
nounces the seizure, on the morning of the 4th, of
the United States' arsenal at that place, in which
were stored 1,500 barrels of powder, 300,000 rounds
of musket cartridges, and other munitions of war,
but only six stand of arms. It was also rumoured
that Fort Morgan had been taken possession of.
'Fort Pulaski, . below Savannah, was occupied by
the Ge.orgian forces on the 2d inst., by order of the
Governor. It appears also that the United States'

revenue cutter liolphin was seized at that port,-but
that Governor Brown subsequently ordered her
restoration to the Government. Meantime (says
the New York, Times) another proof that the
Administration, whatever may have been its course
heretofore, now intends to enforce the Federal
laws, is to be found in an order yesterday promul-
gated, at Fort Leavenworth, as coming from
Genecral Scott, that all the available forces at that
post must hold themselves in readiness to move to
Fort. NPFlenry at a moment's warning.
A_ despatch of the 3d, from Washington, says :
" The President has returned the last communication of
the South Carolina Commissioners unopened ; and he has
(Eclined to receive anything more from them. They left
in the morning boat for Charleston.

" The Sayan-nail forts were seized by citizens of Georgia,
at suggestions telegraphed from this city by the Georgian
delegation in Congress. The Augusta arsenal has been
some days in their possession.
Prominent citizens of North Carolina, on hearing the
report that troops were ordered south, called on Governor
Ellis, and demanded the seizure of the forts at Wilmington.
The demand being refused, they determined to act on their
individual responsibility, when a despatch received from the
lion. L. 0' B. Braaeh contradicted the report, and stopped
the movement.

" North Carolina considers her forts and arsenal within
her grasp whenever policy dictates the seizure.
" The reports that armed bands were organising to take
possession of the Capitol before the votes for President and
Vice-Pre,blent are counted, meet with credence every-
where. General Scott is actively engaged in the prepara-
tions for putting down this Jacobin mob.
" Republican members of the Senate and House have
been apprised of a contemplated assassins' attack upon
them, but are generally prepared.
" The Committee of Thirty three met this morning and
discussed Nelson's proposition without coming to any defi-
nite conclusion. Slavery in the district was the subject
under consideration.

" It is understood among Democratic senators that the
nomination of 3rlntyre as collector at Charleston shall not
be confirmed, as a Western senator declares that, if neces-
sary, he will consume every Executive session in debate in
order to defeat it.

" Intelligence was received last night that Fort Sumter
is now besieged; that all Major Anderson's communica-
tion was cut off; that Fort Moultrie has :been completely
repaired, and the guns remounted, and that everything is
in readiness to open a fire on Major Anderson. New bat-
teries aro being erected around him by the Secessionists,
and every day his danger and the difficulties of reinforcing;
him are increased. His frequent applications for rein-
forcements, and even the tears and prayers of his wife,
having failed to move the President, he has determined
never again to renew his request, but will perish, if he
must, in the fort. His men have bound themselves by rn
-oath to stand and perish mith him.
" It is beyond a doubt that a committee is forming to
take forcible possession of the Government at Washington
on or before the 4th of March, but the precise time is not
yet determined.
" The above is from sources which leave no doubt of its
reliability."

A subsequent telegram denies that portion of the
above despatch relative to the besieging of Fort
Sumter, that place not having been attacked, and
all was reported quiet at Charleston on the 4th.
The following despatch of the 4th is from Wash-
ington :

" The departure of the South Carolina Commissioners,
chafed and belligerent, awakens the public mind to matters
which must follow. Pending the negotiations of these
commissioners with the President it was well understood
the following propositions had been met and considered by
the Governments of the States interested, but they were
not then known to the Government of the United States :
" Ist. That in the event of a rupture with the United
States Government, the authorities of South Carolina, in
their sovereign capacity, would immediately seize the forti-
fications and all defences of the State harbour.
" It would seem that Major Anderson had a premonition
of this determination, and acted accordingly on last Christ-
mas night, by removing his forces from a weak point to the
strongest one in the harbour of Charleston.
"2d. That all forts, arsenals, dockyards, barracks, &c.,
belonging to the United States, situate on the southern
coast, including fortifications from Cape Henry, in Virginia,
to the southernmost coast borders of Texas, should be im-
mediately seized by States troops upon the first intimation
of Government coercion upon South Carolina.
" 3d. That the telegraph, railroad, and stage stations in
the interior districts should be placed under the censorship
and control of duly appointed State agents in their several
localities.

" 4th. That intercommunication between Southern and
Northern ports should be interdicted, so far as the intro-
duction of articles contraband of war into Southern from
Northern States may be concerned.
"sth. The expatriation from Southern States of all
Northerners and others who do not recognise the right of
secession, or co-operate in the secession or co-operation
movement.

" 6th. The seizure and confiscation of all goods contra-
band of war.

" 7th.,;The confiscation of the:property of non-sympa-
thisers.

" Bth. The defence of ;the State against foreign
come from what quarter they may. legions,
" The above programme will be followed out if the border
States sustain South Carolina in her initiative movement.
Georgia is in arms already ; so are Alabama, Mississippi,
Louisiana, and Texas, with the more northern of the
Southern confederacy to join them in the first flush of vic-
tory, or of decisive action on the part of the Palmetto State.
That Virginia will not be behindhand there is the best as-
surance from the border counties."
Another despatch, of the same date, says :-
4, Some seven or eight persons, takers of half of the late
ten million loan authorised this Session of Congress, arrived
here from New York yesterday. They negotiated for five
millions of the loan, at 12 per cent., and paid all of it except
3,100,000 dole., which amount comes due to-morrow. The
Bank of Commerce and the American Exchange Bank are
the largest takers. The subscribers to the loan do not wish
to pay the balance, because, they say, the Treasury Depart-
ment is in the hands of the secessionists. If that depart-
ment is placed in the hands of the Union men they will
lend the Government what money it may want, and not
-)therwise.

"All the senators and representatives, including seces-
sionists, have been paid their salaries up to the Ist of
January, except the south Carolina members, who were
paid up to the time they left, about the 20th of December.
" There is nothing additional of importance received by
the Administration from the South to-day. Neither is there
any news concerning the taking of the forts in North
Carolina, and it is not believed either by the Government
or the delegation in Congress. Governor Ellis, they assert,
never would sanction such a proceeding! What a mob or a
few people under excitement may have done, of course, is
not known. The President cannot believe that so unuolse
a measure could be recommended or tolerated by the
Southern States generally, If they should do so they would