The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-08 00:00:00

AMERICA.

LIVERPOOL, THURSDAY.
The Canadian, which touched at Londonderry
yesterday, arrived here to-day.
The Ariel had arrived at Liverpool from Aspin-
wall with 1,500,000 dollars on freight.
In the Senate, on the 23d, a number of petitions
were presented on the state of the Union. A
motion to take up the Crittenden Resolutions was
lost by 27 to 24. No business of interest was trans-
acted on the 24th. On the 25th petitions in favdur
of the Crittenden Resolutions were presented.
In the House of Representatives on the 23d, Mr.
Clemens (Democrat, Virginia), rising to a personal
explanation, said—
" He perceived from the official report that his
colleague (Mr. Martin) is reported to have ex-
pressed a wish that he (Clemen,) should go on
with his traitorous remarks. He understood that
his colleague made some other observation which
did not reach his ear. It was now for him to say
at first, as well as at last, the position which he
conceived it his duty to take in this national emer-
gency was taker lielibetateirtintwith-the expec-
tation that he would be subject to personal defa-
mation. If his colleague's remarks was intended
to give offence he pardoned him for the reason he
was now labouring under a physical infirmity with
a reeking wound received in a personal encounter.
If his colleague had a like fracture in his thigh
bone, and had been crippled for two and a half
years, he would find a bullet not a comfortable
sensation. (Laughter.) He did not desire to be
put in a caricature in Punch or Vanity lair, as
leaning on a cane with one hand and holding a
pistol in the other." (Laughter.)
The consideration of the report of the Committee
of Thirty-three was resumed by Mr. Etheridge, of
Tennessee, in a lengthy speech. The debate was
continued until the number of members had
dwindled down to about a dozen. The Speaker laid
before the house a communication signed by all
the Georgia representatives, Mr. Hill excepted,
announcing the secession of that State, and adding,
" That having dissolved her political connexion
with the Federal Government, and having thereby
repealed the ordinance of 1788, by which the
Constitution was ratified, and having resumed the
powers heretofore delegated to her, we hereby an-
nounce that we are no longer members of the House
of Representatives."
A communication was road from Mr. Hill, of
Georgia, in which he says :
" Satisfied as I am that a majority of the people
of Georgia, in Convention now in session desire
that State no longer to be represented on this floor,
I, in obedience to their wishes, do hereby resign
the scat I now hold as a member of the House of
Representatives for that State."
They were laid on the table and ordered to be
printed. On the 24th and 25th the discussion on
the report of the Committee of Thirty-three was
continued. On the 26th Mr. Grow, of Pennsyl-
vania, asked leave to introduce a resolution for the
appointment of a select committee of five, to in-
quire as to the existence of an organisation for the
seizure of the Federal buildings, and whether any
officer of the City or Federal Government are
members. The resolution was adopted.
The following paper was in circulation among
the members of the House of Representatives, and
had received signatures :
" We, the undersigned, members: of the 34th
Congress, convinced by the various votes taken on
the several propositions presented for our conside-
ration from time to time, that there is no hope that
any measure which will reconcile the existing dif-
ferences between the sections of our country can
receive a vote of a constitutional majority, and as
none of the present members were elected in view
of the existing troubles, and believing that, in a
time of so; great peril, it is proper to refer this
question to the people of our several districts, pro-
pose that the members of this Congress shall resign,
to take effect on the 21st of February next, and
that we immediately provide for the election of our
successors by the people, who shall assemble here on.
the 22d day of February next, and to these repre-
sentatives, bearing the instructions of the people,
the various propositions of compromise now pend-
ing and hereafter to be proposed shall be referred.
The election is not to interfere with the officers and
employes of this house."
The House Military Committee had 'prepared a
Bill appropriating 1,150d1. to indemnify the soldiers
of Fort Sumter for their losses in consequence of so
suddenly leaving Fort Moultrie.
General Scott has issued a general order calling
upon officers of the United States' Army imme-
diately to report themselves at head-quarters.
General Scott is alleged to have received detailed
information of a plot to seize the United States'
Arsenal at St.. Louis. The Brooklyn had sailed from
Norfolk for the South with sealed orders. She had
two companies of troops on board.
On the 23d the Georgia Convention selected Mr.
Toombs and Mr. Howell Cobb as State delegates to
the Montgomery Convention. The ordinance about
the African slave trade was amended, declaring it
not piracy, but substituting for violations of the

former Federal laws imprisonment in, the Peniten-
tiary. It was passed unanimously. On the 24th
700 of the State troops demanded the surrender of

the Federal Arsenal at Asgusta. This demand was
immediately complied with. On the 25th a resolu-
tion was presented in the Convention that no State