The Sun.
London, England, 1861-03-29 00:00:00

AMERICA.

SOUTHAMPTON, MARcil 28.
The North German Lloyd's screw steamer Bre-
men, Captain H. Wessels, arrived off Cowes at an
early hour this morning with New York advises of
the 16th inst., and has gone on to Bremen. She
brings 94 passengers, 26 of whom are for this port,
and 68 for Bremen. She has had westerly winds

during the passage.
The Etna, from Liverpool, arrived at New York
on the 14th, and the Prince Albert, from Galway,

on the 15th inst.
Advices by this arrival are three days later than
those brought by the Adriatic.
There was no further definitive news relative to
the reported intention of the Administration to
order the evacuation of Fort Sumter. All that was
known was that the Cabinet held another meeting
on the 15th, and it was supposed that they were in
consultation on military affairs. General Scott was
present. In connexion with this subject it was said
that great weight was attached in political eircles in
Washington to the declaration of Mr. Fessenden
if. the Senate, that the Administration contemplated
a policy of peace, and would exercise no authority
not strictly in accordance with law, and not until
ample time had been taken for the examination of
the question in all its branches.
But a short time was spent in open session by the
Senate on the 13th. During that time a resolution
was offered by Mr. Douglas calling upon the Secre-
tary of War for information relative to the forts in
the seceded States—whether it was necessary to re-
occupy them; and, if so, what force would probably
be required to accomplish that object. Messrs.
-Wilson, of Massachusetts, and Mason, of Virginia,
objected to its consideration, and it was consequently
laid over. A resolution was also offered by Mr.
Fessenden, of Maine, directing the Secretary of the
Senate to strike from the roll the names of those
senators from the seceded States who had declared
that they were no longer members. No action was
taken on it.
On the 14th Mr. Mason, of Virginia, offered a
resolution calling for information as to whether
any portion of the Militia of the district of
Columbia had been mustered into the service of the
Government. Mr. Sumner objected, and the sub-
ject was laid over. The Senate refused, by a vote
of 16 to 24, to proceed to the consideration of Mr.
Douglas's resolution calling for information relative
to the Southern forts and other public property.
Mr. Fessenclen's resolution, declaring the seats of
Senators from seceding States vacant, and directing
that their names be struck off the roll, was dis-
cussed at considerable length. The resolution was
modified so as to direct the Secretary of the Senate
to " omit their names respectively from the roll,"
and then passed by a vote of 24 against IQ.
An interesting and exciting scene occurred in the
Senate on the 15th. Mr. Mason, of Virginia, again
brought forward his resolution of inquiry relative
to the Militia of the district of Columbia and the
service in which they had been employed by the
Government, which was laid over, its immediate
consideration being objected to. Mr. Douglas then
called for the consideration of his resolution
making inquiries in regard to the fortifications in
the seceded States, and proceeded to make a speech
censuring the Republican Senators for their
silence regarding the policy of the Administra-
tion. He was replied to by Mr. Wilson, of
Massachusetts, and Mr. Douglas rejoined, and
was understood to say " the Senator from Maine,"
which Mr. -!,Fessenden corrected. Mr. Douglas
denied that he used the language attributed
to him ; and, on Mr. Fessenden persisting, Mr.
Douglas pronounced it " false," and that Mr. Fes-
senden " knew it to be false." Mr. Fessenden re-
plied in a "keen, cool, and scathing" speech. He said
he would concede to Mr. Douglas everything he
claimed except that he was a gentleman, which he
could not acknowledge, because he had used lan-
guage which no gentleman, without greater provo-
cation, ever used. Mr. Douglas rejoined, saying, as
Mr. Fessenden proposed to settle the matter else-
where, he had no more to say. Mr. Fessenden re-
plied, denying that he had said so. The skirmish
was very sharp. Mr. Fessenden said Lincoln had
declared his policy to be peace ; that he would
enforce the laws' where he had legal authority to
do so—otherwise not. With this declaration he
believed the country- was content.
The Cabinet had sent several nominations to the
Senate—among them that of Col. E. V. Sumner,
as Brigadier-General, in place of the traitor Twiggs,
and several army promon'ons. The mission to
Spain was at first declined by Cassius M. Clay, but
it was understood that he had been prevailed upon
to accept it. Joshua R. Giddins will probably be
Consul-General at Montreal, and Mr. Thayer Con-
sul-General at Alexandria. The mission to London
was understood to lie between the Hon. W. L.
Dayton and the Hon. C. F. Adams. General
Spinner, chairman of the Committee on Accounts
in the last House of Representatives, is to be the
United States Treasurer at New York in place of
Mr. Cisco. Mr. Elijah Crosby, formerly of New
York, but now of California, was appointed Minister
at Guatemala. It was understood that the Cabinet
had agreed upon Mr. Holloway, of Indiana, as
Commissioner of Patents.
The Commissioners from the Southern Confedera-
tion, at Washington, had sent a communication to
the State Department requesting recognition by
the Government, with the view to the opening of
negotiations, at the same time stating that the Secre-
tary of the Commission would call for an answer
at noon on the 14th, At the hour designated the
Secretary called at the State Department, when he
was informed that the Administration desired time
for further reflection on the communication sub-
mitted. It was said that the Commissioners did
not expect an answer for several days, and it was
understood that the subject of their embaisy was i
engaging the attention of the Cabinet.
The New York Tribune of the 16th publishes an
authentic copy of the permanent Constitution of
the Southern Confederacy, the provisions of which
differ in several respects from the telegraphic sum-
mary brought by the last mail. The Constitution
provides for the election of members of Congress
every second year, the representatives not exceed-
ing 1 for every 50,000. Alabama, until an enu-
meration is made, will be entitled to nine represen-
tatives, South Carolina six, Georgia ten, Florida
two, Mississippi seven, Louisiana six, and Texas
sib ; total, 46. Each State will have two Senators,
and they are to be elected for six years. The times,
places, and manner of holding elections for Senators
and representatives shall be prescribed in each State
by the Legislature thereof, subject to the provisions
of the Constitution. Congress is to assemble once a
year, and such meeting shall be on the first Monday
in December unless a different day is appointed.
The importation of negroes of the African race
from any foreign country other than the slavehold-
ing States of America is forbidden, and Congress is
required to pass such laws as shall effectually pre-
vent the same. Congress also has the power to
prohibit the introduction of slaves from any State
not a member of, or of a territory not belonging to, '
the Confederacy. No tax or duty shall be laid on
.articles exported from any State, except by a vote
'of two-thirds of both houses. The President and
Vice-President are to hold their offices for six
Sears, but the President shall not be re-eligible. If
.there is not a majority of the electoral votes cast for
w7Reeansieidate for the Presidency, then the House
reepy ) :entatives is to elect. States (Slave or
`,vote onaf two-thirds
be admitted in to the Confederacy by a
Ind tilirds of the Flouse of Representatives
states. two-thirds The of the Sena te, the Senate voting by
Mates shall heatifitation o t. the Convention of five
a dent fol! the establishment of
the Constitution
same. When between
the States so ratifying
h
Cortstitution shall have been
ratified in the manner
onstiti.42,..n *(1 the Congress under
tae Provisional
shall prescribe the
time of holding the elect ion of President and Vice-
Pl•esident, and for the meeting of the Electoral
College, and for the coun tiug of votes and inaugu-
gating the President. Ti 'aey will also prescribe the
time for holding the firs t election of members of
Congress under this Com ititution and the assem_
bling of the same.
There was nothing of interest to ,report with
reference to the proceedir igs of the C.E.A. It was

expected that a recess would soon take place. The
Alabama Convention has already- ratified the new

Constitution.
A telegram from Savannah states that the
Georgia Convention had " transferred" the forts,
arsenals, arms, and munitions of war lately seized
by order of Governor Brown to the Government of

the Southern Confederacy.
Ex-President Tyler occupied the whole day, on
the 14th, in the Virginia Convention, in his reply
to the speech of Mr. Summers. He had not con-
cluded when the Convention adjourned. The speech
of Mr. Summers is represented to have been the
ablest yet delivered in the Convention. The im-
pression was pretty well fixed that an ordinance of
secession could not now pass, and, even if it could,
that it would be voted down overwhelmingly by
the people. On the 15th Mr. Tyler closed his
speech. He takes the position that Virginia should
put forth an ultimatum, demanding full and ample
security for Southern rights as the only condition
upon which she can remain in the Union, and he is
inclined to the belief that the cotton States will
eventually return. The various reports of the Com-
mittee on Federal Relations were to be taken up
by the Convention on the 16th.
It is stated in a telegram from New Orleans that
Captain Hill, Commander of the United States
troops at Fort Brown, Texas, agreed on the 6th inst.
quietly to surrender that fort to the Secessionists,
and that he would evacuate as soon as transports
for his forces could be procured. The steamship
Daniel Webster was still lying off Brazos, awaiting
the embarkation of the United States troops which
she had been detailed to carry off.
The New } ork Times says :—" Governor Hous-
ton does not seem disposed to allow the Seceders
to have everything their own way in Texas after all.
According to a despatch which reaches us from Gal-
veston he has refused further to recognise the State
Convention, considering that its functions termi-
nated with the submission of the Secession ordi-
nance to the people. He accordingly announces
that the Legislature is soon to meet, and himself
will now attend to such public questions as may
arise, and declares himself in favour of a new Con-
vention to make necessary changes in the State
Constitution. He at the same time does not hesitate
to declare his opposition to the Southern Confede-
racy. The Convention have taken issue with him,
and have passed an ordinance claiming full powers,
and proposing to consummate the connexion of
Texas with the Southera Confederacy as speedily
as possible. They also propose to make it obliga-
tory upon all State officers to take an oath to sup-
port this new Government, and, on the refusal of
Governor Houston, to supersede him. Meantime
a report is current that the Governor is raising
troops on his own account."
The polls at Petersburg, Virginia, closed on the
15th, and the result of the three days' voting was
879 for secession, and 762 against it
Accounts from Charleston say that Governor
Pickens and General Beauregard had decided on
erecting fortifications at Steno, and at all the inlets
leading to that harbour.
Col. Forney, in command of the Pensacola Navy-
yard, informed the commander of the Brooklyn, on
the Bth, that he could get no more water or coal at
that station.
A Bill had been introduced into the Southern
Congress to establish an Admiralty Court in Missis-
sippi, the judge to reside at Vicksburg. News had
been received at Montgomery that five United States'
war vessels left New York on Tuesday night, well
armed, and with a large number of Marines and
ample provisions on board, believed to be destined
to some Southern port.
The first case of real difficulty growing out of the
absence of United States' collectors at some of the
Southern ports occurred on the 14th inst., and re-
snited in the seizure of the schooner Restless, at New
York, from Havannah, the collector at Mobile re-
fusing, as a United States' officer, to exchange a
coasting license for a register in order to permit
that vessel to go to Havannah for a cargo. The
captain "protested." The Spanish Consul counter-
signed his document, and he then proceeded on his
voyage. At New York Collector Schell seized the
vessel for a violation of the laws. The facts of the
case had been sent to the Secretary of the Treasury,
who it was believed would remit the penalty in-
curred.

An important decision was given on the 14th
inst. in the United States' Supreme Court, in the
Kentucky and Ohio mandamus case, which was
decidedly adverse to Kentucky. It was held that,
while it was the duty of a State to surrender fugi-
tive slaves on proper proof, Congress could not com-
pel State officers to do their duty. The mandamus
was, therefore, refused.
The steamship Tennessee arrived at New Orleans
from Vera Cruz, bringing the important intelligence
that the British Minister at Mexico had formall3
recognized the Constitutional Government. Gen.
Uraga had aceepted the mission to the United
States.