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

TILE UNITED STA TES.

THE SEIZURE OF THE FORTS BY THE
CITARIESTON 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
The New York Berald, 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 purposes ; for it is known that General Scott
expressed the 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 most experienced
military officers in the country coincide. It is
conceded that it would require a continuous bom-
bardment of six months with guns of tho 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
ult..—

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 Moal-
trie 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., tinder 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 serNlces.

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

7. The officers aforesaid shall retain in their bands
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.
Dona at Charleston the 26th day of December,
in the year of our Lord 1860.
D. F. JAMISON, President.
B. F. Arthur, Clerk.
The following are the latest despatches from
Charleston :

CHARLESTON, Dec. 28.

An ordinance, entitled " An ordinance to amend
the constitution of South Carolina in respect to the
Execulive Department," was passed in tha secret
session of els couvention 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 app,z#iit ambassadors, public ministers, and con-
sul",aB the general assembly may previously direct,
and also all other officers whose appointment has
not otherwise .been . provided for by law ; to fill
vaeancieiduri nt 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 ne'cessary; provided,
nevertheless, during the existence of the conven-
tion, that all treaties, directions for the appointment
of ambassadors, ministers, consuls, &c., be subject
to the advice and consent of the convention.
2. That the Governor immediately appoint four
persons, with the advice and consent of the conven-
tion, who with the Lieutenant-Governor shall form
a council to be called the Executive Council, Whose
duty it shall be to advise with him.
All elilikations of secrecy in regard to the above.
ordinance. were withdrawn.

The cmrvention met at noon to-day. •
Mr. lthett spoke on the report of the committee
'which had. had under consideration the address to
the. people of the Southern States, and also on the
ordinance.for the formation of a Southern confede-,
racy. Re said the object was to ensure a speedy or-
ganisation for a perimanent protection of our righti.
Lexai lend Ailiansas were at last active in favour of
the proposition. Headvocatedtheelection of double
the number of representatives to the General Con-
vention tw were in the present Congress, and was

in favour of the adoption of articles of consideration
for a provisional government.
In the secret session, yesterday,Mr. Memminger,
to whom had been referred the resoluti,ns of the
convention of citizenship, reported an ordinance :
" That every person residing in South Carolina at
the time of the secession from the Uvited States,
whether born or resident or a naturalised citizen,
f,' hall continue until death a citizen of South Caro-
lina, unless a foreign residence be established or
notice of intention be given of expatriation ; also,
that all free whites born within the territory of the
state, or those born outside the territory whose
father was then a citizen, shall be deemed citizens;
also persons from any one of the United States, who,
within twelve months from the secession of this
state, shall reside within its territory, with the
intention of remaining, shall, upon taking the oath
of allegiance, he declared a citizen ; also, that
citizens of other states, coming here after the expi-
ration of a year from the date of secession, and
actually residing seven months, with the intention
of remaining, shall become citizens upon taking
the oath of allegiance ; also, all free whites enter-
ing the military, naval, or civil service of the state,
shall become citizens upon taking the oath of
allegiance."

PROCLAMATION OF THE GOVERNOR.
Governor Pickens, of South Carolina, has issued
the following proclamation :
" Executive Department, Charleston, S.C.,
December 24, 1860.
"By his Excellency Francis W. Pickens, Governor
and Commander-in-Chief in and over the State of
South Carolina :

"Whereas, the good people of this state, in con- I
rention assembled, by an ordinance unanimously
adopted and ratified on the twentieth day of Decem-
ber, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and sixty, repealed an ordinance of
the people of this state, adopted on the twenty-
third day of may, in the year of eur Lord one
thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight, and
have thereby dissolved the union between the state
of South Carolina and other states, under the name
of the United States of America.
,g I, therefore, as Governor and Commander-in-
Chief in and over the state of South Carolina, by
virtue of authority in me vested, do hereby proclaim
to the world that this state is, as she has a right to
be, a separate, sovereign, free, and independent
state; and, as such, has a right to levy war, con-
clude peace, negotiate treaties, leagues or covenants,
and do all acts whatsoever that rightfully apper-
tain to a free and independent state.
" Given under my hand and the seal of this state,
at Charleston, this twenty-fourth day of December,
in the year of our Lord one thousand sight hun-
dred and sixty, and in the eighty-fifth year of the
sovereignty and independence of South Carolina.
"F. W. PICKENS."
The Charleston Mercury thus describes the
scenes attending the signing of the Secession
Ordinance :

"The scene was one profoundly grand and im-
pressive. There were a people assembled through
their highest representatives—men most of them
upon whose heads the snow of 60 winters had been
shed—patriarchs in age—the dignitaries of the
land—the high priests of the church of Christ—
reverend statesmen—and the wise judges of the
law. In the midst of deep silence an old man,
with bowed form and hair as white as snow, the
Rev. Dr. Bachman, advanced forward, with up-
raised hands, in prayer to Almighty God, for his
blessing and favour in this good act of his people
about to be consummated. The whole assembly at
once rose to their feet, and, with hats off, listened
to the touching and eloquent appeal to the All
Wise Dispenser of events.
" At the close of the prayer, the President ad-
vanced with the consecrated parchment upon which
was inscribed the decision of the state, with the
great seal attached. Slowly and solemnly it was
read unto the last word—' dissolved;' when men
could contain themselves no longer, and a shout
that shook the very building, reverberating, long
continued, rose to heaven, an ceased only with the
loss of breath. In proud, grave silence the conven-
tion itself awaited the end with beating hearts.

"The members of the convention then advanced
one by one, and placed their signatures to the
ordinance, after which, amidst the most tumultuous
applause, the President proclaimed the State of
South Carolina a separate, independent nationality."
The Palmetto flag was raised early yesterday
afternoon over the Custom-house and Post-office.

At five o'clock last evening the Palmetto lag
was raised at Castle Pinckney.
A large military force went over last night and
took possession of Fort Moultrie.
Captain Humphreys still holds possession of the
Arsenal.

Castle Pinckney and Fort Moultrie are occupied
by the State troops, under the instructions of the
Governor of the State to hold peaceable possession'
of these forts, and for the purpose of protecting the
Government property.
Castle Pinckney and Fort Moultrie were held by
about 12 men, who peaceably surrendered. There
was no collision. None was anticipated when the
troops left the city to garrison these forts. The
excitement is subsiding.
The New York Times of the 29th says
The news from Charleston continues to be of an
exciting character, and indicates a determination
on the part of the South Carolinians to precipitate
a direct collision with the Federal Government ' • in
fact they have already gone so far as to place
themselves in an attitude of rebellion. The Palmetto
flag was raised on Thursday afternoon on the
Custom-house and Post office, and in the evening it
was displayed on Castle Pinckney and Fort Moul-
trie, lately evacuated by Major Anderson and his
command. These two fortresses were occupied by
the State troops, under the instructions of Gover-
nor Pickens. They found in them only 12 men be■
longing to the Government forces, who of course
quietly surrendered. This is the account telegraphed
from Charleston, but as the telegraph-office there is
understood to be under control of the Charlesto-
nians, who will not permit any matter to be tele-
graphed which does not suit them, it may or may
not be the exact tiuth. What Governor Pickens
proposes to gain by his descent upon the dismantled
fortress on Sullivan's Island does not clearly appear,
as the ordnance in it was rendered useless by Major
Anderson, and the guns of Fort Sumpter command
it in the most complete manner. The action of
Major Anderson in evacuating Moultrie continued
to be the exciting topic in Washington yesterday,
and the excitement received fresh impetus on the
announcement that the South Carolinians had taken
possession. The first information of these matters
was communicated to the President and Cabinet
by the commissioners from the Palmetto state ;1

Who it is understood expressed great indignation at
the act of Major Anderson, in view of the alleged
stipulation on behalf of the administration, that the
garrisons in Charleston harbour should not be aug-
mented, nor the military characters of the post
changed. The President thereupon assured the
commissioners that Major Anderson had acted
entirely upon his own responsibility, whereupon
they demanded that he should be ordered back to
Fort Moultrie. This demand was the subject of
serious consideration in the cabinet up to a late
hour last night, at which time no conclusion had
been arrived at. In case this modest demand is
not complied with, it is alleged that the gentlemen
Making it have expressed the determination to
close the door to further negotiation, and return
immediately home. There appears to be some
doubt, however, as to whether Major Anderson did
or did not act upon his own volition, notwithstand-
ing the allegations of the President. Our corre-
spondent intimates that he may have proceeded
upon private instructions from Mr. Buchanan,
and this view is borne out by the assurances given
by him to Mrs. Anderson, that her husband should
come to no harm. Whatever may be the truth in
regard to the matter, the movement of Major
Anderson is generally commended. Meantime the
hope that a compromise of the difficulties existing
in the Union may be effected grows strong every
day. The house committee of 33 had a long session
yesterday, at which the members from the North
and South exchanged views and opinions• in the
most friendly manner. The territorial compromise.
before alluded to, did not come up, but instead Mr.
Adams, of Massachusetts, proposed a resolution
declaring it expedient to amend the constitution, so
that no future amendments' in regard to slavery can
be made, excepting at the request of a slave state.
This proposition, it is understood, while it is
tthheer
n republicans,
ebe
to
con-
sidered unnecessary by m
generally acceptablesome
eSoouf
Cobb, of Alabama, and others openly endorsing it,
and expressing the belief that an amicable arrange-
ment can now be made.

In a lone house, I have known a young couple
snowed up on the only night of the year when their only
servant was absent. She was on a visit, and was to return
the next morning.. It was' so dark that master and mistress
overslept themselves. They heard nobody stirring, and no
hot water appeared. When they found how late it was,
'there' was no fire, nor any means of making one. The mas.
ter doubted about reaching the coal-house, for the snow
was piled higher than the house door. Ho tunnelled a way
through, and, after a world of trouble, they got a fire and
tea; 'There was very little food in the house, as the servant
wan to bring a supply. They could do nothing but wait;
and the sensation was of being stilled, as they were nearly
enclosed in a snow hive. • The butcher's man, in the middle
of the day, observed the state of affairs, and found the maid
caTink desperately, at the nearest point of approach. She.
was soon• restored to her kitchen and her duties, but the
little household naturally watched the snow clouds very
clesely from that tilne ferward,—" January" in Once a
WON,