Litchfield enquirer., 1860-12-27
NEWS OF THE WEEK.


 os secession, seem to attract very little attention in Washington. Scarcely any thing was said in reference to the matter Saturday, and it is un- derstood that the advocates of the disunion movement are very much chagrined at this fact The South Carolina members of the House who, it is expected, will retire on Monday after clearly declaring the action of their State-now urge the utmost prudence and caution to avoid a collision with the United States authorities until the other Southern States shall have sig nifed their intention. The representatives of Alabama and Mississippi held meeting yester day to consider the propriety of withdrawing with the South Carolina members, but after full discussion of the subject, they came to the conclusion that it would be better to remain un- til their respective States had taken some def- nite action. The Cabinet held long session. but the result of their deliberations had not transpired. Both the Select Committees of Congress also, had meetings, but it does not ap- pear that any thing of importance was done. THE THREE Commissioners of South Caroli- na, appointed by the State Convention to pro- ceed to Washington to treat with the Aminis- ration relative to the possession of the folts in Charleston harbor, and other matters, were duly accredited on Saturday, and started on their mission. Several reports from Committees were made in the Conventien-among them one by Judge McGrath regarding the property of the United States within the limits of the State, which was considered in secret session. Ne re- port relative to the customs and postal matters has yet been made, but it is expected that the revenue laws of the United States will be adop- ted-the Collector of the Port taking the oath of allegiance to South Carolina-and that the Post-office arrangements will remain unchanged How all this is to be affected, however docs not appear.
 STARTLING ENTERTAINMENT OF GOVERNMENT FuSDs.-A startling robbery in the Department of tho Interior at Washington, had been sud- denly brought to light. by the confession of Goddard Bailey, a clerk in the Interior Depart ment, of nearly one million ef dollars! The iuAuS StUlCu HIC hNOWH dS tuC luQlslu rust Fund" which has accumulated for tke benefit of the various Indian tribes, under our treaties with them.
 This Bailey was disbursng Clerk in the Inte rior Department, and as such, had the keys of the safe. He is of the violent "tSouthern Pa triot' School, and had already given notice to the President that he would resign on the 4th of March, as he would not serve under Mir. Lin coln ' s...
 It is said that the funds were used to cover up an indebtedness of Secretary Floyd of the War Department, and & Committee of Invcsti- gation has been ordered by the House.
 TIE PEOPLE of Pittsburg and vicinity were thrown into stats ofsthe greatest excitement on Monday, bya revelation of tine fact that U. s. Quartermaster Taliafero was arranging for the shipment of seventy-eight heavy guns to New port Texas, and fortys;x more to Ship Island, near the Bal:ze. from the Alleghany Arsenal the apparent object being to place thcm in po- sition where they coiild be seized by the Seces.- ionists. 1t appears that the forts at the points designated are new, and have never had any guns. and that those in question wers originally de signed for them. In the present condition of af- fairs, however, the citizens of Pittsburgh think it better that the guns should remain where they are, and measures are being taken to retain them.
 DISASTROUS FIRE IN NEW HAvEs-FnlGurFuL Loss OF LIFE.-At about o'clock. on Friday morning, fire was discovered in the tenement house on East street, New Haven, known as the old carpet factory. The Fire Department was on hand soon after the alarm steamer included, but the building was entirely destroyed. The structure was about 150 feet long and contained 26 families. Some of them succeeded in saving their furniture, or portion of it, while others lost everything. '<~
 The Register of that evening says In the center of the building, family by the name of Colbert, occupied rooms in the third story, and t is supposed that the fire originated there.-- Colbert came home on the boat in the evening and was met by his wife. After they reached home, some disturbance took place between them and it is supposed that they were intoxicated.- The noise was kept up till about one o'clock, and it is supposed that lamp was upset and the building set on fire. A young man IT or IS years of age, named Michael Colbert, got up, and it is said, aroused his father and mother, and urged them to escape. but they declined to make the attempt, and the young man sprang from an upper window and was so badly injured by the fall that he is not expected to survive. The other members of the family, six in number, were all burned to death. Their names are Michael Colbert, aged about 50, Ellen. aged about 40, John aged II, Dennis aged l2, Ellen aged and Julia aged 3. The bodies were taken from the. ruins and conveyed to the police station, wheres a large number of people locked to view them. The poor creatures were burned all te crisp, and unrecognizable." t@
 A young man named Augustus Benton was run over by the steamer while on the way to the fire and was dangerously injured about the heap.
 THE CANADIAN FUG1rIYE SLAVE CAsE.-In the case of the fugitive slave Anderson, his counsel, in the Court of Queens Bench, on Saturday, gave notice of his intention to appeal from the decision of the Court. Chief Justice Robinson said that there was no rule upon which an ap- peal could be claimed, but if the Court of Ap- peels chose to entertain the matter, the Court of Oueen's Bench would ofHar no onDosition The