Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-10-17
8g 09ltgraph.
From Washington.

WAsHISGToSi Oetssl 6.-An othcer of the
Jacob Bell, who has carefully reconuoiter-
ed the Shipping Point battery ON the Po-
I tomac, says there are six guns in position,
4 all apparently of heavy ordinance. The
river there is about mile wider
An intelligent oaicer says the state
ment to the effect that there are six miles
of batteries below Shipping Point, is all
/: nonsense. Vessel might beAunoyed by
batteries from the shore for mile below
there, rs far as Endepsport, but below that
point the Virginia shore recedes from the
channel, and the river widens sol that the
batteries would be useless there. Sixteen
4 or eighteen guns are about the extent of
their armament thereabouts.
The Pawnee, Harriet Lane and Yankee
went down the river during last night.
The Anacosta has had her boilers put
aboard, and is being rapidly fitted up.
The Jacob Bell has gone into The dock
for repairs.
The Navy Department is satisfied from
the official information in its possession
that the steamer Saranac is at San Fran
cisco undergoing repairs. 1t is therefore
untrue that she was lost of the mouth of
the Mississippi in a storm.
Secretary Cameron has telegraphed that
he will return to Washington by tomorrow
morning.
Assistant Secretary. of War Thos. A.
Scott is confined at home by sickness.
The following important circular has
been sent to Gov, Morgan, of New York,
and similar CUES 70 the Governors of all
the States on the seaboard and on the
Lakes:
DRpARrMESr OF STATE,
-s2 Washington, Oct. H. 1861.
To Ms ErceEIeney The GoUernor of Tie
State of NeD York:
S1R THE present instruction had not
even revealed itself in arms, when disloyal
citizens fastened to foreign countries to
invoke their Intervention for the overthrow
of the Government and destruction of the
Federal Union. These agents are known
to have made their appeals to some of the
more important States, without success.
1t is not likely, however, that they will re-
main content with such refusals. Indeed,
tits understood that they are industriously
endeavoring TO accomplish their disloyal
purposes by degrees, and by indirectly
taking advantage of the em6arrassments
of agriculture, manufacture and commerce
in foreign countries, resulting from the in
surrection they have Inaugurated at home.
they seek to involve our common country
in controversies with States with which
every public interest, and every interest of
mankind, require that it shall remain in
relations of peace, unity and friendship.
am able to state for your satisfaction
that the prospect of any such disturbance
is now less serious than it has been Mt any
previous period in the course of the insur-
rection. It it nevertheless necessary to
take every precautton that is possible to
avoid the evils of n foreign war, to be SUI
perindnced upon those of u civil cOmmo-
ton, which we are endeavoring to cure.
One of the most obvious of such precau-
tions is that our ports and harbors on seas
aud lakes should be put in a condition of
complete defence, for any nation may be
said to voluntarily incur danger in tenn
pestuous seasons when it fails to show that
| it has sheltered itself on every side from
which the storm might possibly come.
The measures which the Executive can
adopt in this emergency are such only rs
Congress has sanctioned, and for which it
has provided. The President is putting
forth the most diligeut efforts to execute
these Eueas6Fes, and " I'M the great sat-
isfnction of seeing that these efforts, sec
onded by favor, aid and support Of loyal,
patriotic and self-sacriicing people, are
rapidly bringing the military and naval
forces into the highest state of etfciencyj
but Congress was chiefly absorbed during
its recent extra session with those meas
ures, and did not provide as amply as
could be wished for the fertilization of our
sea and lake coasts.
In previous wars, the loyal States have
applied themselves by Independent and
seperate action, to support and aid the Fed
eraf Government in its arduous RESPONSE
bility. The same disposition has been
manifested in degree eminently honora-
BILE by all loyal States, during the present
insurrection In view of this fact, and re-
lying upon the increase and continuance of
the same disposition on the part of the
loyal States, the President has directed me
to invite your consideration to the subject
of improvement and perfection of the de-
fences ofthe State over which you preside,
and to ask you to submit the subject to the
consideration of the Legislature, when it
shall have assembled. Such proceedings
by the State would require only a tempo
rarv use of its means, and the expendi-
lures ought to be made the subject of con-
ference with the Federal Government
Being thus made. with the concurrence of
the Federal Government, for general de-
fence, there is every reason TO believe that
Congress would sanction what the State
should do, and would provide for its reim-
bursement.
Should these suggestions be accepted,
the President will direct the proper agents
of the Federal Government to confer with
you and SO superintend, direct and conduct
the prosecution of the system of defence
of your State.
1 have the honor, &C.,
(Signed) VIZ, H. SEWARD.
The steamer Mt. Vernon reached Ship
ping Pointjust before daybreak this morn
ing, and unmolestedly passed the rebel
battery, but the Pawnee, following short
time thereafter, was fred upon, between
20 and 30 shots being fired at her. The
Pawnee, according to orders made no re-
spouse.
BY an arrival this afternoon from the
Lower Patomac it is ascertained that both
vessels had safely passed beyond all dam
ger from rebel batteries. t-5t
Maj Novel; Allen, of the N. Y. seth.