Spirit of the age., 1861-04-10
Washington Items.


the administration considering the propriety
of reinforcing Forts Sumter ana Pickens,
was started for the purpose of affecting the
New England elections They were inform
ed that the abolition wing were threatening
to 60 against TIE republican nominees, in
the event that the administration abandoned
Forts Sumter and Pickcns. and hence this
new species Of political tactics.
If this was the object of the ruse, it has
accomplished the end, for the black republi-
cans have carried all the New England
States, as usual. But what must the YAM
KEGS think of old Abe for thus pulling the
wool over their eyes," when they are now
told that the following is the policy of the
administration towards the seeding States
"There is no real ground for any appre-
tensions of civil war, at least not as far
as the agency of the administration will co.
No attempt will be Immediately made 10 coli
lect the revenue in the seeded States by
men-oi-war. In fine, nothing will be done
likely TO precipitate conflict The belief
In voluntary return of the seeding States
to the Union has been abandoned, and the
cognized by the administration. The Exec
utive and his constitutional advisers we'll
know that the assertion of the supremacy
of the federal laws, "a ct ornais, within the
iebelllouS States, would inevitably involve
the federal authorities in a war of subjuga
ton, in which they have no desire to engage"
COERCION NOT Communicable Ma
tlonal lntelligencer, in reply to a subscri-
Der IN one of the seeded States, says, we
are not apprized Of any designs on the part
OF the Federal Government against the peace
of the seeded States. So far from medita-
tating the military subjugation' of the South,
! the administration, as we learn, is studiously
desirous to avoid the very appearance of prac-
tising anything like constraint on public
opinion, and as evidence of this disposition,
we understand that the troops about 10 leave
Texas, instead of being distributed at points
in Virginia and North Carolina, where it
might have been otherwise most convenient
to station them, have all been ordered fur
ther North, where their presence can irrtate
no excited sensibilities and give rise to no
panic fears"
THE FOREIGN Policy OF THE ADMINIsTRA-
TIoN.-Mr. Seward is busiy engaged in pre-
pairing instructions for the newly appointed
reprcscn atives of the government abroad,
all of whom are expcc ted to repair to their
, respective posts at the earliest possible mo-
, ment Those of the Ministers to Europe
= and Central America will embrace the ques-
If ton of the recognition of the Confederate
: States by foreign powers, which will be pro-
= tested against until the legal status of the
: Confederate States will be acknowledged by
IT the parent government.
y WAsHINGroN, April 2.-The government
loan of S8,000,000 was taken at about 93t.
'e Nearly $50, 100000 were bid for.
- WASHINGTON, April 1.-The riddle of Fort
Y. Sumter is not yet solved. The shrewdest
: politicians think that Seward is deliberately
playing the game of delay and inaction anc
}" that Lincoln will not assume the response
o bility of any decided movement while hi
IS can.
c, 1t was said that Fort Pckens was rein
forced more than week ago, and that sew
eral hundred United States troops were ia
W ken in, from vessels off IN the stream, by
:. small boats at night.
: The Southern commissioners, however
. doubt the truth of the report and profess t.
IN have assurances from the Government to tn
A. contrary.
m INsoLENcE.-0ld Greeley of the New Yorl
tn Tribune, old Abe's right hand man, thu
I'd closes an article relative to the proposition c
a. Virginia to hold a Border State Conven
he ton, for the purpose of laying down an ulti-
or matum to the north
OO The mere suggestion Of such an offer a,
this from Virginia is an Insult to the peopl
at of these United States, and the most befogget
- Pro-Slavery advocate cannot honestly sal
"e there is even a remote possibility of it's &C
sc ceptance.
re This border State, then, may to-day stan
D. where she will surely stand some month
or hence when her brazen proposition shall hav
VI been rejected. If she intends to consult he
an own interests and remain in the Union, le
Ito her say so at once, and throw such infuenc
es as she possesses frankly and fully on the sid
Of loyalty and honor. If she has reall
's- determined to secede in case her ultmatuI
m is rejected then let her go at once for her die
lst tation will never be allowed We're she te
8. times Virginia
tie THE New TARIFF LAw-TAx on SALT
The "Morr i'll Tariff Law" went into effet
Monday, and in a short time we shall be alb
'" to see how it works. In the meantime Il
ale following from the New York Herald, poin
pa ing out one of its provisions will possess i
ant terest:
Salt is acknowledged to be universal n
cessary in the curing of meats; yet this q
ticle, which every poor man must use, is enc
DIS. mously taxed. 1t is well known that Turl
,e- Island salt, produced by solar evaporation,
=, the only kind used in the United States f
"~' curing beef, pork, &c. American boiled s;
an contains SO much lime as to render it un
lille for that purpose. 1t has not the requis
ON penctratve strength All government CO
,or tracts require that its provisions shall
~ cured with Turks Island salt. The duty
all the Morrill, tariff is four cents per bushel
and 90 lbs. on thi. salt which weighs about
lbs to the bushel This makes the duty We
near six cents per bushel and as the priI
-. cost at Turks Island is only to cents 7
''' bushel, it shows the tax to be nearly 100 I
an cent. Those who use it in curing provisio
will, of course, add this additional cost to tn
of prices, which the consumers, including
laboring classes, must pay. Liverpool sail
also heavily taxed. A duty of six cents
for bushel of Sc lbs. is imposed upon it VIII
{ TO bushel weighs about SO lbs. A ton of t
salt, (2.200 lbs.) in Liverpool costs 5s
ste, e,ing, or about 81 37t, while the duty
the ton will amount to about 81 40, or
six nearly 100 per cent This too, on an arti
eek. which finds its way into everybody's dish
This is nrotpctinp free labor with a yauoear