The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-02-05
The News.

The Peace Conference met at Washington yes
terday, aud organized temporarily by appointing
Mr.. Wright of Ohio, Chairman, and A. E. Ward,
of Maryland, Secretary. committee to select
permanent officers was appointed, and 1t is sup
posed ex-President Tyler will be chosen to pre-
side. Without transacting any other business, at
halfpast one o'clock the Convention adjourned.
All the States that have appointed Commissioners
were represented, excepting New York, Tennessee,
Missouri and Illinois. Eleven States were fully
represented. No reporters were admitted to the
Convention.
There was considerable excitement throughout
the city yesterday, caused by report that Fort
Sumter had been reinforced. There was however,
not the least foundation for the rumor.
The United States storeship Supply, from Pen
sacola, arrived at this port yesterday, bringing
quite a number of officers of the navy and their
families, and among them Mrs. Slemmer, the wife
of the commander of Fort Pickens. A letter from
a correspondent, describing the seizure of the
public property at Pensacola by the secessonists,
may be found in another column.
The latest accounts from Pensacola make no
mention of the arrival of the sloop. ofwar Brook
Ign of that port.
The election of delegates to the Virginia State
Convention took place yesterday. The reports
that have reached us indicate that the people
have declared against secession.
Gov. Brown, of Georgia, has demanded Of Gov.
Morgan the immediate surrender Of the arms re-
Gently seized in the city by the Metropolitan
police, by order Of Superintendent Kennedy, and
in his communication expresses the hope that q
like outrage will not again be committed.
Gov Morgan has not yet replied to the demand.
The Illegal action Of the police in this matter,
If not speedily repudiated, will doubtless lead to
reprisals on the part of Georgia.
The United States Senate yesterday presented
,ther scene of painful interest. Messrs. Slidell
Benjamin. the Senators from Louisiana,
withdrew from Congress, their State
( seeded from the Union, and both
cred eloquent valedictory addresses. The
beers of the House from Louisiana, with
exception of Mr.. Bouligny, win probably
thdraw to-day. Mr.. Wilson offered resolution
alling on the President TO communicate to the
Senate whether any arsenals, forts, arms or muni-
tons Of war belonging to the United States have
been seized by any persons in the State Of Lousi-
ana. and especially whether the mint Of the United
States at New Orleans has been taken possession
of unlawfully by any persons; and If any money Of
the United States, and, If So how much, has been
unlawfully appropriated by any persons, and by
whom. Laid over. The debate on the crisis was
resumed, and Messrs. Clingman and Hale made
speeches on the subject. The bill providing 60
vernment for the Pixies Peak region was taken up.
sKhe name of the Territory was changed from
Idaho to Colorado, and the bill was passed. The
SIS 900 900 loan bill was reported by the Finance
Committee. and made the special order for to-day.
In the House Mr.. McClernand, Of Illinois, asked
- ,ur a agftinu forth the "a
relative to The seizure Of the mint and money at
New Orleans. and the refusal to pay drafts drawn
by the United States on their own money and
concluding with resolution calling on the Prcsi-
dent to communicate to the House at an early
day, IL in his judgment not incompatible with the
public interests all the facts on the subject, and
what steps, IL any, have been taken to restore the
government possession of said property and trea-
sure. Objection was made and the subject was
passed over resolution to admit the delegates
TO the Peace Convention to the floor Of the House
was also objected TO. In Committee Of the Whole
the Deficiency Appropriation bill was discussed
The Senate's amendment, appropriating $500, 600
for the Chiriqui Isthmus purchase, was rejected
The senate's amendment, appropriating sl35, Ood
for the purchase Of government printing office,
was agreed TO. During the present week the
mouse VIII hold evening sessions for dlscusson on
the crisis. About City speeches have already
been made on this subject in the House, and
should all who desire to speak on It obtain IN OPP
portunity the debate will probably last 70 the
breaking mp Of the present Congress-.
A mass meeting Of workingmen took place last
evening at the Steuben House, Bowery, about two
hundred persons being present. The chair was
taken by Charles McCarty and q series Of rcsoIu.
lions in favor OF Union and Cancellation, combined
with the administration Of The laws according "a
the constitution, and also calling upon Congress.
peacesbly 70 settle the present difficulty by di
rectly appealing to the votes Of the people, wcr,
reed. The meeting was addressed by Messrs. y
). Sullivan, Ira B. Davis Major Hennesy Cutler
and Others, arguing that the use bf afbitra, mea
sures was not necessary, calling upon the repub
Leans 10 offer the olive branch Of peace an,
speaking 10 favor The Crittendan compromise a.
most likely 10 moet The views Of tho soutbayy