Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1861-01-10
From our Washington Cores
pendent.
WAsnINGroN, Jan. 7th 1861.

Another week of the session gone with
scarce nm effort in either Branch of Congress
to heal discussion or restore peace!
In the lower House a species Of l2thargy
or incompetcncy seems to have paralyzed all
e1ort A sort Of indefnabIe dread has seized
upon the majority lest an attempt at relief
should result in worse confusion and still
greater complications.
The pulsation Of Congressional life strug-
Cling towards a more healthy action of the
public heart finds its only outlet in social in
terchange, the frequent meetings Of the spo
cial COMMITTEE Of thrty-thrce and the action
Of an irregular border State Committee Of
Fourteen.
Public expectation Of report from the
first named Committe during the past week
has been disappointed, and if the counte-
nances Of those who compose it afford any
indication Of their progress towards an agree
mcnt they are more remote from it now than
hey were a week ago. lnSteld of booking
the crisis sqrarrIy in the Glne, dis'ri ujnatug
between the rcal and the imdy'HuJy. aud then
by a prompt, coucise ard decided rep 1T
throwing themselves upon the intelligence.
patriotism and affection OF tie Nation inrthr
Union as il Is, they have expended days,
weeks aud months in talk which is excluded
rom the public ear and the public eve, each
with SCI crate plan Of adjustment aud in
favor Of no other, until the Country, wenriei
by delay has despaired Of any thin, from
that quarter many too, have been lie To be-
Iieve thereirom that the difficulties were rent
and insmmOuatdie. whilst the incitors and
abettors OF treason and revolution have been
the gamers in time and the recipients Of all
aud comfort from these i'll high places. 1t
is not surprising, therefore, that good mcu
should lie casting about for some other source
of comfort than is afforded by Union saving
Committees. 4 months honest, l!burious
and searching debate in the House of Rep
resent tives would at least have been ciicctual
in ventilating and exposing the falldcy aud
insignifflcercy Of any real necessity for con-
stitutIonal amendment or just cause for break
ing up the Union. Public men unlcrrats
he Intelligence the patriotism aud the abili-
ty of the maSses Of their fellow Citizens to
discern what is right to realize Just where
We stand and to act upon their convictions
in crisis like the present. Toe much is left
to politicians and uJt enough 1" the people.
We are prone to forget that our Government
is aaamUlJHS in that it is composed Of men
educated, trained for self-Goyerument and
perfectly familiar with tie WORKINGS Of the
system uIder which they live. We need no
better evidence OF this than is afforded in the
action of the people Of Maryland at the pre-
sent time. With all eyes upon her, with
sagacious, practical and discreet Governor,
the people in utter disregard Of the atic.Hpts
of political leaders aud in thorough contempt
If designing demagoGues are sustaining his
Excellency, from the Alleganies to the Bay
shore, by letter, by petition and in public
meetings.
The novelty of the initial steps towards
the inauguration of Revelation has worn of
and the people are unawares being ami liar
ized t. news such as would have cOnvulsed
the Nation but few months back. The
reason is that they have heard so much oi
dissolution for years past from the lips
moutEing politicians, now when it is upou
them they are untitled 10 its realzation.-
Without some signal interpostion ol Divine
| royidcnce the 4th of March next will wit
res this Union rent.-wIth States not mere
" discordant ut belligerent South Carolina
and her sister Cotton States pursue their mad
work of secession with undated zeal. She
sits in her convention, seized of the General
'' fN'NN'SSN " ~
iurts aud arsenals. in open rebellion. Florida
has perhaps by this hour followed her example
while Georgia, Mississippi and Alabama are
fastening to the sam, purpose. The South
Coroliaa Commissioners failing to obtain such
a recognition from the "old Pub Func," as
was satisfactory. shook the dust Of the Fed
era Metropolis from their feet and returned
home, next to be heard from, it may be,
when Federal Army shall be marshallei
against the rebel subjects Of rebellious
State.
Confidence was somewhat restored as soon
AS it became known that Gen. Scott was at
the back of the new Sec. Of war tllolt of Ky.)
1t is said the Gold Hero" declares his deter
mination to put down rebellion and preserve
the public peace at every hazard.
The Senate thus far in the session has been
the scene of unrivaled attraction. Benia-
min of La. let off a speech in favor Of ssces-
sion such as one of his astute mind and
great legal ability only could conceive. He
was replied to by the new Senator from Or
eg N tMr. Baker, in mastery speech which
covered tho almost entire sitting of two days.
1t was bold, comprehensive and logical and
!, --,norrcsd By those who were fortunate