The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-02-08
Rirhmonn Qispattb.
FRIDAY MORNING. s, 1861
THE NATIONAL CRISIS.
Interesting from the South--L- -tter from
Edward dEverett.-Comparatiye Population
of the Northern and Southern Confedera-
cies-- W aShinRt ton Dispatches.

The Montgomery (Ala.) correspondent OF
the Charleston Mercury, writing on the I'd
inst OF the Cotton States Convention, says; /;
Alabama : very equiyocal invitation VIII
bring a depn ntTtion from North Carolina, Ten
ncssee and perhaps other non -seceGlng states
What they will do here, il is dii!icnlt TO say
Being in the Union, they cannot Join IN the
delibera tions 10 construct Il Southern Confed
eracy. Their counsel and object doubtless Will
be deay-post tponement; and IN TINS policy
they might support or make party IN the Con-
vention, which may oppose immediate action
and the organization OF southern Conteder-
acy. They win fail in their efforts, however
although they may foster discomfort.
The Mississippi State Convention elected a
fun representation 10 the Congress to be estab
lished by the Provisional Government. They
consist Of the late members of the I. =. Con
gress both in the Senate and House, 1t then
sent deputies, TO carry ont here its other ar
range1nenis; which are, to elect, by this CON
reati0a, Senator Davis President 0f the South
ern Confedcracy, ana to take the Constitution
of the United States Just a it is The policy
OF Mississippi, | understand, extends no fur
iheYs permanent Constitution, for a per-
| maneut Government, j. To bc thrown over
! That j. 10 be thought of III some future day,
/ tas Mir. seward says, cone, two, OF three
! wears hence, J when the frontier States are III
| union with uS.
! i propose now to state TO you the Georgia
/ PROJECT II is this : That the Convention here
! shall elecf President of the Southern Con-
| federacy. Bat a President without Il Legisla-
! turt which can create Il CABINET foreign miniS-
/ terS, an army and navy, and raise the money
! to support them, l. an useless absurdity. The
/ tieorgians, therefore, propose that the Con-
! yention here assembled shall assume ali iegis-
! IatiYc power. and shall be Il Senate and House
OF representatives together, aud shall levy
! the taxes. create the offices, and confirm the
+ Hppon tncnts eNp"dicnt for a Prov iSiOnaI Gov
/ ernment, with Il Provisional Constitution to
last for one year. Aud having done tiis tla I
the Convention shall then proceed 10 frame
the permanent Cons titution Tor the permanent
ConiedGracy, 10 be submitted To IN" ConN"n-
tons of the seS eral States for theiI ratifica ion
or adoption.
The Charleston Courier OF "Wednesday,
speaking of Fort Sumter, says;
Much excitement was caused on Tuesday,
in very crcduIous circles, by Il report that
Fort Sumter had been reinforced. We do not
believe IT, but our readers can decide Tor them
selves. We have had conversation with II
citizen who left Fort sumter on Sunday, and
had been engaged there tand at Fort Moultrie)
/ since November, as u workman.
He reports iorty-four laborerS and ninety
six soldiers, (ofcers ucluded,l remaining in
the Fort, with large supply OF provisions
OF these he specifies according TO his know
ledge tifty-eight barrels of pork and beef five
ho9sheadS of mOlaSSes. TWO casks OF vinegar,
with large supplies of flour and potatoes. The
supply of fuel, which was good, had been
lately increased by drifting raft which was
/ secured.
Columbiads, 10 inches, i'll the yard, mounted
on granite, two ranging towards the city, one
towards Sulhvan's Island, and one towards
Fort ohnSon. There are n lso four tolunlblads,
eight inches bearing on Fort Morris, three OF
! the same calibre on Cummings Point, and
four that can be brought 10 bear on Mount
Pleasant or Sullivan's Island at choice. No
reinforcements i'll men have been received
LETTER FROM HON. EDWARD EVERETT.
The following letter was read at the gre;l t
Union Injecting held in Faneuil Hall, Boston,
on Tuesday;
WAsHINGToY, Feb. Q, 1861.
Ny DEAR SIR Il much regret that ii is not
in NV power TO be present at the meeting to
be held in Faneuil Hall next Tuesday. l have
yielded, at the sacrifice OF personal conNe-
nieuca, to the advice and request that would
prolong my stay at Washington, with Il view
to conference with members OF Congress and
other persons from various parts of the Union,
who uniting their coItnStIS ana ell OftS Tor
its preservation.
The crisis is one of greater danger and I'M
! portancc than has ever before existed. Six
/ States have declared their separation from the
/ Union, and the withdrawal of the seventh is
! a probable event. The course of the remain
ing Southern States will be decided in a few
! days. They are under opposing influences
! A strong conservative sentiment binds them
| TO the Union; a natural sympathy with the
seeding States draws them to an opposite iii
roction.
| If they adhere to the Union there will be no
( insuperable dilflculty in winning back the sis
! ter states which have tenn porarily withdra wn
! from rs but if the Border States are drawn
/ into the Southern Contederacy, the fate of the
/ country is sealed. Instead of that palmy
prosperity which has made us tor two genera
! tionS the envy of the civilized world, we shall
! plunge into the road to ruin. We must look
! forward to collision at home-tierce, bloody
/ deadly collision-not alone between the two
great sections of the country, but between
/ neighboring States--town and country, ant
embittered parties in the same city-and
/ abroad we must submit TO the loss of the rank
! we have hitherto sustained among the famIly y
/ of nations Human nature is the same in al
! ages, and the future, now impending over
/ our once happy country, may be read i'll tho
mournful history Of the Grecian and Italian
! Republics and IN the terrific annals of the
/ French revolution. To expect TO hold fifteen
/ States in the Union by force is preposterous
| The idea OF n civil war, acconE%anied, lis Il
would be, by a serviie insurrectlon, is toe
monstrous to be entertained for a moment. II
! our sister States must leave us, in the name
of Heaven, let them go i'll peace.
l agree i'll the sentiment that the people
alone can avert these dire calamities. Pohu-
! cal leaders, however well disposed, are ham
pered by previous cOmmittals and controlled
by their associates. The action of Congress
unless accelerated by ALI urgent impulse from
the ultimate source OF power, is too much i'm
peded by the forms OF legislation ana tedious
/ ness of debate. There Is no hope from the
political parties of the country-agencies I'M
happily too potent for mischief, but, III the
present extremity, powerless for good--except
bv generous sacrifice of all party views, in
tcrest and ambitions to the pubhc weai.
No il is only by the loud, emphatic, ulanl-
nous utterance of the voice of the people, that
the danger can bs ayerted. Let the cry &C
forth from Faneull Hall, and ring through
the land, that the Union must aiushdi DE pfc'
served. (Great cheering
Your friend and fellow citizen,
EDWARD EVERETT.
WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.
The United States troops now III garrison III
this CITY in the vicinity of the War Depart