Daily national Democrat., 1861-02-08
Condition of the Country.
Los ANGELES. Feb. 9Th.

Los ANGELES, Feb. 9th.
The following dispatch has been received
by the Union:
ST. Louis, Ian. 17th.-Nothing is known
yet, about the action of the Cabinet at WASH
ington in regard to Lieut. Talbot's mission.
Gen. Scott, knowing that the Departments
are ful of traitors, who inform the seceders
OF every movement of the Government, has
made such arrangements that the military
measures against South Carolina will remain
a perfect secret
Ihe Chicago Democrat says the Eastern
States, especially New York, are furnishing a
vast amount of arms for Southern traitors.
inns should be at once stopped The Con-
stltutlon defines treason to consist in levying
war against the United States, or in adhering
to their enemies, giving them aid and COM
lort The Grand Juries of the various coun-
ties should indict all persons selling arms to
the seeding States.
Archbishop Purcell, of Cincinnati, has pub
llshed circular. urging on the clergy and
faithful OF that dioces prayers for the Union
The Providence journal says that it is a
long time since our city has been in such a
state OF excitement as was produced 10y the
news which reached us yesterday morning
Military ardor arose at an unprecedented rate
lhe men who have been advocating the most
peaceful and eonciliatory plans, declare that
the time for an amicable sediment with
South Carolina has now passed. She had
begun the war with the General Government
and she must take the consequences. The
manner in which the intelligence was receiv-
ed, shows plainly what Rhode Island NAV be
relied on to if the Government has need of
her services to aid in the preservation of Or
der.
The Charleston Mercury of January 10th,
contains the following:
j. N. Merriman, Collector of the port of
Georgetown, South Carolina, was on Monday
last arrested by the people of Georgetown on
a charge of treason against the State A let
ter was found written by him and addressed
to Mr. Buchanan, stating that he (Merriman)
had just cleared vessels in the name of the
United States, and would continue to do so.
The letter calls upon the President to send
boat and men to collect the Federal revenues,
and informs him of the progress made in the
construction of the works near Georgetown,
and promises to keep him posted from time
to time in relation to the same The letter
is signed by his initials-J. N. NJ. When ar.
rested he acknowledged having written it.
His Deputy was also arrested. He said he
had been il the habit of writing Merriman's
letters but had not done SO in this case, as he
considered it treason. Both have been COM
mitted for trial.
The Washington correspondent of the N.
Y. Evening Post writes:
Compromise continues hopeless. The prop-
ostion of the House Committee, including
Mr.. Adams plan for the admission of New
Mexico as a State, and his constitutional
amendment against Congressional interfer.
ence with slavery in the States and Winter
Davis amended Fugitive Slave bill, and cer-
tain general resolutions, not proposing legis>
.~tion by Congress-, but expressive of Con-
gressional opinion, disappearing of uncon-
stitutional personal liberty bills, etc, will be
offered by the Chairman, Mr.. Corwin, next
week, and at the same time a minority dis
senting report, by Messrs Washburn, of
Wisconsin; Tappan, of New HamI shire, and
perhaps two or three Others But the South
is not inclined to take so mild dose as that
OF the Committee. They will accept nothing
short of the Crittenden amendments. These
would probably hold back Virginia and all
the border States, but the Republicans seem
inclined to risk disunion and civil war before
they will accept them.
Doubtless, if the question depended on
themselves alone, compromise might be
made but the CONSTITUENCIES outside the
great cities blow but one strain, and that is
mo compromise"
The Louisville journal, of January 10TH
says that the New Orleans secessionsts have
seized four thousand five hundred kegs of
powder shipped from the East for st. Louis,
and appropriated it to their own uses.
Midnight or midday robbery seems to be
adopted as an important part of the secession
programme, wherever and whenever such q
roceeding ecms calculated t. promote the
ends of the revoIutionists. Those New Or
leans robbers have not even the excuse or
pretext that the powder seized by them eth
er belonged to the General Government or
was on its way to non slaveholding State