The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-03-08
tFRoN OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

WAsHIYGToN, March z, 1861
The first Cabinet meeting of the new Admins
tration ore of a formal than of a business
character, and no Developments of policy took
place. Another will be shortly held, when it is
expected that some movement will be made with
reference to the forts and the collection of the re.
venue. The construction put upon the Inaugural
in these respects by Mr.. Douglas is overstrained
and is an Interpretation designed by the Illinois
Senator to point out to Mr.. Lincoln a mode of es-
cape f he chooses to avail himself of it) from his
extreme positions and also to re-assure the border
States and prevent, if possible any hasty action
| there.
| rupture in the Cabinet at an early day is not
deemed improbable. Mr. Chase is for bold fear
less and uncompromising policy. Mr.. Seward will
wish to resort to evasions and antiquities A COL
lison between these opposing forces is at any mo-
ment imminent, but it is not impossible that Mr.
Seward may yield to the positiveness of the Secre
tary of the Treasury, who will have under his
immediate cognizance the subject of the collection
of the revenue. Should there be a contest in the
| "happy family" predict that Mr. Lincoln will
side with Chase and that Seward will go down in
| the fight.
| have been permitted to see letter received to-
day from distinguished citizen of Charleston,
well informed upon political topics, which furnishes
some interesting information. He states that the
new officer in command, Gen. Beauregard, is
person OF great discretion. and has complete in
| structions to make attack on Fort Sumter until
either an effort is made to reinforce that fort or
some other within the limits of the Confederate
States. Any attempt of this sort will be viewed as
an act OF hostility, ustifying assault upon Fort
Sumter, Pickens or any other place, as NAV be
| deemed advisable. In the meantime the Commits
soners from the Confederate States will DISCHARGE
their duty of arranging for a peaceabe ceding of
the forts, &c, and if they fail. after
reasonable time, the forts in the posses
sion of the United States within the limits of the
| Confederate States will be attacked upon a tho
roughly matured military plan. The issue of
peace or war will be thus distinctly referred to
Mr. Lincoln and his cabinet and in such wav as to
place upon them all the responsibility | therefore
think that immediate hostilities are not TO be look
ed for, unless Mr.. Lincoln should undertake to en-
| force the laws and collect the revenue in accord
| ance with the wishes of the extreme men of his
party.
The Maryland appointments are exciting atten-
ton, and number of the candidates for office from
| Baltimore are on hand. The influence of Mont
gomery Blair will now be potent as regards these
and will be exerted in behalf of the original Re.
publicans, as against the Bel-Everetts Had Win
ter Davis succeeded in his aspirations the former
would have been ignored, but the tables are now
turned. For Collector of Baltimore, William f.
| Coale and Judge Marshall are the prominent
candidates, with the chances in favor of the former
who has the personal confidence of Mr.. Blair and
is strongly backed by recommendations from lead
| ing business men in Baltimore. Mr. Corkran will
probably be your next Postmaster, and Judge
Marshall and others of the faithful will be duy
cared for. The rush for office was never greater
| than now, but Mr.. Lincoln has put the applications
| pretty much in the hands of Committees from the
several States, and will be much influenced BY their
JuuSneut. OBSERVER,