Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-01-23
SUMMARY OF NEWS.

sionists in South Carolina are resolved to push
matters to the extreme. The visit of Colonel
Hayne, tl.eir last messenger, who succeeded
Talbot, was intended to ntimidate the Pres
ident by informing him that, unless the Amer
lean flag was removed from Fort Sumter, ana
the fort itself surrendered, they would take 1t
at every hazard. They made the same demand
of Major Anderson, who responded by telling
them that he would defend the flag to the ut
termost, and perish before he surrendered the
castle He referred them to Washington where
his superiors reside. The President peremp-
torily refused this demand, but, in order that
no misapprehension might occur, requested
Col. Hayne to present his suggestions in wri-
ting. Col. Hayne has therefore wisely con-
cluded to reduce his demand for the abandon
ment Of Fort Sumter to respectful .sugges-
tion to that effect, which is not likely to pro-
duce much impression. This change of posi-
tion was brought about mainly after confer
ence with leading Southern men, who could
not sustain such an application after the Pres
ident had already refused it, and his Cabinet
were known to be unanimous against the con-
cession. The same influences have endeav
ored in every way TO prevent collision at
Charleston, and to effect such intercourse and
relations between Fort Sumter and the city as
will restore the forms, if not the feelings, of
amity. They begin to discover that war, thus
wilfGlIy inaugurated. must, sooner or later, be
followed by fearful retaliation. Thus far South
Carolina has put herself entirely in the wrong,
in the estimation of even those who sympa-
thize with secession.
CoSDITIoS OF FLoRIDA.-The Hon. James
a. Peden, formerly United States Charge at
Buenos Ayres, arrived on Thursday from Flor
ida, of which State he has been citizen ever
since it became State. He is q thorough u
MON man. lie declares emphatically that i'm
mediate Secession is not the sentiment of the
people, as was clearly confessed by the refusal
of the Legislature to submit the ordinance OF
Secession to the people for their ratification.
He says the whole move is one of set of tra-
ding politicians, who are using the Secession
project for their own selfish purposes. IIav-
ing control of the Legislature, they used it as
an instrument for their own mischievous ends.
He states further that the treasury is abso-
lutely empty, and the revenues of the State
exceedingly limited. To raise the first thou
sand dollars for Secession purposes, direct
tax must be laid. This would speedily effect
reaction and bring the masses to the work of
oveithrowing the Disunionists but to avoid
such a result the leaders design to levy the tax
on negroes and other property, so that its
weight shall not fall upon the poor masses,
who are relied upon 10 sustain the Secession
movement. This, of course, will make the
burdens upon the property y-holders ruinous,
and tend to the speedy destruction of every
material interest of the State.
The VOYAGE OF THE BRooKLYS.-lt is now
asserted that the object of the Government in
sending the Brooklyn to Charleston was not to
help the Star of the Vest to deliver reinforce-
ments and supplies to Major Anderson, but to
direct her TO return to Hampton Roads, and
there await further orders. A correspondent
OF the N. Y. Times says that her officers were
commanded s'to proceed direct to Charleston
harbor, but not to go over the bar, nor come
to anchor, but lay under steam outside and as
certain if the Sfar Of the Nest had landed her
troops; IL not, to countermand her ORDERS and
order her, with the troops, to Hampton Roads
and also to gain any information they could
to the existing state of affairs there and then
to return Immediately to Hampton Roads"
The captain, on arriving off the harbor, spoke
the schooner Edith, and learned that the Star
Of the West attempted to enter the harbor, but
was fired into and put to sea again, when he
concluded that his mission al Charleston was
virtually at an end, and therefore returned;
but, as may be well imagined, there was no
little regret and Indignation among the crew
that, at time when the gallant commander
of Fort Sumter was in particularly unplea-
SAINT and restrained position, they could do so
little to relieve him.
BrGLER's PRoPosIrIoN. Bigler of Penn
sylvania, on the 14th introduced resolutions
calling upon the people of the United States
to hold an election throughout the country on
February 18th, and vote for the acceptance and
rejection OF amendments to the Constitution,
said amendments proposing to divide all pres
ent and future territory between Freedom and
Slavery by line on the parallel of sc 80, and
not only to permit Slavery to extend itself un-
checked South of that line, but to guarantee
and protect it there by constitutional sane
tious. He also proposes to deprive Congress
of the power to abolish Slavery in places un-
der its exclusive jurisdiction, and to make, the
United States pay for fugitive slaves. These
clauses he proposes to make perpetual, never
to be amended or stricken out.
BALTIMORE AND THE INAUGURATION Word
has been forwarded to Gen. Scott from Balti-
more that 1900 young men are fully organiz-
ed and ready to come on from that city at the