Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-01-04

A large military force went over, last night, I
/ take possession Of Fort Houltne.
Later.-Csstle Pinckney and Fort Moultri
were taken possession Of, last night, by Sout
Carolina military. ssas4..,as i
LATEST ABOUT SECESSION
| Bwchanan Denies Ordering Maj Andsys0n'
Novemest-Mr Holt dezsasaing tAs Sub
Treasury Fhnds at CAayleston- Georgil
Troops called to join tie Soalh Carelisl
E0rcss-A Asmdsv Of tho Cabinet tAs"k
War has. Begun - Forcing Loans q
CAGs lesion n--C Cabissst and Committee Meet
ings, dc. afaes
r. :, s8.ss~ .ss WAsnINGToN, Dec. 28.
Another statement, which seeIns to b'
truthful, is that the South Carolina COmmis
sieaers, in view of the alleged stipulation q
the part of the President that the garrisons
of Chxrleston harbor should not beaugmented
nor the military status of the posts changed
requested the President to inform them
whether Maj. Anderson's movement was ia
consequence of any order issued by him OF
from the War Department. The President
responded negatively. and added that Major
Anderson had acted on his own responsibility
The Commissioners then requested the Pres
ident to remand Maj. Anderson to Fort Moul-
trie, but on this point there was no conclusion
when the Cabinet adjourned.
The Cabinet continued in session nearly
six hours, and it is certain that 1t adjourned
till tomorrow without coming to conclusion
on the affairs Of South Carolina before them.
The act Of Maj. Anderson is generally COM
mended, for, among other reasons, that, while
Fort Moultrie was comparatively weak, and
might provoke the assault of o mob. the i'm
pregnable defenses Of Fort Sumpter placed it
beyond sach contingency, as it could be re-
duced only by regular and protracted ssige,
thus avoiding an immediate collision.
The Seaate's select committee of thirteen
had before them, to day, Mr.. Douglas prop
osition, as presented to that body on the Oath.
Also, Mr.. Biglers proposition for the estab-
lishment Of the line Of S6 degrees, so minutes,
with eight territorial governments to be es-
tablished north or south Of that line, the
geographical area being greater in the former
than in the latter. When each Territory has
population sufficient for one Representative in
Congress, it is to be admitted as State by
Of the President, thus removing
the question from Congress, slavery to be
interdicted north nd tolerated south of that
line. They also considered the proposition
OF Mr.. Rice for the establishment CT similar
line, to admit all the territory north of this
line as one State, to he called Washington,
and all the territory south Of this line as one
State, to be called jefferson, and admitted
with slavery, All these were rejected. The
finding they cannot agree on any
will report to the Senate at
an early day. -.
The House selec ct committee considered the
of Mr.. Adams, of Massachusetts,,
an amendment to the Constitution prohibiting
Congress from passing law interfering with
slavery in the States where it exists. 1t was
agreed to by nearly unanimous vote, the
several dissentcrs considering that the Con-
stitution already gives that security.
About seventy-hve border State Congress
men met in caucus, tonight Senator Crit
tendep presided, ana Colfax and Barrett were
Secretaries. The following propositions were
offered: By Mr.. Barrest-Elevcna amendments
to the Constitution On the slavery question.
By Mr.. Pry or-That any attempt to preserve
the Union of the States Of the Contederacy by
force would be equally unconstitutional, i'm
polite and destructive OF Republican liberty.
By Mr. Fallandigham The Crittenden reso
utions. By Mr.. Cclfax-That the laws OF
the Union should be enforced, and the Union
Of States be maintained, and that it is the
duty of the Executive to protect the property
Of the United States with all the power placed
in his hands by the Constitution. BY Mr..
Morris, of I!linois-That, in maturing any
plan for the adjustment of existing difficulties,
we will keep steadily in view the preservation
Of the Union under the Constitution as par
amount consideration. After desultory
debate, in which Cox, Pryor, Smith, of Vir-
ynia, Clemens, Sherman, Staunton, Colfax,
Hickman, Montgomery, McClernand, Harris,
Of Virginja, and Harris, Of Maryland, partici-
pated, all pending propositions were, on
motion Of the latter gentleman, referred to
committee of one from each Of tie fourteen
States represented, TO report at future
meeting, to be called by them if they agree.
Mr.. Holt, the Postmaster General, has sent
orders to the sub-treasury at Charleston to
remit all the balance ($75. 5.00O on the post
Office account in its possession immediately to
the credit Of that Department. If this order
is not complied with st cnce, he will demand
of the Federal Government to enforce the
order. He also determined, as before sug
eested, to suppress mail matter to and from
South Carolina, if the mails are interfered
with in that State.
The Cabinet broke up, tonight, after FIVE
hours session, without coming to any conclu
sion relative to the disposition of troops at
Charleston, and the impression prevailed that
a conflict was inevitable. Secretary Toucey
and Mr.. Holt urged defense; the others
further evacuation. If necessary.
A dispatch received, to. might, by member
of the Cabinet, says that troops are pouring
into Charleston from al! directions.
The opinion was expressed by prominent
member Of the Cabinet, tonight, that war is
begun.
Georgia troops, at last acc ,unts, were called
in to join the South Carolina forces.
A dispatch from Charleston states that the
proposed State loan Of $40Q, 900 IS already
parcelled out amongst the wealthiest citizens
Of the State, mainly in Charleston, and that
each is expected to furnish his share, under
the penalty Of being considered disafected.
Union Meetfngs. & a-
BALTIMORE, Dec. %.
The meeting at Barnum's Hotel, last night,
so far from being secession meeting, was an
informal meeting Of merchants, members Of
the bar and others, to devise such means as
might be deemed necessary to secure the in
tegrity Of Maryland in the present threatening
aspect Of affairs. 1t was composed Of con-
servative, union-loving men, but the privacy
with which the pro eedings were conducted
gave an impression to some that it was of IN
opposite character.