Smyrna times., 1861-02-07
Written for tbs Smyrna Times
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
WILMINGTON. Feb. 4. 1861

little interest by millions of our people, and is
likely to become "a memorable day in the his !,
tory of the country" Delegates will convene ;
to-day at Montgomery, Ala, TO form South ,
ern Confederacy; and, in response to resolu-
tions of ihe Virginia Legislature, delegates
will also meet to-day in this city washing
tom. "to adopt such measures of compromise
and Cancellation as may again unite the North
and the South, and thus restore peace TO the
country; and today, also, the people Of Vir-
GINA will choose delegates to State Conven.
tlon--in favor Of secession, as friend from
the interior of the Commonwealth has written
me.
As TO the action of the Border State Conven-
vention, now assembled at Wizards Hall, in |
this city, it would, of course, be premature to
speak at the present writing. Suffice it to
say, much--veTy mueh-is hoped for in this
direction, though many of the well-informed
express fears that the Republican part of the
Convention are not disposed to make any con.
cessiOn-they affirming that the Constitution
is good enough at it is, and needs no amend.
mant. II this be true, and-cOntrary to the
wishes of their constituents, as evinced in reso.
lutions and petitions now pouring into Con-
gress from every quarter OF the North-they
persistently adhere to such a policy, thus, in.
deed, are all hopes for speedy and amicable
adjustment al an end the South-every South.
ern State (Maryland and Delaware, perhaps,
excerted,) will secede in less than a month, to
find in a Toson hat Il
tee of protection and equality which had been
denied them in the old. But cannot yet be-
ieve that the Republicans here will so disre-
gard their own interests, the interests OF the
people they represent, or the interests Of the
country as to reject all fair and honorable mea.
sures of concilatioR.
Aside from the slight rays of hope presented
by the Convention above alluded TO, the times
seem unusually periIous. In oil portions OF
the South the note of preparation is sounding,
and the people are placing themselves in q
fighting attitude. Well.organized soldie com.
panies are increasing in number, and grow in
Numbers almost daily. as the readers of the
TIMES ire aware and the seizure Of the U. s.
mint and cuslom.house at New Orleans, and
the forts and the arsenals, in other quarters o.
the Sunny Cline. to say nothing of the earnest
{ preparations that are being made to attack
: Forts Sumter and Pickens, but too plainly show
b that the Southern heart" has, indeed, beer
"fred,' and will be in the fight, if, unfortu
It nately, fight ultimately ensues. In old Vir
!. ginis--it might be noted here, particularly, il
"A yio Of hoH
10 said to be at least one hundred and twenty fv
lie thousand men equipped, and ready TO bear arme
ID The Federal Government, on the other hand
In is hot entirely inactive, in the way of prepare
ton. We have observed the arrival OF thrG
te hundred Federal troops at New Orleans; tn
sailing, from Norfolk, of the sloop of wa
ri Brooklyn, with two companies for Fort Picl
re ins; and the mounting of large gurs, viii
Iy points inland, at Fortress Monroe, in Virgins
u besides the fresh arrival of about thousar
~ troops in this cty--all demonstrations :" thu
in bespeak perilOus times in unmista kable term
Ia this city the volunteer corps is enlargir
al rapidly, several large companies having bet
Ike recently organized; and citizens, qualified u
is der the law, have been advised to be in reat
ice ness, liable, as they are, at any moment, TO
vii pressed into active serVice-it is presumed,
pa. aid the federal troops in protecting the Cover
- mGnt property, and TO preside, with them,
70. the Inauguration of the President elect of 1
ex. American Republic. | have said, to aid
protecting the government properiy"--thou
there has not been, and doubtless will not be
oh ! he af
es- either it's seizure or destruction. The CT
me- gressional Committee, appointed to inquire il
tile the conspiracy, have examined more than
ons dozen wltnesses-among them Gen. Sec
Ime Mayor Berrett, and other oficials-withC
eliciting the slightest fact that would 60
,,,. prove a conspiracy in the premises; and
- only evidence at all, Of such a conspiracy,
- likely to be found in resolution adopted
49,, public meeting lately held in Prince Georg
county, Maryland, which declared that, Il
State would assert her right to the District
}. of Columbia, in case of dissolution of tAe Unto
tive The investigation, thus far, has proven
,r "great conspiracy to be all bOsh-an
lich rumor-whch some believe to nave been
first whispered into the ear of Gen. Scott BY
Excellency. Gov. Hcks--or put in circulat
" by some other politician.
Mr.. Lincoln will arrive in this city on
10Th instant, and will put up at Willar
with his family, who are expected here alb
mi. the same time. | understand, some prepu
.rcb. lions are making for an inauguration ball,
II Of be given on the night of the 4th of March;
it is to be devOu'ly hoped that this will be
only uguroiiOn ball Ut the season.
.':D Ihsve passed over the recent proceeding
e Congress-though should no, neglect to
mark that the Pacific Railroad Act meets
r. hearty approval in this city. The Tariff
Vol, TEN will, 10 all probability. be revised the ?
and ,.aL f., tho hene6, of rho Tra.surv
on to e"' -. $3.50 80
ring VIVA "ew' a. 'eas'' " 'u''"e' '"o'1e