The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-02-08
the NATIONAL CRISIS.
Special Despatch.

Special Despatch.
WASHINGTON, Feb. THE Peace Confereac
have accomplished nothing Of importance to-day
They waited upon the President to-day, and had al
audience of an hour with him. The Press were ex
cluded. The Conference viii adopt rOthing tina
does not meet the views of the Virginia Commis
sioners, and their demands will be resisted by
large portion Of the Northern delegations
Though many talk hopefully, there is reall,
nothing possible tangible upon which to bast
favorable expectations
The concentration of troops continues, and the,
already begin to prove nuisance to the citizens
Many thefts imputed to them, with what trutl
Icannot say, and their appearance about the Capi
tol in a haf-drunken condition does not give
favorable idea of their discipline.
The debate in the House and Senate to-day has
not done much towards conciliaton. The kwowl
edge that Mr.. Davis, of Maryland, would speak il
the House drew large crowd, among whom were
many visitors from Baltimore. Mr.. Davis made
strong coercion speech, which was alternately ap
plauded and hissed by the galleries.
The evide nee before the Committee OF Five, ha:
adduced the fact that no conspiracy exists or ha:
existed, for the seizure of the Capitol. 1t was
however, shown that organization does exist tC
prevent armed bodies of men from the North pas
sing through to Washington. The witnesses anti
cipatcd no molestation Of Mr.. Lincoln, unless he
should come with military escort.
Some parties here profess to believe that Fort
Sumter has been secretly reinforced in pursuance
Of orders from Gen. Scott, issued without the
knowledge Of the President or Cabinet.
OBSERVER.
THE SEIZURE OF THE REVENUE CUTTER McCLELLAND.e G
WAsHINGroN, Feb. The following statement
in relation to the surrender of the revenue cutter
Robert McClelland is derived from an official
source:
The cutter is one of the largest and best in the
revenue service, just rebuilt and refitted. Her
commander was Captain Breshwood, of Virginia.
On the 10th of January, four days after Secre etary
Dix took charge Of the Treasury Department, he
sent Mr. VIM. Hemphil Jones, Chief Clerk in the
First COmptroler's Office, to New Orleans and
Mobile, to save, if possible the two cutters ser
vice there. Captain Monson, Georgian, COM
manding the Lewis Cass, at Mobile must have sur
rendered her before MIR. Jones arrived. On the
29th of January the Secretary received the follow
ing taegraphic despatch from Mr.. Jones:
New ORLEANS, Jan. 29th, 1861
Hon. j. A. Dir, Secretary IF the Treasury
Capt Breshwood has refused positively in writing, to
obey any instructions of the Department In this am
he IS sustained by the Collector and believe acts
by his advice. What must do?
W. II. JONES' Special Agent
To this despatch Secretary Dix immediately re-
turned the following answer:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Jan. 29:h, 1861.
I'm. HemphU Jones. NelD Orleans:
Tell Lieut.. Caldwell to Capt. Breshwood, assume
command Of the CUTTER the order through
If Capt Breshwood, after arrest, undertakes to interfere
with the command of the cutter, tell Lieut. Caldwell to
consider him mutineer, and treat him accordingly.
II any one attempts to haul down the American fla
shoot him on the spot. JOHS A. DIX,
Secretary of the Treasury.
This despatch it is said must have been intercept
ed both at Montgomery and New Orleans, and
withheld from Mr. Jones, and doubtless the conduct
OF Capt. BreshwoOd was cOIsummated by means of
acomplicty the part of the telegraph line in the
States of Alabama and Louisiana, which latter
State has accepted the cutter.
WEDNESDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
The New York HeralP8 correspondent furnishes
the following the report Of the proceedings of the
convention on Wednesday:
WASHINGTON, Feb. G.-The Peace Congress are
making little progress. They move slowly and
surely. Their sessions still incline to be secret at
their meeting this morning, after adopting rules bv
which they are to be governed, Mr.. Guthrie, Of
hentucHy, offered a resolution for the appointment
Of committee-one from each State, to be selected
by the delegates Of each State-on whom is to de-
volve the important duty of reporting some plan of
adjustment.
Mr.. Guthrie sustained his motion in powerful
and patriotic Speech in which he showed the great
importance of speedy settlement of the political
differences now distracting the country. The great
Mississippi Valley, he stated, had a right to be
heard on this vital question. She had more at
stake in this matter than any other section of the
Union, and he called upon the Convention to come
forward, and in proper spirit, laying aside all
rejudice and bias, adjust the differences which
had well nigh destroyed and il not speedily settled
would entirely destroy our glorious Union.
MIR. William c. Rives of Virginia followed in
the same strain, making patriotic appeal to the
conservatives, urging the adoption of Mr.. Guth-
rie's resolution.
favor of the resolution. He for doing every
thing that was honorable and Just to bring about
an amicabe settlement.
Mr.. Chase, of Ohio, also sustained the resolution
and made an exceedingly conservative speech. He
was willing to concede every thing that was proper
and right to the border States and he thought that
by mutual concessions all sides the troubles that
now menaced the Union might be happily and spec
Oily averted.
Mr.. Sedden, Of Virginia, coincided with much
that had been said. lie hoped the resolution would
be adopted, and that the Convention would pro-
ceed at once to the important matter for which
they assembled.
Judge Ruifin, of North Carolina, made a power
tul appeal In behalf, as he said, Of the old North
State, whose people were anxious for settlement
of the questions at issue between the two sections
He alluded to the alarming posture of affairs, and
the imminent peril of the country. The questions
before this Convention of the highest impnr-
tance, and he urged every member to lay aside his
party feelings and devote himself to the cause of
his country. His speech was listened to with pro-
found attention.
vor OF the resolution. He too was anxious for an
early settlement of the agiaing questions that di-
vide the two sections.
Other speeches were made and the debate was
continued until nearly o'clock, when the question
was put and unanimously carried.
The delegations Will make their selections and re-
port to the Convention tomorrow morning.
ARRIVAL OF TROOPS AT WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, Feb. THE artillery company
lately at Augusta, Georgia, arrived here this morn
ing. They are quartered in the south wing of the
Treasury building, owing to difficulty in procu-
ring accommodation for them elsewhere.
Governor Letcher, of Virginia, is among the
latest arrivals.
WASHINGTON. Feb 6.-The Secretary of War
communicated late this evening the reply to Col.
Haynes letter. 1t calls for an answer from Col
H., which will be made tomorrow, and which will
close the correspondence.
The government respectfully refuse to cOmpIy
'7'h the propositions Of South Carolina for the sur
render Of Fort Sumter. All hope of a solution of
this question has been abandoned for some time,
but there has been an apparent disposition both
sides to delay matters in the hope that an amicabe
adjustment might be made, and which would lead
to peaceable termination of affairs in Charleston
harbor. The matter cannot be further postponed.
South Carolina has presented her ultimatum The
government have positively refused to comply
Thus the affair stands.
1t now only remains for South Carolina to carry
out her purpose of taking the fort.
The PRESIDENTS course in relation to the PROPOSE
tions OF Col Hayne is similar to that towards the
former Commissioners from South Carolina name
ly-That he has no authority to treat for the sale
or make any other disposition whatever of the forts
or other public property in that State; that it is his
duty to defend the forts to the best of his ability
and that the consequences of doing so must fall on
those who attack them. Col. Hayne will now re-
turn to South Carolina Correspondence of N. Y.
Herald.
INTERESTING CORRESPONDENCE.
An interesting correspondence OF an official cha
racter has taken place between his Honor, the
Mayor of Washington, and r. c. Weightman,
Major General, commanding the militia of the
District.
Major Weightman addressed note to Mayor
Berret, in which he requests list of the names
and residences of the whole police force, for day
and night service, stating that if the assistance of
the police should be required it is very important
that they should be reached early as possible
Col. Berret replies, acknowledging the receipt of
the letter of Major Weightman, but refusing to
give up the command of the police force, which, by
law, is placed entirely under the control of the
Mayor, but expresses his determination to pre-
serve to the extent of his power, the peace of the
District He, moreover, declares his entire disbe-
ie In the existence of any combination either here
or elsewhere to interfere with obstruct the ordi
nary operation of the laws within the District of
Columbia, before or at the time assigned for the