The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-02-16
THE NATIONAL CRISIS.
From Fort Pickens-.The Laws OF the South
ern Confederacy--Another Church Divis-
iOn..Letter from Bishop Hopkins. &C.. &c.
FROM FORT PICKESs.

FROM FORT PICKENS.
A dispatch from Washington says
Lieut.. Gilman, one Of the officers in COM |
mand of Fort Piekens, arrived here this even |
ing with dispa tches from Lieut.. Slemmer and |
the commander of vessels off Pensacola to |
the government. He left Pensacola on Satur |
day evening, having received passport from
Major Chase, who is in command of the Flo
| rida troops. He says the following vessels |
are off the harbor The BROOKLYN Sabine |
st. Louis, Macedonian and Wyandotte. The
brooklyn did not land her supplies for Fort
Plckens, Lieut.. Slemmer having notified them
that he had ample supplies for three months
There are twelve hundred troops ut Pensaco
la, and they are threa tening every hour to
| make an attack on Fort Pickens. 1t is alhthat
MAYOR Chase and Others in command can do
| to res train them.
Lieut.. Gilman says he would not be sur
prlsed II an attack was made at any moment,
and 1t is very probable, owing to the limited
number In the tort, that they would take II
before the Brooklyn could throw her troops
| into the fort. If they take it 4 ALL he says,
| they can take it in thirty or forty minutes;
| but there viii be fearful loss of life even III
| that. The health of the officers and men on
board OF the vessels is good.
| letter from Fort Barrancas, da ted the 4th.
says the Alabama Regiment was to be with
| drawn in day or two. II adds
| The forts are to be gaTriSoned by an ade-
| quate force, which is to be raised i'm Alabama,
| l be lieye. Col. Lonax has orders to enlis.
| one hundred men from the I'd Regiment, il
| possible, they to elect their own otficers-term
of service to be one year. Since the orders for
the Brooklyn, of which l told you in my last,
| have been received, matters seem to be on u
| more peaceful footing, and the expectation of
victory SO long cherished by the boys, will
| be disappointed. Fort Pickens is to be left in
| the hands of Lieut.. Slemmer and his men,
| There is no doubt but he means to fight, and
Is cons family making preparations to give his
assailants warm reception. For u day or
TWO we have seen men busily engaged in
moi, Snn
| Rosa's Island Immediately opposi tie those we
| have erected below Barrancas. Slemmer has
also placed large mortar upon each bastion
| OF tie Tort Upon both sides the labOrs upon
| batteries and guns continue, but am inclined
| to believe that they will not be brought in to
use.
| SWEARING ALLEGIANCE TO THE NEW CoAFED-
ERACY.
A Montgomery letter to the Baltimore Ame-
| rican says:
The morning after the adoption of the form
| of government, Il very dense mass CT people
| packed the Congress Chamber The galleries
and available space on the floor crowded
with ladies and gentlemen, for it had been
given out tnat the delegates were then and
there TO swear fealty to the new Government.
| The day was deiciously bailny one and the
ladies turned out in larger numbers than l
| have ever seen them.
| Alter the preliminary business of opening
! the session had been transacted the President,
| Mr.. Cobb, rose and announced that it was in
order to administer the oath pledging support
| to the 'Constitution for the Provisional Gov
| eminent of the Confederate States"
Hon. K. Walker, one of the Chief Justices
of the Supreme Court of Alabama, assembled
| 10 the Speakers desk, holding in his hand
small gilt.edged morocco bound copy of the
Scriptures. The President remained standing
at the desk.
Judge Walker said i'You do solemnIv
swear that you will support the Constitution
for the Provisional Government of the Con
federate States of America, so help you God ?"
Mr.. Cobb answered, Il do, and reyeren-
TALLY kissed the book, which he retained in
his hand.
The delegates from Alabama, Florida, Geor-
gia, Louisiana, Mississippi and South Carroll
ma were then summoned, each representative
in turn, to the President, and duly sworn
The members of the delegation held on to the
BOOK III the same manner thai luries are COM
monty sworn, and the oath was admins tered
by the President in the same words that he
himself had sworn. While each delegation
was " at the book all the rest remained
standing in their places. The most profound
silence prevailed during the ceremony, which
IN Itself was OF most interesting character
THE LAWS OF THE SOUTHERN coSFEDERACY.
The Charleston Mercury contains long
letter from l.. W. Spratt, coudemning the pas
sage by the Provisional Congress of a law
against the African slave trade and other fea-
lures. The Mercury alluding to the letter,
says:
We admit that the Government is but pro-
vlsional ana temporary, therefore, and that
the features obJeet ted to may not be carried into
the Permanent Government, and probably
We're never intended to be carried there. They
were doubtless intended to conciliate the Bor-
der slave States, and induce them to an early
union; but the concern we have expressed
was not unwarrantable. 1t may be question
able whether, should the Border slave States
be induced to union by such attractive 4ea-
lures OF the Constitution, il would be proper
to propose a change. 1t is to be doubted
whether, when they shall have entered, it will
, be possible for the Cotton States to make any
changes TO which they may except-ano, as we
would certainly lament the final adoption of
the policy excepted to,--as would lament Il
, constitutional recognition OF protec tive poll
cy, and Il constitu tional brand upon the ins I'll
i tuition of domestic slavery-we think it emil
nently important that those who deprecate
these measures should make the efforts neces- =
sary to defeat them.
, LETTER FROM BISHOP HOPKINS.
Bishop Hopkins, of Vermont, has addressed
to his people one of the most powerful letters
in behalf OF the right and humanity of slave.
ry that these troublous times have brought
) forth. In concluding it, he says;
In conclusion, l would only say that am
perfectly aware how distastefui my senti-
; nents must be, on this very serious question
> to the great majority OF my respected fellow
citizens, in the region where Divine Provi-
dence has cast my lot. 1t would assuredly be
far more agreeable II L could conscientiousl ly
conform TO the opinions of my friends, tc
/. whose ability, sincerity and zeal, 1 am ready
q TO give ADJUST commendation. But it would
be mere moral cowardice in to suppress
. what believe to be the truth, for the sake o
| popularity. 1t cannot be long before l shall
stand at the tribunal of that Almighty ant
: | unerring Judge, who has given us the inspired
= | SCRIPTURES to be our supreme directory in
every moral and religious duty. My grey
r | hairs admOnish me that may soon be called
: TO give an account Of my stewardship. AnC
/ have no fear OF the sentence which he will
, | pronounce upon an honest though humble eff
tort to sustain the authority OF His Word, il
; just alliance with the Constitution, the peace
r and the public welfare OF my country.
/, ANOTHER CHURCH DIVISION
In Louisiana the Protestant Episcopa
, Church secedes with the State A pastora
: letter from Bishop Polk, OF that diocese, con
{ tains this passage:
u Our separation from our brethren of tn.
Protestant Episcopal Church in the United
States has been effect ted, because zee mast fol
= l0to our nationality. Not because there ha
: been any difference of opinion as to Christian
> doctrine or Catholic usage. Upon these point
u we still one. With us Ii is separation
u not division-certainly not alienation. Ant
!, | there is no reason why, If we should find tn
u union OF our diocese under our nationa
: Church impracticable we should cease to fee
I for each other the respect and regard witt
u which purity of manners, high principle ant
y a manly devotion to truth never fail to inspir
!, ! generous minds. Our relations to ede.s otte
!, hereafter tniH be the relations both h0t
= to the men or our Mother Church IF Engtasd
J, SEIZURE OF AMMUNITION FOR CHARLESTON.
! The Metropolitan Police distinguishes
: themselves again, yesterday, by seizing 10
: | oil cartridges destined for Charles ton, >. c.
q Sergeant Geist, IL appears, received informa
:. ton that an attempt would be made. to shi
In Vrid hs.urx ia IN