, 1861-01-01
BY TELEGRAPH.
IMPORTANT FROM WASHINGTON.
Resignation Of Secretary Floyd.
THE COMMITTEES or TnIRrY-TKREE,
SEIZURE Of A REVENUE eur1ER ev THE spu1B
eAR0tlHA REBELS,
CAPTAIN OF THE SLAYER "BoS1TA n
RESCUED,


RESCUED.
Interesting News from Europe, etc,
WASHINGTON, Dec. W--The ground assign
cd for Secretary Floyd'a resignation was III,
refusal Or delay of tho President to consent t
an order Withdrawing the troops from For
sumpter. In the Secretary's opinion this VIZ
incumbent on the Administration, flom III,
following circumstances:
with natural desire to avold civil war ant
hloodshed, it had been agreed by th,
Administration that there should be nc
change in the condition of things il
Charleston Hatbor, and by Sout Car
olina that she would make no attack on tht
troops OF property Of the United States. Th,
movement of Major Anderson was violatio.
of this solemn agreement, which could not b,
repaired except by Withdrawing the troops
which measure was thus demanded By the hon
or Of the Government While both .b,anchel q
IF Congress are engaged In endcaEors to SETTLE
The sectional controversy, 1t was deemed tht
duty Of the Government to maintain relations
ufr peace with the Southern States.
Mr.. Floyd, it Is said By his friends, soon re
turns o Virginia to follow out his policy t
rcstnlin, to the extent Of his power, any &C,
which will lead to bloodshcd, and excrt himself
IL dissolution becomes inevitable, to its recon
struction.
1t il not certain that Minor Anderson and hi.
forces will remain at Fort Sumpter. They vii
be rcmandcd to Fort Moultrle, provided that
satisfactory assurance can be given that thv1
will not then be attacked by the South Caro-
!nians. There seem to be reasons for the be
lief that Gen. Scott, several days aro, submit
ted to the President plan in writing for thu
blockade Of Charleston, reinforcing stronely
al! the Southern garrsons, and Suggesting
mher military operations. This, however, it ID
~ u nn raA
T1e Committee Of IS on Saturday copsid
cred Mr. Nelson s proposition for amendments
to tue Constitution. being substantially those
offered BY Senator Crittendcn. On motion Of
Mr. Corwin, the Committee struck ont tie
words "or hereafter acquired" SO that a iii.
Vision Of the lins Of So deg. 20 min. may be ap-
p1cabe only to territory now held by tho
United States. The seventeen yeas were co,r-
posed Of the Republicans, with Davis Of
Maryland, and Stout Of Oregon. The nave.
Ven,) were NIL from the Slave States, with lie
exception Of Mr.. Burch Of California. The
question on The adoption Of the article, as
amended, was ncgatiycd.
Mr.. TAYLOR Of L., remarked, that the dccis-
ion thus reached, mnds it clear to his mind
that there would be nc agreement by tue Com
mittce upon the propositions for the adoption
If amendments to the existing Constitution.
which would be effectual for the settlement OF
the issue now pending between the two IT mt
nsttione " tue cou9tiy growing out OF tile
nlavery question, aud in Consequence, it was
his purpose to take no further part in the do
alterations Of the Committee, and it was his
determination not to vote upon auy pro-
positions pending before it. He further stated
that he did not intend to resign his place on
the Committee; that 1t was his intention 10
remain in 4 position which would enable him
to join In the minority report upou the sub
jtcts submitted to the Committee, If tha.
should become necessary or appear desirable,
lhercupon 3fr. Taylor, with Measfs. WiusIow
of North Carolina, aud Mr.. Houston Of Ala
hsma, left the Committee roonl.
Mr.. Adams offered a resolution declaring It
sxpedicnt that New Mexico be- admitted ~
soon US may be, Oh an equal footing with the
original States, and ths Committee cause to
he prepared III enabling bill for that PURPOSE.
Agreed to-l2 against 10 Onc.th7d ot the
committee wcro absent or not voting. Tic
only two from the slave States were Bristow If
Kentucky, and Davis Of Maryland.
These facts are abrcyia' ed from the official
proceedings, the mjunctions Of secrecy having
been removed.
The President accepted the resignation Of
Coy. Floyd the SAME day it was rendered.
The Charleston Cburitr Of Friday Eays NAL
Anderson has achievedthe uncuriable distinc.
fion Of opening civil war between American
citizens By an act Of gross breach Of filth,
mud that'hc has virtually mud grossly violated
solcmn pledge given by his Chief and ac-
cepted By South Carolina; that be Lad nj,
possible assurances of South Carolina that
his honor, position and duty would he re-
spected Until proper aud open declaration Of
war.
In its details Of Maj. Andcrson's movements
INC Courier says the evacuation of Fort M{oul-
trio commenced alter sundown on Wednesday,
lhe men were ordered to hold themselves III
7eadiness with knapsacks packed, but up the
Ehc moment Of leaving had no idea Of abau-
donlng the Fort: They were reviewed on M
Talt, and were then ordered to two schoonrr,
wing in the vicinity, where they embarked,
aklng with them oil the necessary stores, >yc.
several trips were made during the night,
under cover Of which 4 great l.art of the Iro-
'isions and camp furniture were Transported.
The greater portion Of the labor expended
1n Fort Moultrie was upon the citadel Or west
iesson had strengthened in every way LOOP
ioles were cut and everything SO arranged
hat In case we'll concentrated attack was
made he could have retired from the outer
,astions to the citadel, and afterwards blown
'p the other positions Of the fort. For .hie
purpose mines had been sprung and trains
aid ready for the application of the match.
The barrnck rooms In every other pnrt Of thu,
ort that was indcfcnsible, would haye crnr
'tfa touch.
On the ramparts fronting Fort Sumpter, nine
:igat-uch Columbiads are mounted On wood
II carriages. As soon as the vacation was
ompletc, these carriages were burnt uutl thc
uns thersby dismounted. These s1,ns. ms "a ~
scu as those constituting the entire armament,
serc spiked before the fort was abandoned.
Lis is the only damage done to the fortified.
ions, further than the cutting down Of the flag
taft and breaking up Of ammunition wagons to
or1n rampdrts TN the walls OF the Fort 9th
T particulars are given.
The confusion eould not have hccn moro
ad the late occupants retired iu the face Of q
esirging foe. The entirc place w4a Uttered
'ith the odds and ends and fragments Of wars
isolation. the spiked guns, and those dis
1ounted by the burning Of the eariAges, will
Con be IN position to respond to nny hostile
against tue place,
WAsu1Se7oE, Dec oo-Tha sccrctary ot thu
reasnry has refused to accept any of the
D 3100u,uU0 loan, which demands more than II
CT cent interest Thus less than two mil |
ons are accepted, IN amount about sufficient.
il sald.t pay the interest on the public debt |
ue on the drst Of January.
Al it was neSer stipulated or agreed by the !
resident that thct troops should De withdrawn
ON the forts around Charleston harbor.' Tie
administration does not consider 1t under any
b1gation to do 80. As to the request of tho
outh Carolina Commissioners for the rcstora-
On of the military Statue, this is considered
: the larger portion Of the Cabinet he impos-
bic.
Secretaries Floyd, Thompson and Thomas.
no hold to the constitutional right Of seccs-1
on, were separated On the South Carolina |
1estlon, from their Cabinet associates There |
- no positive decision at the msetiny to-
y, although the prospect certainly is not ia
'rablc to the Commissioners, and this ttste- |
eut ia strengthened by tire fact that today
:eretary Floyd raigncd hle office.
1t IL said that Secretary Thompson would
20 have resigned were it not for the inyesti-
'uuI pcudinE .csurs10mg ,,the ;afE4iEy Of the
tc.ior Department in connection with the
stlaction of the Indian truBt bonds, and the |
1estigation which he asked for to redeem his
m hsnof and 1ntgrity.''-
The report prevails that Secretary Thomas
signed, But this results from his 'inHecision |
to whether hnshall remain In the Cabinet.
d his generally, believed earnest sympathy
sh Secretary Floyd. -~ .,.. +
NEW YORK. Dec.-The Hfnald's Washington I
telegraphs the following:
Among the persons nat1icd as Mr Ftoyd'e ]
ccessor, ia Bcp}. F. Butler, Of Mass, who
s been In confident consultation with the / :
esident for several days. !,
4 serious division exists In the Cabinet. and | i
reak up may at almost any hour be Adticl- !
led. Recent and highly Important intelli- /
ace from the South received br the Govern
mt may PTecfp!tate the event.,
The Secretary Of the Treasury has tnt; re- ] I
ved d dispatch from Charleston; stating that
Revenue Cutter In the port Of Charleston I
been acized By tho authorities, and that the |
ptaln, who Is q native of South Carolina, has
igned; This intelligence was immediately. =
"