The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-02-22
THE NATIONAL CRISIS.
THE PEACE CONGRESS.

aEEG BSkA EgsVAI UEaeSAS'
I THE PEACE CONGRESS.
WAsHweEoS, Feb. q. The proposition to b.
voted on tomorrow by the Peace Conference i
substantially the Border States resolutions. Th,
friends of the measure say there unmistakabt
indications that it will receive the support Of th
Commissioners from Illinois, Ohio, nsylvania
New Jersey, and from all the the border slav,
States, with the exception ofone or TWO from Vir
ginia.
/ WEDNESDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
The Peace Congress to-day laid the motion to ap
ply the half hour to debate upon the table.
D. D. Field, of NY, made a speech in favor Of
Constitutional Convention. He said in reply to q
question, that his State desired amendment tC
the Constitution, but the South did, he in
favor of yielding them that much. because that
the only constitutional way to divide, If we could
not live peaceablv together.
Mr.. Smith, Of NY, made the speech Of to-day
carefully tracing the great question between the
North and South he went along in all its details
He did not close this afternoon, but will finish his
speech tomorrow. He is strongly opposed to the
majority report, and cannot see that the people OF
! the North have committed any constitutional Of
fence that should cause dem1nd to be made for
their redress in the shape of concession compro-
| mise
Mr.. Dodge, of N. Y, assumed the same position
as that taken by Mr.. Granger yesterday. He
thought the North ought to concede something to
the South.
Mr.. White, of Penn. and Mr. Frelinghuysen, of
| n. j., also addres ed the Convention, the latter
| supporting the majority report
1t is believed that the Congress will begin to vote
| on the various propositions on Saturday next and
from present appearances the majority proposition
will be voted down, and the plan adopted of sub
mitting to the several Legislatures of the States the
| propriety of calling convention of the people to
| revise the Constitution Of the United States.
| It will be remembered that the action of the
| Peace Convention was not to be submitted to Con-
gress unless they agreed to recommend an amend
ment to the Constitution. If the convention can
not do this, then any recommendation that it makes
will not require the sanction of Congress, but will
go directly and promptly to the people for their
| ratification or rejection.
| Every day makes it more apparent that the Re
| pubiicans in the Peace Congress do not intend to
| permit vote to be taken for several days yet
any of the questions of adjustment. The debates
| OF to-day clearly prove such determination. The
| radical Republican element occupied nearly the
| whole of to-day in fanatical speeches. Field and
Smith, of New York, and Tuck, of N. H., made
ultra speeches.
The friends of peace in the conference, who have
all along hoped that matters would yet come right
begin to despair. Another day will deter
mine matters. The convention cannot hold to-
gether much longer unless there is a decided
change.
THE SOUTHERN CONGRESS-.
APPOINTMENT OF CABINET OFFICERS.
MONTGOMERY, Feb 2l.-In Congress to-day, on
motion Of Mr. Cobb, it was resolved that the Com
mttee on Finance be instructed to inquire into the
expediency Of laying export duty on cotton ex-
ported from the Confederate States to any foreign
country.
The President nominated and Congress confirm
Ell Mr.. Toombs as Secretary of State, Mr.. Memmin-
ger Secretary of the Treasury, and l.. Pope Walk
er Secretary of War.
Virginia Convention.
RICHMOND, Feb. 2l.-Mr. Woods, OF Barbour
county, offered series of resolutions in Conven-
ton to day setting forth that the allegiance which
the citzans of Virginia owe to the General Gov
ernment is subordinate to that due to Virginia,
and that it may be lawfully Withdrawn whenever
she deems it her duty. That in case Virginia
should exercise this authority, her citizens would
be bound to render allegiance to her alone. Thai
Virginia recognizes no authority of any Govern
ment, State Federal, to coerce her to allegiance
TO the Government of the United States, after she
may have withdrawn from the Union and
she regards any attempt at coercion as
be resisted at every hazard and to the last ex-
tremty. That seven States having severallr
Withdrawn the allegiance of their people from the
United States, faithful and earnest desire to
avert civil war, and the sound conservative sent-
ment of the country alike, indicate to the Govern
ment of the United States the necessity and policy
OF acknowledging their independence. Referred Il
the Coumittea on Federal Relations.
These resolutions were rccey ed with tayoraD5
manifestations by the Convention, which subse-
quenty adjourned till Saturday.
THE MISSOURI ELECTION-No CONVENTION TO BE HELD.
Sr. LOUIS, Feb. 2O.-The official vote of Wash
iugton county shows a majority against the Con-
vention of 974 votes, and average majority for
the Union ticket of 400 votes.
Prominent secessioniss are gradually conceding
that the State has gone against the holding OF
State Convention by large majority.
HON. MR.. YANCEY.
MONTGOMERY, Feb. 2l.-It is understood that Mr..
Iancey declines seat in the Cabinet Of the Pro-
visiona Government, and, by suggestion Of friends,
prefers to represent the Government in Europe.
REPORTS RESPECTING FORT SUMTER.
There are fresh reports about taking Fort Sum
ter. Colonel, by the name of ThCs d. Sumter
has volunteered to take it by the Job in spite Of
the Montgomery Congress.
General Scott to-day stated that he had nte.
gence from Charleston that attack was to be
understanding among the secession Senators here
and also that existing at Montgomery, where all
the questions respecting the forts and public pro-
perty have been referred by the several States to
the Congress.
1t is understood General Scott received this intel
iigence from Maj Anderson, and that it has been
corrobOrated by similar information from reliable
parties at Charleston. The Caroiinians will hardly
attempt this after having referred matters to the
Southern Confederacy.
1t is known, however, that South Carolina does ,
not sustain the action thus far taken by the Confed
eracv.
1t is said here by prominent navy and army ofli- |
GERS that Major Anderson can be easily reinforced
and some of them willing to undertake the
contract themselves. They also assert that the
fort cannot be taken by Colonel Sumter or any
other colonel
Colonel Sumter was born in Pennsylvania, re-
moved to South Carolina, and represented that
State in Congress from l840 to 1S43.
la addition TO the above, | learn to-day from a
high Executive in the government that there
VIII not be any attack upon Fort Sumter before
the 4th of March. He could not say what the
South Carolinians would do after that.
1t is proper to say that the most prominent Nor
thern leaders, Democrats as well as Republicans
express entire Indifference as to what thev d.
Wash. Correspondence Herald.
THE DESIGNS OF THE REPUBLICANS
The Washington correspondent of the Richmond
Enquirer writes follows under date of the 18th
An ex-member of Congress from Tennessee, re-
Gently from Boston, reports that it is no secret
among the Republicans there that the concentra-
ton of troops in Washington city is with the view
OF cooperating with those at Forts Monroe ard
Washington, soon after Lincoln's Inauguration, to
seize upon the city of Richmond the basis line of
operations against the seeding States.
bill was introduced into the House Yesterday
by Mr.. Stanton, and debated to-day, which tends
to confirm the belief in the report. ANY such at
tempt should be met at the threshold by the whole
power of Virginia. There is more in this thing
than appears on the surface.
The late secret session OF the Massachusetts, Leg
islature, and the recent tender of troops to the
Federal Government, may be considered as having
an impoItan bearing on this point The greatest
obstacle in the way of initiating this magnifcent
campaign against the South, is bankrupt Treasu-
ry, which | regard as a providentia dispensation
Just now. But the ianaticism which engendered
the John Brown raid, is relied upon for supplying
the snews of by these Goths and Vandals
WASHINGTON RUMORS.
From the Correspondence OF the Northern Journals
THE PROPOSED NATIONAL CONVENTION.
WAsHINGToN, Feb. 20.-It is as clear as the day
that the North intends to test the question: in the
most direct and positive manner, whether we have
a government or not, and will not stop to concede
compromise until that question is settled. The
resolution of Mr.. Fenton, of New York. offered in
the House as an amendment to the report of the
Committee Of Thirty-three, "that the proper tri-
bunal to which all existing disturbing questions
should be referred for deliberate consideration and
final settlement is convention of delegates from
the several States Of the Union to be called in the
mode prescribed in the constitution" is the grow
ing sentiment among the Republicans, and in the
Peace Congress TO day, the same doctrine was ad-
vocated by Mr. Field, of New York. More than
this, nearly every member of the Peace Congress
from New England is in favor of constitutional
convention 1t seems now to be a basis upon which