The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-02-05

Arrangements for the Inauguration Of
ME-. Lincoln At washington.
We publish in another column strong and
significant address from Senators Slidell and
Benjamin, and other Congressional representa-
tives Of Louisiana to the Convention of that
State which decreed its secession from the
United States, strongly urging an immediate
cooperation with South Carolina, and approx
ing of the seizure of the forts and arsenals at
New Orleans, which they had urged. The
L0uisiana representatives were previously in
favor of submitting to the authority of the
federal government until the Sd of March; but
we learn from their address to the Convention
that they were led to counsel immediate seces-
sion in consequence of the military movements
at Washington, which have been set on foot by
the rumors of an intended attack on the ma
tional capital to prevent the Inauguration of
Mr.. Lincoln. They say that Gen. Scott is well
known to have submitted to the President "a
plan of a campaign on q gigantic scale for the
subjugation of the seeding States, the initia-
ton of movements for garrisoning all the
Southern forts and arsenals, with view of
employing them, not for the benedcent pur
poses for which they were intended-our de-
fence against foreign foe-but for intimida-
ton and coercion"
It is true that serious fears have been enter
tanned Of an attempt to prevent the inaugura-
ton of Mr.. Lincoln, and perhaps to seize upon
the federal capital, by armed bands from the
border slave States of Virginia and Maryland,
- hu <ho oh how
slave States, and that in consequence of these
reports Gen. Scott has been concentrating
troops, artillery and munitions of war at Wash
ington.
We learn also that the United States troops in
the Northern States are being rapidly put upon
a war footing. At the laboratories destructive
pyrotechnics, with balls and cartridges, are
being prepared. Large contracts for ambu-
lances and field litters have been given out by
the War Department Within the past week
five hundred additional troops have arrived in
Washington, forming an aggregate of aboutone
thousand men, with five batteries of light ar
tillery-a quota sufficient for an army of FIVE
thousand men. General Scott has also ordered
large supplies of ammunition to be sent to
Fort McHenry.
In the Northern navy yards no less activity
prevails. The equipment of vessels of light
draught is being pushed with energy, SO as to
have ready in short time coast guard to
cruise in the Southern waters.
The steamer Water Witch is already under
orders to be fitted out at Philadelphia; the
steam gunboat Pawnee, also at the same place;
the Harriet Lane, at this port; the brig Perry
is now being speedily prepared at Brooklyn;
the briggs Dolphin and cambridge are approach
ing readiness at Norfolk and Boston, and the
steam gunboats Crusader, Wyandot and Mo-
hawk, now in the Gulf, can all be concentrated
in few days.
These preparations, and especially those so
actively and quietly prosecuted under General
SCOTS orders, aided in this city by his son-in-
law, Col ScottSlook warlike. The latter is ac-
lively experimenting operations here. Re-
cruiting is in active progress. There are on
Governors and Bedloe's Islands at this time
GOO troops, chiefly recruits, who are being ac-
lively drilled.
These movements have not passed unobserved
by people in Virginia and Maryland, some of
whom have charged that the concentration of
the warlike arrangements at Washington is to
form the basis Of coercive army, with the
view of overaweing those two States, and thus
prevent their withdrawal and keep them in the
Union.
Military men consider that the present force of
regular troops now in Washington is quite am
pie to repel 10000 irregular troops had such
number designed to prevent Lincolns inau-
guration. Gen. Scott continues to order troops
and munitions of war to Washington, and to
concentrate others at New York and other con-
venient places. The Corps of Engineers have
been removed from West Point to Washington,
a measure not resorted to except in case the
country is engaged in war. The garrison at
that place has been left without regular SOL
dier thing which, it is said, has not previously
occurred since its establishment.
Now, it is manifest that II the two sections of
the country separate pcaceably, and form two
distinct confederacies, there will be no neces-
sity for coercion, and no need of an increased
military organization; but if there be any good
SIOuuue ucWS TelutlNc W u conspiracy
to seize upon the national capital by an armed
force, on or previous to the 4th of March, it is
quite proper that precautionary measures
should be taken to preventit. Mr.. Lincoln has
been constitutionally elected President of the
United States, and he should be constitutional
ly inaugurated at Washington, the capital of
the republic. The President the Secretary of
War, and General Scott the acting Commander
in-Chief of the army, are perfectly right, of
course, in resolving that he shall be SO inaugu-
rated. Any attempt to prevent it by an armed
mob, or any other body, we have no doubt
would be frowned down by the conservative
people of the South and the North alike: but If
there be any fears that such an outrage may be
committed, it is clearly the duty Of the Rxecu-
he, W. av,t c. a.