New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-04-05
Great Excitement in Washington.
rlsTvasAEel At FORTRESS KnsRs;.
Special D.sps.eh to The N. Y. Tribune.


has determined to occupy Fort Pickens at whatever
cost.
Ii the Lincoln Administration should attempt
TO otntruct Southern commerce. the COnfederacy
will seize Northern ships in SOuthern waters,
arm then with heavy guns and send them out
as priyateers to prey on Northern property
aAoat. G. n. :.
epeeial Dispatch 10 The n. Y. Tribune.
WASHINGTON, Thursday. April 4, 1861.
Events are progressing rapidly and decisivey,
! and the country viii soon learn that there is
Government here, and that my disputed state
ments are verified literally. Fort Pickens viii
be held at every hazard and it is BY no means
improbable that troops have been landed there
already. Whatever resnicrcements may be ueces.
sarv TO retain it, will be sent, although the Ad.
ministration intends in that, as in oil similar
demonstrations, 10 preserve peace policy. Ii
asseiled il viii resist but il viii not voluntarily
attack.
No disguise is affected in regard 10 the send
ing Of supplies 10 the vessels Of war and Fort
pickela. They are ample for present and future
necessities. Instructions have also been for
wardei which ore Intended u keep tho squad
ron Of Pensacola on the alert, and prepare to
caaHssate with the ftgt, If signal should be
given.
Commodore S.riugham, WHO was recently
ordered here by the Secretary of the Navy, to
act rs Assistant to him, has been suddenly de-
tailed to the Minnesota for special service at
home. The Powhatan, which has just returned,
and was about to be repaired, and some smaller
yessels, will accompany hiai on this expedition.
The urgency 10 necessarily positive, or the Pow
hstan would not be ordered in her present con-
dition, when she ia unfit for long voyage.
The companies Of Sappers and Miners which
left here Yesterday, have Southern destination
and are TO 20 on board one Of these vcssels
They will be replaced By some OF the troopf Jutt
returned from Texas, for il is not thought ca
pedient, at this time, TO withdraw any considern'
bic portion of the defensive force from Washing
ton. On the contrary, there are indications
which may require il to be augmented imme.
liateln.
While fbe nsws,ocar. ara b, -, ting upon want
Of policy in the Administration, the Prose- ~ ''''
been eh1nestly engaged, day after day with bis
Cabinet and others high in the confidence Of the
country, hs 10 the best mode of meeting this
criss, and meeting il thoroughly Great RESPONSE
bili.ies, ike those now Involved, which require
all the powers under tie Constitution to be
examined carefully and calmly. with view to
the legal Justification Of every position that may
be assumed, cannot BIO determined In day, aud
they demand almost cotemporaneoas preparation
in an the Departments for certain contingencies
which may be accepted.
TIE Attorney General hns now before him sey.
ersl important questions which affect peace or
war substantially as his opinions shall be received
by the Cotton States. First, as 70 the power Of
the Prcsla,us Ia collect the duties on shipboard;
AND next, as to Inc extent Of his authority TO
call ou. volunteers ia q certain emergency His
decision on thess points ard soine others may
determine I'm extra session, and, for reasons OBJ
yious TO I'll intelligent minds, TINT resort will be
avoided if possible; but it may be necessary. In
tie mean time, The Administration mnst prepare
sradualc. SO hat ii TIE ReyOluti0nilss should
strike. ~ they threaten, tie blow MAJ not rsl
ipjuriously.
So far as Fort Sumter is concerned, no final
decision h,s been taken. A meeting OF the Cabi-
ret will be held tomorrow, wien that matter
nus! be concluded. Major Anderson's supphes
are getting fsst exhausted, and they must be re-
u.wed, or he mu5t be withdrawn, or starvation
ana surrender are inevitable. These are the al
teruatiIes presented. Offers have been made to
the Government to introduce supplies, but they
are attended with risks which may well cause
hesitation. The golden opportunity was lcss when
the Star Of the West turned back.
Commodore Pauldipg has been ordered to take
IN. place il. the Navy Department recently filled
bv Commodore stringhsm. This arrangement is
now considered temporary, but il may becone
permapat 1t depends upon events whetseE the
latter VIII soon resume lbst post.
-'N CnARLrsros Tharsdsy, Apiii s. 1861.
,;euteuints Ta'bo. and Sneeden have JUL reached
,le ~ win aeg OF truce. Thcy now in con-
.nI.s,;on with Gov Pickens Nothing has tIaDslhed
8, 90 tleir mission, but we shan telegraph 10 soeD
| rs known.
Cba-cs,on has today been in state ca excHofnent
uneuaed since The FRS. SeceesOn movement. CRISIS
is at hana. The appearance Of schooner on uo h+r-
tr les; evening" and her attempt to pass tie batteries
her being fired into and her Subsequent mysterious d'
srrearance have arcuscd apprehens'ons OF the most
serious character. Tho military leaders have @eh n
usually active all dry, aud members OF the Cosenon
NOV IA session sOlongnefto he several iee3ncs"n'