Litchfield enquirer., 1861-12-26

fA ""os' H the opportunity to make this offer IS allowed him. But if the alternative of war or surrender of the Rebel Emmissaries be forced upon us, it is expected that the Pres;. dent will assume all the responsibility, and de- hberately make his choice, deciding as he deci- ded the proposition to evacuate Fort Sumter. af ter thoughtful delays Surrender, in preference to war, is without doubt the choice of many in fuential persons here, and it is pressed upon Mir. Lincoln by both civilians and military men, high in position. Hence the persistent asser- tion by several of our cotemporaries, which we again pronounce untrue, that this conclusion to surrender without consideration has already been arrived at. The President will be govern ed in his decision by his determination to crush the rebellion. Lr
 That England is almost beside herself is the tenor of the latest and most trustworthy private letters. They say that passion has swept away reason in manner and to an extent unknown since 1881, and that the national sympathy with the South developed by recent events is startling Great credit is, given by cue of the most trusted ot these writers to the British Government for so long resisting the pressure of Louis Napoleon and of the working classes as represented by the weekly journals of the largest circulation among them to repudiate the blockade.
 It remains to be seen whether the dispatches to Mir. Adams, which went week after the seizure, informing the British Government that Capt. Wilkes acted without.specifc instructions will allay the popular excitement or abate the Ministerial demands.
 FOREIGN NEWS We have six days later news from Europe by the steamers America, Arago, and Edinburg. with dates to the 9th, 11th, and 18th insts respectively, the two later vessels having been intercepted off Cape Race The war excitement in England is unabated, and the most active preparations were making in the naval and military departments. The Warrior has been ordered to be supplied with eight Arm- strong 100-pounders, and the Black Prince and other vessels are fitting out as rapidly as possi ble. Troops have been sent to Canada, and oth. CTS. with arms and ammunition are under orders to sail The tone of the British press is more moderate, though the Times still insists that Mir Seward has for long time been pressing a wa, with England The London O6server, a minis terial or gan, goes so far as to insist that ths commander of the San Jacinto would not have been justified in taking the vessel into an Amer ican port for the adjudication by prize court An anti-war meeting was held at Dublin, al which resolutions were passed declaring thai Ireland cannot remain indifferent spectato, of the struggle between England and America and recommending the Irishman to rally to the old cause of their country. ("
 The French press maintains the reserve which has. characterized it from the beginning. The Patrie, in what purports to be a resume of the instructions of the British cabinet tos Lord Ly. ons, states that the demands are based upon ex- clusively legal grounds. Gen. Scott is pass engcr on board the Arago. Previous to embark ing at l1avre he had long interview with Prince Napoleon, and it is reported that he has with him an expression of the European desire to effect peaceable solution of the difficulty bc- tween England and America.
 THE NEWS of the return of Gen. Scott from Europe has taken the Government by surprise. The object of his return is unknown, but it is believed that he brings information of an i'm portant character.
 | CoSGREss-Friaay- the Senate number of petitions were presented-amsng them one for the removal of Jesse c. Bright and one for the establishment of a system of exchanging prisoners. joint resolution from the Military Committee recognizing the services of the de. ceased Gen. Lyon, was passed. The House bill for the relief of the owners of the British shr Perthshire, was temporarily laid on the table, The bill to abolish the United States Supreme Court was reported back from the Judicia, ' Committee, which was discharged from further consideration of the matter. bill further tc prohibit the sale of liquor to soldiers in the Dis trict of Columbia was passed. The resolution presented by MT. Salisbury, of Delaware, call ing upon the Secretary of War for copy of Gen Phelps proclamation, was taken up and discuss ed, and finally laid on the table. Mr. Wiley of Virginia, then resumed and concluded hi: speech, commenced on Thursday, and after ar Executive session the Senate adjourned unti Monday.
 In the House the Committee of Ways ant Means was instructed to inquire inte the expe diency of establishing a branch mint at Denver in Colorado Territory. A bill was passed ap propriating $150,0OO for the completing of tn, defences of Washington. The Senate bill, pro viding for the transmission of certificates of al lotments of pay to the families and friends O. volunteers, was passed. By it no sutler car I have lien upon the soldiers account, The Sen ate bill, authorizing the appointment of Genera Courts martial in time of war, was also passed The Committee on Military Affairs was instruc. ted to report bill authorizing the appointment of Jewish chaplains. The resolutions of the Kentucky Legislature in favor of relieving the wants of Ireland, were referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. A resolution was offered by MT. Julian, of Indiana, instructing the Judicia- l ry Committee to report bill so amending the Fugitive Slave law of 1850, as to forbid the cap- ture or return of any fugitive slave without sat- isfactory evidence that the claimant is loyal to the Government. The House refused to lay the resolution on the table, 78 to 39 and after an at tempt te amend it so as to conine it's operations to the citizens of the seeded states it was pass ed by the same yote resolution thanking