, 1861-02-15
[FER PONY ExPREss.l
Letter from the National Capital.
rFRoM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT, ]
WASHINGTON CRY, Jan. 3, 1850.


command of the military defenses Of
Charleston, moved his command to Fort
Sumter. Thereupon, the authorities Of
Carolina seized the arsenal, the remaining
works Of defense, and obtained possession
Of the revenue cutter The authority ol
the General Government at once ceased to
be respected throughout the State, except
within the limits occupied by the Federal
troops. The excitement here in conse-
queDce has been very great. The commits
soners on the part of Carolina made the
conduct of Major Anderson grave cause
of complaint, demanded that the garrison
should be remanded to Fort Moultrie, and
that the action OF Major Anderson should
be disapprcVed The Secretary Of War
resigned on the ground that the faith Of
the Government had been pledged to Caro-.
lima, that things should remain as they
were. The resignation Of the Secretary
was promptly accepted.
The President, after thorough delibera-
tion, has resolved to sustain Major Ander-
son. His letter to the commissioners, an
nouncing his determination, is said to be
very able and conclusive, and will doubtless
soon be sent in to Congress. He refused
to receive them as commissioners. He de-
nounced the seizure of the arsenal as q
high handed outrage. He insists upon the
restoration of the forts and other public
property. He has nominated Collector
for the port, and has determined, so far as
power is in his hands, to see that the laws
are faithfully executed. The Postmaster
General is temporarily conducting the War
Department, and will probably receive the
appointment of Secretary of War
The blow Of the secessionists, in seiZing
the arsenal and Forts at Charleston, has
been followed up by the seizure of the ar
senal at Augusta, and the forts on the Sa'
Vannah river, Georgia. There is no doubt
that the secessionists here sent word south
some days since to seize all the forts on the
Gulf, and most, if not all, are probably
now in their hands.
Thus the revolution is moving on with
almost lightning speed. The public mind
at the north is becoming greatly excited
Several Of their legislatures are now in
session. Propositions will be introduced
to ask the people of the respective States
to aid in the enforcement of the laws.
The mad, headIong and unjustihable
course of the Southern States is tending to
unite the north as one man. The firm course
which the President is taking will rally
round him all true, Union.loving men, who
desire to see these unhappy discords rec
onciled on principles Of justice and peace.
1t is manifest that the deep and wide abyss
now opening between the north and south
cannot be closed up by military force. II
cannot be bridged over by coercioh. II
closed at all, it must be by fraternal and
concliatory councils. Nor are prudent,
anxious and far-feeing men wanting in this
crisis The venerable Crittenden, Of Ken
tucky, the late democratic standard bearers
Breckenridge and Douglas, Bigler Of Penn
sylyania, and others, are unwearied in their
exertions. The hope is entertained that
Congress may pass, by two-thirds vote,
constitutional amendments providing that
slavery shall be interdicted in the Terrific
ries north of $50 30, and shall be recog-
nized and protected south Of 36o 80, and
prohibiting any amendment of the Consti
tuition interfering with the equal represen'
tation in the Senate Of the States, or with
their domestic institutions. This mode oi
settling the question is preferable TO gen
eral convention. But can it be donef II
not, then do not see how any. other al
Tentative remains.
There are other projects on foot Sena
tor Crittenden proposes that Congress shall
pass law calling upon the people to vote
on his plan Of adjustment in order that
Senators and representatives may know
the sentiments Of their respective States
Senator Bigler proposes an address to the
people, calling upon them TO assemble in
the several congressional districts, and
make known in their own way their wishes
to their members Of Congress. Many ol
the members of the border slave States
favor a conference Of delegates from said
States, to be elected by the Legislatures,
to meet in Baltimore 10 February next.
regret, for the Influence Of the Pacific
slope, the speech of Senator Baker in the
Senate, delivered on yesterday and to-day.
Although abounding in many eloquent pas
sages, it was parliamentary failure, being
better adapted to the stump. 1t was nei'
ther equal to his reputation nor to the oc.
casion, and thoroughly sifted, it was calcu-
lated to increase rather than to soothe the
irritation of the public mind. A speaker,
to say words of weight and influence, must
be fully possessed with the true character
aud significance of his subject When it is
question of a nations life, antiquated
lore, word-splitting sophisms and dexterous
legerdemain Of phrases are puerile and
contemplate.
In short, Senator Baker did not look
sternly the great facts Of the day in the
face, and deal with them in the light OF
experience and of sense. The South do
feel aggrieved. They bslisre their rights,
their homes, their peace is in danger. They
are madly moving on in the path Of rev.
olution. 1t is to be feared that within sixty
days an united South will be in the attitude
of resistance to federal authority. These
are the stubborn facts which statesmen
have to deal with.