Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1861-02-07
LATEST NEWS.


Virginia On Monday for delegates to the
/ State Sovereign Convention, are too sparse
and scattering to justify any conclusive
/ calculations as to the result; but they are
still of most encouraging aspect. In the
cities of Richmond, Petersburg, Alexan-
/ dria and Wheeling, the Unionlsts have
triumphed, whilst even in the southeastern
! counties of the State, where secession is
most rampant, so far as the returns show,
they really more than hold their own.
On the extreme west of the State, along
the Ohio river, the friends of the Union
have swept everything. Virginia, howeV-
er. is q very large State with a great many
counties, and until large portion of these
are heard from it will not be safe to antlc-
ipate the result.
The national Peace Convention assem-
bled at Washington on Monday, Commits
sioners from eleven States being present.
Seventeen States will be represented, but
all the Commissioners had not yet reached
the capital The proceedings we're merely
preliminary to a permanent organization.
Ex-President Tyler was elected President.
The deliberations were conducted with
closed doors, and it is thought probable
that this rule will be permanently adopted
by the convention as permitting a greater
limit of debate. The delegates from
Pennsylvania are W. Loomis, VIM Nc
Kennan, ex-Goy Pollock, Thos + Frank
lin, Thos. White and VIM NJ. Meredith.
In the United States Senate on Monday
the Louisiana Senators announced the Sc
ccssiou of their State aad withdrew from
the Senate Mr.. Benjamin delivered an
eloquent and quite affecting farewell ad-
dress.
From the Secession Convention at Mont
gomery, Alabama, we have the announce
ment that Mr.. Howell Cobb has been cleo
ted permanent President by acclamation.
In his address he states that secession is
"a fixed and irrevocable act" All the
delegates were present except Mr. T. Nor
ton, of Florida.
Advices from Vera Cruz state that Sec
retary Touceys orders to the home squad
ron were received BY the commander of the
squadron, on the 10Th ult, and he imme-
dately proceeded to execute the ORDER sent,
which was to send to Florida the steam frig-
ate Powhatan, the Sabine and the sailing
corvette st. Louis. On examination, how
ever, it was discovered that all the vessels
of the fleet we're SO short Of provisions as
to render it unadyisable to send any Of the
vessels on special service before the stores
were replenished, and it was believed that
the vessels designated would first proceed
to Havana for that purpose. The order
from the Navy Department had created the
greatest excitement in the squadron, and
some disafection existed among the officers
of the Powhatan, of whom the First and
Third Lieutenants, and the Purser, imme-
diately resigned. Their designations were
conditionally accepted, but they were re-
fused permission to leave the vessel.
1t is stated that Governor Pickens has
assured his friends in Washington that
there will be no hostile movements on the
part Of South Carolina, or any attempt to
take Fort Sumter until al efforts have been
exhausted to gat peaoeable possession of
that fort The New York Times gives
credit to a story that the fort has been
reinforced by troops conveyed in small boats
from TIE sloop-of-war Brooklyn, lying off
the bar, and as confrmatory thereof, posi-
lively asserts that "lctters have been re-
ceived in this city (New York. from gen.
teman who lett here four weeks since, and
is noc aoithin Fort Sumter."
The United States revenue cutter Cass
has been seized by the Alabama authori-
ties.
The President is understood to be pre-
pairing a reply to South Carolina's demand
for the surrender of Fort Sumter, and Col.
Hayne will remain in Washington until it
rs delivered.
The most infamous act yet perpetrated is
the seizure of the mint at New Orleans,
with over 100000, by the land pirates
there At Vicksburg, Mississippi steam
boats are stopped with cannon, and we
shall not be surprised soon to hear the West
is in arms
PENSACOLA, Feb. 5.
& truce has heen concluded between Lient