The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-02-07
some hesitation, allowed them to pass.

relics oil Col. w lnGtT, iate commander, nrODa-
bly, in pursuit of clothing for their own use,
and they saw ladies' dresses, and family da-
guerreotypes, scattered about with little re-
gard to their vaunted respect for the rights of
personal property. In justice to the officers
these ladies' wished to exonerate them person
ally, from these acts of vandalism, and be-
lieve they were done by the baser sort upon
whom discipline had as yet exerted no con-
troll.
Lieut.. Sleinmer asserted that he could hold
the place against five thousand men and de-
clared he would do it. 1t is needless to say
that both these ladies exhorted their husbands
to stand by their country's flag to the last, and
never haul it down, except TO an overpower-
ing force. IS
Ali the prisoners in the Navy Yard were
permitted to leave after giving their parole,
and those who could get away left. Such as
decided to remain We're compelled to take the
oath OF allegiance to serve the State of
Florida.
FAREWELL OF SENATOR BENJAMIN.
Senator Benjamin, Of Louisiana with Mr.
Slidell, his colleague, bade farewell to the L.
s. Senate on Monday Mr. Ben said
that after the Southern Senators had left there
would be still voices raised on that side of the
chamber in opposition to force bilis-to bills
for raising armies and navies Tor the desola-
ton of the South. Mr.. Denjanliaconcfuded as
follows
And now to you, Mr.. President, and to my
brother Senators on all sides of this chamber
l bid Il respectful fare we'll With many o.
those from whom l have been radically sepa- =
rated i'll political sentiment, my personal reII-
tions have been kindly, and have inspired ms
with respect and esteem that l shall NOS
willingly forget.
With those around me from the Southern
States, part as men part from brothers on
the eve OF a temporary absence, with Z. cordial
pressure OF the hand and Il smiling assurance
OF the speedy renewal OF sweet intercourse
around the family hearth RIM n pOfip
and generous friends, VINO bow beneath ether
skies, possess hearts that beat in sympathy V
with ours-to you who solicited and assailed
by motives the most powerful that could ap-
peal to selfish natures and nobiy spurned them
ALTO you who on our behalf have barred your
breast TO the fierce beatings of the storm and
made willing sacrifice of lifes most glittering
prizes III your devotion TO constitutional lIber-
ty--to you who have made cause your
cause, and from many of whom i now feel
that part forever, what shall | say? Naught
L know and feel is needed for myself; but this
l Will say for the people i'll whose nameI speak
10 day:
Whether prosperous or adverse fortunes
await you, one priceless treasure is yoHrs-the
assurance that an entire people have your
names and mold them grateful and ;t1lec ton =
ate memory. But with still sweeter and more
touching return, shall your unselfsh devotion
be rewarded. When in after DAYS the story OF
the present shall be written when history
shall have passed her stern sentence on the
erriMg men who have driven unofpnding
brethren from the shelter of their common
home, your names shall derive fresh lustre
from the contrast; and when your children
shall hear, oft-repeated, the familiar tale,
| twill be with glowing cheek and kindling eye;
their very souls VIII stand Il tip-toe as their
sires are named and they Will glory in their
lineage from men, OF spirits generous and
Of patriotism as high hearted rs ever ilustra-
ted or adorned the American Senate. Good
friends, farewell.
Mr. Ber iaInin was frequently greeted with
number OF Sena tors and Others bid the Louisi-
ana Senat tor farewell, and the scene was high
ly impressive. The galleries Were crowded.
POSITION OF SENATOR CAMERoN.
The Committee of New York Merchants,
who presented to Congress the memorial OF
forty thousand citizens, urging the adoption
of the Border State Compromise, before
| leaving the Capital, assembled the Republi-
! can members of Congress ut an entertainment
| given at Willard's Hotel. Senator Cameron,
| who is to be q member of Lincolns Cabinet,
| made Il speech. lie said
| have heard that New York is 4 generous
| city, but do not know whether this calling
| on me 1or speech be any evidence OF the fact
| for they ask me to speak before l have halt
| finished my supper. Only the other day, after
| making, in the Senate, q speech which hon.
| estly believed the crisis and the country de-
| manded, was declared n rebel TO my party
| Out HHu lilstL dill lIUI the ollIy IeDei. join
| Sherman is Il rebel too, Judged by the samt
| rule OF construction: so is my friend, Judge
! Hale; so is my young friend killingcr, who
made, 10 might, u conservative speech III the
| House; SO is my friend Mr.. Curtis, OF Iowa
and it seems we all have to be read out of the
party. These are Clear indications, evident
| that the love of the country is above all con
| siderations OF party. [Cheers.l We have
reached crisis that no one anticipated. This
is no time for party. 1t is question of coun
| try. Everybody is anxious and desirous to dc
| something, but no one knows what Will dc
good. 1t is the rebels at the South who have
| been laboring long to diSseyer this Govern
ment. There has been no time, since Con
| gress met, that this whole question could no
| have been settled, if the South had only come
| forward generously, and met the question
fairly. The plot OF secession has been medi
tated for thirty years, and now the politica
| leaders of the South are bound hand and foo
TO the disorganiZing mob 1T home, who have
| really no interest 1T stake III the prcsent cri
| sis. There is no plan OF settlement, that l.
honorable, that am not fully prepared 10
| cept. fCheers.
Mr.. Mcknight stated that he believed Ii,
| represented the district which gave the larges
| Republican majority Ill the Presidential can
vass-a majority Of ten thousand over fusion
| and nine thousand over all the nongrel ele
1nents combined. He was not prepared to say
| as had been remarked, that he had a Gro wbai
! down his back when the interest of his coun
| try was at stake. He was prepared to vot'
for most, if not all, of the propositions report
ed by the Committee OF Thirty three. Ii
| conclusion, he proposedthe health OF the here
| of Charles ton harbor, the patriotic Rober
Anderson.
The toast was received by Il perfect burst o
| applause which did not subside for severa
min utes.
! to the remarks of Mr.. Mcknight: II hay
been denounced by all the journals through
out the honorable members district for tn
| course which have taken. am glad 10 hea
haU hvf
willing To go further than / and to yote I
| make slave territory out of territory now free
l am willing, however, to take the dlstin
guished member from Pennsylvania as cap
tain OF the host, and 10 follow hlm modeStl
| as an humble follower.
| THE OFFICERS OF THE HONE SQUADRON.
A letter from Lieut. Porcher, of South Caro-
lima, on board the United steamer PowhataI
at Vera Cruz, gives the following account C
the difficulties experienced by Southern OF
1ieers in leaving their ships there:
| Some hours after the arrival of the mai
| when had fully digested the news had
| friendly, unofficial talk with the Captain; tol
him my intention was TO hand In my resigna
ton the next day, (yesterdayD and requeste
| mediatelv He said he would, but that h
felt certain the Flag Officer would not gran
his request. l told him wanted it under
| stood that ii kept on board would not sery
| in lnV capacity against any 'oOutitIh CITY Z
| state Yesterday three OF us from Sout
Carolina went in and saw the Flag Officer
He refused to allow us 10 leave until he heal
from the Secretary, on the ground that II W
60, others might assume tie saihe positlon. :
We exhausted all argument, and wound u
by giving him To unders tand that We woui
not serve either to collect revenues, or in an
other way harrass or annoy any souther
city. His further reply was that ioI the pr
sant the ship would remain here. We Wei
nartieular In thus defining our position, :
The frieate Sabine and sloop st. Louis are ol
dered to Pensacola.