The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-02-13
The New

The Southern Congress at Montgomery, Ala
bama, yesterday in secret session adopted
resolution declaring that the new government
takes under its charge the questions and diff
entities existing between the States Of the con-
fcderecy and the United States, relative TO the
forts, arsenals and other public establishments.
We shall, therefore, have no collision by the Sc
cessionisss at any of the points threatened, until
formal declaration of war is made by the Southern
Congress- unless the federal government take the
Initiative steps. resolution directing inquiry as
to the propriety Of sending Commissioners to
Washington was referred TO the Committee on
Foreign Relations.
The President elect and party, en- route for the
White House, left indianapolis yesterday morning.
and arrived at Cincinnati in the evening, where he
made speech to the people, report Of which
NAV be found in our account Of the journey of the
party, in another column.
A large number of memorials relative to
The crisis we're presented in Congress yester-
day. In the Senate MIR. summon and Mr..
Crittenden discussed the perilous condition Of
the country. The Naval Appropriation bill
was taken up, the question being on the adoption
of an amendment providing for the construction
of six steam sloops Of war. Mr. Green opposed
the amendment but il was finally adopted by
vote Of q to IL. After an executive session, in
which a number of appointments were confirmed,
the Senate adjourned.
In the House yesterday the Chairman of the
Committee on Ways and Means presented letter
from the Secretary of the Treasury, showing the
condition of the government finances. The debts
to be met, between the present time and the 4th
Of March next, amount to nearly ten millions Of
dollars while the accruing revenue and the sum in
the sub-treasures, subject to draft, amounts to
about two millions and q half. The Secretary
recommended the passage Of a law enabling him
to accept from any State the guarantee OF any
stock of the federal government, to the amount Of
public money deposited with such State under the
Distribution act Of June %, 1886. A bill in &C
cordance with this suggestion was presented with
the letter referred to, but its introduction was
objected to by Mr.. Garnett, OF Virginia. The
report Of the Select Committee on the robbery
Of Indian Trust bonds was then presented and
ordered to be printed. We publish the
document complete in to-day's paper. The report
says thirty or forty witnesses were examined, in
Guiding ex-Secretaries Floyd and Thompson. The
latter is exoncrated from any completely in the
theft: but he as well former Secretaries Of the
Interior is censured for the inefficient manner in
which the bonds have been held in TIL depart
ment. there being no adequate respons bity at.
tached to the custodian II was ascortsiled that
MIR. Floyd gave acceptances TO the amount Of
nearly seven millions Of dollars, or from two TO
three millions Of dollars more than Russell. Majors
& Company ever earned, while these contractors
received all the money that was due them. The
acceptances were given on the strength Of their
contract. Senator Benjamin was an important
witness. About year ago-he could not exactly
FIX the tne--he received q letter from Duncan,
Sherman Il Co., asking him to ascertain whether
Mr.. Floyd's acceptanccs were good. Mr.. Bepja-
min called on the President, who said that he
knew nothing about them or any law authorizing
their issue. Mr.. Benjamin next called on Mr..
Floyd, who said that the acceptances were in &C.
cordancc with the usage Of the department, and
were given conditonally o. 10 the arrival OF trains
from one point to another. Mr. Benjamin remind
cd him Of the improperly of such proceedings and
Mr.. Floyd said he would sign no more. But, not
wi'hstanding, from April to December, he gave
acceptances TO the amount Of two millions one
hundred aud sixtythree thousand dollars. The
last batch was the 18th Of December day
baiiey denvered tho last supply OF bonds. The
commiuee nave ascertancd that many of these
acceptances are still out, and 500 600 worth ~
Them are In the hands OF one or two par,ic, alone
but which are worthless. The committee r,.ko ~
Recommendations, but merely report t,,o fsc,s
The House took up the special order, u,c Pacific
Railroad bill, tho question being on agreeing 10
the Senate's amendments. A debate cnsued which
OF an carly stage was turned into . discussion On
ihe position Of Virginia relative to secession.
The bill authorizing the endorsomontby this state
al United States bonds 70 the amount Of the ma.
fonal funds deposited with New York by the Dis.
iribuuon act Ct Congress Of 1886 came up again
in fhe Senate at Albany yesterday, and vas passed
pya vote o. IL %. After some o.her business