The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-15

EX-SECRETERY FLOYD ON THE CRISIS.
Correspondence Of the Baltimore Americana
sTEECH DlvuLGING CABINET sECRETs-wHAT CAUSED
GENERAL CAss' OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES SCOTS
PLAN OF SETTLING NATIONAL DIFFICULTIES
GENERAL CAss' DEMAND or THE PREsfDESr-MA-
JoR ANpERsoS's EVACUATION OF FORT MoULTRIE,
ETC.
RICHMOND, Jan. IL, 1861.
The event Of yesterday (outsde Of the Legislative
chamhers) a grand dinner TO Secretary Floyd at
the Ballard House. the banquet commenced at nine
O'Clock. General A. A. Chapman, Of Monroe, presided.
Judge Hopkins and + NJ Gilmcr Esq, the distinguished
Commissioners from Alabama TO Virginia, present
Whilst the festival was in progress, General Chapman
arose and read teegraphc despatch announcing that
Alabama had seeded from the Union, which was re
ceved with tremendous cheers.
The first toast was The Constitution as our fathers
made H. (susc-.'IIal Columbia. y
To this Hon James A. seddon, formerly member OF
Congress- made nm eloquent response in which he In
voked the people Of Virginia to ccmand some power by
which our destiny he held In cur own hands
The next sentiment was-Th lion. JohnlD F1oyd, the
worthy OF a noble al honor to the yirgnian
who spurns the trappngs Of federal place, respects
mothers rights ana resents mother wrongsW Music
and three cheers for Governor Hoyd.)
Mr.. Floyd expressed his deep sense OF the sonor
ferred upon him lie had not made public speech since
four years ago they assembled under this roof cee
brate what then considered great onal triumph
There was then feeling that all would be well Their
leader stood upon a platform Of peace platform of
salvation where are those hopes now Gone Ike ast
years cloud, and gone forever He then adverted 10
the causes Of al this You, he said have done nothing
10 bring 1t about " attributable 10 blind l,naticsIn
which las resulted in an alienation Of the North and
south and At length disruption Of the most glorious
fabric earth. lie alluded to the condition of things
thirty years ago, when abolitionism was a speck
bigger than mans hand, but which was
now cloud oyershadowng the whocDsarth. 10 has
seized upon and destroyed every institution the country
until u has come To . point whore forbasrance is
longer possible. he then spoke of the Scripra cha
racter Of slavery and the Unparalleled prosperity to
white race. and the civilization Of the black had pro
duced IN America The cultivation OF cotton was smother
great result Cotton was row one of the governing
powers Of the earth with the products Of slave Ia
Dor that settle up the balance accounts with England
and all Europe every year IL keeps up the banks the
ships the workshops, and does more than that puts
Europe under bonds 20 keep the peace with the United
States Yet with all these before them they had
dshon1rcd and laid violent htnds upon this Divine nsti
tuition The speaker then spoke OF the other features
a5olitonism-thc "rfcpressbfe conflict doctrine-the
election Of lincoln upon the avowed declaration that sa-
very II sp. They demand Of you acknowledgment
81 your 'nferority or they demand your blooi Cod
knows, he sad hey shall have every drop Of mine be
fore surrender iota TO Their demands lie had
10 cast his lot with virginia and world live or die for
her lie could hope for the future but through
our united opposition 70 wrong. Mr.. Floyd next