The national Republican., 1861-03-15
pr,cTIoN in SOUTH cARoIINA,

The Charleston correspondent OF the Phila.
delphia Bulletin, under date OF March 4, says:
81 have tonight with scores, aud from
them know of hundreds more, who have been
called back to reason and to duty by the ma.
t0nal and elJquGht terms of the inaugural.
Several men have said to me tonight, I'VE
have worn the mask long enough--we have
not dared to speak, and scarcely breathe the
name Of our own country, but our hearts are
with the Union aud the Constitution, and our
sympathies are, with the policy aud principles
enunciated by Abraham Lincoln
81 have just left company OF some sixteen
intelligent men, many Of them natives of South
Carolina. The complete message was brought
in. and was requested to read it. These men
were no politicians, and heard it read with re.
spect and thoughtfulness, and as / read the
beautiful utterances with which it closed, every
eve was dimmed with tears and one man, al
most losing that command over his language
which is necessary here exclaimed, God
bless Abe Lincoln and the prayer met with
a response in every heart.
al repeat it, this is important and valuable
news from Charleston, and rejoce that am
here TO witness it. Only yesterday--in fact
this very morning--l could see no possible
way in which the country could be reuuted
and the skies seemed getting darker still, but
tO-nlyUt tnt WOTuS vi hulduuii hiS
kiudiing patriotism, love- and national pride,
in thousands of Southern hearts and l know
and feel that they will return to their duty,
their allegiance, and the enjoyment Of their
rights"
LIEUTENANT SLruMER's OPERATIONS AT
FoRT PIcKrNs.--The Mobile Advertiser Of the
9th instant thus alludes to the important move
recently made by Lieutenant Slemmer. in
erecting sand battery to the eastward of Fort
Pickens
"The sand battery defends the only lard ap.
proach to Fort PckGns, which stands on the
extreme westward point Of Santa Rosa Island.
The island is some forty miles long, but very
narrow, in some places being not more than
third of mile in width. The battery stands
on a narrow part of the island, and is an effect.
ual outpost to prevent surprise from a storm.
ing force.
"If we are to come to blows. with Lncoln's
Administration, we shall want to take Fort
Pickens, and will try and as we have no navy,
and our batteries on the main land can only
play at long taw with that powerful island for.
tress, which can more than hold its own at that
game, and destroy any attacking force ap.
preaching in boats, the most feasible method
of attack is to throw powerful force on the
Santa Rosa Island, several miles to the east.
ward, crossing them over from the main land
across a sound about half mile, more or
less, wide. Once on the island, their pro.
gramme would be to rush down on Fort Pick.
ems, and take it by overwhelming assault
1--WE understand that Semp'er has taken
every care and precaution in his power to
strengthen his defences on the island side of
the fort and now we are advised that he has
provided an outpost Of defence; and if it be
Al e l. a.
it will answer the purpose of eifectually pre-.
venting anything like surprise. The island,
however, affords the facility of making regular
siege approaches by an attacking force, and
yet this force could be excessively annoyed in
the day time by the shot and shell of a squad
ron playing upon them in flank from the gulf
or bay. We hope the worst will not come to
the worst, and that we shall get the fort easier
than vi et armis; but if we do not, this sand
battery of Lieutenant Slcmmer's is o matter Of
interest," and will play part of some import
ance III an attack on the only plan in which
we can quickly gain possession Of Pickens."
The LATE ELEorloNs.-For many weeks
past the Democratic papers and orators have
been loud in their predictions that at the spring
elections in the Northern Sntes the public sen.
timent would exhibit itself in greatly reduced
Republican vote. 1t has been constantly as.
serted that the efforts of the secessionists, the
compromiscrs, and the so-called peace makers,
would force the North to an abandonment OF
its principles as proclaimed in November last.
The absurdity of the suppoSition is strikingly
shown in the returns Of the New York town
and New Hampshire State elections. The only
change from the vote of last fall is decided
Republican gain in many districts. The threats
and camors of the cresl-iallen and demoralzed
Democracy have been of no avail. The people
fully comprehend their insincerity, and boldly
rciteratc Il determination to abide by the wise
and wholesome doctrines proclaimed in the
Chicago platform aud upheld by Abraham Lin.
celn.-M T. Post.
VIRGINIA SENTIMEST.-The Committee on
Federal Relations in the Virginia State Con.
venton has submitted four different reports ;
the majority, consisting of twelve members,
recommending peace measures and an attempt
to adjust the questions of national policy upon
compromise basis; the first minority report
by Governor Wise, dissenting from the major
ity and demanding the full recognition Of and
full protection for slavery; the second, signed
by james Barbour, recommending the appoint
mcnt Of Commissioners to proceed to Mont
gomery, to confer with jeff. Davis Company
and the third, by Messrs. Harvie, Montague
and Williams, taking ground in favor of imme.
diate secession. The committee is, therefore
divided into four sections-twelve in favor ot
peace and Union, and five, all told, against it.
The Conv -nton has not yet acted on the re
ports. Mr.. Summers, one Of the delegates to
the Washington Conference, yesterday, made q
powerful speech in defence OF the peace propo.
sitions adopted by that body.
Tur Euprpop N,pnIrov Avn rur popn
The Paris correspondent Of the London Daily
NerS says:
I'm corroboration of my statement that the
diplomatic relations between France and Rome
were worse than ever, may mention an ac,
credited rumor Of the recall of the Duke dc
Grammont by way of an answer to the slight
implied by the prolonged absence from Paris
Of Monsignore Sacconi. In that hypothesis
NJ Delacnur would be sent 10 Rome on q ten,