The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-01-11
The Great Topic.
Affairs at Charleston and WASHINGTON.

The Charleston papers say that none of
the guns in Fort Moultrie were materially
injured ; new carriages fer them would soon
BE finished and the fort be as strong as il
was before it was evacuated. The Courier
p1ofesses to believe that Fort Sumter is no;
IN good condition for defence that only e.
lcvcn guns are mounted, and none Of the
heaviest guns. 1t admits, however, that there
is ali immense amount of ammunition in the
fort, and provisions for six months, but as
serts that there is deficiency of fuel. In
Charleston all business is paralyzed, and the
people do nothing but drill and near and re-
peat the news from Washington and the 9TH
er states. Shipments of cotton, however,are
made to some extent. There is much alarm
IN the interior, which is deserted by the able.
bodied men, who are on service at Charles
ton, and the planters are endeayoring to cor
rect the false hopes the negroes have enter
tanned on account of Lincon's e!ection.-
There is much suffering among the poor
whites and free negroes, with no prospect of
reilef. Private adylces state that the people
were assured the secession movement would
be conducted without any disarrangement of
business, and to peaceful conclusion in their
own way. Recent indications have however,
changed these opinions, and they are now be-
ginning to realize the consequence of the ex-
pertinent.
II revenue cutter be sent to Charleston
to collect the duties with the new collector,
there is 70 necessity, as is supposed, for
collision with the state authorities unless
they should choose to invite it. The Harriet
Lane might easily keep guard at the entrance
OF the harbor, and be entirely out of range
of the guns Of Fort Moaltrie. In twenty
days more there will be little revenue to col
lect, as foreign vessels will shun Charleston
like pestilence.
The revoutionists count confidently on the
seizure of Northern forts, at least as far
North as Virginia and Maryland. The fol-
lowing from the Charleston Mercury, express
es their idea: "The government stands par
aiyzed. 1t 1t dares to send the federal troops
now IN Fortress Monroe. or the Norfolk ma
w yard to Charleston, Virginia will rise up
and seize the fortresses of the United States
within her territory and before this week is
out every military post on Southern ground
VIII be IN possession of the state authorities
OF the Southern states. They will ali see
that the issue Of force is made by the sener-
al government, and that the fate of one Sou
tnern state must be the fate of ALL The CO.
erclve power of the federal government, SO
long Wanted as adequate to suppress the Sc
e &c OF state, is rapidly proving itself to
be-what it has long been supposed and said
to be-a wretehed humbug scare-crow =: a
dirty bundle of red rags and old cIo,bes"
~, WASHINGTON. Jan. g.
The republicans will not accept the horde,
state compromise, but an opinion prevails
that some arrangement will be made sa,;se.o
tory both to the North and border s,atpsN
perhaps the proposition of Lucius Robinson
IN the New York legislature.
President Buchanan will send a mpss,oo
to Congress tomorrow. in which he will taie
Jacksonian ground, insisting upon the pr.
forcement of the law, with all the power If
the army and navy.
Fort Washington has been garrisoned nv
marines from this city, and detachment ar.
rived to-day from Portsmouth, n. II.
Forty-two tons of ammunition are now IN
the way from New York to Louisiana, under
the charge of Adams e. Co.'S express. The