The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-04-06

10 the war secton of the Republican party, an
pursue coercive policy towards the Souther
states. The movements of troops, and the preps
ratlons making at the Northern Navy Yards, a
lnolcate some active aggressive movement on th
o south We give below such intelligence bearin
on the question as we have received:
= Correspondence ~ T. HeradJ
,u THE DESIGNS OF THE ADMINISTRATIONS.
WASHINGTON, April 4, 1S6l.-No formal Cabine
meeting was held to-day, but the members of tn
iGent. "
Ihe positive statement in my last nights des
PatcheS, that the naval armaments now going or
uiean no more or less than the blockade of the
, mouth OF the Mississippi and Southern ports by
mehof.war, and the collection of the revenue from
on shlpboard is strictly true. Secretary Chase ha.
oeen urging the necessity of taking some steps in
i Inat direction for some time but action was de
layed Tor plain reasons until after the late Munich
pal and State elections and test of the confidence
OF tue business community in the admin istratior
through the new loan
Extreme solicitude is everywhere manifested re-
iatiVe to the movements concerning Forts Pickens
and Sumter. The fear is expressed that collision
may be precipi'ated.
A reliable private despatch from Charleston saws
that 1t is supposed Major Andersons supplies were
cut OFF to-day, causing considerable commotion and
| anxiety as to the final result.
| ., a secret agent of the government arrived from
the South this morning. He repaired Immediately
W Ibe w ute mouse, ana was clOSeted with the
| PRESIDENT for hour. He is supposed to
nave brought news from Charleston.
| , Inc administration is in terrible dilemma On
| the one side the steadily swelling clamor of the
raGca majority OF its supporters against its passive
| pollcy spurs it on to decisive action upop the
southern question, while the other the certainty
OF driving the border slave States out of the Union
Dy attempting to maintain the Federal authority in
.ne oonth oy force OF arms in exercising restrain
| ing influence. But it is now all but certain that
the lashng of the Times and Tribune, and the loud
groWs OF dissatisfaction that are at present maxine
| themselves heard here from every section of the
NORTH, will drive it into an abandonment of the
paclnc attitude occupied this week, and resort to
measures more likely to satisfy the coercve prediec
tlons OF those that lifted it into power Republican
leaders from the West declare openly that it is high
time ior the administration to abandon the inert
ness IN reference to political affairs that has char
acterlZed 1t during the first month of its existence
Ihey say that If the present military and naval
movements do not turn out what they are exnected
70 De, the entire Western Republican press will
IOllow IN the wake of the New York or yans and
make general onslaught upon the occupant of the
White House. N
EXPLANATIONS DEMANDED THE SOUTHERN coMMrs-
SIoNERs.
AN understanding between the Southern Com
mlsSlOners and the Government having been agreed
TO, though not official but informal that the mill.
tary status should remain, and no movements be
made in regard to the Southern forts without first
giving said Commissioners intimaton of what
dQVthlnU
from the administration respecting its policy. they
nave made inquiry at the proper department to
Know what is the meaning Of the sudden naval and
army movements and whether they are intended
10 go South; also, whether the Commissioners were
rightly and properly assured when they were in
formed that the military status then existing should
remain.
The Commissioners, | am we'll satisfied, will not
get satisfactory answer, if they get anv answer
at all, which is hardly probable. 1t is pretty evil
uent that all the assurances which they have re-
celVed were not sincerely and honestly intended
-, AFFAIRS AT PENSACOLA AND MONTGOMERY.
NAsHlNGroN, April 4.-Lieutenant Gilman vho
arrived here last night direct from Pensacola,
stopped few hours at Montgomery. He saws that
the new government is in full blast and that thew
manifest vIgor and energy that is certainly com
mendabie. They have now more efficient army
than that of the United States for their whole sonI
Is absorbed in its success.
The force which the Confederate States now have
at peneacola is very formidable, composed as it is
OF the best men in the South, and oficered bv men
who occupied distinguished positions in the army
OF the United States. He SAYS it will be impossi-
Die to continue the armistce existing between the
two governments much longer. They are getting
very restless, and appear anxious for a fight
questioned Lieutenant Gilman particularly
about the reiniorcements which it was alleged the
brooklyn had thrown into Fort Pickens in the
night. He said there was not a particle of truth
In 1t. lie said it was next to impossible to throw
reinforcements into that fort without their know
ing it. He says they keep up vigilant watch
night and day.
From the Ne,0 Fork Tribune
WASHINGTON, April 4.-Events are progressing
rapidly and decsively, and the country will soon
learn that there is Government here, and that nv
disputed statements verified literally. Fort
Pickens will be held at every hazard and it is bv
no means IMPROBABLE that troops have been landed
there already. Whatever reinforcements NAV be
necessary To rotoin -, will hn sent alhonrb tho
Administration intends in that, as mall similar
demonstrations to preserve a peace policy If as
tar;I,,
attack.
No disguise is affected in regard to the sending
4 r supplies to the vessels of and Fort Pickens
Ihev are ample for present and future necessities
Instructions have also been forwarded, which are
intended to keep the squadron off Pensacola on the
alert, and prepare to cooperate with the fort if
signal should be given.
While the newspapers are harping upon A want
of policy in the Administration, the President has
been earnestly engaged, day after day, with his
Cabinet and others high in the confidence of the
country, as to the best mode of meeting this crisis
and meeting it thoroughly. Great responsibilities
like those now involved, which require all the
powers under the Constitution to be examined
carefully and calmly, with view to the legal JUS
tihcation of every position that may be assumed,
cannot be determined in a day, and thew demand
almost cotemp0raneous preparation in all the De-
partments, for certain contingencies which NAV be
accepted
The Attorney y-General has now before him sew
eral important questions, which affect peace or
war substantially his opinion shall be received
by the Cotton States First as to the power of the
President to collect the duties on shipboard; and
next, as to the extent of his authority to call out
! volunteers in a certain emergency. His decision
on these points and some others NAV determine an
extra session; and, for reaSCns obvious to all intel
lgent minds that resort will be avoided if possible;
put 1T may be necessary. In the meantime, the
| Administration must prepare gradually so that if
the Revolutonists should strike, as they threaten,
! the blow many not fall iniuriCusly.
! 80 tar as Fort Sumter is concerned, no final de-
cision has been taken. A meeting of the Cabinet
will be held tomorrow, when that matter must be
concluded. Major Anderson's supplies are getting
fast exhausted, and they must be renewed or he
must be Withdrawn, or starvation and surrender
are inevitable. These the alternatives present
ed Offers have been made to the Government To
| introduce supplies, but they are attended with
| risks which may well cause hesitation. The gold.
en- opportunity was lost when the Star of the West
turned back.
Commodore Paulding has been ordered to take
| the place in the Navy Department recently filled
| by Commodore Stringham. This arrangement i;
now considered temporary, but it may become per
| manent 1t depends upon events whether the lat
| ter will soon resume that post
Charleston has to-day been in a state of excite
ment unequalled since he first secession movement
crisis is at hand. The appearance of schooner
OF the harbor last evening, and her attempt tc
pass the batteries, her being fired into, and hel
subsequent mysterious disappearance, have arous
ed apprehensOns of the most serious character
The military leaders have been unusually ACTIVE
all day, and members of the Convention now il
session belonging to the several Notifications hav
been ordered to their stations.
thousand rumors are iii circulation, the prnci
pal OF which indicates that Fort Sumter will b.
attacked in the course of two days, and that tn
attack will be from the forts.
South Carolina never so well prepared, ant
her people are anxious for fight The warlik
feeling high.
Lieut.. Talbot, of Fort Sumter, lately promoted
went to Washington this forenoon as bearer of des
patches to the Government.
The Charestonians generally say there shall b
no more boys play. Evacuate or fight is the pre-
vailing sentiment.
| Major Anderson will have to surrender in sell
defence, though 1t is believed that an attempt wi
, be seriously made at reinforcement
Welcome B. Sayles, Special Agent of the Pos
Office Department of the Southern Confederacy
left tonight direct for Washington. After
thorough examination into the postal arrangement
in the Southern section, he has had interview
with Postmaster-General Reagan and nearly all tn
postmasters.
: The old mail arrangements will probably be cor
tinued until the Confederate States are ready
conclude their OVID, which will be shortly.
Two companies left the arsenal tonight for S;
vannah.
salute was fired this afternoon by Capt Jane
w. Meredith'S private battery in honor of the ra
e hcatiOn of the Constitution by South Carolina, an
: the hosting of the Confederate States flag.
, Later advices are understood to have been n
Is ceived from montgomery, ordering further supple
8 | to Major Anderson to be cut off.
. No further communication will be allowed b
tween the fort and Federal authorities.
The danger is Imminent, and members Of the Coz
vention wait here, expecting conflict before S
G turday.
r New ORLEANS, April A special despatch fro
e Washington to The Delta, reporting a suspectt
= attempt to reinforce Fort Sumter and that Il
II frigate Minnesota, with other ships-of-war, hf
been ordered to the mouth of the Mississippi to &C
lect the revenue, has created the highest excit