, 1861-04-19
BY EXPRESS AND OVERLAND MAIL
DATES FROM ST. LOUIS TO MARCH 25!

The steamer Cortes arrived at Portland
last Friday, bringing dates from COlifor-
MIA to the sth inst, and from St, Louis to
the 25th March.
The Washington correspondent of the
Ala, writing under date Of the 10th ult.,
says:
There IS no doubt the evacuation Of Fort
Sumter has beeu ordered by the Admins
tra;ion, and the troops will leave that post
during the present week. This, however,
must not be mistaken for peace measure
on the part Of the Washington Cabinet,
but measure resulting from absolute ne.
cessity. Nor does the evacuation remove
serious fe-rs Of collision ot Fort Pickens
On the contrary, there are preparations for
fighting al Fort Piekeus being made and or.
ders have issued from the Department here
to land the troops from, the Brooklyn and
other sloops-of-war, to reinforce Lieutenant
Slemmer's command. Thatwas Mr.. Hollis
order at the first sign Of hostile purpose,
but the reinforcements were not actually
landed, because assurances were given that
no attack was meditated, and in order to
satisfy the Peace Convention then in session
here.
President Davis has recently sent secret
orders to General Bragg, (of "a little
more grape, Capt. BraggP uotoriety,) to
prepare his troops, now numbering 1000
enlisted men, for 'an assault on Fort Pick
ems, should the Administration here decline
negotiations for peaceable arrangement.
OREGoX War DEDr.-The bonds viii
not be ready for some two months yet in
payment Of the war debt. Mr.. Stout will
not leave here till the Treasury Department
has prepared instructions and determined
the manner in which the claims are to be
presented, so ns to be able to inform the
people of his State Of all steps necessary
to be taken in the matter. He is urging q
restoration of the Military Department Of
Oregon and the protection Of emigrants.
OREeoN1ANs FOR OTFIcE.-There are
many of these gentlemen here anxious to
serve the country. jesse Applegato will
probably get the Surveyor GenerOlship. A..
p. Ankeny is strongly backed as Superin-
tendent of Indian Affairs. T. j. Dryer is
quite sick, but seems TO be improving
Gen. Lane leaves soon for Oregon. Col
Baker will not go before tho first of June
ST.. LOUIS, March 22nd.
The Missouri Convention 10 day adjourn.
ed until the day named in December next
The response to the communication from
Georgia has been postponed till the next
meeting. There are two reports upon the
subject for consideration thea, both express
ing an unwiIlingness to secede from the
Union. A resolution was adopted consti-
tuting the President Of the Convention and
one member from each Congressional dis.
tr,ct q committee, of which q majority
shall have power to call the Convention to-
gether in the interim, If deemed necessary.
A resolution was also adopted providing
for the election, by the Convention, of seven
delegates to such q Border State Conven-
ton as may be ordered by the Virginia
Convention. The following are the dele
gates: Hamilton r. Gamble, Of St. Louis;
Wm. A. Hall, of Randolph; james H.
Moss, of Cooper; L. Hendrick, of Green;
and G. Pomeroy, Of Crawford.
In the Virginia Convention, yesterday,
Carlisle offered the Washington Peace Con-
ference measures as substitute for the re-
pors of the Committee on Federal Reln-
lions, which were referred.
A secession caucus was held at night, but
no definite action was had.
The Virginia Legislature has agreed to
adjourn on the first of April. The MS
souri, Legislature will probably adjourn the
early part Of next week.
The Washington correspondent of to-
days Herald says the inconsistencies IN the
dispatches of Major Anderson, before and
after the Inaugural, lead to whispers in
Executive circles, that the Major may be
in completely with the Secessionists Also,
that the President has determined to call
an extra session of Congress.
Sr. Louis, March 23-A.M.
Last nights Washington dispatches state
that rumors are current that there is to be