New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-02-13
VOLUME XIII.
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.
Special to the New Orleans Crescent

Special to the New Orleans Crescentl
WAsHINGToN Feb. S, 1861.
Mr.. RdHor-One of the most disgusting and
dsgraceful scenes ever witnessed in the Senate
happened yesterday when Mr.. Benjamin was de-
lverng his farewell speech specimen of chaste,
impassioned and touching eloquence worthy of
Burke in his palniest days. The Republicans, who.
had laughed like fends at Iverson when he took
leave, dared not treat Mr.. Benjamin quite so out
rageously; but neanly, sneakingy, loathesomely
sought to mar the effect of his glowing orat0ry by
talking with each other in SO loud tone that
the clear, musical voice of Ben jamn was at
times completely drowned. Still, the galleries
caught enough to warm and inspire them. He was
frequently and enthusiastically applauded and
closed only to receive the heartiest congratulations
on all sides. Mr. Sldeli's speech is spoken of as q
masterpiece of reasoning. Louisiana has cause to
be proud of her Senators.
The fatal belief among the Republicans that
there is large party, even in the extreme South
ern States, who are attached to the Union that
they would take up arms for it if they could be
aided by the Abolitonists, has induced Adams, of
Massachusetts,, to state that " should any consider
able number of men in the Southern States desire
to escape the tyranny of the Secessonists it would
be the duty of the Federal Government to assist
them in reganing their liberty.h This is his exact
idea though not his precise language All eX-
preston of devotion to the Union, coming from
Southern members, encourages this terrible delu-
sion, and increases immensely the chances of civil
war.
So does the present attitude Of Virginia, which,
from all accounts, went yesterday for the Union
lists by a sweeping majority. Seeing the border
States fater, and mstaking Unionism for subms-
sion, the war party among the Republicans is
strengthened in the conviction that only requires
firm front and show of force to make the cotton
States quail also-a most unhappy error. Itwould
appear that war is in this way thrust upon US, in
spite Of ourselves to the Provdential end that the
separation between the North and South may be
| made tinal and the contrasted experiment of a
slaveholding and non slaveholding Republic may
be carried on side by side, for the instruction and
| guidance of after ages.
| The Peace COngress-queer name for lt-assem-
bled yesterday at Wizards, and adjourned over to
| await the arrival of more delegates and give the
| Committee on Permanent Organization time to
act Ex.President Tyler, it is thought, will be
elected to preside over the deliberations of this
august assemblage, whose sessions are to be Sc
| cret and whose conclusions are to satisfy nobody.
|
call of national Convention but the Congress
has been so adroitly inilrated and supersaturated
with Repubcanism that there is reason to doubt
whether any recommendation whatever will be
agreed upon
Seward, as am informed by reliable authority
is nearly alive to the full peril Of the times anG
| more than anxious to save the Union entire. He
is fully reconciled to division in his own party
and bent upon forming Union party. Douglas
will aid him in this. But he Is afraid to venture
too far at once, lest he lose all Republican sup
port; and events are progressing rapidly tina
he cannot keep up with them He will carry Lin
coin with him. but he loses Wade, Sumner, King
Hale and all that crew. If he can keep thing
quiet for sixty er ninety days, he feels sure 0
| bringing the North around. But Virginia mus
have some positive to keep her still, AM
the devil himself can't keep the Gulf States in
perfectly passive condition that long. Moreove
the idea of reconstruction is abandoned b.
all true Southern men, the machinery of the South
ern Confederacy is being made, and, that onct
started, no earthly power can patch up the Uniol
again. 1t takes long time for people to recon
cile themselves to the fact Of an everlasting disso
lution and the fear is that war may come, not be
cause of enmity so much as actual Inability on tn
part of the people to comprehend the issu
promptly, and to adapt themselves to it. There i
still another matter which threatens TO bring tn
sections in collision. Maryland is obliged TO g.
with Virginia. Virginia can't stay in without tn
cotton States. The Republicans say they will hav
the Capital and the public archives. We ma
give them the archives, but Maryland can't Civ
up the District of Columbia. How the matter i
to be adjusted without bloodshed, heaven alon
can tell.
The Republicans are horribly enraged at the los
of the money in your Mint. Touch their pockets
and they howl like mad dogs. 1t just shows tha
the rascals care nothing for us, but love our nc
ney. And some Southern men are raising terr
Bile pother over the same thing. A pretty bus
ness, truly, it would be for you to let that none
go into the hands of men who lack not the dispos
ton but the power to carry on war of subjugs
ton against you. Give the Aboltionists stick t
break your head with That amt your name, O
any other Southern mans.
MALOU