Spirit of the age., 1861-04-17
Washington Items.


profess to be in the secrets of the admins
tration, say that if war between the United
States and the Southern Confederated States
does take place, it viii not be the fault
of Lincoln's administration. for it does not
mean to engage in any aggressive demonstra-
tion-that ''it simply means to discharge its
constitutional duties that it intends to
strengthen. protect and defend, in case of an
attack, all the Southern forts except Sum-
ter, which it is ready to abandon in order
to avoid bloodshed That it will use all the
enue, and that if the Southern States shall
interfere, the interference will be repelle1
and the conflict will come. But the admin.
istration will not strike the first blow"
1t is said that the Governor of Pennsyl
vania has recently been closeted at Washing
ton with the Secretary of War and Genera
Scott and that Pennsylvania will be imme
mediately put on a war footing with a large
army to march against the South. Massa
| chnsetts has some seven thousand troops al
equipped and ready to march on twelve hours
notice New York is pledged to furnish ter
Thousand troops at 48 hours notice, and IL
linois and other western States are begging
to be called into the field
! One informant from Washington says, i
has been determined to hav war enough tt
Sagss Sag thaa tr61fsdsracy The Lnconites
will then treat, but cannot now recogize tht
| independence of the seeded States Anoth
or informant states that part of the plar
| (which has been under consideration since
the 4th of March, is to blockade the Mis-
sissippi and retake Ship Island, and perhaps
others tations. !. Another authority says tha
ding mounted howitzers, have been shippe'
hence by Express to Fort Hamilton. Thes
look to land as well as sea operations.
The National Republican, published a
Washington, has this item:
1T is reported that Gen. Scott has mad
arrangements by which he could, in an emer
gency. concentrate two thousand troops il
this city at twelve hours notice"
WASHINGTON, April 8.-The Southern Con
missioners appear impressed with the belle
that the expedition spoken of above is prir
cipally designed for Texas.
Sam Houston has given full advices to th
Federal authorities here, the result anticips
ted, is his re-establishment as Gov. of Texas
1t is believed the battle between the Nv
Confe3eracies will be fought on Texas sol
Nefgss said on embarking in respons
to inquiry, you will know where | am boun
in ten days.
A dispatch from Washington to the Ricl
m0R6 Enquirer, says, Il learnirom an unus
aly authentic source, that it is the fixed
teranination of the Cabinet to throw all tt
available troops into Tortugas and Key Yves
reinforce Fort Pickens, retake the Pensac
la Navy Yard, blockade the mouths of Il
Mississippi, and bring on a brief collisio
The Border slave States, now hopeless, W
go cut of the Union, and then Lincoln W
be compelled to recognize the Southern Co
4oGszracy and make treaty witln them.
ssst e. that great excitement prevails there
.s,t ten volunteer companies have been
srected snd mustered into service to prote
ta,e city from an anticipated invasion by som
Srotiy and that an additional test oath was
, quired of them. viz: :" to obey the orders
the Pres;dent of the United States" A lar
lumber declined taking this oath, althou
they were willing to take the usual one. 1t
said one or more companies Of federal troe
are shortly to arrive in Washington, and IL
even now the city is like a military encan
\ ment-the tramp of battalions and rumbli
. fof artillery being so common as to excite
particular attention.
The telegraph also reports that Major Z
). Mccullough of Texas, who is about in Virg
= ia, Washington &C., has organized force
, five thousand men, with which he intends
: = march upon the Federal Capital the nom
he hears of Southern blood being spilled
federal troops in the South.
A high official of the Government has
for Montgomery. The object Of his miss
is not known, but it is supposed to relate
: the expedition just senta out fer the Sou
; ern waters. All the officers of the sh
set out are from the North which is c
sidered very significant.
No positive developments as to the de
nation of the fleet gone out from New Yo
though it is considered by all to be for
Gulf. 1t is not believed by any that
blockade is contemplated. It is not kno
; that correspondence has taken place betw,
: Captain Stringham and the Captain of
Pawnee, as to that vessel going to St DON
so.
--. ruTHance by Y
of nearly two to one, and has inaugurate
new movement, by the passage of the f