Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-02-20
IRON NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF IA

FROM WARRINGTON Ola TAE
HOUSE MILITARY COMMITTEE INFO TIE oPE'
RATl0NS OF THE LATE SECRETARY OF WAX
THE PEACE CONFERENCE.
WAsHsGros Feb. lS.-It appears from the investiea-
ton Of The House Military Committee, that ExSecreary
Floyd accepted A. X. Belknap's bid for one hundred
thousand muskets but that Sectary Holt refused to
cognze the contract Mr.. BelLnap says they were in
tended for the Sard MAN government.
1t is further shown that Mr. Floyd distributed without
any order through the Engineer Department, sirtfss
thousand percussion mnskets forty thousand altered
mukets aud ten thousand rifles, among the arsenals at
Charleston Augusta, Mount Vernon, Baton Rouge and
North Carolina. With the exception of those for the
last named Sate the ell fell into the possession OF
South Carolina Alabama Louisiana and Georgia, by their
secession movements.
Toe committee give as their for reporting the
bill authorizing the President to accept the services OF
un;eers that Is certain that the regular military
70 is wholly inadequate to protect the forts arsenals
dockyards and other property of the United States
in the present distracted condition Of the country, the
portion OF the army being necessary for the de-
| tense OF the frontiers.
Some of the delegates to the Peace Conference TO-
night say that they will agree upon plan of adjustment
itch will be satisfactory even to the Virginia cmmission
The territorial question under consideration to-
day. and the debate directed TO the object Of securing
| unanimty on that point.
It has been calcuae at the Treasury that the issuing
of coupon bonds of the denomination Of fifty dollars
deem able in twenty years. will require the services oil
two hundred and fifty clerks for mouth. To make up
| for the losses TO revenue which will be occasioned
by the bigh protective features of some portions OF
the Tariff BILL the people generally are to be taxed by
duties and Coffee they will also be taxed by the
that prices of protected articles will be enhanced
| in market value. good feature OF the Morrill, Tariff
bill as it stands is that it authorizes the issue of Treasury
notes to tie Of ten millions if the loan canno. be
| taken at par.
In the Peace Convention, Mr. Seldom advocated the
principles laid down in tie Virginia utmatum, and was
followed by stereotyped partizan Republican speech by
Boutwell, Of Massachusetts,. Mr.. Guthrie condemned this
ebulition, considering it menacng and said that KeL-
lucky which had sent delegates in spirit OF Cancellation,
would not the Southern States coerced Mr. Ceve-
land, of Connecticut explained that menace had been
intended by Mr.. Boutwell,, and that he met Southern
in spirit of cancellation, 81. There wa, further
d scus.on and resolutions introduced 10 the
morning hour by Messrs Tricks, Meredith aud others
Debate will be limited after tomorrow.
Mr. Reverdy Johnson's amendment Of the Glthrie
plan adopted by vote of some two to one An
amendment to the amendment Of Mr.. johnson, which
was offered by Mr. Reid, Of North Carolina was ject-
cd Il was proposed insert the word future" before
e word territories" All the Southern States but
Mar land opposed Mr. Johnsons amendment There was
much talk III of striking the second section of
report hear any delegates have left though
eng lgements may require them leave for home to-
The closing portion Of the session was marked
by good feeling.
Toe force bill may be defeated in the Senate. II
not, the President will scarcely sign it,