March 21, 1861

New York Herald

The News.

Our despatches from Washington this morning reiterate the assurance that both the Lincoln administration and the government at Montgomery are disposed to preserve the peace. It is stated that the Commissioners from the Confederate States have the positive assurance from the administration that no movement of troops, or reinforcement of forts in the seceded States will be permitted for the present. On the other hand, the Montgomery government will do nothing to disturb the existing condition of affairs.

The two indictments against Mr. Floyd, late Secretary of War, for conspiring to defraud the government, and for malfeasance in office, were yesterday dismissed by the Court at Washington as untenable.

In the United States Senate yesterday, Mr. Hale offered a resolution, which lies over, that the Senate adjourn without day at one o’ on Saturday next. The consideration of Mr. Douglass’ resolution in relation to southern forts, &c., was then resumed, and Mr. Bayard, of Delaware, made a speech on the troubles of the nation. He considered a reconstruction of the Union impossible, and there remained but one of two courses to pursue, namely, war, with a view to subjugation, or the recognition of the independence of the Southern republic. He indicated a proposition which he should offer, investing the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, with power to accept the declaration of the seceded States, that they are an alien people, and authorizing him to conclude with them a treaty acknowledging their independence as a separate nation. At the conclusion of Mr. Bayard’s remarks the Senate held an executive session, and confirmed a number of appointments.

What is the North to do for a Navy?

The Confederate States have already annexed several of the United States vessels found in Southern waters. That, however, might be borne with tolerable equanimity, and those vessels might be replaced by others; but the worst of it is that all the regions on which the United States government calculated for the production of live oak timber for the construction of ships-of-war are located within the jurisdiction of the Southern confederacy. We are therefore dependent upon the charity of an alien government for the material for a navy. The South can, and probably will, go to work to get up an effective marine; but what will the North do? This is one of the fruits of that conflict of which the republican party is at once the author and the victim.

The Evacuation of Fort Sumter.

News from Washington.

WASHINGTON, March 21, 1861.

The failure to evacuate Fort Sumter yesterday, as anticipated, is attributed in administration circles to technical reasons merely. It is now said the evacuation will take place immediately.

A crisis will soon arrive. Mr. Seward has been in favor of the evacuation of Fort Sumter. After a great amount of labor, he induced Gen. Scott to issue to the Cabinet an opinion that the fort could not be reinforced. This opinion influenced the other members of the Cabinet, with one exception, who viewed the evacuation as a military necessity. Under this influence the Cabinet were induced to submit their opinions to Mr. Lincoln, who has not yet decided whether to order Major Anderson to evacuate Fort Sumter or not. It is most likely that he will issue the order, inasmuch as the matter has gone so far. But it is useless to disguise the fact that nothing but the exertions of Mr. Seward has brought about this state of things.

Mr. Lincoln is puzzled to understand the strange inconsistency in the despatches of Major Anderson before the inauguration and after. Before it he had plenty of provisions and men; after, he was without provisions, could make no fight without more men, and it would be impossible to get either without employing twenty thousand men for land service and a fleet of war vessels. These two statements have been much discussed, and are yet the difficult point to surmount. It would be useless to disguise the fact that it is whispered in executive circles that Major Anderson is suspected of complicity with the secessionists of South Carolina.

A statement that no reinforcements have been sent South, and that no orders have been issued to reinforce Fort Pickens, is considered reliable.

The Troubles of the Nation—The Peace of the Country to be Preserved.

WASHINGTON, March 20, 1861.

There is a perpetual fever of excitement and a world of inquiry as to the policy of the administration towards the South. A new rumor captures the city every twenty four hours. It would be well, however, that the public understand that these rumors are started for specific purposes, sometimes to constrain the administration, but more frequently to inspire with madness the population of the border States.

The concentration of all the available naval force along the Southern coast is regarded as very significant. The Southern Commissioners, however, have the positive assurance from the administration that no movement of troops, or reinforcements of forts in the Confederate States, will be permitted for the present. The present status is to remain.

The Commissioners do not believe that the government of the United States will violate that pledge. However they keep their government at Montgomery fully advised, and the commanders of the several forts in the Confederate States are on the alert day and night, watching for the vessels that recently departed from the Northern ports.

The administration is aware of the significance of the action of the border slave states, and of the control which Virginia exerts over them. They have been assured that this veteran State is in the hands of the conservative, Union loving and constitutional right exacting men of her citizens. Nothing, it is said, will be done to embarrass their senatory action. The inflammatory and unauthorized declarations of the Hales and Chandlers do not represent the views of the administration. Mr. Lincoln says if the laws can be executed they shall be; if they cannot, they will not be. They will not be executed to the production of war.

Among the foreign Ministers on the floor of the Senate this morning, were those from the Confederate States. They attracted considerable attention.

Commissioner Forsyth has left for New York, where he will remain a week or ten days. Himself and colleagues are firm in the opinion that the public peace will not be broken. They have assurances from Montgomery that there shall be no collision while they remain in Washington. Their policy is inactivity, awaiting the pleasure of the administration.

Powerful influences have been brought to bear on the President, within the past few days, in favor of a pacific solution of the question.

Washington, March 20, 1861.

Much curiosity is manifested respecting the action of the administration relative to affairs in the South, and various rumors prevail in this connection. But information derived from authentic sources warrant the assertion that whatever movements may be in progress they involve nothing whatever of a hostile design. On the contrary, they are in the direction of peace. It is generally agreed , however, that the military status of the Gulf forts now held by the federal government will be preserved.

The Commissioners from the Confederate States will wait leisurely for the action of the government. Great efforts are being made by distinguished gentlemen to effect a peaceful solution of the Southern complications.

The government at Montgomery have no apprehensions of a collision at Fort Pickens. It is said that the accounts published are gross exaggerations of the true condition of affairs in that quarter. The Commissioners have information that the best of feeling exists between the federal authorities and the officers in command of the Confederate troops, and that no danger of a collision is entertained.

Diary of a Yankee in the Patent Office

THURSDAY 21

It has been a cold windy day. It snowed some last night, and we are now having about as much Winter as we have had. The indications are now that Fort Sumpter will be evacuated and perhaps the other Forts in the seceded states, and that there will be no War. But in my opinion a peaceable separation will ultimately be brought about (probably with all the Slave States) and two confederacys be formed. Went with Julia (after calling on our neighbor Mr Douglass with my wife) to the Raven Club at Prof Whitakers, heard Doct Chesney discuss the Character of Queen Elizabeth.

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