March 22, 1861

New York Herald

The News.

The reports from Washington respecting the evacuation of Fort Sumter are to the effect that the troops will be removed immediately.

There were rumors in circulation in Washington yesterday of an apprehended collision at Fort Pickens, but they were universally discredited.

The State Convention of Louisiana yesterday ratified the constitution of the Confederate States.

The State Convention of Arkansas on Wednesday adjourned, after passing an ordinance of secession and co-operation resolutions. They are to be submitted tothe people for ratification or rejection.

A despatch from Mobile announces the seizure, on Wednesday night, off Pensacola, of the sloop Isabella, Captain Jones, laden with supplies for the United States squadron.

In the United States Senate yesterday the consideration of Mr. Douglas’ resolution in relation to the Southern forts, &c., was resumed, and Mr. Bayard concluded his remarks in favor of recognizing the independence of the Confederate States.

In our State Senate yesterday the resolutions reported to that body some time ago by the Committee on Federal Relations, in reference to the national troubles, coming up as the special order, their consideration was indefinitely postponed. Considerable business was transacted by the Senate. In response to an inquiry from a Senator as to whether any reply had been received from the Metropolitan Police Commissioners in answer to the resolutions of the Senate with regard to their sending members of the force out of the State, the presiding officer stated that no reply had been made by the Commissioners, and that there was no way of compelling them to reply unless they should be declared in contempt. The Assembly passed a number of bills of more or less interest. Governor Morgan transmitted with his recommendation of their adoption by the Legislature, the joint resolutions of the Thirty-sixth Congress, known as the Corwin proposition, for an amendment of the constitution to prohibit Congress from interfering with slavery in the States.

Mr. John Sherman, member of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio, was, on Wednesday night, on the seventy-ninth ballot, elected United States Senator, in place of Salmon P. Chase, appointed Secretary of the Treasury by President Lincoln.

More Secession - The Border Slave States.

By a telegraphic despatch in another column, it will be seen that the State Convention of Arkansas has passed a secession ordinance, to be submitted to the vote of the people. Arkansas is likely to go the way of Texas and of all the cotton States. By the news published yesterday it appeared that the secession ordinance was defeated by a vote of 39 to 35; but on reconsideration the ordinance was passed, subject to the popular vote, which will probably be for separation. The revolution of late is rapidly gainingground in the south.

It is a great mistake to suppose that there is in any of the slaveholding States any considerable number of men who are in favor of the Union at all hazards and under all circumstances. With a very few exceptions, the only Union men to be found are conditional Unionists—men who have been prevented from seceding by mere hopes that Congress, or the new administration or the Northern States, would take some action which would lead to a reconstruction of the Union. But as soon as they found that neither the Northern States, nor Congress, nor the new administration, did anything calculated to heal the breach, but on the contrary much to widen it, many of them became secessionists; and it is very evident that ever since the promulgation of the inaugural, which proposes no remedy, but threatens coercion, the secession movement has gained ground in Virginia and all the other slave States. In North Carolina, out of a vote of upwards of 93,000 the majority against holding a secession Convention was less than six hundred. The moment Mr. Lincoln commences his coercive measures he may be prepared to hear of every remaining slave State seceding, one after another.

The telegraphic news from the Missouri State Convention, which we publish elsewhere, indicates not only what that State will do, but all the other slaveholding States, in the contingency of a collision between the federal government and the Confederate States. Through the secession ordinance was voted down for the present on Wednesday, but in yesterday session the following resolution was adopted by a vote of 89 to 6; —’That it is the opinion of this convention that the cherished desire to preserve the country from civil war and to restore fraternal feelings would be greatly promoted by the withdrawal of the federal troops from such forts within the seceded States where there is danger of a hostile collision; and we recommend that policy. ‘This is a very significant hint by all but a unanimous vote of the State of Missouri to Mr. Lincoln and his administration, and to all fanatics at the North who are urging him to coercion.

The border slave States are only resting on their oars. They are waiting to see what the President will do, and what the extra session of Congress, which he is expected to call, will propose to the country. If Mr. Lincoln should proceed to collect the revenue from the seceded States by force of arms, or to blockade their ports, and if the extra session of Congress should not propose the new constitution of the Confederate States for adoption, the Union cannot be reconstructed. The cotton States will not come back, and the border slave States will have to follow them in self defence. The best thing they could no just now is to adopt the ultimatum of the confederate States; for the result would be that the free States would, one by one, follow their example, and we should soon have, by this simple process, a reconstruction on a permanent basis. If the New England States should think proper to remain out in the cold and not come into the new Union, the country could manage to get on very well without them, and there would be the more harmony in the relations between the States.

Charleston Mercury

Viele’s Hand-Book for Active Service.

This book should be in the hands not only of every volunteer officer, but of every soldier, who hopes ever to become an officer. It is of great importance to volunteers to have their attention merely called to the subjects selected by the author. To have them treated in the clear, full manner, as they have been, is to give to the volunteers of our day an opportunity for improvement not possessed by those of former days. The perusal of this book will be sure to increase the desire for military knowledge in all who have any occasion for such. To officers of military education this book offers much information, in convenient shape, for reference, and should be at hand for that purpose.

A visit to the east wing of the Citadel Academy

OUR CITIZENS will be much gratified by a visit to the east wing of the Citadel Academy, where ammunition and military fireworks generally are fabricated in all their various forms, under the

superintendence of that very active and efficient young officer, Capt. C.P. THOMAS, of the Citadel. It is incredible to behold the silent progress which has been going on in our midst in the preparation of war material in the last two or three months, and certainly without precedent in any country.

Fort Sumter.

The arrival of a special messenger to Major ANDERSON, last evening, produced some comment and curiosity in the city. The gentleman who was the envoy of the Administration in Washington, is Mr. G.V. FOX, of Massachusetts, formerly of the United States Navy. He was accompanied to Fort Sumter by Capt. HENRY J. HARTSTENE at 8 o’ p.m. Mr. Fox only remained at Fort Sumter for half an hour, and left for Washington in the 11 p.m. train.

He announced that the object of this mission was simply to hear from Major ANDERSON the exact condition of the garrison. From the shortness of the stay of his Envoy Extraordinary, we presume that it did not take the gallant Major long to give him an inventory of his provisions, &c.

Now as the communication between Fort Sumter and Washington is open to the garrison of the former, are we to believe the object of Mr. FOX’s excursion was simply to ascertain whether Major ANDERSON was in a temper to have his military prestige sacrificed upon the altar of Black Republicanism? By this we would enquire whether it is the intention of LINCOLN and his pack to leave him to eat his last ounce of bread, and then to let loose the Northern howl, which has already commenced, against him for retiring? So far as South Carolina is concerned, we believe that Major ANDERSON will be permitted to salute his flag on hauling it down, and to march out of the fort with his side arms, leaving the property intact. When we remember the disgraceful manner in which the late Administration sneaked out of the San Juan del Norte affair, and turned Commodore PAULDING over to the denunciation of the country for obedience to orders, which he could only construe as he did, and then coolly, a year afterwards, in a State paper, appropriated the whole honor of the affair, we have a right to ask what we have. They can do as they please.

Shall We Make a Fuss Over the Evacuation?

A correspondent suggests that the day Fort Sumter is to be evacuated be made a day of public rejoicing in Charleston - a general holiday, with thanksgiving and an illumination. For our part, we doubt the propriety and good taste of any such grand demonstration. The retirement of seventy men from the possession of a fortress in our harbor, which they have held three months, and leave only because of the difficulty of getting reinforcements and supplies, through the erection of batteries which we, their enemies, have been permitted to construct under their guns, is not, we think, an occasion that will justify, before the world, the flourish of a general jubilation. We may all be glad and thankful that none of our blood has been spilt in our bay, while the coercive intentions of our foes have been foiled here by our preparations. Providence has helped us much. But it seems to us more in accordance with true dignity, the merits of the affair and the habits of Carolinians, not to exhibit the appearance of being overjoyed. A delicate illumination, with a positive prohibition of fire crackers, we should not object to. But the revolution is not yet ended, and we should not begin to halloo too much or too soon.

Diary of a Yankee in the Patent Office

FRIDAY 22

A cold wind till near night, but a fine evening & bright moon. The Heads begin to drop in our office. Three assistant exmrs have been removed today, others will probably follow. Called with Juliet at Doct Everitts after dinner, then went on to the Ave alone and round the Hotels. They are pretty well crowded yet with anxious faces. Levee at the Prests tonight, crowds were moving that way on the Ave. Came home before 9, and read “Williams on heat” till 11, read last night till after 12 o’clock.

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