The New York Herald Newspaper, January 4, 1861, Page 4

4 NEW Vouk O oS vanves eon OFFICE W. W. CORNEK O FULTON AND Natal STS, PERNT o pie or the pemete Sui ew day “ Pamuny Hea / neatres TS THIS EVENING JS GARDEN, Broadway. Tac Gin aor WINTE GANDE: Corsvuse Lyesc opposite Bond street. — ickLaBY—SPi ck Hetpx. Groom BOWERY THEATRE, Sowery.—Srarniwa & Roger's aerstan Tuours—MONstex ov Sx, Micuaxt, WALLACK'S THEATRE, Broadway. —Paviixe—Tomy Novox's Seonvs. LAURA KEBNE'S THEATRE, No. 6% Broalway.— Seven Stsm as. NEW 3: fy rh wegATE Bowery. -CaTanacT OF THE ING VOW A WIFE, —~Day and Evening-—Tie nviNG UvRi- Osis, 20, BLY. Nis Mechanics’ Tall, 72 Broad. way. —?vnrnsg ances, &0.-—-Drcie's Lavo, MINSTER LS, Nivlo’s § WALI, GANTERRORY MUSTO 063 Krondyway.—3 Dawoxs, Brauscauas, a6. MELODZON, No. 69 Broadway.—Sones ya, 1864, e News. The reports from South are again ofa start ling character. Ii is announced from Georgia that the Governor of that State has seized and garri- Boned with militia the forts in the harbor of Savan- neb, and there is reason to believe that a plan has been matured by the secessionists for taking poss sion of all the fortifications on the Southern ¢ ‘The intelligence from Charleston is to the effect that Fort Sumter is besieged, that Major Ander- 6on's conimunications have been cut off, that Fort Moultrie has been repaired, that new batteries have been crected, and that everything is in readi- Deas to open fire on the federal forces. The Flo- rida Convention met yesterday. Without doubt this body will pass a secession ordinance as soon As the formalities can be gone through with. The federal Judge of Florida has resigned his commis- sion. In the Senate yesterday Mr. Crittenden offered his plan for the adjustment of the pending troubles, and it was laid ovay for future considera- tion. A large number of memorials from various parts of the country in support of Mr. Crit- tenden’s proposition were presented. Mr, Baker, of Oregon, resumed and concluded his #peech on the crisis, and was followed by Mr. Douglas, who made one of his best efforts in behalf of peace. In the House a bill was reported by the Judiciary Committee providing for the col- lection of the revenue from on shipboard, or at any point deemed advisable, when said collections eannot be made at the usual places. The subject will be taken up on Tuesday next. Both houses adjourned till Saturday. The Legislature held but a brief session yester- day. In the Assembly notice was given of a bill to repeal the Personal Liberty law of 1840. No- tice was also given of a bill to reorganize the New York Fire Department on the paid system. Both houses adjourned till Monday. The perilous condition of tue republic is the absorbing topic at the State capital, and the preparations in relation thereto already before the Legislature are dis- cussed in preference to lobby jobs. The demo- cratic members of the Legislature held a caucus yesterday, and unanimously agreed to support the resolutions introduced in the House by Mr. Robin- son, in favor of dividing all the territory of the United States into two States and admitting them into the Union, thus taking forever the Territorial question as regards slavery out of Congress. The steamship Australasian, from Liverpool on the 22d via Queenstown on the 23d ult., arrived off ffandy Hook Wednesday evening, where she was Gctained several hours awaiting the tide. She reached her dock early yesterday morning enabling us to give a synopsis of her news in our yesterday's iss We this morning supply some interesting and important details. The Australa- nian brings $826,000 in specie. The news from China is important. The lat despatches received at the British Foreign Offi via St. Petersburg—a source always reliable—con- firms the previous report of a treaty of peace be- tween the Allies and the Chinese. Both the Paris Moniteur and Sir John Crampton (the latter having received a letter from Lord Elgin) confirm the in- telligence of the termination of the war and the fatification of the treaty. From the French source we leary that the Chinese government had agreed to pay the sum of two millions and a half sterling to France: that the system of coolie immigration was to be duly authorized, and that certain con- cessions had been made on behalf of Christian worship. We regret that we have no good news to report respecting the missing English prisoners, A despatch from General Ignatieff distinctly men- tions the death of Mr. Bowlby, but Lord Elgin in his despatch to Sir John Crampton is silent on the subject. The French governmental organs begin seri- onsly to occupy themselves with the project of the sale of Venetia by Austria, and Grandguillot bupports it in the Constitutionnel. The official journalist's article significantly concludes with what may be construed into a threat, inasmuch as ho expresses the hope that Anstria, who knows how provinces are gained, ‘‘ will also remember how they are lost.’ The Patrie asserts that the Pope, “ guided by a conciliatory spirit, consents to @ revision of the Austrian Concordat,” ‘The news from Italy is unimportant. Francis Il. had issued an address, dated at Gaeta, December 8, in which he states his determination to fight to the last, and appeals to the Immaculate and In- vincible Virgin and the patriotism of the Neapoli- tans to sastain him, t According to a despatch recetved at Paris from | tenement houses, Constantinople, Russia, Prussia and Great Britain have proposed at Constafhople, and most proba- | in Vavama, i | O_O LLM __—$—$— eee t by the revolutionists, at length {elf into onds, through the cowardly conduct of the F who fed and abandoned the city to se - General Arboleda, Vice Presideu® of ‘idic, who defended the place, had arrived sick and disgusted. The govern- ment had also met with reverses at El Banco | and seyoral other places, and Mosquera, at the ad of 5,000 men, was advancing on Cundi- isto say, in the direction of the ‘The latest accounts from General ted States Minister, state that he was Magdale.a river at Bogota." connts from the South Pacifie republics state that the conspiracy against President Cas- tilla, of Peru, was assuming a dangerous shape. bad received several threatening letters. It was supposed that war would not be declared against Bolivia, and that the difficulties between the two countries would be arranged without a resort to anus, In Chile the forthcoming elections were causing considerable excitement and dis- is nothing very important from Central America. Another severe shock of an earthquake was experienced in Salvador on December 3. Presi- dent Barrios was becoming so very unpopular that a revolution was expected. In Nicaragua the arrival of the Commissioner to take formal posses- sion of the port of San Juan del Norte and the Mosquito Territory for the Nicaragua government was daily expected. The filibuster alarm was dying out, but the government continued to make preparations for the defence of the country. Some Cabinet changes had been made in the Costa Rican government, which was becoming more conserva- I. tive, and therefore, it is said, more popular. ‘The news from Japan is unimportant. Business vas duli, and trade much affected by the late lange in the currency. Money was scarce and ai ffienlt to obtain at any rate, Mexican dollars were selling at twenty-five cents premium, and lers’ bills had been taken at seventy-five per cent discount. We have advices from Yucatan to November 20. Another government change had taken place. Colonel Vargas had “pronounced” in the town of |} Muna on the 15th, and on the 26th a junta assem- ed in Merids vhich proclaimed the pronouncing Colonel pro’ mal Governor of the State and Commander-in-Chief of its forces. Three days erwards the new Governor issued a decree for money, which, we suppose, is the first constitu- tional step which Mexican Governors feel bound to take. At the meeting of the Board of Supervisors yes- terday a communication was received from the Mayor vetoing the resolution inereasing the police force by the addition of four hundred men. ‘The communication is given in our report of the pro- ceedings, to which we refer our readers for the reasons which impelled the Mayor to this step. The weekly statement of the Comptroller shows a balance in the treasury, on the 27th ult., of $1,927,61 The Commi-sioners of Charities and Correction met yesterday, but transacted no business of gene- ral importance. The Board have made a contract with a skirt manufacturer whereby the females of the workhouse are to be employed in making skirts at a compensation of 12% cents per day each. There are 8,410 persons in the institutions under the control of the Board-—being 122 in ex- | cess of last week. The merchants assembled at the Chamber of Commerce yesterday were much excited at the action of South Carolina, several comdemning the course adopted by the secessionists. This being the day set apart by the President of the United States for homiliation and prayer, the Mayor's office will be closed. The business of the law courts will also be suspended. A large and brilliant audience assisted at M. Du Chailler’s lecture before the Geographical and Statistical Society, Clinton Hall, last evening. M. Do Chailler gave an interesting account of his ad- ventures in Africa and of his encounters with the gorilla, From the formation of the brain and of the back bone, the organism of which was entire- ly different in the man and the ape, it was M. Dn Chailler’s opinion that men never were and never could become apes, and vice versa. Of the slave trade he said that the negroes of the interior thought that all white men were alike, ond that they bought slaves to eat them. Masters there had perfect control over the lives of their slaves, but granted them every privilege. The negroes were sold for crime or for debt. The slaves brought te the coast said that there was a cloven-footed. tribe in the interior, but Du Chailler did not believe it. The thanks of the Society were voted: the lecturer for his very interesting paper. ‘The cotton market was again excited yesterday, and the speculative feeling previously noticed continued. Nearly allon sale was purchased, leaving a reduced stock. The market closed at an advance of \¢. per Ib. ‘The transactiens embraced about 5,000 bales, ineluding 1,700 bales in transit. We now quote middling uplands at 129;¢. @ 123¢c., closing at the latter figure for even lots. Flour was firm, and advanced about 5c. per bbl. for some grades. The enhanced views of holders tended to chetk operations. Wheat was in goed demand, and tolerably active, closing at an advance of Ic., and in some cases 2c, per bushel. Corn was un. changed, while sales were to a fair extent, im part for export, Pork was in fair request, with rather more doing: the sales embraced new mess at $16 384: 9 $16 50; old do. , $15 75; new prime, $12 60, and old, $10 50. Su gars were quiet, but steady, with sales of 100.9 200 hhds. Cuba, in lots. Coffee was in fair request, with « rather better feeling, while sales were moderate. Freights were steady, with more offering, while engage mente were fair, especially to Liverpool, at rates given in another column. Tur Aysvat Rerorr or THE Merrororrran Pouce Boarv.—We have received the an- nual report of the Metropolitan Police Com- missioners, which is to be presented to the Legislature. It comprises many in- teresting statistics, and none, perhaps, more than those in reference to the oeeupants of tenement houses, of whom, it appears, there are not less than 350,000 in the city, or forty per cent of the entire population, and this vast number is located in some nine thousand houses, many of which are miserably venti- lated, and possess literally no means of escape in ‘case of fire, which shows a state of affairs in this respect dangerous to life and most per- nicious in its effect upon the public health. The number of arrests for the past year wae 59,066 for effences against the person, and 11,444 for offences against property. The Ia- bors of that portion of the force known as the Sanitary Police may be gathered from the statement that they reported as prejudicial to public health, from April to October, S71 55 slaughter houses, 24 stables, 639 cellars, 995 privies, 1,425 yards and vacant lots, 9§ cisterns and 5.586 sinks bly also elsewhere, the reopening of confe- | How fur these reports were based upon a rences for improving the situation of the ¢ f Turkey, Our commercial reports show a gengal weak- fhess in American securities, Cotton and bread. Staffs bad advanced. ‘The English pres continue their criticisms apon the President's Message, and condemn it in un- measured terms. The steamship Northern Light, from Aspinwall ‘25th ult., arrived at this port at noon yesterday. Ehe brings $1,492,000 in specie, and the mails and passengers which left Sam Francisco on the 10th pit., together with nows from Central and South America and New Granada. The advices from California have been anticipated by the overland Pxpresses. From New Granada we learn that the town of Genta Morta, which had been besieged fur some nristions thorough inspection of the premises it is not very difficult to tell, when we find that all this onerous duty was performed by one sergeant and from five to fifteen patielmen in the city of New York, and one sergeant wad five patrol- men in Brooklyn, a fact which, we tuink, goes to show that the Sanitary Police are consder- able of a sham, The Commissioners congratulate themselves upon the suppression of liquor selling on Sun- day; but they say nothing about the immunity which gamblers and gambling houses enjoy in this enlightened metropolis, « aubject upon which, we suppose, they are quite qualified to inform w, and upon which the public would like a little light NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, JANUARY 4, 1861. The Revolutiona » News of ¥ Progress of Secession. The news from the South continues to be more and more alarming every hour. We publish a telegraphic despatch from Washing- ton, of whose truth there can be no doubt, that Mr. Toombs had reecived a message from Gov. Brown, of Georgia, stating that he had ordered Fort Pulaski and the United States Arsenal at Savannah to be taken possession of by the State militia, in order to prevent their occupa- tion by the federal troops till after the meeting of the Georgia Secession Convention, which is to take place on the 16th instant. The Presi- dent has received a message to the same effect, and the news may, therefore, be regarded as reliable. The reason assigned for this movement is a recent order of the President, which has been since revoked, that all the United States forts and arsenals in the South should be re- inforced. Itis possible, therefore, after all, that the news we published yesterday of the occupa- tion of the federal forts in North Carolina by the troops of that State, in obedience to the order of Governor Ellis, may be quite true, aad that the step may have been taken from the same motive as that which influenced Governor Brown, er perhaps from con- cert between the secessionists of the cotton States, A report had reached this city yesterday, which we could not trace to any reliable source, that the people of Florida had also seized the United States forts in that State. Whether it will turn out to be true a short time will determine, But any news of revolutionary occupation of federal forts in the South may henceforth be regarded as probable. The Florida Secession Convention was held yester- day, but a5 there is no telegraphic communica- tion with that State, there is of course no intel- ligence from there. There can be little doubt, however, (hat it will follow the example of the South Carolina Convention. On Monday next Alabama and Mississippi hold their conven- tions, and they, too, will vote themselves out of the Union. On the same day the election for the Louisiana Convention takes place, and the Legislatures of Virginia and Tennessee meet, and next day will be held the elec- tion for a Convention in Texas, The following is the calendar of the Southern movements for January, from which the reader will see how rapidly one act of revolution is likely to follow another at the South before the expiration of the present month 1--Missouri, Legislature’ meets. 2—Georgia, election for Convention. +—Florida, Convention. |. 7—Virginia, Legislature meets. Alabama, Convention. \ —Micsissippi, Convention. / Jan, 7—Louisiana, election for Convention, 7—Tennessee, Legislature meets. 8—Texas, election for Convention. 14-Extra session of Alsbama Legisla- sterday— Jan, ture. Jan. Jan, 1 Jan. dan. dan, This is a formidable programme, and in view of the revolutionary news from the strong State of Georgia, and the intelligence which we publish from Charleston of preparations to capture Fort Sumter, and the conspiracy in Virginia and Maryland to seize upon Washing- ton, it must be admitted that the country is hurried on with fearful speed: to the abyss of civil war. Yet, in the face of this danger umidst the smoke of the voleano and the murmurs of the approaching eruption—Congress is sitting on the very edge of the c' apparently with as little concern as a person would exhibit at the explosion of a few firecrackers in the streets, A last appeal is now made by Mr. Crittenden to the Senate to sead his propositions directly to the people, to be voted upon without being adopted by Congress. Nothing can be fairer than this. It does not commit any member, but leaves the whole question to the people. It leaves to their de cision whether they will prefer this com- promise to revolution and civil war (for such is the alternative); and surely before the people are dragged into the deadly feud, the least that is due to them is to consult their wishes thfough the ballot box. -In connection with this subject we refer with much pleasure to an address to the people signed by John Cochrane and other members of Congross, urg- ing them to give immediate expression to their will on Mr. Crittenden’s proposition to extend the Missouri compromise line to the Pavifie. As the New York, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts 16—Georgia, Convention. —Kentucky, Legislature meets. Extra session of Texas Legislature, ~Louisiana, Convention. ~Texas, Convention. 2t Legislatures are now in session, they ought to call conventions immediately. If they did the New Jersey Legislature, which meets on Tuesday, ample. If Congress were only true to the country at this critical moment, they would send the question ‘instantly to the people, and before the expiration of this month the decision of every State could be obtained, and the horri- ble calamity with which we are threatened might be averted. But, judging from their action since the session commenced, and seeing that all that they have done tends directly to the disruption of the Union and oivil war, we have no hope that these men, to whose hands the destinies of the country are committed, would probably follow their ex- will, even at the eleventh hour. adopt the proposition of submitting the Crit- tenden compromise to the people. We are persuaded if the country had only an op- portunity of pronouncing on the question, it would be carried by an overwhelming ma- jority. As time and the danger are pressing on together pari passy, the people ought, therefore, to assemble in their might and take the matter out of the hands of those who misrepresent them at the Capitol at Washington, and decide for themselves what shall be done in this incipient revolution, Bven the enslaved white men of Europe are now permitted by their rulers to determine their own destiny through the ballot box to prevent the effusion of blood, and shall less be accorded to the free people of the United States? Pexrarina vor THe Reception or Gover- von Wisk. According to our latest advices from Washington, the President will have ten companies of United States ‘troops, and the District militia, say five thousand more, duly ateed and drilled, for the reception of Gover- nor We, should he try his proposed foray for the seizure of the federal capital in the interval to the 4th of Marea, Governor Wise is a bad military chieftain, ot ke would not have dis- closed his plans uatil he wed “the long bridge” of the Potomac. Or ‘hag the Governor # only beco blowing, ag usual t Imbecility of Pe ae aa a Southern Constituent Convention. The fate of the wise recommendations to, Congress of Mr. Buchanan in his annual Mes- sage; the reception which has been given to the amendments of the constitution proposed by Messrs. Crittenden, Cochrane and others in the Senate and House of Representatives; the sheer weakness and imbecility that have been manifesied by the committees of thirteen and thirty-three; together with the incapacity, stu- and gross ignorance which characterize the proceedings of our national representatives at this critical period in the history of the couniry, render it as manifest as an axiom that no relief whatever is to be hoped for from that quarter. The habitual Capitol routine of bribery, jobbing, lobby intrigue, and the manufacture of fresh conduits from the Trea- sury into the pockets of the venal hordes who batten upon federal corruption, having been broken In upon by the eventful crisis through which we are passing, the occupation of the majority of the representatives of the wisdom of the land seems gone. At a moment when the discretion, judgment, patriotism and prestige are needed of statesmen such as the days of Washington and Jefferson preduced, there is only to be found one desolate blank in politi- cal knowledge and sagacity at the source from whence sound and healthy legislation should proceed. If our hopes revert to the incoming adminis- tration, the prospect is equally sickening. Mr. Lincoln seems wholly occupied with the con- struction of a Cabinet, and with the childish care of distributing spoils he has not yet the com- mand of. Among his adherents, not one of those who hope to poesess administrative power after the 4th of March next has as yet shown sigas of activity beyond the requirements of petty individual interests. Under such cir- cumstances the grave, momentous question of the hour becomes, what remedy can be devised for existing and impending evils? And mature deliberation renders it evident that, as there is no reliance to be placed on Congress, and equally little on the approaching government of Mr. Lincoln, it is indispensable that the people themselves should enter upon the stage and save the Union. The Presidént of the United States, in his Message, recommended that Congress should pass certain amendments to the constitution, to be submitted to the States. It is in vain to expect that his sugges- tions will be attended to; and, even if tardy ‘| repentance should inspire a part of our na- tional representatives with a desire to satisfy the just demands of the South, the requisite vote of two-thirds of each House of Congress, and then of three-quarters of the States, could not be secured. Unless, therefore, the people of the separate Siates initiate some proper course of action, nothing can stay the rapid downward descent of the nation in its progress towards disintegration and anarchy. Had there been an adequate appreciation by the people of the North of the dangers which imperil the future peace, unity and prosperity of the Union, it cannot be doubted that con- stituent conventions would, long since, have been called in the several States, and that the most efficient of all remedies would have been applied by a grand National Constituent Con- vention. The circumstances are not iu any great degree worse than those which surround- ed the confederation whea the convention as- sembled which framed the constitution of 1787. The legislative assemblies of the non-slaveholding States are, however, so entirely in the hands of short-sighted re- publican fanatics, that there neither bas been, nor is there likely to be, any chance of their adopting a measure so directly calculated to reseue the Union. The heat and burden of patriotic endeavor devolves, therefore, on the South, and itis believed that reflection upon the probable consequences of decided action on their part will inspire them with beth the will and the desire to strike such a death blow to disunionism as shall secure their own inte- rests and at the same time consolidate the na- tion upon foundations too secure to be again easily shaken. Let separate State Conventions of each of the slaveholding States call, without delay, a Con- stitrent Convention of the Southern States, to the exclusion of all others. Let them adopt amendments to the constitution, such as the Central and Western States can honorably accept, which shall cover the grounds of difference between themse! the North, insisting upon the recognition of the property rights ot their citizens everywhere; upon other needful stipulations, which have heretofore been denied; upon full liberty to carry slaves into the common territory, and upon the recognition of universal toleration of opinion respecting slavery as a social institu- tion in the several States of the Union. Let them submit these different amendments to the different Northern States, earnestly inviting their acceptance of them, and assigning a period, similar to that which was appointed for the ratification of the constitution of 1787, when all States which should have agreed to their propositions should be considered as thenceforth forming the future United States of America. The responsibility will fall: upon the republicans of the Northern States if they shall refuse to consider such amendments, and the peril will be theirs if they elect to remain out of such a confederation as, beyond a cavil, the Central, Western and Southern States will be ready form together. New York, Penn- sylvania and New Jersey cling to the Union with tnextinguishable love. They will not heritate an instant to choose the happiness and prosperity which will flash upon the country out of such a measure, in preference to con- tinued fellowship with the chaotic abolition tyranny and narrow-mindedness of the few States that may remain behind. Tt is not improbable that the States east of the Connecticut river would reject the amend- ments to the constitution which a Southern Constituent Convention might propore, The people of Massachusetts were very recently warned by one of her own étatesmen and ora- tors that “Yankees are not pepular in the Middle any more than ih the Sduthern States!” He told them that their “disestima- tion fn the Middle States” wae universal, and assured them that there was “a projec! much thought of, s‘well in the other non-+lave- holding as in the slaycholding States, to re- constitute the Union, excluding New Mngland fress it’ Union men of New England are be- ginning to hold up this truth to each other, together with a daguerreotype of the provin- cial meanness, bigotry, self conceit, love for “jams,” hyperoeitical opposition to anything and everything, universal fault finding, hard bargaining, and systematic bome lawlessness and nullification while denouncing as worthy of banging, counter nullifcation in others, which are covering their section of the country with odjum, and creating tle wish elsewhere to re- lieve the confederation of the burthen by its excision at any cost, The prompt calling to- gether of a Constituent Convention of the Southern States, and the adoption by it of sound, healthy amendments to the constitution, would cither hasten a result which the rest of the country would welcome, or be the means of eradicating those political heresies and revo- lutionary tendencies in New England from which so much past evil has sprung. There isno time to be lost, With proper diligence State conventions may be called to- gether and delegates to a Southern Constituent Convention appointed, so tbat its sessions could open before the close of the present month. During February the measures it may have adopted can be submitted to the remainder of the States, and before the period has arrived for the inauguration ofa new President, the tempest that lowers so darkly over the horizon, and which seems fraught with destruction to the Union, may have been dispelled as a sum- mer cloud. , The National Fast Day—A Word as to Its Observance. The people of the United States fiud them- selves to-day in the midst of the most impor- tant crisis in the history of the nation. The secession movement has assumed such for- midable proportions that the Chief Magistrate of the republic has yielded to the appeals made to him by “pious and patriotic associations and citizens,” and has recommended that this day shall be observed as solemn fost. We republish elsewhere the recommenda- tion of the President and we hare already given in the columns of the Heratp the proclamations of the Governors of New York, Massachvsetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island, calling upon the citizens of those States to refrain from labor upon the day appointed, and to assemble according to their ral orders of worship, to keep it asa day of fasting, humiliation and prayer. The Mayor of Newark has joined in these recommenda- tions, and the Episeopal bishops of New York and New Jersey have ordained spe- cial services for the day. As might have been expected, one of the Beechers has con- tributed his small share to the uncnviable no- toriety of his family by taking this recommen- dation as the text for a sermon agginst the President, and reviewing the question of sla- very from a purely Massachusetts point of view. In Boston, however, the day is to be religiously observed, and a special prayer meeting is to be@eld at the Tremont Temple. The Mayor of Chicago, a violent abolitionist, refuses to accede to the request of his towns- men to issue a proclamation in response to the President's recommendation; and the Governor of Maine relieves himself from the responsibili- ty of so doing by declaring that the recom- mendation of the President is sufficient of itself, without the endorsement of local magis- traies. The Governors of the other States, North and South, with the exceptions above noted, appear to have adopted Mr. Morrill’s se" views; and it seems a little strange that the republican leaders, who are direct- ly responsible for the present perilous condition of the country, are the first to endorse the President’s recommendation. In this city the day will be generally observed. Special services will be held in all the churches ex- cept those of the Roman Catholic persuasion, where prayers for the constitutional rulers of the nation are put up every day; but Bishop MecUloskey, of Albany, announced on Sunday that he would celebrate High Mass, at the Ca- thedral in that city, at nine o'clock this morning, and offer up prayers for ,the Union. The banks, Custom House and public offices of this city will be closed, the daily session of the Legislature will be intermitted, and it is to be hoped that citi- zens generally will comply with the Gover- nor’s proclamation in its letter and spirit. The only argument which the opponents of the President have urged against his recom- mendation has been that his course was a hypocritical one, and that he called upon the people to pray for deliverance from their perils without fulfilling the duties of his high position and executing the laws of the land according to his oath of office. But the action of the administration within the past few days has proved that Mr. Buchanan is worthy to fill the chair of Washington and Jackson. The President has given the people in all sections of the country to understand that there is still federal go- vernment; that, so long as it exists, each and every citizen is bound legally aud morally to support it; that order must be maintained; that the constitution and the laws, until abro- gated by competent tribunals, will be enforced, and the Union preserved at all hazards. And the object of this fast is clearly that one day shall be set apart when our people, without distinction of sect or party, may approach the Throue of Grace and pray that the secular arm may be strengthened by the Divine blessing, and that God will be to us as He has been to our fathers. Since the termination of the War of Independence we have enjoyed the blessings of Providence to an emi- nent degree. In the early days of these States the settlers suffered from famine, pesti- lence and the inroads of savage foes. They prayed to God and kept their powder dry. Humbling themselves to God alone, they still recognized the great truth that He helps those only who help themselves. Ina times of sore distress they appointed special days for fasting and prayer; and again, when prosperity beam- ed upon them, they were prompt to raise the anthems of thanksgiving and praise. At the present moment the republic is menaced by perils which are entirely political. In every other respect the United States of America is the most prosperous Power on the face of the globe. With a government founded upon the eternal principles of equal rights to all men, rich and poor, high and low; a country un- equalled in its material resources; a free, hardy, enterprising, self-reliant, resolute population; ampte wealth; small but gallant army and navy; a good name abroad, and « flag which commusds respect in every part of the civilized world, we may safely defy treason, foreign levy or demestic malice. And it is our misfortune that our pre- vent difficulties arise entirely from a misunder- tanding between the people of the North and the South, and that this misunderstanding has been fostered by the politicians for their own selfiah purposes to a degree of bitterness which may ‘end to an appenl to the arbitrament of arms. Our latest despatches from Charleston , Seward faction of the New York republicans. o ee ee inform us that the cecessionists intend to as- sault Fort Sumter, and that the United States troops within that post have solemuly sworn to defend it to the Jost ex- tremity. Whatever may be the immediate re- sult of such am attack, there can be no doubt that the first ehot fired in hostility to the federal authorities would be the signal: for the beginning of the most disastrous civil war of modern times, And we believe that we ex-" press the earnest wish of the people of New York city, and of the conservative masses of the North and West, when we declare that every effort should be made to prevent a collision be- tween the United States troops and the local authorities of South Carolina and the ether dis- affected States. The President’s course has been, in accordance with this view of the mat- ter, firm, but pacific. He does not rely upom himself alone, nor yet upon the army and the navy. He asks the people of these States to join in an appeal to a Power far greater than the great ones of earth—He, before whose aw- ful throne emperors, kings, presidents and po- tentates must bow. Far greater perils than those which now menace this confederation have been averted by action of the Divine will inspiring and directing human agents. Let ua all pray that the Power which overrules all things, t0 as to bring permanent good out of passing evils, has not forgotten us ip this our hour of distress. Tue Caper or Mx. Lryconn—Stans ov Trovery tN THE Camp.—A few days ago we announced, as from a reliable source at Spring- field, that Mr. Lincoin, the President elect, had definitely fixed upon some of his Cabinet ap- pointments, including Hon. David Wilmot, of Pennsylvania, for the Department of the Inte- rior; Moses H. Grinnell or George Opdyke, of New York city, for the Treasury; and that while to New Wngland, in all probability, would be awarded the Secretary of State, the claims of Mr. Seward to some post of distinction would be comfortably provided for in the mission te England. At the same time we were informed of the arrival of Hon. Simon Cameron, of Pennsylva- nia; and from this circumstance we were pre- * pared for a new shuffle and distribution of the cards. This suspicion, it appears, was well grounded. Gen. Cameron, it is reported, and apparently upon good authority, has returned from Springfield the Secretary elect of the Treasury, and his place, or Mr. Bigler’s in the Senate, is to be given to David Wilmot, by way ef a compromise. But we have the more start- ling news from Springfield and from Washing-” ton, that after all Mr.Seward has turned up the man for the State Department. That this intelli- gence, if true, will create a sensation in both wings of the New York republican camp is very certain. We have already an inkling of a disturbance in the Washington despateh ofthe Tribune, an- nouncing Mr. Seward’s appointment. In said despatch it appears that his “friends had habitually disclaimed any purpose or desire” on the part of Mr. Seward to go into the new Cabinet, but that “all the leading and original friends of Mr. Lincoln in the Senate and House allege that they have not been consulted in any manner concerning the composition of his Cabinet; but expected,‘ before its complexion was finally determined, to have been asked their yiews, according to the previously re- cognized usage.” Reasonable as they have been in this idea, however, “it now seems as if the new administration would be formed at Springfield;” or, in other words, as if Mr. Lin- coln had resolved to give the ascendency in his administration to the Seward over the anti- a But will this thing be quietly submitted to? We cannot tell Horace Greeley is the man most interested in keeping Wi H. Seward out of the Cabinet, for should he go in Greeley must capitulate, or be content to stay out in the cold. He must make his peace with the firm of Seward, Weed & (o., or he will proba- bly get nothing at all. As Secretary of State, the word of Seward will be the law to the Pre- sident concerning his New York appointments, and Weed and Webb will administer the drop- pings of the fat things of the kitchen. The best thing that Greeley can now do is to post off at once to © >ringfield and state his case te the President elect and his ultimatum. Weed has been out there as the representative of the Seward branch of the family, and unless Mr. Lincoln is made to comprehend the other side of the case, judgment, with costs, will probably go by default against the manager of the Chi- cago Convention. Tae Mirra Force or rae Coonrey.—tn the present perilous times it may: be interesting to take a review of the amount of the militia force in the different States which the eonsti- tution puts at the command of the government in an emergency. The following table, from the “Army Register” of 1859, gives an abstract of the number returned in various years, from a , period as far back as 1827; but it is unneees- sary to add that the militia organization, uni- formed and ununiformed, has greatly increased in all the States since the dates prefixed to these returns:— MILITIA FORCE @! HR UNITED STATES. [Abstract of the Unit tates Militia, from the Army Aegivter, i For Total (om ed Officers, missioned sicioms, Artisicrrs a Statsor What Territories.* Year. Officers. and Privates Alabatua. 2,882 78,880 Arkansas . 1,132 Bh 922 California 185) 380 207/400 Connecticut... 1858 298 51,812 — soe D827 “at 108 13,649 51,062 84,108 98 408: 73,248 Marylond .... 1888 44,407 Maseachusetts 1860. 158,956 Michigan... 1954 04.286 Minnesota... . 1861 1,996 Mississippi... 1888 36,250 Missour! ..... 1853 117,968 N. Hampabire. 1854 $2,911 New Jersey iss =_ New York. 1860 454.000 N. Carolina... 1846 75,181 Obie. . 174,404 Pennsylvania. 1856 pa Rhode Island. 1859 16,550 5 1858 3B ATS 1840 17 184s Virginia .. 1858 Wisconsin. ... 1890 D.of Columbia. 1862 Utah Territ’y.. 185% a8. 2.861 aN Towa and Oregon, and tu New Mexico, Washington, Kansua and \-) “We have here given, as will be co returns for 1860 in two States New ¥ Massachusette—which have reached » official sources, and they show an fn. the militia of the formet State of ‘}:2.01 sinee 1856, and in the latter ay nearly 2,000 men since 1858. he yey ate increase in the States wo nev ‘ P 7