The New York Herald Newspaper, January 8, 1861, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, EPTPOR AND PROPRIETOR. OFPIOW N. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS. Money, sent by mail will be at the None but Bank bills current én New York HERALD, tro cents per copys, $7 per annum, HEALD, evory eturddy, Of siz conte por ni dition every Wee! to any part of Great Br both ‘to include postage awch Bat of each month, $150 per ALD, on Wednesday, at ‘ol cents per uarter of ihe worlds vu DUR FoOuRIGN Conrmsvo: RQUPSTED TO SkAL ald Larrricies 5 adver feRaLy, and inthe AMUSEMBNTS THIS EVENING. NIBLO'S GARDEN, Brovdvray. —Leorcee on Horse ‘TAMING. WINTE? GAKDEN, Sroadway, opposite Bond Lauro My Five Suittines— va—Tue Spireiee. pS YHBATRS, Bowery—8rauoing & Rocxa’s jedan Tuoves—0xsTes, or oe. SMromaKk. THEATRE, WAGLack's Broadway.—Pacixx—Tom Bopoy's Rh. oe LAURS KSENE'S THEATER, No, 624 Broatway.— Baven Sisrexs. NEW BOY ERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Bive Beinn Srurrre. —MyoteRts OF Pamis. pMERADAS MUSEUM, Broadway. —Das and ¥ ox—Azreo OMiLDRER—LivNG BARN’ » S Be * os BRYA™ Way. 980 kes INSTRELS, Mechanics’ Hall, 472 Broad- om, SONGS, Danone, &0.—-Dixiw's Land. *# CAMPBELL'S MINSTRELS, Niblo’s Saloon, Biandsray.<Hepmoraix Somes,- Dano, Vumimseows, &o.— jaw Than, CANTERBURY MUSIO HALL, 668 Broadway.—Sonas, Dances, Svuceraums, ko. New York, Tuesday, gonmery 8, 1861. warns FoR BUROPE New York Herald—-Edition for Burope. The Cunard mail steamship Canada, Captain Anderson, will lea ton, on Weduesday, for Liverpool. ‘The muis for Europe will close in this city this abternoon, at a quarter past ene and at half-past five o'elok, to go by raitroud, Tux Eusorean Eoron ov mus Hekanp will be published at eleven o'clock in the morning. Single copies, in wrap- pers, 8x conta ‘Tho contents of the Renoresy Eomow or tun Buna will combine the vows received by mail and telegraph at the office during the previous week, and up tothe hour of Publication. The The proceedings of Congr evday were important. In the Senate the Pacific Railroad bill was made the special order for Tuesday next, and the bill for the admission of Kansas wes made the special order for Monday. hirty-four memorials jn favor of the adoption of the Crittenden adjust- ment were presented by Mr. Biglar. Mr. Critten- den moved to take up his resolutions, and made an eloquent speech in support of them. Mr. ‘Toombs addressed the Senate in a lengthy speech, in which he elaborated his well known views on the differences between the North and the South. At the conclusion of Mr. Toombs’ remarks the Senate went into executive session and confirmed a number of important appointments. The ap- pointment of Mr. McIntire, as Collector of Charles- ton, was referred to the Committee on Commerce. In the House yesterday the Nayal Appropriation bill was reported by the Committee of Ways and Means. A bill to amend the patent laws was re- ferred to the Judiciary Committee. The bill making appropriations for the executive, legislative and judicial expenses of the government was briefly discnssed and passed. Mr. Cobb, of Alabama, made an appeal to the House, urging the adoption of conciliatory measures in the present disturbed atate of affairs. Mr. Etheridge, of Tennessee, asked leave to present the plan of adjust- ment adopted by the committee of border States, with a view of having it printed. Ob- jection was made by Mr. Barksdale, of Mis- sissippi, and a motion to suspend the rules was negatived by a vote of 83 to 78. Mr. Adrain, of New Jersey, offered a resolution ap- proving the conduct of Major Anderson in with- drawing from Fort Monaltrie to Fort Sumter, and the determination of the President to sustain that officer; also affirming that the House will support the President in all constitutional measures to en- force the jaws and preserve the Union. The rales were suspended, and the resolution was adopted by @ yote of 124 to 56. It will be seen from the list of yeas and nays, published in our report of the proceedings, that while the members from the North voted for the resolution, nearly all those from the South voted against it. Both houses ad- journed till Wednesday, to-day being the anniver- sary of the battle of New Orleans. The House Crisis Committee yesterday had under consideration Henry Winter Davis’ amend- ment to the Fugitive Slave law. An amendment, offered by Mr. Washburn, of Wisconsin, guaran- teeing the trial by jury in the State where the fugitive may be seized, was defeated. An amend- ment, offered by Mr. Kellogg, of Jilinois, guarantee- ing the trial by jury in the State whence the fugitive escaped, was adopted, and Mr. Davis’ amendment was agreed to nearly unanimously. ‘The Legislature of Virginia met yesterday, message of Gov. Letcher, so far as rogai cession movement, is highly conservative, and ‘was severely denounced by several of the dele- gates. A resolution denying the right of the government to coerce seceding States, and assert- ing that Virginia will resiet by all the means in her power any attempt on the port of the govern- ment to coerce seceding Stutes into reunion or submission, was adopted by « vote of LI2tos. A committee was appointed to prepare a bill provid ing for holding a State Convention. The Alabama State Convention met at Montgo mery yesterday, and organized, but transacted no other business that we have been apprised of. | ‘The secession element largely predominates in the Convention. | The delegates of the Mi: | tion yesterday morning held a caucus and adopted a resolution requesting their President to appoint | ' | } ippi State Conven- acommittee to draft an ordinance of secession, ‘The Convention is unapimous for secession from | the Union. ‘The Common Council of New York for 1861 was duly ineugorated at moon yesterday. In the Board of Aldermen Honry W. Genet was choson Prew- dent by so \amation, he having no competitor for he post. David T. Valentine was ously | elected Clerk, without the formality of ¢ ballot. John W. Hoyce was appointed Reader, Pat | rick G Sergeant-at The #ynual | message of the Mayor was received. This dbeu- ment, together with the address of the President; may be found in our report of the pro nedingn, | ‘The regular meetings of the Monda yard will be held on | The of Councilmen elect met in thelr Chamber yesterday at noon, and organized by ape pointing Mr ross temporary cheirmen. The Board procecdedto ba foe permanent Presi- dent, the democrats nominating Morgan Jones, and the rep jeans Abroham Lent. A number of | unsuccrsefel ballots were had, whereapon Mr. Repper whose vote willelect Mr. Jones—moved an adjournment till this (Tuesday) evening, when, no doubt, a satisfactory arrangement will have been effected which will result in the election of a democratic President. A meeting of the Tammany Society or Cotum- | ings of his party. | stances controlling it, bisn Order fol: place Yast evnlug .t the Old Wigwam, to make arrangements for ihe grand blow out in honor of Old Hickory, to take place this evening. The proceedings were confined altogether to the arrangements for this evening, and therefore no particular mention is demanded. ‘The Legislature reassembled last evening. In the Assembly some half dozen resolutions, relat ing to the existing political criais, were offered, and the subject was finally referred to a select committee of six, of which Mr. Lucius Robinson is chairman. A resolution was offered empower- ing the Governor to present a sword to Major Anderson. Ovr readers are referved to cur re- port of the proceedings for details. We are in receipt of eur usual correspondence from Monterey, Northern Mexico, with dates to December 15. The State Legislature has not yet met. Some silver mines had been recently dis- covered in the northern part cf the State, which are said to be yery rich. Governor Vidaurri has ordered them to be worked. A conducta of $200,000 had left Monterey on the ist of Decem- ber for Matamoros and Brownsville, Our corres- pondent says the politica! condition of the United States was causing the profoundesat sensation among the Mexican people. @he liberals, who greatly rely upon the United States, fear that se- cession may destroy their prospects, or, at least, postpone their success; while, on the other hand, the Miramonista are considerably encouraged. Captain Howes, of ship Scargo, arrived at Bos- ton on Sunday last from Calcutta, states that at six P.M. on the 7th of December, latitude 34 28, longitude 69, he saw a vessel on fire (before bricf- ly reported), supposed to be an iron steamship of about 1,500 tons; he bore away for her, and at midnight voices were heard to windward, hailing the ship. The Seargo was hauled on the wind, it blowing hard from W. N. W., with a heavy sea on at the time, and made sail to windward, and burn- ed blue lights during the night. At five o’ciock next morning the burning vessel had disappeared, and it is supposed sunk, as nothing could be seea of her at daylight. Ran down to leeward and saw a quantity of casks, boxes of lemons, broken spars, &e. Saw no boats, or rafts, or any of the crew during the day. During the night saw a bark pass the burning vessel, but the Scargo did not speak her. In consequence of the death of ex-Judge Kent, the courts yesterday adjourned, in order to give the members of the profession an opportunity of attending his funeral obsequies. A meeting of the bar will be held this day, in the Supreme Court room, for the purpose of expressing their sympathy at his demise. The Court of General Sessions met yesterday, when City Judge McCunn entered upon the dis- charge of his official duties, The Grand Jury was discharged till Monday next, and after the petit jury list was called and a few prisoners arraigned, the court adjourned, in respect to the memory of Judge Kent. The Superior Court yesterday took possession of the Supreme Court rooms, by virtue of a reso- lution of the Board of Aldermen to that effect. The wills of Sophia Beach, Anthony B. Neilson, James MeGuire and Samuel Westbrook have been admitted to probate. We are indebted to Adams’ express for New Or- Jeans and other Southern papers in advance of the regular mail. According to the City Inspector's report, there were 377 deaths in this city during the past week, an increase of 21 a3 compared with the mortality of the week previous, and 7 Jess than occurred during the comresponding week last year. The recapitulation table gives 4 deaths of diseases of the bones, joints, &c.; 91 of the brain and nerves, 5 of the generative organs, 9 of the heart and blood vessels, 127 of the lungs, throat, &e.; 7 of old age, 56 of skin and eruptive fevers, 4 premature births, 38 of diseases of the stomach, bowels and other digestive organs; 35 of general fevers, and 1 unknown of which 10 were fram violent. eanses. The nativity table gives 245 natives of the United States, 9 of England, 102 of Ireland, 9 of Germany, 2 of Scotland, and the balance of various foreign countries. Tho cotton market yesterday was again firmer and the demand good, with sales of about 4,000 bales, including 2,000 in transit. We quote middling uplands firm at 120. per Ib. The flour market was heavy at 6c. & 10c. decline for some grades, with rather more doing in shipping brands of State and Western grades at the concession. Southern was in good request, with more doing at Saturday's prices. Wheat was heavy, and common grades, includipg spring, were heayy and lower. Corn was heavy and rather lower, with moderate sales. Pork was firm for mees and in fair demand,with sales of now mees at $16 50 a $16 16—the latter figure an outside price; new prime $12 50, and old $11 50. Sugars were active and firmer, ‘and the market closed at an advance of }yc. a \c. per pound, with sales of 1,600.4 1,700 hhds. Cuba and 1,700 boxes, at rates given in another column. Freights were steady, with moderate engagements. Mr. Lincoln’s Cabinet—Signs of a Com- promise in Behalf of the Incoming Ad- ministration. Our hopes in the Union revive. The darkest hour, says an encouraging old aphorism, is just before the break of day. We think that the indications in behalf of conciliation and compromise involved in the certain recent po- litical movements, directly bearing upon the policy of the incowing administration, justity the opinion that the Union will yet be saved. We refer to the selection by Mr. Lincoln of William H. Seward as the head of his Cabinet, and of Simon Cameron as an associate member thereof. Extraordinary, and even incredible to many of our intelligent readers, as the in- ference may appear, we'do infer, from these two well authenticated appointments, that the door is opened to a treaty of peace. Hitherto the republicen party in Congress, and its leaders and public journals in the States, with one ex- ception, have manifested ne disposition to yield on inch of ground on the slavery issue, even to preserve the Union. But the party has only been waiting for a sign from Springfield while Mr. Lincoln bas been taking the sound- Having carefully consider- ed his ground, his appointmeat of Mr. Seward as his Secretary of State, under the circum- in “connection with the appointment of Mr. Cameron, is equivalent | almost to the proclamation of a compromise from the President elect and the republican party to the American people. Mr. Seward, until within a few weeks past, has stood forward as the head and front, the great apostle and living embodiment, of the anti-slavery alliance of the North. His radioal anti-slavery views and opinions were doabt- less the conse of his defeat at the Chicago Con- vention; and yet he reitermted them from Maine to Kansas in behalf of Lincoln’s election. The publie will have discovered, however, since the eleetion, that Mr. Seward not only ander- tands thé cards of the politician, but the ne- cossities the statesman. His late Astor House speeeh, no doubt carefully studied, | thongh appareatly impromptu, shows him to be clearly and broadly in favor of a compro- mise with the Sogth, Nor, im this connection, can it be supposed that the venerable Thurlow Weed, of the Albany Journal, as an advocate of liberal concessions, hae been speaking at random. He speaks os the friend and organ of Mr. Seward, and ofter a pilgrimage to Springfield in this ca General Cameron ts univ NEW YORK HERALD, TUSSDAY, JANUARY 8, 1861. cepablicen conservative, entirely uutrammeilod by party principles or platforms, waen great expediences of gov-rument policy are t stake No Cabinet selection could be made within the lines of the republicaa camp botter calouls! to aseure the South of the conservative incli: tions of Mr. Lincolu than this appointment of Simon Cameron, Here, then, are the tyro great | new ‘angled and powerful central States of New York and Pennsyivania brought forward in these two Cabinet appo'ntments in behalf of peace. The Astor House speech of Mr. Seward, and the well known liberal opinions of Genera! Came- ron, harmonize so well that we accept them conjointly as indicating the same object——the conciliation of the South, through the action of the republican party in Cougress, in advance of Mr. Lincoln's inauguration, This preparatory reconciliation is forcibly suggested by the necessities of the day. South Carolina has seceded; Florida, Georgia, Ala- bama and Mississippi, it ie expected, before the expiration of the present month, will have foi- lowed her example. It is also apprehended that this revolutionary policy of South Caro- lina, if thus strengthened, will draw into the same movement all the other Southern States before the 4th March, involving a threatened state of things well calculsted to challenge th: immediate and serious attention of all inte- rested in a peaceable commencement of thy comiug administration. Hence these Cabinet indications from Springfield in favor of 4 com- promise. And why should the republican pariy in Congress hesitate in this matter? The conees- sions demanded by the South involve no sacri- fice of Northern principles worth a moment's consideration ; for if the Missouri dividing line be adopted, or if slavery be recognized in all the Territories, or if they all be admitted at once as slave States, the inexorable laws of climate, soil and emigration will ultimately es- tablish their supremacy. Nor can we under- fand why there should be any difficulty in re- stg vising the Fugitive Slave law to the satisfaction of the South ; or why the Southern slaveholder should not be allowed a margin of six or nine months’ sojourn, with his slaves, on a tempora- ry visit to a free State, or while on a journey through it. This privilege has existed hereto- fore in New York, and we believe that Mr. Seward’s name is among its advocates. Ina word, the demands of the South on the slavery question involve no difficulties which the re- publican party in Congress may not overcome within the next ten days, if they can only be brought toa common sense understanding of the subject. But we are told that these suggested “con- cessions to the slave power” will be the certain destruction of the republican party—-that the public opinion of the North will revolt against such treachery. Our answer is, that this is a very contracted view of the subject. How stand the parties of the present day? It was shown by the election of 1856 that the demo- cratic party would, in all probability, be borne down by the republican party in 1860. The politicians of the South began accordingly to prepare for a revolution; and, to bring it about as soon as possible, they planned the dissolution which was brought upon the democratic party at Charleston. In this work Messrs. Cobb, Floyd and Thompson, of Mr. Buchanan's Cabi- net, with many other leading Southern men, were active agents. Their object was, through the olcetion of « republican resident, to “pre= cipitate the cotton States into a revolution,” which would enforce a reconstruction of the government and of parties, which would re- store the Southern States to something like the position of power they have lost, inside or out- side of the Union of 1860. The republican party, however, may take this work of reconstruction into their own hands if they will, and in liberal concessions of Southern abstractions may not only save the Union, but establish themselves in power for twenty years to come. This policy might cut off from the party its radical anti-slavery ele- ment of two or three hundred thousand fanatics, and it might involve the loss of the New Eng- land States. All such losses, however, would be amply compensated in the gain of Northern conservatives in the Central and Western States, and in the acquisition to the party of the border slave States. The initiative Cabinet selections of Mr. Lincoln look in this direction. Let the republican party in Congress act ac- cordingly and at once, and in saving the Union they will save the incoming administration, and make it a great success. The secession cause in South Carolina, Geor- gia and Alabama, seized upon by the mob, is being pushed to excesses which are offensive to sober minded Southern men, and uniting the people of the North for the Union. This con- dition of things offers a great advantage to the republicans in behalf of the Union, and they should seize upon it without delay. Hon. Massa Greeiey anp Senator Crrrres- pex.--Our philosophic friend Hon. Massa Greeley has just rushed into an epistolary conflict with Hon. J. J. Crittenden, touching the compromises propored by the Kentucky Sena- tor. Being essentially a man of peace, Greeley deals only in the pacific weapons of pen, ink, paper and hieroglyphics—sometimes, perhaps, in Sharpe's rifles, at that convenient range measured by the distance which separates Kansas from Spruce street; but in this case ho seems to have employed his implements of war to little purpose, and withal without authority. Greeley, for instance, assumes to speak for the whole of the free States, as though he held the opinions of the entire population thereof in his breeches pocket, and that his dictum was their law. Henry Ward Beecher thinks that he repre- sents the Almighty, all the legions of angels and the other celestial beings of heaven; and Massa Greeley, in like manner, thinks that he (the Hon. TL. G.) represents all the people of the North. Now, we demur to thie. We opine that the celestial hosts can take care of themselves without the guardianship of Plymouth church; und we are quite certain that the people of the Northern States can represent themselves without the advocacy of Massa Greeley. Gree- ley assures Mr. Crittenden that the North will consent to no compromise—a point upon which we beg emphatically to differ with him. We will veniare to say that there are not moro thon three hundred thousand out of the two millions and a half ef voters in the free Northern States who are not willing and anatous to accept a compromise which would save the Union from dissolution, and that three hundred th nd comprises the abolition vote, and nothing outside of it worth speaking of. ‘The truth is that Greeley is about run out He has run bingelf and hig ideas,sa they say, | ipte the ground, and he seems to bave stuck there, past the hope of resurrection. His ultra ideas uv Uke his Fourierite phalanxes, The 5 xes were at one time very popular, but all been smashed up; and eo with ‘1s ula notions on the slavery question; they retty much used up, too. Antagonism to “isms” and a regard for the famity relations broke up the one, and the con- servatisu: and common sense of the people will reject the other. Dixy or Wood Upon the Crisis—A Sensation Mes: en "tho Common Council of New York, a body destined, without doubt, to achieve a n history as glorious as those of its ilus- ous predecessors, was organized yesterday, and, aecording to custom, the prodigal fathers cived a message from the Mayor. This do- cument, whicd we print elsewhere, is one of the most remarkeble that bas emanated from Mayor Wood, who has 2 Napolcoaic love of sensations. This time he hae quite outdone all of his former efforts. His message will make a profound seneation, and the world, the flesh and the deyil (the World, the Tribune and the Times) will be down upon the Mayor with all their available force. He begins by assuming that we live in tcrrible times, and that if we excape the penalties invoked upon our heads by the sins of other people, we shall owe our safety to the direct interposition of Divine Providence in our favor. {n the next paragraph, however, he arrives at the conclusion that we are to be left to go to perdition in our own way, that piety will not save ns, and that the dissolution of the federal government is inevitable. Having summarily settled this rather important point, the Mayor goes on to declare that the city should take measvres, in its corporate capacity, to provide for the new condition of things, to arrive at some indefinite period. Mayor Wood's plan has already been broached unofficially. It amounts to this simple proposition: As the Southern States will secede, and will break up the government, then everybody ought to se- cede from everybody else—the city from the State, the islands in the rivers and the bay from the city—-and we should return to an entirely normal condition of society, where, as the Mayor says, “it behooves every distinct community as well as every individual to take care of themselves.” The Mayor goes on to cite a long list of grievances whigh the city, in its corporate capacity, has suffered at the hands of the cen- tral power at Albany, and sees in the appoint- ment of the Commissioners of Charities and Correction, of the Central Park, of Records, of Harbor and Pilots, a number of sufficient rea- sons for separation. THe docs not counsel vio- lent secession, nor does he indicate in what manner the city is to separate from the State, provided it became apparent that a majority of the devellers in the mettopolis favored such a movement. The messagé is devoted entirely to an elaborate attack upon the powers at Albany, and its theory is that, as the federal Union is about to be broken into pieces like so much fragile crockery, it is well to be on hand to pick up the pieces; that the city of New York is rather a valuable fragment, and that we should look out and keep it for ourselves, even if we have to break the State goverament into bits. Now, the question is not what we would do with anaveby, civil war and no federal govern- ment in existence. Just now there is a federal government; just now there is a great Power known among the nations as the United States of America; just now the flag of this Union floats in every known port, and is respected as the insignia of a nation which is strong enough to protect its people wheresoever they may go; just now disunion is not inevitable; on the contrary, quite the reverse. We are in a great crisis, to be sure; but all is not lost be- cause we are in danger. It is not too late for compromise, and the power of the government has not yet been tested. South Carolina has “ordained” that the Union is dissolved, but not a blow has been struck nor a gun fired. For all practical purposes the government of this nation is as strong to-day as it ever has been in any period of our history. We do not believe that the people of this republic, the greatest, except old Rome, that the world has ever seen, intend to abandon the ark of its safety, the Union of the *States, after the comparatively brief experience of eighty years. We were not made so great to be de- stroyed so soon. The system of consolidation we receive from the Roman republic, the falla- cy of disintegration from the Greeks. And now the system of civilization, the common law, the practical principles of government which ob- tain in the Christian world, aud which under- lie the foundations of this government, are revived from the old Romans. The sculptor, the painter or the orator is indebted for his ideas and models to the Grecks; but the jurist, the statesman and the executive officer drink in wisdom from Tiber’s yellow flood. And now these United States, with their hardy, self-reli- ant, self-respecting people, are more like the Romans in the palmy days of the republic than any other people. One does notsay “I ama New Yorker,” but “Lam a citizen of the United States,” and the title is as proud and honorable a designation as that of “Roman citizen” two thousand years ago. Rome was not without its trials and troubles. The plebeians seceded not once only, but seve- ral times, and the details of the government were altered to suit particular cases and emer- gencies; but the foundations vemained the same. That will be the case with this people, and the secession movement, so far, resembles the at- tempts of the Roman plebs. So, on this point, wo take open issue with the Mayor. With regard to the “ aggressions” of the Le- gislatute, the increased taxation, &c., there is a great deal of truth in what the Mayor says. But would the Common Council govern us any better than the Legislature? Is Brady to be preferred to Sim. Draper, or Boole over Thur- low Weed? Is it at all probable that oar taxes would be a dollar less with the city en- tirely in the hands of the strikers, the shoualder- hitters and “governing classes” of the same stripe? No; it will be better to suffer the ills we have than to fly to others which we all, on calm reflection, will know to be very much worse, The city of New York will show to the country an example of firmness, forbear. ance and fairness, The city of New York will countenance no violence, no improper opposi- tion to existing law, and wMl_ be the Inet to sot an example of disunion. We do not intend to secede from the State or any part of it, Brook lyn, or Staten Island, or @ ney Island anor oven Diackwell’s Island, eatih it is utterly impossible to remain in harmonious relations with those puissant Powers. More than all, we do not intend to countenance just yet the doctrine that, because disunion is threat- ened, each individual should “take care of him- eclf,” as different individuals have differentand sometimes disagreeable ideas as to the meaning of that rather vague phrase. Some persons might proceed to act upon it as alicense to dividethe veal aod personal property of the cily equally among the inhabitants thereof, while others might go still further. No; all this talk amounts to nothing practical. It is proposed that the ture shall give us a charter, the points of which will be indicated by a commiitee of prominent citizens of all parties—persons ac- quainted with the requirements of the city. Let us try that, and in the first place cultivate peaceful relations withall men. There ispleaty of war talk in the Southern part of this coufe- deracy without any from this quarter. We are traders, not men of war, except in a jast quar- rel and with the law on our side. If the worst comes to the worst, why then we must all go to emash together. Gut we have noi yet ved at so desperate a condition of things, the Mayor's message to the contrary notwithstand- ing. War Pronunciamiento of Wise, of Viz- ginia. Heary A. Wise, ex-Governor of ¥ and late a candidate for the demo: mination for President, has oie ont ing, warlike pronunciamien! il be found in our columns to-c iuter- esting document at the pre moment. Any manifesto from Mr. Wi mand public attention, > jus! now would com- only ‘in his own State, but throughout the Union. But the na- ture of his letter, the top ich he <o clo- quently handles and the 1 es to which he has come, impart more than ordinary interest to his letter. Mz. Wise says he utterly despairs of obtain- ing any redress of Southern wrongs by peace- able means, and further patience and forbear- ance cease io be virtue. He is, therefore, in favor of revolution and resistance at once. He makes no demand from the North or from the federal power, has no remedy to propose, no plan of reconciliation. His voice is for war, and he calls upon the Old Dominion to buckle on its armor in defence of South Carolina, whose course in seceding he approves, though he thinks that for the present Virginia will best serve her own interests, the interests of South Carolina, “the van State of defence,” and the common cause of all the Southern States, by fighting in the Union. He thinks every State ought to act on its own hook, though in con- cert with the other aggrieved States, and take its own mode and measure of redress. This looks like an indication of an independent gue- rilla warfare, after the fashion of the Mexican chiefs. He paints a vivid picture of the wrongs inflicted by the Northern States upon the South, their aggressions and transgressions; shows how, in the western counties of Virginia, slavery is as effectually abolished as in the free States; that she has the greatest interest in the question, her slaves amounting to more than half a million; and he rejects with scorn the counsel of waiting for an overt act on the part of the incoming administration. Indeed, Mr. Wise’s idea seems to be to forci- bly prevent the inauguration of Lincoln at Washington—a course of action indicated in Richmond papers supposed to speak his views, and confirmed by subsequent military pre- parations in several counties of the State. He maintains that there are overt acts already, and that it would be folly to wait till their ene- mies are installed in power, and in a position to accomplish the avowed purposes for which they were organized. His advice is to call a convention at once; if the Governor will not do it, then the Legislature ought to be applied to to overrule his decision; and if the Legislature will not act, then let the people assemble spontaneously in convention at Rich- mond and act for themselves. They may ihus save the State from disgrace, and, if they can do nothing better, they can at least go to the aid of South Carolina. As for himself, if he should see any decided symptoms of joining the North in tho coming struggle, he would re- paix to some other Southern State to obtain a sufficient armed force to prevent it; in other words, to effect a revolution in the State. On the hazard of this dic he says he is “ready to stake his all.” Mr. Wise’s reason for fighting the battle in the Union is to “protect, preserve and defend the constitution,” whieh the revolutionary re- publicans have in part already overthrown, and intend to completely subvert. Then, he says, ke “does not wish to shock the pious attach- ment of the people to the Union flag.” He suggests that the State of Virginia, in pur- suance of the special condition on which she entered into the Union—aamely, that she might resume whatever rights of sovereignty she had ceded io the federal power, among them the right to maintain an army and navy, make war and peace, &e-demand possession of all the forts and arsenals within the domain of the State. If the United States government will not give up the forts, then they must be taken by the people; for, suddenly, just before the 4th of March, Fortress Monroe, Harper's Ferry Arsenal and Gosport Navy Yard may be filled with arms of coercion. Mr. Wise has no faith in Mr. Buchanon. From these intimations it is probable that the forts in Virginia will be seized, as in South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. Whether any attempt will be made on Washington, which lies within the \erritory ceded by Maryland, will depend, we suppose, on the strength of the foree which the revolutionists in Virginia can bring into the field, and the strength of the force which the federal authority can concen- trate to defend the capital. But the seizure of the forts can only result in stirriag up greater hostility at the North to the Southern cause, which has already greatly damaged here by the section of the revolution ‘y leaders in South Carolina in taking posses- sion of some of the Charleston forts, Then we bave a government, ean- erty of the United States to sted by force ont of its hands, and civil been the government. if not permit the pro we Thue a question of i jus tice and constituti law will be turned into © question of might, and a bloody «ruggle, out of which the South eannot expect to come vith as good terms as she can secure by pow ful means. And may not he terests be ute terly ruined by war and The emownt of Me. W fa Lo coun sel Virginia to do wrong Wy swyverting the conetitution and ‘he federal government, be. couse Northern States, have done wreag in nullifying the compact Bat two wrongs can- uot make right, and we greatly fear that if Virginia takes the course Mr. Wise advises, sho will not prove what he anticipates, “a power to force the enemies of the South to reeede, and apucleus to get back seceding States.” We apprehend, too, that Mr. Wise, whe is am- bitious for popularity and power and high office, will not improve his chances at the North by this letter, whatever effect it may Lave in getting him the nomination for Presi dent of the new Utopian Southern confede- racy. What Virginia ought to do, and what all the lave States ought to do, is to call a conven- tion of the united South, which will agree upou a reasonable ultimatum to be presented to the Norih for acceptance. If it should be accepted, as we know it would be, the quar- rel is ended without a blow; if it should not, the South will be then in a better position io enforce her rights by the last resort—the arbiirament of the sword—if the North will not consent to a peaceable separation. In the one case, having exhausted all other means of ob- taining redress, she would be completely united in war, and thus become unconquer- able. In the other event she would enter upon the struggle with divided counsels, irresolu- tion and even the disaffection and defection of her own sons. United, the Southeru States stand—divided, they fall. IMPORTANT FROM VIRGINIA. MEETING OF THE LEGISLATURE, Ricumonp, Jan, 7, 1361. ‘The Virginia Legislature met here to-day, Nearly al the members were present, and the gallerics and lobbies of both houses were literally thronged. The portion of Governor Letcher's message relating to cuirs was read. A motion in the House to have hundred copies of the message printed elicited rtrong ¢onunciatory remarks upon it from Colonel Joba 'T. Andevson, of Rotetourt, and Mr. Jones, of Appomatox, both of whom opposed the motion to print on the ground that by voting for it they might be regard ed a3 endorsing its sentiments. In view, how- ever, of the fact that twenty-five hundred copies of Goveraor Wise’s last message were ordered to be printed, the House looked upon a defeat of this motion as too marked a discourtesy to Governor Letcher, and it was therefore agreed to. Mr. Anderson denounced the message as a firebrand thrown in to divide Virginia, when every patriotic im pulse admonished unity of sentiment and action. Mr. Benjamin Barse, of Upshur, offered the following resolution in the House of Deputies to-day:— Resolved, By the General Assembly of Virginia, That the union being formed by the assent of the States poe and being consistent only with sod dom he republicgn fussivations guaranteed te’ each, ont and ought not to be res that the government of tho Union has no tloclare or Inake war againat any ef the States which have been its constituent members; ‘any one or more of the States has dotermined or shall determine cue: existing cieemayacle to get! from the we are unalterably opposed attempt on the part of the federal government to ‘coun tho same into reunion or submission, and that we will resist the same by all the means in our power. ‘This resolution was referred to a committee, and re- ported, back favorably. It was adopted—oyes 112, noes 5. A resolution was adopted instructing a committee of Mifteen to bring in a bill providing for holding a Stato convention. I very secession sentiment.uttered in the House brought down thunders of applause from the galleries, in which the members frequently participated. ‘Tho Dill to arm the State comes up to-morrow, and wift probably pasa. ‘The question of calling a State Convention was made the special order for Wednesday. It will probably pass both houses. ‘The excitement here has somewhat subsided, but the / urpose to resist all aggreesion on Southern rights ia THE MESSAGE OF GOVERNOR LETCHER, OF VIRGINIA. Ricuwonp, Va., Jan. 7, 1861. Goverror Letcher’s fmessage, alluding togthe condition of the country, says:—All see, know and feel that danger is imminent, and all true patriots are exerting themselves to save us from impending perils. He renews his propo- sition in his last Message for a convention of all the States, and says:—It ia monstrous to see a government like ours destroyed merely because men cannot agreo about a domestic institution. It becomes our State to be mindful of her own interests. Disruption is inevitable, and if confederations are to be formed we must have the best Guarantees before we can attach Virginia to either. ‘He condemns the hasty action of South Carolina, which has taken her Southern sisters by surprise. He would make no special reference to her course had he not beea invited to do so by her late Executive in un ~ called for reference to Virginia. The non-slaveholding ‘States are chargeable for the present condition of affairs, and if the Union is disrupted, upon them rest the solemn responsibility. Ho alludes at length to their aggressions and says they have the power to end the strife and re- store confidence. Will they do it? He awaits their re- sponse not without apprehension. He says our action should be based on the wrongs done our own people. He opposes a State convention at this time and suggests firet:—That a commission of two of the most discreet etateemen visit the Legislatures of the States which have passed Personal Liberty bills, and inaist on their uncon- ditional repeal, except the New England States. Second:— ‘We must have proper and effective guarantees for the protection of slavery in the District of Columbia. Third:— ‘Our equality in the States and Territories mast be fully recognized, and the rights of person and property ade- quately protected and secured; that we must be permit- ted to pass through the free States and Territories unmo- lestea; an@if a slave be abducted the State whore it is Jost must pay its valne, wince <aroowacelomalpe transmiseion of slaves between the slaveholding States Jand or water shall not be interfered with. Fifth: passage and enforcement of right laws for the punish- ment of such pereons in the free States as organize, or aid and abet in any mode whatsoever in organizing com- panies with a view to assail the slaveholding States and to incite the slaves to insurrcetion, Sixth—The general government to be deprived of the power of appointing to local offices in the slaycholding States persons hostile to their institutions or inimical to their rights. The Gover- nor further says he will regard the attempt of the federal troops to pass across Virginia for the purpose of coercing a Southern State as an act of invasion which must be re- it dim = mainly to local affairs, The message is quite engthy WAR PRONUNCIAMENTO IN VIRGINIA. IMPORTANT LEITER FROM GOVERNOR WISE. OUR MK CORTENPON DENCE, Kiewmonn, Va., Jan. 4, 1861. T sen! you herewith an important letter from Governer Wire tu reply to the following communication addressot to hin by influential eftizens of Danvitio, in this State:— Danvirsm, Va., Dec. 8, 1860. Ton. Hexay A. Wier: 1k SiteAt our last court @ meeting of the citizens liteylvanie county, irrcepective of party, waa hei: rthe present critieal condition of the country. definite was done, beyond the adoption of reso- jut ong to meet monthly. In common with a large por. peem tain, if not inconsistent with your wishes, the polioy you would recommend. We have all seen and read your sfuce that time, bowever, Rew propositions bave tram diet on loabt! , Mtet, the. people o€ tee Daned akeon as have an expression of your views, wo have a4 “iberty of addressing you this letter, for the purpose in a leading paper in the Ss ‘We aro, ro- your frienda sod fellow tt J. M. HARPER, PEYTON ©. Kita GOVERNOR WINKS REPLY. yes—The continuous illnees of mysel and fami. since the receipt of yours of the Sth tnst., ‘ico @f the people of this county wo feel a desire te Peincess Anne tesolutions, and alse your Norfolk speoch ; keen, Uni well as of the South, in this crisis, would be . Hoping that you will rey iy UMOREH & FO CAURLL, Roruamow, ntam Nowroux, Deo. 31, 1860. case the deky of my acknowledgement, And shryou oo