The New York Herald Newspaper, January 15, 1861, Page 8

8 ‘ THE REVOLUTION. {CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE) i Pe Upion. That persons owing allegiance to the ‘Vaited States have chafoderated together, and with arms, by force and intimidation, haye prevented tae ‘Sovoriticn ‘of the constitutional acts of Eongress, have foreibty seized upon and hold a custom house and t office, forts, arsenals, vessels and other property Relonging to the United ‘States, and have actually fred upon vessels bearing the United States flag and carrying United States This is a usurpation of the authority of the federal government itis high treason by levying war. Either one of thase acts w li constitute high treason. There can be no doubt of it. The fact that any or all engaged in the commis- sion of these outrageous acts acted under the pretended authority of the Legislature, or a convention of the peo- ple of aly State, or of the officers appointed thereby , or acting thereunder, does not change nor affect the erimi- pal character of the act. No man or body of men can throw off their allegiance to their government in that way. Nor can any State, or the people of any State, acting in any capacity whatever, absolve any person therefrom. Neither South Carolia nor apy other State can authorize, or legally protect citizens of the other States in waging, war against their government, any more than can the Queen of Great Britain or the Bmperor of France. If any such power js assumed & is without right, and the deluded individua) who acte under it is none the less guilty of ‘eason, aud liable to be punished — therefor. That the slaveholding States have just cause of com- ts against ome of their sister States is lamentably pong ‘that the Legielatures of several States have passed acts which are in direct conflict with one of the plainest provisions of the constitution of the United States, hich acts were intended to deprive the slaveholding ly guaranteed to and important to them, is well known. This is deeply to be regretted; and it is hoped aud believed that the gober second thought of the people of States will induce them to do justice %o themeelves a8 well a8 to their Southern brethren, aod evinee their loyalty to the constitution and the Union by speedily wiping all such acts from their statute books. But the fact that some of the States have passea upoonstitutional acts can afford no justification for rebellion and civil war, or a breaking upof our federal Gnion, which was formed by the patriotism and wisdom, ‘conciliation and compromise of our fathers—in which our prosperity asa people has been unparalleled in the history ‘ef nations. Such legislative acts, however, are not laws. Being in violation of the constitution of the United States, ‘they are mere nullities, and all who attempt to enforce ‘them are themselves violators of the laws, and can be, ‘and in some instances have been, punished as such. ‘What overt acts, then, constitute treason? A mere con- jiracy to subvert by force the government, however fla- 18 the crime may be, is not treason. To conspire to war, and actually levying war, are distinct offences. MW 'a body of people conspire and meditate an in- surrection to resist or op] the laws of the Bnited States by force, they are only guilty of a high misdemeanor; but if they proceed to carry such imtention into execution by force, they are guilty of trea- gon by levying war. In the language of Chief Justice **}t is not the intention of the courts to say ‘What no individual can be guilty of this crime who has not in arms against his country. On the con- tary, if war be actually levied, that is, if a body of men be actually assembled for the purpose of effecting, by force, a treasonable purpose, all those who perform any part, ‘however minute, or however remote from the scene @f action, and who are actually leagued in the general eonspiracy, are to be considered as traitors.” As the eourts have already said to you, the combination end assemblage of a oy of men with the design , and the acti of seizi seizing, of the forts and ‘ether public property in and near Charleston, South Carolina, in some other States, is a levying of ‘war against the United States. Consequently any and every person who engages therein is by the law ded as levying war against the United States; and all here to them are to be regarded as enemies, and give them ai and comfort, or New York, or United States, press provisions of the first section of the act of 30th ‘April, 1790, and are guilty amounts to adhering to and giving aid and com. fort to our enemies, it is somewhat difficult in all cases to define; but certain it is that furnishing them with arms or munitions of war, vessels or other means ef transportation, or any materials which will aid the ‘waitors in carrying out their traitorous purposes, with a kpewledge that they are intended for such purposes or noiting or encouraging others to engage in or aid the ‘traitors in any way, does come within the provisions of ‘the act, And it is immaterial whether such acts are in- duced by sympathy with the rebellion, hostility to the government, or a desire for gain. Under the second sec- tion of the ‘act of 1790, all who have any knowldege of any such acts of treason, and do not, as soon as pos- sible, make it known in the manner therein pre- scribed, are guiltv of misprision of treason, and subject’ to the punishment therefor. Your inquiries must be contined to offences fiction of this Court, that is, ‘Southern district of New York and upon the high seas. h there may be a question whether the jurisdic- tion of the Court, in such cases, is not more extended, a will for the present contine your investigations to the Heats prescribed. Within this’ limit it is your rightand wi a all who duty to inquire whether any person or persons have ‘avcording to the principles of law laid down by the Court, guilty of treason or misprision of treason, and if are satistied that either of these offences have been committed, to faithfully and fearlessly present th ere, that they may be punished. It isthe duty ‘will unquestionably be the desire, of all good citizens to do, in their respective spheres, everything their power to suppress rebellion, expose treason Dring traitors to justice, When the Grand Jury were | the other day one of the members of your body submitte certain questions to the Court, which’! shall now proceed toanswer. “First. Whether it is the duty of the Grand Jury to inquire into violations of the law which m ay meidentally brought to their knowledge, and whieh hay not been presented by the District Attorney, and whieh he bad 2 knowledge off? In reply to that the Co would say, gentlemen, that you are not necessarily con. fined to offences to which your attention may be called by the prosecuting officer. If any one of you have reason to believe that any of the laws @f tho federal government have been violated, you are at liberty to inquire into the matter, whether or ‘not your attention has been called to it by the District Attor Rey. Unquestionably you havea right to make the in ‘Vestigation. The second inquiry is, ‘Whether itis ex pected of the Jury to examine into the detention of felons ‘and witnesses as to their safety, treatment and comfor and as to whether any persons are kept Tnwarrantable time before trial’? ‘The third in- iry is, “Whether it is expected that the Grand Fars would present such defccts in the practice wm the Custom House as render it easy for the sale and clearance of vessels for the slave trade, and avoid persona! responsibility?” With respect to that, gentlemen, it may be well to consider for a moment what is the jurisdiction of the federal courts. First, then, they can ‘only inquire into the violations of the federal jaws. The federal courts have no common law criminal juriediction, and they therefore have no jurisdiction over offences that are not created by the constitution or some act of Con- under the constitution. ! understand that it is the Suty of the Grand Jury to inquire into all matters that are brought before their notice by the prosecuting officer. ‘That is well understood. It is well known that English grand jurors have often timee—and probably it is @ part ‘@f the common law of England—inquired into such mat ters; but the Court is not aware of apy statute of tho copstitution, or of any practice in federal courts, which would make it the duty of grand jar.es to inquire iatoand imvestigate matters embodied in either of these ques- tione. The Court does not intend to say that you may not make such inquiry, but then it is outside of your judicial duties, and if you make a report to the Goart I have no er to act, and can do nothing more than file it with records of the court; and therefore it cannot he re- garded as the duty of grand juries in federal courts to make these inquiries. You will now retire, gentlemen, ‘and proceed with the business before you. THE STANDING ARMY OF SOUTH CAROLINA. MESSAGE OF GOVERNOR PICKENS. Execorive Orrick, Jan, 7, 1961. To me Mewnens or Tux SkvaTe any Hovse or Reverses TATIVES — The Convention has passed resolutions authorizing the Governor to raise two regiments of enlisted men—one regiment for a service of twelve mouths and the other of six months. Under these resolutions, | have commis. sioned officers from first Heutenant down to third ieuten sant, and in one instance I have commissioned a captain 40 rain immediately an artillery company. To make ag httle expensive as possible to the State, | have for present coniined myself to ,the appolatment of these officers. Perhaps it may not be necessary tu enlist for the second regiment. Tho Convention also, by resolution, authorizes the Governor t> cal immediately into service companies, wth their officers, somewhat on the principle of volun téere, andoo form them {nto a regiment by appointicg ‘ Thave made a call of this kind for one Fogiment at present, and appointed Colone) Maxey Gregg, ave and able officer, to command t. A portion this company ia in actual position on Sullivan's Island, and other companies for it are mupidly arriving. This re- iment is for six mont Ifaregiment of men enlisted for twelve months be raised, {t will require about $200,000 40 equip and su tt. The regiment for six monthe, under Colonel Crege, will be at an expense of about $100,000. if the other reg ment of en| sted men for six months be found necvssar; st will be an additional expense of $100,000 1 therefore most respectfully recommend that some provision be made for the pay and support of these rex) ments in such manner a& the wisdom of the |ogislatare may adopt, J recommend also that the biil which is be- fore the Logisiature, eatitied ‘a bill for the establish Ment af a const Pol.ce for South Carolina,” ve pasted. ‘This, \t ie eupposed, will involve an expens9 of $150,000. The act passed ‘o provide an armed military £ MAY \nvoive an expend ture of $50,000, and provision been mie for raising g400,000 more for the purchase of arme ant munitions. These several sums amount > $1,400,000. It & hoped that -ir-umstances may arise whic weilt give a pacife atlement 's eur dipicuiticn, and if %, ery reason leavor shall be made : diture of the whole amount; ot tan ol nee 54 produce & pacific turn to events ix, ‘9 be thorough red to meet any -mergency. FW PICKENS, STATEMENT OF CAPTAIN McGOWAN, OP THE STAR OF THE WEST, TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD, Hav og seen an article in the columns of the Tues of ‘hie morning, in relation to the late trip of the stearcer Star of the West, under my command, to Charleston, § ©., 1 can scarcely believe, had the circumstances of the care been known, that it world have appeared Tho editor of the Mes hae beed misled in al the particulars. in the {iret plince, my crders from Mr. Ro , the owner of the ship, were eontidential and, up to this time, no person hid seon them. The statement that T hat orders to beach the thip and land the troops ard provisions jn stat) boats % equally untrue. This plan was one of my own, and would have been alopted, with the sanction of the of- ficer commanding the troops, in the event of the ehip having been dienbled ty Fort Moule, But that y ship for the purpose of leaving the there was no possible hope of reaching Fort Sumter , either in the boats or tha versel, my position being on tirely commanded by the battery on Morrig, hand, and Fort Moultrie on the other, less ire, and in such an intricate cha.unel, water enough to float my vessel over the bar, no buoys in the proper places, the ranges ald cut down, with the assistance of bo person on board who had ever been in Charleston harbor before, I consider that, under these in South Qnrolina any Other portion of the or elsewhere, come within the ex- of treason. What committed within the within the one disputed these assertions, and this ne rain water with bis liquor. H po bo driven off onr sidewalks /”? please,’ : “Be careful’ ——Captain Caifry bas the tallest of the pushers avd followers wheel around and start for the station house, volver is taken from the gentleman’ \s searched for other weapona, and. bis aparmert in the Captain's hotet, forms the reporters thot the the South, and that he touched ly before he was arrested, Ther ig a great no'se out ~NEW YORK Brgatp, TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 1861. : plan was defeated by the firing of the bai op Morris Island. ‘We had no revenue tag on consequently we could hoist none, A large garrison fag, thirty by forty fect, ders to hoist it had been furnished to me with or ip case Fort Moultrie fired upon the jor Anderson “the waa Fort Sum- is flag was hoisted ab the fore, andoould be plainly seen from Fort Sumter. In to “my of mind having deserted me,” this I wi e to the officers and men wha not attempt to wear harbor, until T saw taland Co one In regard to the wearing the ship under such a harm- , with barely circumstances, it required more than ordinary judgment, and some tmaeasure of coolness, to manmuyre as J did on Ubat occasion, bringing oct over two hundred and fifty ge safely. editor of the Times must have a great confidence in the resiating qualities of the Star of the West, to suppose have withstood the fire from a battery of heavy guns located in Fort Moultrie, which was built to defy the navies of the world. Your obedient servant, New York, Jan. 14, 1861. J. M’GOWAN. THE HELPER CRISIS. Monsieur Tonson Come Again—Second Attempt of Hinton Rowan Helper to Deliver His Lecture upon the Two Systems of Labor—The Hall Closed—A Disturbance and Arrest~-The Police About, but Helper Absent, &., &c. With two other nuizances—a enowstorm and 4 rain- storm—came last evening the announcement of the repetition of the attempt of Mr. Hinton Rowan Helper to deliver his lecture upon ‘The Two Systems of Labor’ at Clinton Hall. At the same hall last Wednesday even- ing Mr. Helper announced that he would probably never speak again, The ridicule which followed his former effort forced him into this attempt at a repetition, as many a man is laughed into doing what ho does not wish and ought not to attempt. There was to be no mistake this time. The advertisement stated that the lecture was “postponed on last Wednesday evening on account of the extraordinary roughness of the weather,” but “<will certainly be delivered this evening.” The advertisement was wrong, however. The lecture was certainly not delivered, By six o'clock last evening a notice, posted up at the Hall, informed the public ba MR, HELPER'S LECTURE POSTPONED UNAVOIDABLY. By the side of this announcement was the following card, heaced:— {cory.] Cuxtow Har, Jan. 14, 1861. H.R. Heuren, Esq., 161 West Twenty-eighth streot:— ‘Dean SR—Owing to the excited state of the public putea bigeye EDMUND COFFIN, Treasurer of the Trustees of Clinton Hall Association. THE FIRST ARRIVALS looked at these notices with great astonishment and ap- parent indignation, Not satisied with the information obtained frem them, however, they inspected the ticket office, which was closed, and then, lured on by a Jack-o’- lantern of a gas light, descended the stairs only to find the lecture room cloged and the coal hole open. ‘Taking up a position in front of this notice, then, the party related their discoveries to each new comer, as Columbus told his story to the Spaniards, and were lis- tened to with the utmost attention. At seven o’clock ht persons were present, all of them republicans, and, eigl semi-circling the signboard, they amused themselves with satiricel remarks. A stout, portly, white whiskered old gentleman re- marked gravely that “ the boys would be disappointed in the row they expected.” Keeping silence for some time, he suddenly observed, as if {t had just occurred to him, that “the boys would’ be disappointed.”’ Another very long pause ensued, and then the old gentleman, all aglow with che wonder of the discovery, and secretly congra- tulating himself upon so brilliant an idea, informed his friends that “ the boys would be kL ge he al and re- peated this news that “ the boys would be disappointed’ at intervals during the conversation. Another gentleman, big bearded and well dressed, looked at the matter in a dollar and cent point of view, and was evidently an auctioneer, from the manner in which he bid against himeelf. After observing that he was a republican, he said he was willing to give twenty- five cents to hear Helper; presently he would give fifty cents to see Helper; excitedly, he would present any one with five dollars who would show him Helper; anil, by and-by, he would subseribe ten dollars to sere- nade Helper. “He wasn’t taken up on any of these offers, The third of the trio of orators who enchanted the crowd all this while was an Englishman, who, like the pineapple rock candy man, had left his native hills so suddenly that he had forgotten his “H’s."’ This gentle- that his profession was sound on the goose, ? har to say, in a very loud voice, about “freedom ‘gag law,” “free countries;’ and what a grent d of speech, they would ‘ave done in Hingland.”” People came in quietly, read the bulletin, listened to the conversation of fae trio and started out again. Once ina while @ Union man would put in a word against Helper, but would be silenced by voeiferatious for free speech. New arrivals kept up the excitement, and yeo- ple from the library above began to be alarmed, Wide Awakes, in their uniform caps, moved quietly about. Well dressed republicans talked quietly in groups. and by in came another Union 4 marks about Helper; more vocifer speech. Asmall boy shouted ‘that doesn negroes,” and immediately disappeared, pursued by the English flourishing the umbreila which Noab used in the small rains before the flood. ATTEMPTED UNION MEETING. About half-past seven o'clock a detachment of five of the Fifteenth ward police marched in. The crewd now began to increase rapidly, and soon filled the vestibule. Frede ric Tolcott, Esq., proposed a Union meeting, and offered cribe towards paying for the hall. The crowd se- ded the-proposition, and a committee of one was ap. inted to hire the room. The Assistant Librarian, who charge of the matter, positively refused to let out the room, however. Comurrree—What! Not to the Union men? LiWkakiaN—No—to bo political party, under existing circumstances, ‘Comaorrer—I guess you're black republican. Linkakian—I wouldn't let the room to such men as those, looking down upon the crowd. ‘Comarres—Why, they're perfectly respectable LinkaKiax—They look as if they bad come to kick up a row, anyhow. The committee said that the Librarian should be at- tended to, and then reported non comatibus up stairsum. ‘Some one moved that F. Tolcott take the chair. Mr. Tatcorr—I don’t see the chair. 1 sball take the back door if I'm elected. The Librarian he rary omy Be on aware that 7 the tin signs stuck about the build! were orders that no one should ‘sit, loiter or smoke ib the vestibules,’’ and frantically hanging over the bannisters and flutter. ing his coat-tails, called upon the police to do their duty, please, and clear the hall. Pouce—Can’t do nuffin till Captain comes. None 0’ us ken act on our own responsibility. ‘The Librarian continued to exhort the policemen to “do your duty, please,” but retreated up stairs as he spoke, in spite of many invitations to come down and show bimeelf. Finally the crowd went up after him, ana pressing in at the library doors scemed gjtogether too eager for the Librarian's company. Specidl police- More re- man Brookslaver interfered, however, and the whole party were at length coaxed and pushed down stairs again, Then, before leaving the building, three groans were given for Helper; three cheers for the Union; Ubree for South Carolina; Ubree for the trustecs and three puthern confederacy. MORE POLICE—AN ARREST. The crowd at this time numbered about two hundred persons, and in spite of the drizzling rain in which they stood, soon increased a hundred more. Just then Capt Cafrey, of the Fifteenth precinct, marched up with a force of twenty-four men. At the request,of the Libra. rian, he proceeded to place one man inside and one out side of each door, to keep the passageway open for mem. bere of the arsociation. The crowd outside discussed Helper, his book, and the real impending crisis now be fore us, with grea good nature, and the rain, at least, would ‘baye prevented their arguments ftom being dry. One happy ‘ndivideal remarked that he was the offeprng of a canine, in South Carolina “the —blackest 6. No “What is staggered from under his umbrella to mix a little Others wished to help peg out Another bad read bis book and thought him ascouWdrel. The Others talked moderately, and cheered John Bell, the Union and South Carolina. “The dranken portion of the party, although using plentifully such language as that above quel, was very small indeed. and was born all State ity Led by the inebriates, however, a dozen persons pushed back into the ball, and were quickly turned out again Then the crowd packed close in front of the door, Ont came Cxpt, Catfrey, with half-adogon M.P.'s. “Clear the sidewalk, there.’ “Moye ou.” “Don't you touch me.’ “We're all gentleme * The crowd is pushed toward Broadway, and t S@uess we'll come back to>.”” The Are we to the collar, and the whole party THE POLICE STATION. Headed by the Captain and his prisoner the procession of about afty start down Broadway, cheering for the Union, Senator Crittenden and Major Anderson and for our crowd.” The people 'ook on in grow: wonderment and join the cheers. Arrived at the police station jn Mercer stroet, no outsiders are aimitted and ma very quickly “arranged. Some of the prisoner's frends wis eves bis name. to come in, but are turned out aga'n. The prisoner “Henry H James's thirty-five years ‘14; resides in New Jersoy; i8 unmarried: hag no parti cular business.’ He is a’ tall, fine, handsome looking man, with dlack deard and mone and i dresses Ike a tleman. He wishes to know ff he can give bow Captain answers 'n the negative, A fine ro it pocket; bh and is then conducted te Tho Captain in gentieman is really from his revolvor threatening side, but some one says, and off the crowd go. TT] Meanw! thos: 4 HALL CLOSED. ee wenty in number— ‘at .¢ bersons—about t «the ball io quiet debate upon —. donation. a Preach Noublitan mating avenieatly conspicuous, appreciating the |i- “ all the better, doubtless, by con- trast W 1h the institutions of bie own, The debate getting in to hear it, it was and the doors warr e rtuitod tat te ball ould be ulosed. ‘This was soon done, and before half-past eight all was quiet about the building, the closed and policemen playing sentinels outside to infrm inquires that the lecture was postponed. There were very few inquiries about the lecture however. Under the best of circumstances, Helper would not have had an audience of one hundred and fifty, and most of those who caused what little disturbance there was, were persons who dropped in accidentally and from curijesity upon seeing the crowd about the door, AT HELPER’S HOUSE. Mr, Helper resides ina handsome brown stone front at No. 181 West Twenty eighth street, Although it seemed hardly probable that any attack would be made upon him there, yet the Hekacp reporters were ou hand, a8 usual, in case of accident, Mr, Helper was at home and in excellent spirits. He said he was perfectly will ing to deliver his lecture, but that during the afternoon Wilson G. Hunt, Esq., and Edmund Coflin, treasurer of the Clinton Hall Association, had called upon him aod stated that, in the present state of political excitement, he ought not to deliver his lecture, and could not have the hail. He replied that he would make no profession of personal courage, but that he thought there was @ principle involved, and that he would have heen willing to lecture even at the risk of his life. He could not have the hall, however, and he could not lecture. Helper kindly afforded ‘our reporters every informa- tion, He said that if Rhett or Yancey had come here to make agpeech, there would be no trouble, but the public would not hear the other side, He could not tell when he would deliver the lectuae, but had the matter under advisement. No disturbance had taken place at hig house, he said, but all knew where to tind him if they wanted him. Republicans talk of making Helper a martyr to free speech, and letting him lecture at the Cooper Institute to an immense audience. Perhaps he may. There had been a great deal of trouble about the delivery of this lecture, 1t may turn out another illustration of the old proverb, rarturit mons et ridiculus mus nascitur. After all, “‘musses’’ have nearly occurred already. AN ANTI-HELPER MEETING. Ata late hour last evening a meeting of about two hundred persons was held at a store in the Fifteenth ward, Colonel Howell in the chair, It was stated the name of the gentleman arrested was Colonel H. J. Titus, of Kanga, The following preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted : Whereas, under a notice circulated through the city we attended a meeting to be held at Clinton il, to hear Mr. Helper deliver a lecture, which, owing to circum stances, was postponed; and whereas, in the act of dis- persing, several gentlemen stood upon the sidewalk Gis- cussing the event of the evening, one of the number, a gentleman of high mending, was summarily assaulted La arrested by the'police of the Fifteenta ward; there- fore, Resolved, That we, who were then present, do pro- nounce most unhesitatingly and emphatically that the arrest of the gentleman was made without cause, without any breach of the peace having been committed on his part, and that the act of arrest was a wanton and most despotic outrage upon an unoffending American citizen. And, further Resolved, That bail was tendered by most responsible and respectable gentlemen; that u their offering the same they were most rudely and uncour- teously driven from the station house by order of the Fa oye officer of the station honse, and were informed +f a police that said gentleman was locked up for the night. ‘And be it Resolved, That we hereby protest outraged American a this Ee led proceeding, and call upon the bitants of city to know if our privileges and rights are to be trampled under foot, and that we are to be treated as we or slaves. Resolved, That the editor of the HenaLp be requested to publish the foregoing resolutions. ABOLITIONISTS ON SEWARD’S SPEECH. ANTI-SLAVERY PRAYER MEETING AT DR. CHEEVER’S CHURCH—THE PRESENT TROUBLES OF THE NATION THE JUDGMENT OF GOD FOR THE SIN OF SLAVERY— SEWARD’S SPEECH NOT SATISFACTORY TO THE ABOLITIONIBSTS. The regular monthly anti-slavery prayer meeting of the congregation of Dr. Cheever’s church, in Union square, wes held last evening in the lecture room at- tached to the church. There was but a small attend- ance, some twenty or twenty-five persons only being pre- sent, including four or five ladies. ‘The exercises commenced by the singing a hymn. Mr. Hewry Aver, who presided during the evening, then read the fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah: ‘Ory aloud and spare not,’’ After which Mr. Wurnxa, in a brief prayer, thanked God that they were in a place where the sympathies of the meeting, small as they were in number, would not be shut in their own bosom. He deprecated the wrath of God now upon this land for the oppression practized upon a portion of its people, and prayed for the Almighty’s assistauce to enable the rulers of the laud to stand irm against the men of blood who were endeavoring to fix the crime upon fa firmer basis. God, he thought, waa in the present mo niwaf the country. The Mgyor of this city—a grogehop Mayor—thonght that New York ought to be a Southern city, one to be ruled over by him and by the grogehops. ‘He was sad to see Mr. Seward so yielding in his speech, but Mr. Lincon would come out’ all right. Mr. Seward and Mr. Lincoln were both in the hands of God, who would determime for the Mr. Aust, the President, hoped that they would not in their prayers forget the ten thousand free colored men of South Carolina, who, if a certain bill was to pass the Le- gislature of that State, would have to expatriate them- selves within a year from its cuactment or go into bond- age at the end of that time, Mr. West next offered up prayer. Woe thank Heaven, » meet here in prayer for he eaid, that we are permitted the oppressed of our land. 0 od, Thou art now coming upon us with Thy judgment, threatening us with digsolu tion and civil war; make this nation sensible of ite ac. countability to Thee; deliver us from ourTsense of caste and remove our prejudices to color and race. 0 God, make us to stand up and declare that the crime of our land shall be abolished, peaceably and without bloodshed if possible, but at ail events as Thou Mmayst direct and whatever the cost to ourselves and the country may be. After the singing of another hymn, Mr. Ciiciesten stated there was another class—white men—for whom their prayers should be offered up; those who had not the liberty of expressing their opinions on account of their tongues being silenced by the oppressor. In conclusion he offered up a prayer that oppression might be extinguished from the nation, though the laws of the land had been framed !n such a manner as to sus- tain iniquity. Some six or eeven gentlemen followed in prayer or in short addresses, delivered in a conversational manner. Mr. Sicismop LasaR said the speech of Mr. Seward had grievously disappointed the abolitionists. It was not up to the point, He (Mr. Seward) seemed to be over to the side of the amy oe The Mr. Seward of 1850, who laimed the + ir law,’’ was not :ho Mr. Soward of janunry 12, 1861. speaker was also sorry to think that an ¢x-member of their church had written to the ‘Sou ministers to say that the churches at the North were not typified by that of Dr. Cheever, but were con servative and moderate on the subject of the right or wrong of slavery. oar. exercises then closed with the singing of the Dox- ology. EX-SECRETERY FLOYD ON THE CRISIS. [Correspondence of the Baltimore American.) SPEECH DIVULGING CABINET SECRETS— WHAT CAUSED GENERAL CASS’ RESIGNATION—GENERAL SCOTT'S PLAN OF SETTLING NATIONAL DIFFIOULTIES— GENERAL CASS’ DEMAND OF THE PRESIDENT—MA- JOR ANDERSON’S EVACUATION OF FORT MOULTRIE, ETC. Ricmmoxn, Jan. 12, 1861. The event of yesterday (outside of the Legislative chambers) was a grand dinner to ex-Secretary Floyd, at the Ballard House, Tne banquet commenced al o'clock, General A. A. Chapman, of Monroe, pr Judge Hopkins and F. M. Gilmer, Bsq., the distingui Commissioners from Alabama to Virgi Whilst the festival was in progress, Ge pman arose and read @ telegraphic despatch announcing that Alabama had geceded from the Union, which was re ceived with tremendous cheers. The first toast was—' The Constitution, as our fathers made it." (Music—Hail Columbia, ”") To this Hon. James A. Seddon, formerly member of Congress, made an eloquent response, in which he ip voked the people of Virginia to cemand some power by whieb our yy be held in our own hands F The vext nent Was—The Fion. JoliufB. Floyd, the worthy son of anoble sire. All houor to the Virginian who spurns the trappings of @ feteral plice,.reapects a mother’s rights and resents a mother's wrougs.”” (Music and three cheers for Governor Floyd.) Mr. Floyd expressed his deep sense of the Konor con- ferred upon him. He had not made a public speech since, four yeara ago, they assembled under this roof to cele- brate what was then considered a great national triumph. There was then a feeling that all would be well. Their leader stood upon a Platform of peace—a platform of eaivation. Where are those hopes now’ Gone, like last year’s cloud, and gone forever. He then adverted to the causes of «!! tht. You, he said, have done nothing to bring it about, Tt is attributable toa blirid fanaticiam whieh bar resulted im an alienation of the North and South, and at Ionetha disruption of the most glorious fabric'on earth, He alluded to the condition of things thirty years avo, when abolitionism was a speck no bigger than @ man’s hand, but which was now a cloud overshadowing the whold@®earth, It has seized upon and destroyed overy institution of the country, until it has come to s point where forbearance is no longer possible, He then spoke of the Seriptural cha- Tacter of slavery and the unparalleled prosperity to the white race, and the civilimtion of tho biack it had pro- duced in America. The enitivation of cotton was another great result. Cotton was now one of the great governing vere of the earth. It is with the products of ¢lave la- Ubat we aettle ap the balance accounts with England and al) urope every year, It keeps up the banks, the ships. the workshope, and does more than that—it puts kurope under bonds to keep the peace with the United Yet, with all these.lights before them, they had dichonored anit laid viotent hands upon this Divine. insti. tution, The speaker then spoke of the other features of avolitioniem—the “irrepressible conflict’ doctrine—the clestion of Lincoln upon the avowed declaration that sla very igasin, They dervand of you an acknowledgement of your ‘nfertority or they demand your blow. God knows, he aid, they shall have every drop of mine be. fore L surrender one iota to their dema: He had come to cast his lot with Virginia, and would live or die for her. He could see po hope for the future but throngh our united opposition t wrong, Mr. Fioyd next ‘Let's go to Helper’s house,” | Agen to the steaen, and udministration of bad chanarr, who, said, been true to his political pledges, consti'ation and the South. He bad never wi to go imto dhe Cabinet, and whn rapts, he Cg tea bands that it might be |, “This map has done bis .? (Applauge.) Hea thought Mr. Buchanan. had not been quite 60 strongly snstained by the South as he ough: to have been. But nme ee ural that he could a0: come quite s0 near the w! of the South as a son would come to the wishes of his mother. The speaker alluded to the two policies set forth in the President's Message. Mr. Attorney Black said we must execute the laws. 1, said Mr. Floyd, could not quite bow to that. Mr, Buchanan 4, ‘This question of thd rorts is « question of property.”? Lagreed to that, Isaid more, I said, “Iam your Secre- tary, and bave in my hands this property of the forts. I will tarn over to my successor that property inviolate. I kuow these people of South Carolina; [ went to school among them. 1 know they are not thieves. Isaac Hayne, Manigault and Frapk Pickens are good men—they are great men—and I will back their honesty and integrity, if necessary, with my blood, But I cannot cousent that you place among them -a military power that would choke them to the ground.’’ At a subsequent interview with the President he said to me, “Mr. Floyd, what about sending recruits to Charleston”” 1 said, “Nothing about sending recruits.’ ‘Don’? you intend to strengthen the forts at Charleston , ne asked, I replied, “I do not.” Said he, “I would rather be at the bottom of the Potomac to-morrow tha’ that these forts should be in the bands of those who in- tend to take them. It will destroy mo—it will cover your name, Which is am honored one, with infamy, for you will never be able to show that’ you had not some complicity in it.” I said:—‘Mr. President, trust me— there is no danger. I will stake my reputation and J will stake my life t the forts of Charleston will not be touched.”? Tsaid this because I felt it. The Presiden’ then said:—*But, Mr. Floyd, does that secure the forts?”” , sir,” said J, “but it is the best guarantee I can give m that they will not be touched.” He replied:—“I am uot eatisfed.”” Said I;—‘‘It is yours to command, and you will be obeyed. . You can strengthen the forts, but it will lead to the effusion of blood. You can, however, put an orderly sergeant there—a man with a worsted epaulette and a stripe on his taloons. He is @ representative man raat) © represeatative of the stars aad etri and of ‘ail Columbia’ and ‘Yankee Dnodle.’ He can stand there and so proclaim himself, and his au- therity will be respected. Why not submit ‘to Congress the question of the secession of South Carolina. Con- gress may say a State basa right to withdraw, or may say we repudiate the right of secession—we will send down our armies to coerce you to submission. Do this, and I will wait the issue.” Mr. Floyd then proceeded to state that he called to hie ald Jof- rereon Davis, ‘‘that bright Saladin of the South;”” Magon and Hunter, with other patriots, Northern’as well as Southern, and talked with the President. He then said:—“Tam content with your policy—we will send no more troops to the harbor of Charleston,” It delighted me, and I] now thought the question capable of peaceful solution. Mr, Floyd next spoke of Gen. Cass, to whom he paid a glowing tribute. Gen. Cass said:—“These forts must be strengthened. I demand it.’* This, genflemen, istheNorthern sentiment. The President replied:—“I am sorry to differ from the Se: of the State, but the interests of the country do not demand a reinforcement of the forts at Charleston. I cannot do it. 1 take the re- sponsibility.” The next day Gen. Cass resigned. ‘Thus matters stood, when there was a proposition to send for Gen. Scott. Mr. Floyd, who had long known and admired him as a Virginia soldier, gladly acquiesced. Gen. Scott came. He had other ideas. He wasa soldier. He had a programme to alley disunion and bring Peace 04 hk coun, wy. He laid this programme, before, the o ar, who told him he did not like it. He then laid it be- fore the President and thé President did not much like it at that time. The programme of Gen. Scott was as follows:—To take Fort Sumter and Castle Pinck- ney, strengthen Fort Moultrie, occupy and hold the forts of by mt Florida, and Louisiana, and to send 6! t-war and revenue cutters to the waters of South Carolina. No Northern forts were to be occupied, but troops were to be taken from them and sent to South- Mr. Floyd looked upon this as py on the political rights of the South. Next came An- derson’s unfortunate move. He was not authorized by the Secretary's instructions to change his Ma- jor Anderson wrote to the Secretary and said he could change his position if he had authority todoso. But Mr. d had pledged his word to South ina, and he is confident the President had also. South Pacem 7 10, but twenty men, could have taken the fort at she respected her respect . ‘Anderson position, South cae Floyd, “You yiolated your pledge.” He replied, “I have not. I can do is to resign. I did, and here I am.’” Lat gs then denounced the doctrine of coercion, and quoted Jc Q. Adams and others against it. Referring in his conclu- sion to matters personal to himself, he said he was the first Secretary for years who had administered the War Department upon the estimates and within the appropria- tions made, In investigations of his official course§ he only asked that they would uot resort to forgery and Perjury. : © speech was enthusiastically received, as were others full of devotion to the South. HIGHLY IMPORTANT HISTORY. STATEMENT OF MESSRS. MILES AND KEITT, OF WRAT TRANSPIRED BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT AND THE SOUTH CAROLINA DELEGATION. In compliance with the request of the Convention, we beg leave to make the following statement:— On Saturday, the Sth of December, several of the South Carolina delegation, including ourselves, waited upon the President. At this time there was a growing belief that reinforcements were on the eve of being sent to the forts in Charleston harbor. It was known that the subject was frequently and earnestly discussed in the It was rumored that General Cass and Mr, Holt gent tant reinforcements should be seat. Upon our being announced the President, who was then Cabinet Council, came out to us in the ante-room. We at once entered into # conversation upon the topic which was so closely occupying his thoughts, as well as ours, The President seemed much disturbed and moved, He told us that he had bad a painful interview with the wife of Major Anderson, who bad come on from New York to see him. She had manifested great anxiety and distress at the situation of her husband, whom she seemed to consider in momentary danger of an attack from an 6X- cited and lawless mob. The President professed to feel adeep responsibility resting upon him to protect the ives of Major Anderson and his command. We told him that tho news that reinforcements were on their way to Charleston would be the surest méans of provoking what Mrs, Amdereon apprehended, and what he so much de. recated. We seid, further, that we did not believe that Major Anderson was in any danger of such an attack; that the general sentiment of the Stato was against any such proceeding. That, prior to the action of State Convention, then only ten days olf, we felt satisfied that there would be no attempt to molest the forts in any way. That, after the Convention met—while we could not bly un- dertake to say what that body would see fit to we yet hoped and believed that pothing would be done until we first endeavored, by duly accredited Commission- ere, to negotiate for a peaceful settlement of all matters, including the delivery of the forts, between South Caro- lina and tne federal government. ‘At the same time, we reiterated our solemn belief that any change im the then existing condition of thi y harbor, would, in the excited state of fecting at home, inevitably precipi tate a collision. The impression mado upon us was, that the President was wavering, and had not decided ‘what course he would parsue. Hesaid he was giad to have had this conversation with us, but would that we should give him a written memorandum of the substance ‘of what we had said, This we did on Monday, the 10th. his bave All It was in these words:— To His Exceuuxxcy Jars Buowaxan, Paesipesr or Tay Uniren Stares:— Tn compliance with our atotement to ex ‘to you our strong convictions tuted authori South Caroli the 4 ies, nor any body of the people of the State of Will ciher attack or moict the United Staten State and the federal government, provided that no reinforee- ments shall be sent into those forta, and their mili- tary status sball remain as at — M, L, BONHAM, * TAWRENGE M. KENT. Wastuncron, 9h December, 1880. g ‘The President did not like the word ‘‘provided,”’ bo- cause it looked as if we were binding him while avowing that we bad no authority to commit the Convention. We told him that we did not so understand it, We wore ex- pressing our convictions and bolic’, predicated upon the Maintenace of a certain condition ot things, which main- tenance was absolutely and entirely in his power. If he maintained such condition, then we believed that col- Histon must inevitably, and at once, be precipitated, He seemed satistied, and said it was not his tetenyion to send reinforcements, or make any — We explained to him what we meant by the w: ‘relative military status,’ a8 applied to the forts; mentioned the ditference between Major Anderson's occupying bis then position at Fort Moultrie, and throwing kimeelf into Fort Sumter. We stated that the latter step would be equivalent to re. inforcing the garrison, and would just as certainly as the sending of fresh tr: lead to the result which we both desired to avoid. When we rose said, in substance, “After all, this among gentiemen. | do not know that an: writing is necessary, We understand each other,”’ '& One of the delegation, just before leaving the room, remark- ed: “Mr. Presigent, you have determined to let remain as they are, and not to send reinforcements; but, suppose that you were hereafter to change your policy for any reason—what then? That would put us, who are ‘willing to use our personal influence to prevent any attack upon the forts before Commissioners ara sent on to Wash. ington, in rather an embarrassing position.” “Thon,” said the President, ‘I would first return you this papor.’’ We do not pretend to give the exact words on either side, but we are sure we give the sense of both. The above is afoul) and exact account of what paecsed ‘tween the President and tho dolegation. The Presi: nt, in his letter to our Commissioners, tries to give the impression that our ‘understanding’ or “agreement”? was not a ‘pledge.’ We confess we aro not sufficiently versed in the wiles of diplomacy to feel the force of this “distinction without a difference’? Nor can wo under- stand how, in ‘a matter of honor among gentlemen,” in which “no paper or writing is necessary,” the very party who was wilbng to put it on that high footing can honora- by descend to mere verbal criticism to purge himself of what all gentlemen and men of honor must consider a breach of faith, The very fact that we, the represen’a- tives from South Carolina, were not authorized to commit or “pledge ’ thy State, wore not treating with the Prosi dent ccredited ministers with full powers, batas gen. tlemen assuming, to a certain extont, the delicate task of undertaking to toreshadow the course and policy of the State. should have made the President the more ready to strengthen our hands to bring about and carry out that course and policy which he profeseed to have as much at heart as we had, While we wore pot authorized to say that the Convention would not order the on of the forts immediately after seovseion, and he sending on of Commissioners, the President, as commander in-chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, could moe? po- sitively eny, that eo long as South Carolina abstained from attack'ng and seizing the forte, he world pot send reinforcements to them, or allow their rolative military statue to be changed. We were acting in the caproty af | gentlemen holding certain prominent poe!tione, ‘und anxious to exert such influence as we might toef- fect @ peaceful solution of pending pou difficuluies, and prevent, if possible, the horrors of war. The Presi dent was scion a double capacity; mot only af a gen. Ueman whose im carrying out his —_ ef = garrison at 5 enough upon this point. Suffice it to say, that consider- ing the President as bound in honor, if’not by treaty , not to make any change in the forts, or to send reinforcements to them, unless they were attacked, we of the delegation who were elected to the Convention felt equally bound in honor to do everything on our part to prevent any premature collision. This Convention can bear us witness as to whether or not we endeavored honorably to carry out our share of the ent, The published debates at the very commence- ment of the session contain the evidence of our faith, We trusted the President. We be- ieved his wishes concurred with his policy, aud that both were directed to avoiding any inaugu- ration of hostilities. We are confirmed in our confidence and reassured in our belief by a significant event which took place subsequent to our interview.. He allowed his premier Cabinet officer—an old and triod friend—to re- sign, ratber than yield to his solicitations for the rein- forcement of the garrison at Charleston, We urged this ‘as a convincing proof of his firmness and sincerity. But how have we been deceived! The news of Major Ander- son's coup produced a sudden and unexpected change in the President's policy. While declaring that his with- drawal from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter was ‘without orders, and contrary to orders,” he yet refused, for twelve hours, to take any action in the matter,’ For twelve hours, therefore, without any excuse, he refused to redeem his plighted word. No subsequent acts on the part of our State—no after reasons—can wipe away the stain which he suffered to rest upon his ‘honor as a gen- tleman,”’ while those hours, big with portentous events, rolied slowly by. His Secretary of War, impatient of a delay, every moment of which he felt touched his own honor, resigned. He did so solemnly on the nd that the faith of the government—solemnly plodged—was broken, if it failed promptly to undo what had been done contrary to its -wishes—against its settled poli- cy—and in’ violation of its distinct agreement. © President accepted his resignation without eom- ment, He did not attempt to disabuse the mind of his Secretary as to what was the true position of the govern- hat a spectacte does the President's vacillating ‘and disingenuous course present. He allows one Secre- tary to resign rather than abandon a policy which he has agreed upon. Scarcely ‘a few short weeks elapsed, and he accepts the resi ion of another, rather than adhere to that very policy. He makes an ment with gentlemen which, while he admits that they have faithfully kept it on their att, he himself evades and repudiates. And this he does rather than redress a wrong—correct an error—what he himself considers an error—committed by a subordinate, without his orders, and contrary to his wishes. It was at least due to Mr. Floyd, who, as one of his Cabinet, had officially and per- sonally stood by his administration from its very com- Seeopmeaent--Abroagh geod report, and through evil re- port—to have explai to him that he was, in the Presi- dent’s opinion, laboring under a misapprehension. At least, to have said to him, ‘‘you are mistaken about this matter—do not leave me on @ false issue.’”? But no; he coldly, ungraciously, yet promptly, receives the resigna- tion without a syllable of remonstrance, and thus tacitly, but unequivocally, accepts withont shame the issue pre- & sented. He does not deny that the faith of his govern- ment is pledged, but he deliberately refuses to ré m it. WM. PORCHER MILES, 4 LAURENCE M. KEITT. Important to Office Seekers. POST OFFICE PETITIONS. Agthe,time is approaching when applications for the appointment of Postmaster will be as ‘plenty as black- berries,” it may not be amiss to republish for the infor- mation of applicants the following practical remarks upon that subject from the Jast number of Holbrook’s United States Mail:— A correspondent over the signature of “Enquirer,” asks ‘us to inform him what course petitions for olfice, sent to the Postmaster General, take. If in a facetious mood we might answer that a great many of them don’t “‘tako”’ at all. But as we infer that our friend is serious in seeking this information, we will inform him that when such po- titions are received at the department, unless there is ne- cessity for immediate action, they are placed on file in the corresponding bureau ‘of the Now York, New England or other division embracing the office applied for. The clerk, to whom they are referred, at once pares & “brief,” placing it upon the outside of the papers, and setting forth the material points in the case, with’a list of the names of the principai petitioners or remonstrants, ‘so that when it is called up for examination or final ac- tion the Postmaster General and bis First Assistant can, without wandering thrqugh the supertiuous and collateral matters which a majority of these applications contain, get at the gist of the case at once. Not unfrequently the influences, pro and con, are so nearly balanced that a decision satisfactory to the head of the department becomes a difficult aud exceedingly vexatious duty; and instances are not rare where, on that account, the applicants are all discarded, and the appoint- ment given to geome individual who had not been counted in the ring at all, In fact, the indications are sometimes jery A clear that the candidate who is finally successful d first set to work ty produce just that confused and complicated state cf affairs, in order, at the right time, to step into the troubled waters himself and be made clean by the help of a Jucrative off) The course of petitions for Post Oilices here described refers more particularly to appointments where the emoluments are less than $1,000 per year. All paying to the incumbent over that sum, of which there are 453 only out of the 28,598 Post Offices, are cailed Presidential appointments, and come directly under the oye of the President when tually decided. Though the papers in these cases are also originally filed in the department, are there “briefed,” and remain until called for by the Presi- dent. They are usually examined and passed upon in congultation with the Vostmaster General, and sometimes the entire Cabinet, All this class of appointments, of course, require contirmation by the Senate. City Intelligence, Dfrangere or tHe Hoy, Jony A. Inx ror Wasmixctox.— General John A. Dix left this city yesterday for Washing- ton, to assume the duties of Secretary of the Treasury, to which position he has been appointed by President Buchanan, Before leaving he appeared at the Post Ottice, and ina very hasty but appropriate manner adiea to his former employees, speaking of their fidelity and in- tegrity in terms the most flattering. Mr. Wm. B. Taylor is, for the present. acting Postmaster. ‘Tus CoaMpEriarvcy.—Mr. Nathan ©, Platt still holds to the city fands, declining to give them up yet, until fur- ther advised by counsel. It is said that the directors of the Park Bank are dise sing the ‘propriet} reaming the funds to Mr. Devlin, with or wit it Platt’s sanction. Saiz or THE BeRvert Howss.—The famous house No. 31 Bond street, where the many curious and tragic scenes connected with the Burdell murder took place, was sqid at public auction yesterday, at the Exchange. ’ The bid- ding was lively, and the rly was finally knocked down to Mr. Anthony 8. Hope, Tor 7,050—terms ten cent cash, and the balance in thirty days. Mr. farm, H. Muller was the auctioneer. Workixa Mex’s Merrivc ‘Tins Evevinc.—An immense number of placards, headed ‘ Working Men, Arouse,” and calling upon all ‘* opposed to coercion of a sovereign State and civil war,’? to attend a meeting this evening at Brookes’ Hall, 361 atroet, were Ncated abaut the city yesterday, and attracted crowds of curious readers. he call is signed by ome ink ~o cp hey i a nounces as speakers 5 8. id and T. W. McMahon. oe ¥ Svppen DeaTu.—Fdward 8. Howard, Esq., of the firm of Messrs. Spofford, Tileston & Co., died suddenly at his residence thia morni 14th bey, = sy 4 the firm wihbe dena tomavon ¢ (5th) Rummmene’ Personal Intelligence. By private advices from St. Petersburg we learn that the Emperor Alexander has conferred knighthood of the Imperial and Royal Order of St. Stanislas, of the third class, upon Mr. Joseph Francis, a citizen of the United States, and who has been already the recipient of similar favors from other European crowned heads. The follow- ing is a copy of the diploma which accompanied the de- coration: We, by the grace of God, Alexander the Second, Emperor and Autocrat of all the Russias, Tzar of Poland, Grand Duke of Finland, &e., &e., to Joseph Francis, citi- zen of the United States of North America: The Ministry of Marine baving testitled to your parti- cular services, we have graciously been pleased to nomi. nate you a Knight of our Imperial and Royal Order of St. Stanislas, of the third class, by an ukaz of 7th Novem. ber, 1860, given to our Chapter of Orders, to the ond that they do sigu and seal this diploma in w toes thereat, and forward to yon the insignia of the order, Sr. Perenswtne, this 10th day of November, 1360, (Signed) Count BORCH, Vico: President, RCESNY LUFZ, Lieutenant General. RAITROVO, Grand Master of Ceremonies. PRU UYEY ERGUIED, Member. Bot Mr. Francis \s not alone in these honors. Another distinguished American citizen, Professor Morse, has, from time to time, received enough of thove gay, glitter ing stars and crosses, literally to cover bis breast com- pletely over. The Old Dominion Society. TO THE EDITOR OF THE WERALD, Eiumry.porrt sree, Rast river, Jan, 18, 1861. Dr. Jones has called my attention to an article in yout Saturday's issue professing to give an account of the proceedings of the “Old Dominion Society” at their late Meeting, and as it does the groseeat (njustice to the Doctor Iam glad he has aiforded mo an opportunity of correcting with you any injurion Sree Ras etal See pe EN caricature of our proceed rector in 6 ridicukove and ¢ ‘ont igh Wha th Dow tor has written to you {sip co with my own eT and as I was the presiding officer of the meeting a8 essarily cognizant of everything that tranepir T) respectrullys yours, &e., W. M.“PEYDON, Arrivals and Departures, ARRIVALS. Savaynan—Steamship Rit Cuyler—Aies © Dosenbury, Mra nes, Master Jones, H Dubord, WW »,W Bronsin, J 8 ‘nmphett HP Hurd, J & Chamberiain, PH Oliver umd Z ser. runes, RE, Oliver, H Myers, & Morris, B Murphy—and 6 in o . di : DEPARTCRES. URTITASAntin Owen—Miguel Routa, Antonio Callejn Mariano Pola wardo Zequatra, ‘iady and two chit’ Sigusl Castellanoa and indy, Senor hayas. Vedro Nolasco la Yas uel de Cespeles, Jaines Gibbs, Atguat Osmaanowent, Na fenora de Varona, THE BOWERY MURDER CASE, ~——eeee Coroner's Inquest~Evidence of James Sheridan, Hermann Brans, Thomas M- Cornwell, Edward Marten and Charlies Flyna—The affair involved im mystery. ‘The mysterious murder of John Sexton, in the Bowery , on Sunday evening, was under investigation before Cor- oner Schirmer, yesterday afternoon, at the Seventeenth Precinct station house. The evidence was quite volu- minous, but it afforded little or no clue to the perpetrator of thecrime. Thata man could be murdered in sugh a crowded thoroughfare as the Bowery, and at such an early hour in the evening t0o, (seven o’clock,) without attracting the attention of the passers by, seems singular, The deceased, it appeared, was found on the sidewalk op- posite the plumbing establishment of Mr. Carter, No. 207 Bowery, within a few steps of Lindenmuller’s lager bier saloon, which is a very crowded neighborhood, especially on the Sabbath. So far no one appears to know anything of the murder until a quarter past seven o'clock, P. M., when Sexton was found dead by the police. It was shown on the inquest yesterday that he was ip Marten’s liquor store, 305 Bowery, about half-past five or six o'clock that evening, in company with a young map named Edward Doyle, and that they left the place to- gether. Doyle and deceased, who were both intoxicated at the time, had some words about a female friend of the former's, but when they left together there did not ap- pear to be any trouble existing between them. The fol- lowing is the substance of the proceedings yesterday : George B, Bouton, M. D., being sworn, saye:—~I havo made a post-mortem -examination of the body of the de- ceased, John Sexton; the autopsy was commenced at nine oelock A. M.,‘at the Seventeenth precinct station bouse; body that of a large sized, well developed man, exceed- ingly well nourizhed; vigor mortis well marked; there was slight ecchymosis over the right eye, and on theback of the right hand, on the knuckles of middle and ring finger; here was a slight wound on the nose; there waa a slight abrasion of the cuticle over the union of the fifth rib and the sternum on the right side; over the ster- num, at the edge of the median line, opposite the articu- lation of the third costal Cota ae the left side, was a stab wound one and one-half inches in length, obliquely downwards and outwards, the lower margin forming an obtuse angle. This wound extended obliquely downwards and inward through the pericardium, tho right auricle near the base, the right ventricle, andended in the diaphaegm, the thoracis fibres of which were in- cised, There was some sixteen ounces of coagulated blood in the cavity of the pericardium; the stomach was some- what injected and exhaled a very palpable odor of liquor. All the organs of the body were examined and found to be norma). th was caused by hemorrhage from the stab wound already mentioned. From the condition of deceased’s clothing I should say that his coat was buttoned up when he was stabbed. James Sheridan, twenty-tive years of age and a butcher by occupation, deposed as follows:—I live at No. 333 Bow- ery; I have known John Sexton, the deceased, for twelve or fourteen years; we went to school rin the Old Country; about a year ago he came to city; I did not know him at first and had to be introduced by my bro- t to see my brother; I was there at the time; I work at the stand op- posite that where brother works; when my brother ee » he, deceased, @ man named De- fin ’ myself went off to take a drink; one of tho should play dominoes for deceased lost é a Fee e Sp ‘segar ; a game of cards in butcher boys; deceased lost quarter upon: the table to pay for wards my brother's wife came in ing out so late; she saw me there, her it did not look well for her to’ come into # upbraid her husband; I told her that we home, and that it was not very late; she ce, and after she went out deceased ordered ther to go home; I wanted my brother to drink we went in the house, when deceased got quite and struck my brother; before he struck my brother deceased said that my brother did not use his wife right, or struck ther i Hy 38 H 1 HL 5 5 x8 33 y something to that effect; he my bro! about the eye somewhere; they wero on friendly terms upto that moment; my brother then went to the wash stand as if to wash his face; his nose looked as if it had been bleeding; soon after- wards my brother went out for the aay me as I sup- ,of going home; be did not return the blow given im by deceased, or say anything; after my brother lefs deceased was quite wild; he jumped about and said he would lick every one in the house; I tried to pacify him, when he struck me in the eye and got me down on the ‘floor; he was going to lick every one, he said, and’ wanted t0 fight us all; Delaney advised me’ to go home, and I did so; when I got home I found my brother there before me; he had come over for the purpose of seeis whether I'was hurt or not; be scemed quite displ when he heard that deceased had struck me; I wanted him to sleep with me that night, but he said he would not do so; he was going to sleep with Delaney, be said; before going away he put a poultice of bi and water to my eye, and I then went to bed; I did not getup until balf-past four o'clock om Sunday afternoon; about noon on Sunday deceased called upon me, and sent up an apology for his conduct on the previous’ night; he said that he was very sorry for strikmg me, and wanted to see me; I sent word down by the messenger that 1 did not care about seeing deceased just then, but I would seo him on Monday ; soon afterwards deceased came up stairs, and coming into my bedroom begged me to forgive him? he said he wou!d never have struck me if he had not been intoxicated; he expressed a desire todo anything he could for me, and wanted to go after leechos: he stayed about half an hour, and before we parted we were the best friends possible; some two hours after- wards deceased came to the bouse again, and had some conversation with my mother; my mother did not know Sexton, or she not have been pleased with his visits; deceased, before taking leave of me that day, fell upon his knees and wept 0 over to my brother’ like @ child, and wanted me to 's wife 80 that she could seo that I boots and sat up ire ing; I did not go out that night until the police came for me; it was about five 0’ Doy! Ef parently intoxicated, and advised me to some arnica on my eye; inabout five minutes after came he went to bed; I had no conversation with him; see my brother on Sunday at all; no one struck e g af fe i a 3 g i i I Eg : Fz a them fu wo t of the favor; they were laughing and joking together and then went out; they did not quarrel any that I could see; they to be under the influence of liquor a little; I have seen deceased, and I recognise him as being one’ of the party: 1 think I heard one of the men say his name was Craig or Graig; he went out before the thers; they tried to keep him there, but he watched his bpportunity and slipped off; | heard’deceased say that Craig or Graig: wag a theatre actor from Raltimore; th appeared to on very friendly terms with each other ayy peared to be a Scotchman or Irishman, I'coula not tel? whieh. Henry Martin, proprietor of a store at No. 306 Powery, deposed that on afternoon de. ceased and Edward Doyle came into his store; they came in by the private entrance; thero wero several persons in the store at the time; Doyle appeared to be under the influence of liquor, but Geecnsed appeared Yo be ender; deceased asked for a small glass of beer, and he asked all those present to drink with him; they did so, and soon afterwards deceased asked me for a conple of my dusiness cards—which I gave him: he wrote something on the cards, bat { did not. see what it was, deovased then said if one was mar- ried to hie sister or cousin and did not treat her right would be bound to make him do so; Doyle then spoke - saying “We made tha: ail right np stairs and hot talk about it again,” deceased ald. ea, and tho conversation on that subject was dri the party then took another round of drivks and store followed by Doyle; that war the last I saw of them: they left Dotwech five and six o’ciosk; I could not tell the exact time of their coming {a or going out; they were in Derbaps, deceased left the ‘the store fifteen or twenty minutes: . Charles Flynn corroborated the vestimony of the last wit- ness, ed and Doyle appeared quite intiniate; never saw deceased before; deceased said that any one who ‘would insult his female friend insulted ‘him; ho had no quarrel with Doyle, but when they left they did not ap- to be 80 good friends; they left about six o’¢loe! leceared going out first; about an hour after they left f heard that deceased was found dead on the sidewalk 'n front of No, 208 Bowery. Adjourned unt!) three o'clock this aftérnoon. United States Cireait Courts THE SLAVE TRADE —THE RIF. JAN Ih The Uniled States ve. Gordon Hires and two Others, Captain and Mater of the Slaver Brie —The de fendants in this case are charged with a violation of the Jaws prohibiting slavery. A motion was made * que the indictment, which the Judge denied.