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

NEW YORK HERALD. oe JAMES GORDON BENNETT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. OFFICE N. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND wassau 6TS. No. 66 “AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. 7s, Fourteenth streot,—Irauian Persp ot Masoumea. NIBLO'Ss GARDEN, Broadway.—Jace Caps. WINTER GARDEN, Broadway, opposite Bond street.— DAl—KsTBBRINE AND PatRucHiO. Sowo0n row Scan WALLACK’S THEATRE, Broadway.—Cumraat Park. KEENE’ = LAURA KEENE’ THEATRE, Wo. 624 Brostway vratbow Ponty Taunver Beade UNION THEA! as Tanex THavEs—' Bowery.—Bratupar or Erxp Susan, Chatham strect.—Poacuun's Doox— ‘ipow's Victim. BARNUM'S AMERII MUSEUM, Broad —Brans, Br. ap ot Son TH ie ata MoUES TER Dna ‘wa, Woman ut Ware, at 3 anv 73 o'oLocg P.M. VANT'S MINSTRELS, Mechanics’ Hall, 472 Brosd- way Bununsqvas Bonus -Dancrs, fens ion bane. MCSIO HALL, 663 Brosdway.—Son MELODEON, No. 639 Broadway.—Soncs, Dances, Bus- ‘Basques, £0, ' EEDLE HALL, Alvany.—Unsworta’s MinsTRa.s oF mruortan Honan, Davcrs, £0. New York, Fri The News. An early attack on Fort Sumter seems to he generally anticipated. Whether the administra- tion will reinforce Major Anderson is not known. It was stated in Washington last night that Major Anderson had sent word to the governmont that it ‘was useless to send to his assistance lesa than twenty thousand men. Gen. Beauregard, the officer despatched by the government of the Con- federate States t0 take command at Charleston, has arrived at his post, and expresses perfect Confidence that Sumter can be reduced. The Louisiana State Convention yesterday in Becret session passed an ordinance transferring to the government of the Confederate States the sum of five hundred and thirty-six thousand dollars, the amount of customs received and moneys seized by the State. We have highly important news from Texas, which renders it probable that a conflict has al- ready taken place in that State between the United States forces and those of the State of Texas. Galveston dates of the 26th ult. state that Capt. Nichols, commander of the State troops, had de- manded of Capt. Hill, of the United States Army, the surrender of Fort Brown. Capt. Hill refused to entertain the proposition, called Capt. Nichols and his men traitors, and expressed his determina- tion to defend the fort to the last extremity. Capt. Hill refused to obey any order of Gen. Twiggs, and had septto Fort Ringgold fortwo hundred men. Troops were on the way from Galveston to reinforce the Texan army. Details.of the matter will be found in another column of this paper. We have received intelligence that Governor Brown, of Georgia, has released the bark Adjust- er, of this city, which vessel was reprised for cer- tain illegal seizures of property in this city by Po- lice Superintendent Kennedy, in consequence of representations made to him by the British Consul at Savannah that the cargo she held belonged to the subjects of Great Britain, The following is the Cabinet of the Southern confederacy, as at present constituted: — Secretary of State Robert Toombs, of Ga. C. L. Momminger, of 8. ©. Leroy P, Walker, of Ala, Stephen M. Mallory, of Fla. Postmaster Geveral John H. Reagan, of Texas. Attorney General........., Judah P. Benjamin, of La. In the United States Senate yesterday the debate of Wednesday was continued on the motion to print extra copies of the President's Inaugural. Mr. Wigfall opened the debate, and spoke at considerable length. He did not look upon the Inangural in the light in which Mr. Douglas viewed it, as meaning peace. He re- garded it as somewhat vague; butif the course laid down in it by the President should be pur- sued, war was inevitable. Forts Sunfter and Pickens, and all the other places now held by the United States within the limits of the Confederate States, must be given up, and that very soon, or the South would proceed to take them. ‘The Union,” he said, “is dead, and has to be buried.’’ Mr. Douglas replied, saying that he had examined carefully the remarks of the President, and could Bee no reason to change the opinion expressed by him on the previous day, that Mr. Lincoln meant peace. Senator Mason also participated in the debate, construing the Inaugural as calculated to lead to war. The Senate adjourned without coming to a vote or transacting any other busi- ness. The firat formal meeting of the new Cabinet of President Lincoln was held yesterday. It lasted two hours, and various surmises were indulged in as to what were the momentous matters under consideration, and what were the results and de- terminations arrived at; but up to the time of our latest despatches we are not informed that any- thing positive as to their deliberations had trans- Secretary of the pired. The diplomatic corps yesterday made their first formal visit to President Lincoln, in accordance with the custom on the accession of a new administration. Mr. Lincoln was addressed, on behalf of the body, by the representative of Por- tugal, and replied in a brief speech of welcome. A number of the citizens of Washington and other friends of the distingnished Kentucky Sena- tor, Mr. Crittenden, paid him the compliment last evening of @ visit and serenade, in anticipation of his departure from the national capital, to re- tire to private life. Mr. Crittenden responded to his visiters in a genial and patriotic speech, which we publish this morning. No official movement appears to have been made yesterday by the Commissioners in Wash- ington from the Southern confederacy. It is said that an informal commanication was made to the Btate Department by a distinguished Senator touching their mission. The Senate of our State Legislature was again in session yesterday, for the first time since Friday Last, and transacted considerable business. The bill for the sal# of the Quarantine lands on Staten Island was reported favorably. Tho same action was taken on the bill providing for the payment of the Canal debt and the interest on the twelve million loan. The main points of the bill for the better government of the public schools of this city will be found enumerated in our report. Two separate resolutions were introduced by members, inquiring into the recent conduct of the metropo- litan police: one in reference to the employment of members of the force beyond the limits of the Biate, and the other with regard to the mode of arrest, detention and discharge pursued by the de- partmont. In the Assembly some matters of special interest to this city were under consideration, the Diost important of which was the bill providing for Ahe sale of the present Post Office site in Nassau etreet to the general government, After much Giscussion, and the adoption of an amendment giv- Jog the consent of the State to the purchase of any wite in the city which the general government may choose, progress on the bill was reported. In the ©: cning the Supply bill was under consideration, he Railroad Committe met again last night to p] /bjections to the Broadway Railroad bill, but bo one inet the bill appeared. One Broadway moerehant, however, spoke in favor of the pill, a omittee will meet again this evening in the Assembly chamber, when a strong delogation Savinst the bil) are expected to appear and give Baw ly The steamship Bremen, from Southampton on the 20th ult., arrived at this port last evening, brio. ng ve dayé later inte \izence from @ repe. She brings no intelligence concerning the Aus- ‘tralasian, except the fact that she wailed ftom Liverpool on the 16th, arrived at Queonstown at noon on the 17th, and sailed at four P. M. the same day ior New \ork, All well. the Civil Tribunal of the Seine on the 15th ult, delivered judgment in the Bonaparte-Patterson case in favor of Prince Napoleon, The Court @ounds ite jpdgment apen ‘hb: fact that the ques- tion was conclusively settled by the Emperor's ‘aunty council in 1860. It abstains from pro- nouncing any opinion on the merits of the case, which, it will be remembered, M. Merveilleux, the Crown Advocate, admitted to be entirely in favor of the Pattersons, The latter will mo doubt ap- peal, A demonstration of public rejoicing took place when the news of the fall of Gaeta became known. Shouts of “Viva Vietor Emanael!” and ‘The Uni- ty of Italy Forever!" were general. It is even affirmed that some priests were observed to join in the demonstration aud cheer with the rest. It is stated that Franois II. had gone to Bavaria. In the sitting of the Spanish Congress on the 18th inst. a question was put to the Minister for Foreign Affairs as to the rumored dismis- sal of the Spanish Ambassador at Mexico. The answer was that no strictly official information had yet been received, but that the necessary measures should be taken to insure respect being paid to the Spanish flag in any event which might arise. The Spanish journals are much occupied with comment upon this affair, which is looked upon as indicating a possible collision between Spain and Mexico. Itis also stated that a Spanish squadron has been ordered to Vera Cruz. ‘The steamship Great Eastern is advertised,to sail the first week in March for Norfolk, Va., where she has been guaranteed a cargo of cotton, the freight on,which amounts to $75,000. — = The French manufacturers begin to .feel tthe effect of the American crisis, and are restrioting their operations and withdrawing their credits until affairs in this country become more settled. Our last advices from Port au Prince bear date February 9. The government is deeply engaged in the inquiry relative to the mineral resources of the country. New mines are said to be daily dis- covered. On the 4th ult. the forged paper money seized in New York was publicly destroyed by fire. An English commercial house has agreed with the government to supply a large amount of agricultural implements} and machines, taking as security @ lien on the machines themselves and the estate on which they are located. As the terms of payment are liberal, the orders ,are large. Sugar is expected to be @ staple commodity of export when the machinery; is fin ,goperation. A large number of immigrants were dailyfand anxiously ex- pected. Coffee was in} active request. Early yesterday morning a fire broke ont in the building 102 West Fortieth street, near Broad- way, which was attended with a most melancholy loss of life—a whole family, consisting of Mr. Hen- ry Wood, his wife and five children, being burned to death. The fire appears to have originated in the basement; but the flames made such progress that, rushing up the stairway, all egress in that direction was soon cut off. Other peraons were badly burned in making their escape. No clue to the origin of the fire could he had. A resolution was adopted in the Board of Alder- men last evening, calling for a commission of five gentlemen to go to Albany to present to the Le- gislature an earnest petition that the propositions of the Peace Congress be forthwith referred to the people of the State to decide inavor of ac- cepting or rejecting them. The Board of Councilmen met last evening and proceeded to take up the tax levy, item by item. The aggregate reduction from the amendments made by the Aldermen to the Comptroller's esti- 8 amounts to $202,363, and the increase $68,- 500, the actual decrease being $133,863. As soun as the report, as amended, was adopted, it was sent in the other Board for their action. Subse- quently a committee of conference was appointed. Mr. Orton offered a resolution requesting the Le- gislature to repeal the various railroad grants pertaining to this city, and also remonstrating against the passage of certain acts relative to this city now pending in that boby, which was laid over. The Corporation Counsel was directed to draft an act to be sent to the Legislature for the estaolishment of sireet grades. The Comp- troller was requested to inform the Board if any parties are in default to the city treasury for ferry privileges, and also whether any company is running boats or using ferry fran- chises contrary to the conditions expressed in their lease. The resolutions from the Aldermen pertaining to national affairs was laid over. The Board concurred to request the Legislature to pass anactto extend Lexington avenue from Sixty. fifth to Eighty-sixth street. A resolution was unanimously adopted tendering the Governor's Room to Hon. John A. Dix, to give the citizens of New York an opportunity to testify their re- spect for him as a man and a patriot for the stand he took in maintaining the dignity of the Ameri- can flag. After the transaction of a large amount of routine business the Board adjourned till Monday. A regular meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday. A number of gentlemen were elected as members of the Board. Reports were received from various committees, and after the usual routine business the Board adjourned. The number of inmates now in the public insti- tutions of the city is 9,11l—a decrease of 37 for the past week. The number admitted during the week was 1,923, and the number discharged, trans- ferred or who died was 1,960. The first fine Hudson river shad of the season made their appearance in the city yesterday. Six very ‘‘ fine fellows " were caught between this city and Staten Island, one weighing five and a quarter pounds, another nearly five pounds, and the other four above four and a half pounds each. A verdict of $5,000 damages was recovered in the Common Pleas yesterday by the guardian of a lad named Henry Dean, against the Sixth Avenue Railroad Company, for injury done him by the ne- ligence of one of their servants. The boy's foot was 60 crushed that the toes had to be amputated. Rudolph Blumenberg was placed on trial before Judge Bhipman yesterday for the second time on a charge of perjury, alleged to have been commit- ted on becoming surety for the slaver Orion. In answer yesterday to a question from Mr, W, T. Coleman, of the well known firm of California shipping merchants, respecting some Indian Trust Fund bonds in their possession, Judge Roosevelt, the United States District Attorney, referred that gentleman to the Secretary of the Interior. Judge Sutherland yesterday dismissed the writ of habeas corpus issued on the part of R. W. Clapp, held by the United States authorities ona charge of false pretences committed in the Dis- trict of Columbia. The matter was subsequently brought before Judge Betts, in the United States District Court, who stated that a prima facie case had been made out, and that in the District of Columbia false pretence was an offence against the federal laws, Tho prisoner was then re- moved. The Court of Oyer and Terminer adjourned yes. terday to Monday next, without transacting any business, There is no accommodation for this Court, which meets in the Sessions roof only to adjourn, In the Court of General Sessions yesterday Michael Corwin and Theresa Townsend were con- victed of robbing Julius Carmaza of a gold watch in the Five Points, and were eack sent to the State prison for ten years, James Mahan was convicted NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 1861, of stealing thirty dollars from James Sheehan, and was sent to the State prison for two years. Carl Yager, who offered to sell a large quantity of counterfeit gold coins to John H. Lorensou, was Convicted of larceny, Lorenzeu having, in connec- tion with officer Bennett, entrapped Yager. He was sent lo the State prison for two yoars and nine months, The will of William H. Hitchcook has been ad- mitted to probate, Tie cotton market exhibited agme symptoms of life yesterday, a8 1,200 balee found buyers, chiefly among spinners, on the basis of Mc. a 11%. for middling up- lands. Shippers wore keeping back for later news from Europe, which was anxiously looked for by most busi pees men. An effort on the part of holders of flour to put up prices was only partially successful; sales wore mado of about 13,000 bbls, closing with extra State (shipping brands) at $5 25 & $6 30. The transactions in wheat were checked by tho firmness of holders and the rise in freights. Corn was active and @ shade dearer. The saics of provisions, hops and spices were light, as were alse thove of tobacco, irom, lead, rice and whalebone. The movements in groceries were rather more extensive, but not productive of any important changes in prices. ‘The freight market was oly moderately active, owing ip part to the advance in rates. Policy of the New Administration—The Platform of Washington and Jefferson. The question which transcends all others in importance, at the present moment, is what active policy, in relation to the great crisis through which the country is passing, will evolve out of the vague and unsatisfactory dicta with which the President and his mouth- pieces have contrived to mystify the public. The republican party have the power, for which they have so long striven, entirely in their hands. Weal or woe, good or evil, the reconstruction of the Union or its perpetual dismemberment hang upon the counsels they may see fit to adopt. Imagination cannot pic- ture s more dreary, desolate future than awaits us, if the government of Mr. Lincoln failg to rise to the dignity of its position, as the faithful stewards of the people; and, on the other hand, the benefits will be untold that may result from the exercise of such discretion, judgment and patriotism as ought to character- ize statesmen, at such an epoch. Mr. Lincoln repeatedly assured his hearers, during his pil- grimage from Chicago to Harrisburg, that the models of his Presidential career were already chosen; that he should strictly emulate the con- duct of Washington, Jefferson, and Madison, and endeavor to be guided by the example set by his predecessors of the time of the constitution. It will be well to consider what the condition of the United States was when that instrument was framed, and what principles of inter-State relations concerning slavery, were administered at the close of the last and the beginning of this century. When Warhington was elevated to the chief magistracy of the United States slavery was thoroughly understood to be a part of the common law of the land. It underlay, and formed a portion of the basis upon which the constitution rests. Bondsmen of New York, New Jersey and New England were possessed by the same tenure that slaves are now held in Alabama, Louisiana and Virginia. No Fugi- tive Slave law was needed, because the re- quirement that ‘fugitives from labor” should be delivered up, was no more advantageous to the master in Georgia than to the owner of negroes in Connecticut. It was not until long after the laat term of office of Jefferson had expired that any attempt was made to put Southern institutions undera ban, by excluding them from the federal territory; and it was later still that the right was arrogated to con- fiscating the property of citizens of the South sojourning at the North. The sectional party which made anti-slavery its especial dogma, and “irrepressible conflict” a watchword, was not dreamed of until twelve years after the time of President Madison. Under Washing- ton and his successors, then, owners of slaves, North and South, could take their property everywhere—into each State or Territory in- cluded in the confederation; it was protected by local as well as general law; where oppo- sition to involuntary servitude existed, it was grounded upon no fanatical pretences, but found its justification in motives of political economy; and as complete freedom of opinion was granted with regard to its propriety, as was yielded to variety in religious sentiment. If Mr. Lincoln would return to the halcyon days of our pristine greatness, he must make it his end and aim to restore to every citizen, North and South, the enjoyment of those rights which they possessed seventy years ago. Where they have been invaded, itis his duty to re- commend full reparation, and the obliteration of the evils which craft and fanaticism have brought upon the country. If he will appre- ciate, as Madison, Jefferson and Washington would have done, that he is not the President ef any faction or of any party; but that, hav- ing been elected by a minority of the people, he stands on the enviable vantage ground of being bound by no ties and obligations other than those his oath of office imposes, he will perform the promise he made in his inaugural, of administering the government to all with equal fairness, and will begin at once to sweep away the ueurpations which have brought dis- aster upon the land and threaten its destruc- tion. He professes to desire precisely what we do; neither more nor less than is wished for by every upright, conservative citizen, namely that justice should be done to every section alike. It will be very easy, if he is honest in his purpose to secure so happy a result. ‘The first taek of the administration should be to call an extra session of Congress, whose duty it should be to consider amendments to the constitution, so specific and unambigu- ous in their nature, that the same practical liberty will be restored which existed at the time of Washington. The Fugitive Slave clause should be 80 modified as to secure indemnity to the mas ter in every instance where bie property is not restored, The Southern, travelling in New England, New York or Wisconsin with his bondsmen should be protected in the right of transit or eojonra, and should be under the wgis everywhere of the general government, The right of carrying slaves into the Territo- ries, which Mr. Lincoln does not think is com- plete now, should be made 80. And, above all things, the same privileges of opinion that are granted to tbe Catholic, Presbyterian, Shaker or Methodist, each of whom carries in his bosom some distinctive tenet which separates him from all others, should be absolutely yielded ia rela- tion to social institutions, Upon Mr, Lincol2 cevoives the heat and burden of securing peace to the Union, No dictator of the Roman re- public, appointed tor a iimitea number of months, ever wielded more power than he may use during the next four years, Not only the peopl of this continent, but every enlightened mind throughout the globe, will bold bim re. sponsible for what he shall do, and as he shall | Important Proposition in the Cotton Con- federacy—The refer to his memory with blessings or with male- dictions. The Policy and Prospects of the Southern : Comfederation. The Southern confederation is marching steadily on with its organization, and the policy which it is inaugurating promises to add sta- bility to its existence and dignity to ite future. There are many features about this new gov- ernment which are calculated to invest it with advantages superior to those which the North- ern confederacy enjoys. In the first place it is maintained by able statesmen that we at the North can boast of more of the demagogue class in the composition of our government than of that higher order of patriots which shine so brilliantly in the ranks of the early founders ef the republic. Jefferson Davis, the President of the South- ern confederacy, is a soldier as well as a states- man. He is firm, bold, quick and daring. Mr. Stephens, too, is gifted with a fine intellect, and the wisdom which dictated the selection of conservative minds for the Cabinet to the exclu- sion of the more ultra politicians of the South, forms a striking contrast with the party animus that inspired the elevation of certain extremists to seats in the Cabinet Council of the adminis- tration at Washington. The Southern con- federacy now comprises seven States, with a total population of over five millions, and should subsequent events drive the berder slave States into coalition with those already seceded—a consummation which the latter are endeavoring to bring about—the confederacy will be composed of fifteen sovereign States, with a population of 12,433,409—or nearly two- thirds of the population of the Northern con- federacy of nineteen States. The population of the seven States now united under one gov- ernment is distributed as follows:— South Carolina. ee 715,371 Goose 1,082,736 Florida. . oo 146,685 Alabama oe O17 Louisiana 666,431 Mississip) 886,058 Texas. 600,956 Total . «+ 6,053,154 The Southern government, it will be seen, is making active preparations to strengthen itself in case a difficulty should arise with the North. ern administration. An army is now being rapidly organized and equipped. By the adop- tion of the old and somewhat equitable tariff of the United States, the South has gained an im- mense advantage over the North, a8 many arti- cles of foreign merchandise will be excluded from our ports by the exorbitant and in some cases prohibitory duties imposed by the Morrill tariff; and thus, while importations will fall away in the Northern cities, they will increase and are even now increasing in the ports of Savannah, Mobile, New Orleans and Charles- ton. At the same time that foreign nations are seeking more friendly ports with their goods, the products and manufactures of the Northern States will be subjected to an equal duty with foreign manufactures on the Southern border— @ measure which will prove protective of Southern industry and enterprise, as well as productive of considerable revenue to the South. Again, in the matter of expansion the South- ern confederacy has much the advantage over the Northern. There are the cotton lands of Mexico, which, in the ordinary course of things, may probably be absorbed by the Southern section, and ultimately, no doubt, Cuba also may be annexed to the adjoining free States on this continent, and thus enjoy that indepen- dence, as a member of a self-governed empire, for which her people have been 6o long pining; in which event the Gulf of Mexico will be transformed, as it were, into an inland lake, and the commerce of the tropical States of both North and South America will find a ready and profitable mart for their products in the various ports on the Gulf. The rich re- sources of Mexico and the South Ame- rican States can thus be developed for the benefit of the Southern confederacy, instead of being converted, as they are now, to the profit of England and France by means of the regular steam communication kept up between them and these latter countries. The statesmen of the South are not blind to the im- portance of a closer intimacy with Mexico and the republics of Central and South America, which has been restricted heretofore by the selfish policy of Northern politicians; and now that they are at liberty to act for themselves they will ne doubt endeavor to divert the trade of those countries from European channels into their own ports, even if their policy should not involve immediate measures of annexation. * And to counterbalance this adhesion of com- mercial or territorial strength to the Southern confederacy, what has the Northern confede- racy to fall back upon? Nothing but the an- nexation of the British provinces, And what reason is there to expect that anything short of annexation will increase the advan- tages which our contiguity to British America now insures us? We cannot hope for any inor- dinate growth of inter-trade with the British possessions. Unlike the Southern government, we at the North can open up no new fields of enterprise such as the unfallowed fields of Mexico, Central America and the South Ameri-: can republics afford to the sagacity of the Southern States. Wanting a convenient mar- ket for their products, much of the most valu- able resources of these tropical countries, both in mineral and agricultural wealth, have been neglected; but with the adoption of a liberal policy and the establishment of a regular gop- munication on the part of the Southzrn con. federacy, there may be ng limit to the riches they are capable of developing, most of which wil) certainlyTinure to the benefit of that go- vernment which encourages its developement, Apart, then, from the meré question of territo- rial acquisition—which would seem almost ia- evitable—the South has a splendid opportunity of building herselt up by availing itself of the commercial resources of adjacent countries. Thus, by the calm and dignified action of the new government, by the enrolment of a nu- merous and patriotic army, by the adoption of afavorable tariff, by all the advantages which surround it, the Southern confederacy to-day gives promise of a permanency and prosperity which those who rely upon the success of coer- cive measures to bring the seceding States back into the Union cannot well despise. And yet we can tad nothing foreshadowed in the dim and half define! Policy of Mr. Lincoln but coercion, 60 far av the amp,,,20U8 language of bis inaugural stands the test ot .\yets—co ercion if be can, toleration if be must. Border Slave States Be- tween Two Fires. We published yesterday a telegraphic de- spatch from Montgomery stating that the Con- grees of the Confederate States adopted a reso- lution to the effect “that the Judiciary Com- mittee be instructed to inquire into the expe- Giency of prohibiting the importation of slaves into the confederacy from the United States, except owned by persons emigrating thence for settlement and residence.” The object of this measure is to bring such a pressure on the border slave States as they cannot resist—to compel them to join the cotton States on pain of losing their only market for the slaves which breed. @ bill of the kind indicated should be passed Virginia would either have to become a free State or a member of the Southern con-~ federacy. Her slaves in future would be of so ittle value to her that she would have to eman- cipate them, and let them shift fer themselves: as she could not afford to feed and clothe them without remuneration. That is too much even for Northern philanthropy. Virginia, ac- cording to the returns of the census of last year, had 495,826 slaves—or say she bas now in round numbers half a million of negro bondmen. This is the largest number held by any State. It amounts to half the number of the white population of the State. Now, Virginia has no cotton fields, and does not need so many slaves for her own labor. She sells them, therefore, to the cotton States, who can afford to pay a good price for them; and it is in this way that slaves area source of wealth to her. If she had no market in the cotton States, so far from being a source of wealth and profit, the slaves would become @ cause of poverty and loss, and, in self-defence, she would be compelled to abolish slavery: Hence the measure proposed in the Southern confederacy is a menace to her that she must speedily take one side or other in the quar- rel with the North. It was with a view to gain over the border States that the confederacy inserted in their constitution a prohibition against the African slave trade; for the opening of that trade, which South Carolina so much desired, would bring down the price of negroes, and it is on this ground, and not from any philanthropic ideas, that Virginia and other border slave States have been always opposed to the African traffic. The question of a slave trade between the cotton States and the United States was left designedly an open question in the Southern constitution, and to be.decided by Congress, in order that it might be a lever with which to hoist the border States into the con- federacy. By the census it appears that Ten- nessee has 287,112 slaves, Kentucky 225,490 and North Carolina 328,377 (equal to half her white population). These States would be all affected by the proposed measure, but not to the same extent as Virginia. It is upon the latter that it is intended specially to operate, because as Virginia goes they will all go. On the other hand, if Virginia and the other border slave States should secede and join the cotton confederacy, what security would they haye for the rendition of their fugitiveslaves by the Northern confederacy? None whatever, un- less there should be a treaty of amity between the two confederacies. Moreover, in the event of civil war their soil would be the battle ground, and they would suffer more than either the Northern or the cotton States. They are thus placed between two fires, and it is » question with them on which side lies the balance of interest. There can be little doubt that, on the whole, they would consider the preponderance of interest lay with the cot ton confederacy, for if, in a civil war, the North” ern fanatics should prove successful, they would assuredly abolish slavery in every South- ern State. Hence the pro-slavery interest in Virginia, interpreting Mr. Linooln’s inaugural as indicating a coercive programme, is becom- ing more violent and revolutionary. Secession is making rapid strides. The Richmond En- quirer, a8 our readers have seen, calls upon Vir- ginia to take her stand immediately and be no longer divided, as very soon she will have to fight either under the banners of Jefferson Da- vis or Abraham Lincoln. The argument of Wise’s organ for joining the cotton confedera- cy and thus making the State a unit is that, in the contingency of coercion, the secessionists will join the army of the South, whatever the State may do, and that this might lead to civil war between the Virginians themselves. Unless the President, therefore, in some de- cided way announces a peace policy very soon there isevery probability of the secession of the mother of States and of Presidents, and that the Old Dominion will take most if not all the border slave States witb her. Hercvies Hacktey.—Great hopes rest upon the performances of the new contractor for the cleaning of our streets. Let him beware how he disappoints them. He has it in his power to make himself one of the moat popular of offi- cials, but he also runs the risk of accumulating upon his head the maledictions dire of a whole community. Atlas himself did not bear a greater weight on his shoulders than does our Hercules of the besom. Besides keeping seve ral bundreds of miles of streets free from their accustomed muck heaps, he has to protect the dry goode and fancy stores, the crinoline and patience of the fair promenaders of Broadway, from the penetrating influence of the blinding particles which are borne on the wings of our March gales. Let him but prove equal to this task and he will establish his qualifiggtions to an offige under the new ad- ministration. Mr. Lincoln will want some one to wield the monster broom with which he has just been presented. We hope Hercules Hack- ley is his man. a 4 New Mévewenr ror Sovratey Trape— The Charleston papers state that a well known dry goods firm in this city has addressed a cir- cular to its customers announcing that a branch of the house will be estublished in one of the States of the Southern confederacy as soon as the necessary business arrangements oan be made. Without doubt this example will be generally followed by the leading New York houses engaged in the Southern trade, It will be the very best way by which direct trade with Europe can be opened by the South. Whatever the political condition of the coun- try may be trade cannot be arrested, neither can the merchants of New York permit a fac- tious minority, which has succeeded to power through the temporary disagreement of the ma jority of the people, to ruin the Dmpire City New York is in sentiment ond feeling as much a Southern as a Northern city, and will steadi- ly resist any attempt to force a warlike policy » the eottor Stator: eee Ho.¥ Mx. Lixcoun Cay Annest rug Mow comeny COmMISsIONERS.—In a matter so im- portant aa che probable action of the adminis- tration in relation to the Commissioners of the Southern confederation, it may be as well to look into preeedenwi In the case of the United States against Bollman & §: Judge Washington decided (1st Cranch, Circuit © Court Reports, 373) that the Court may issue “a bench warrant against a person charged. with treason, upon ex parte affidavits, before apy presentment or indictment made or found by @ Grand Jury; and, when arrested, may commit him to prtson without stating when or where he is to answer for the offence.” Bat the Supreme Court afterwards decided that, though the criminals might be anywhere ar- rested, “if the offence were committed on land, the offender must be tried by the Court having jurisdiction over that where the of- fence was committed.” So, perhaps Messrs, Roman, Forsyth and Crawford must be hung im their homesteads, though the Washington jails ought to be instantly whitewashed to receive them. Show your authority Mr. President, and arrest at ence, and to prove your power despatch Gen. Scott with an army to Alabama, Louisiana and Georgis, to superintend the scaffold arrangements. The constitution of the United States pro- vides, (article 3, section 2,) that the “trial of all crimes, excepting in case of impeachment, shall, be held in the State where the said vrimes shall have been com- mitted.” The act of Congress of 1788 further provides that “in cases punishable with death, trial must be held in the county where the offence is committed.” Let Mr. Lincoln send down to the law library, some evening after Mesers. Chase and Seward have ceased bothering him with their squabbles, and get the fourth volume of Cranch’s Circuit Court Reports, and the fourth volume of Cranch’s Supreme Court Reports, and he will be able to instruct bimeelf fully how to manage the buai- ness. He will undoubtedly have influence - enough to induce the Judge of the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia to issue a benok warrant for the arrest of the three Southera gentlemen. The executive difficulty will take care of itself. “Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” Dreaprvt Loss or Lire sy Frre—Prorosep CHANGES IN THE Orrick oF Fire MarsnaL.—We publish elsewhere the particulars of a fire in Fortieth street, by which a family of sevea persons lost their lives. But for the vigilance of the Fire Marshal this occurrence would pro- bably have been imputed to accident. Mr. Baker, however, immediately set on foot an in- vestigation into the facts, and from the inquiries already instituted it is likely to turn out that this disaster had its origin in criminal motives. This is but one of the hundreds of cases in which the benefits resulting from the creation of the office of Fire Marshal have been exem- plified. More lives and more property have been saved through it than through all the legal prosecutions instituted in the same space ‘of time. It is the difficulty of establishing the facts in trials for arson which has generally insured the immunity of the accused. The prompt presence and examination of the pre- mises and witnesses by the Fire Marshal have toa great extent removed that difficulty, and now it is rarely that an indictment for incen- diariem fails through a clear case on the part of the prosecution. " We see that a bill has been recently intro- duced in the in reference to the office of Fire Marshal. As no one complains that its duties are not efficiently and econemically perfermed, the object of this measure can be none other than to divide them between two er three hun- gry espirants with a view to their endowment with fat salaries. As the Fire Marshal is paid by the insurance offices, and not by the city, the latter has a right to protest against being taxed for the creation of superfluous offices. Should the Legislature, however, thimk fit to give its sanction to the swindle, it will make no difference in the existing arrangements, for the insurance companies know their interests too well to entrust them to the charge of the persons seeking to effect this change. Mnutary Resources or THE Sovrn.—An er- roneous idea generally prevails at the North that the new confederacy, in preparing for mi- litary defence, will experience some difficulty ia procuring a eupply of-artillery stores and munitions of war. For the information of that class to whom we refer we say that the An- derson iron works, near Richmond, Virginia, are working their furvaces night and day casting Dxbigren guns and columbiads of the heaviest calibre and exquisite finish. Several of these guns and five teninch mortars have already been forwarded to Charleston, and be- fore this are in battery ready to participate in the bombardment of Fort Sumter. The Tre- degar iron works, near Richmond, are also busily employed in casting hollow shot and shell. Several tons have already been forward- ed to Charleston. The machine shop of the Atlantic and North Carolina Railroad, near Newbern, N. C., has been transformed into a military arsenal, where several hundred hands are now employed in altering mus- kets and casting shot and shell. The alterations of the old style musket to the Mianie style, compared with similar alterations made in ¢his State, give the superiority to the former iv every respect. The samples of shot ren, ay ea included . sixty-four Pander and a six-pounder, and forty-neing shells. The oust- ing was faultles The railroad company have >a © ‘contract with the Confederated States ‘OF ‘an inde#nite supply of both gals &hd miy- { siles, guaranteeing to do the work equal to. any done at the North and at a less price. There is a foundry near Petersburg, Virginia, aiso engaged in casting mortars and cannon for Charleston. Only a day or two ago a mortar from this foundry, weighing 5,750 pounds, wae placed in battery near Fort Sumter, As' tor powder, both North Carolina and Virginia have numerous mills for the manufacture of thix ex- plosive agent, and already have, sent 300,000 pounds, per contract, to South Carolina. After this statement of facts who will doubt the ability of the South to provide iteelf with mu- nitions ot war? Errect oF THE Ixavaunat ty THe Meraoro 1a8—Since last Monday evening nothing bas been thought of or talked about except the Lincoln inaugural, what it meaus, bow the South will receive it, and whether or not we are to have war, People are anxious, paraed, timid, frig hte: Places of public atakeement are quite dese Tariqess at the theatres i very bad--t ingitsh pers has gollapeed, and