The New York Herald Newspaper, April 6, 1861, Page 3

rty im these fort, and onty they are fan. they shall waste ahot ta Sere hada prope foot before this Convention. The right to repeal that or- | is distinctly held by the Oonven:ion for the . ADAMS—I think the whole discussion about the te 8 premature We are not in possession of all of p, and had better wait until we obtain Fort Sumter haps this did not occur to the gentleman who intro- the ordinance. the condition thst, be restored tw our APPROACHING CIVIL WAR. Naval and Miltary Wevements—im- mediate Departure ef Vewels of War and team Traneperts fer the Gulf—Fort Pickens to be Relnforced—The Excite- ment in Town, Reo, Rey &e. Imdependentiy of the accounts which begin to reach us Washington, whieh startle the commuaity with reatenngs of coming war, there are active signs of pre jon in our midst which indicate that a grave crisia ‘at band. At Governor's Island, Forts Hamilton and La- ette, and at the Navy Yard, the note of preparation has nced, and military men of all grades and of all arms ov the qué vive as to the point to be first chosen for eir services. To say that the men will hail with mik- 'y ardor the firet alarm of the toosin which NU call them to conflict with their breth” im the South would be an unfounded ertion in‘eed. The first duty of the soldier is to obey. p ail governmen's this principle must at all hazards be ained, and the daily routine of the soldier’s life im- this necessity upon him. But in « country like ye, whore the government must depend to a great ox- pt upon the popularity of the cause which demands a course to arms, enlistments will only be in proportion hereto. One of the signe of the times, as indicative of of the administration in the present distracted relations with our Southern brethren, is to socession in numbers and activity at the pote in this city. Under other circumstances Tolunteers could be had to swell the ranks of ‘bough labor ia scarce, and large numbers of tal are going about idle, it will not be so euy ‘a thing to induce them to array themeelves in bostility ‘against the men of the Southern confederacy. At the va. rious rendezcous the officers in command deny that the Teorui ing ‘ervice bas received any impetus through or- ders from Washington; but, nevertheless, an unwonted activity evidently prevails. On Governor's Island the men are constantly under arms. Mapouvres and evolutions are the order of the day, ond. the drum corps aud buglere may be scea aod heard any morning practising on the sunny side of the island. Large supplies of ammunition and ether war material have for some time past beon taken from the islend and placed on board the vessels now eruising off Persacola, intended for the relief of Fort Pickene, As yet those supplies have not reached their tended destination, and there is little probability that they ever will without a struggle: The fact of Fort Sum- ter being no longer ‘enable leayos a large force at the disposal of the secessionists, and already divisions of this force have arrivea at Fiorids, while other divis ons aro daily expected there. Fort Pickens {s therefore the sup- posed rendezvous of the drafte of United States troop ‘Row under arms in the forts in our harbor, and who are hourly expecting the order to start. From thence, then, ‘wilt come the firet clash of armas. It must be the fervent Dope of all men, North and South, that the catastrophe will be averted, and that neither section will lose ‘‘one drop of blood on this hot trial.” ‘The soldiers at Fort Hamilton wore paid off on Wednes- day last, preparatory to receiving marching orders, and Yefficers who had but a few days before obtained leave of @heence are hurrying back and reporting themselves at Qbeir respective posts as ready for duty. At Fort Lafayette additional troops have arrived, but mot to make © permanent stay. Within the walls tho greatest excitement prevails, and a feverish anxiety to know upon what point the troops will be concentrated. Working detachments are busily employed in making up, ‘according to military usage, hay, oats and stores of every description for embarkation. Companies C and F, Third regiment of infantry, have received orders to be ready at ® Moment’s notice to embark: destination not stated. The firet move will be on board the Powhatan, which ig tak- fog in wer materials ani large quantitiag supplies for the subsistence of the troops. ‘The Harriet Lane (United States revenue cuttor), with a full complement of soldiers and marines, sailed from ‘Quarantine yesterday morning, but returned to the city last evening. Rumor indicates that she will bo sent to Fort Pickens. The number ef troops concentrated at the different sta- sstions in the port is something over 2,600, including the sappe sand miners who arrived here a few days ago from Washington. They are located as follows:—At Gov- ernor’s Island, 1,100; at Bedloe’s Island, 270; at Fort Bawilton, 203; at Fort Lafayette, 100; at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, 886, Total, 2.658. The most active propar- ations are being made for their removal, as will be seen from the report under the head of naval preparations and wansp ris. NAVAL PREPARATIONS. ‘The buetie and animation which have prevailed in the Brooklyn Navy Yard for the iast few days, consequeat on the getting ready of the steam sloop of-war Powhstan for sea, reached their culmination yesterday. From an early bour ip the morning until six o'clock the dock where this vessel waa lying was littered with stores of va-ious #inds, while ballock and horse carta were arriving every few minutes with more. Among the mizcellansous articles necessary for a roagolrg verse! of war, not tho Jeast nignificant were a large number of square boxes, the marks op which indicated that exchoontained an LL inch shell; a pile of consi‘erable extent, made up of grape- shot and cannister; and sundry packages of gucpowder, * indicative of the fact that, if Ogbting is to be dove, the Powhatan ie prepared therefor with ‘he most formidable munitions known to modern warfare. Towards the bow of the verse! Was ad OX wagon, containing a quantity of pails, which were boing taken on board on the shoulders Joug roll, as it was shouldered at a eta'worth son of Neptune, in beholder, as yard after yard jon and progressed up the purse of Theodore Hook's jy magniied, or, more ap pent, Astern was another , Seamen's flannel, shirts, ores, together with a large i) appeared to bo the por ‘officers, These gontlomen busy, running to and poking to the performance of + the multitadinous array 0 Articles necessary to the outfit and war vessel were placed on board ore and other workmen easel had completed their & tolerably decent or two ago, al provement had time do. to a man of war, and which are intended for the Powhatan, ‘Yerter?ay, im view of the eifurts being made to get the vessel out Into the stream proparatwry to her departare, the activity in thie departmept was # a sone 8 & piece of wood work was tnisbed, the pain. “0*ed the carpenter, paint pot im hacd, and laid a coat of paint op immediately, for there was no time to be lost, aud ag each boat was completed jt was rolled outof the house and placed in a conVenient position to be taken on board. In view of the cloudy aspect of affairs in the South, and “ne Kmail rpeck of war in St. Domingo, great interest is manifested in these proceedings, and consequently the Navy Yard was filled with viaiters yesterday. The Pow. hatan, of course, absorbed the greatest share of attention, and drew a large crowd, who, in spite of the blustering of a bigh wind and the clouds of dust that dilled the at mosphere, continued to gaze for hours on the active pre- parations that were being made for what certainly looked like @ confymation of the warlike rumors that have been afloat for some time past, and have beocme intensified within the last day or two. Among the visiters were a few ladies, and occasionally a oarriago containing two or three of these fairest and best of crea- tion would be driven tuto the yard, draw up in front of the Powbatan, remain there a few minutes, and then drive out again. The Powhatan is a first class side-wheel steam sloop of 11 guns—namely, ten eight inch Dabigren guns and one long eleven inch pivot Dahigren, the food for which, in the form of ten and eleven inch ebeli and grape, was being taken on bosrd yesterday, as already mentioned. She js 2,415 tops burthen, and was built at Gosport ip 1850. She arrived here from Vera Cruz on the 18th ultimo, and, after lying out in the stream for a few days, was placed alongside the dock in the Navy Yard Orders were subsequently issued, it will be remembered, to place her out of commission, and to transfer her crew for the present on board the receiving ship North Casolina; but the order had been scarcely received when it was countermanded, and the Powhatan was orderea by tho Department at Washington w be got ready for sea immediately. It has uot yet transpired to a certainty whither she is gcing, but it is pretty safe ‘to Bay that the Florida coast, and not St. Dom ingo, is her probable destination. It was believed at first that the same officers would go out in her that arrived from Vera Cruz, but it has since been ascertained that there will be afew chenges but the exact personne is not yet known even on board. Captain Mercer, howover, retains the ccmmand. the ofticers, the most of whom will continue were as follows:— Captain—Semvel Mercer. Lictldenents—John Ruticdge, Egbert Thompson, Thomas O Harris, Walter W. Queen, George Browa and Phillip r. ‘Surgeo—Joseph Wilson, Jr. Passed Asaustant Sur; —James Laws. Poymarter—George W. Oarke hief Enginer—Ha man Newell. First Lieutenan: of Marines— samen Wiley. Midshypmen—Goorge Dewey, Joshua Bishop, M. 8, Stuy vesant and Charles W. Read. Beasuain—F. McLovd Guaner—Bernard Duycker. Sailmaker—Jacod Stephens. Ev guncer:—Firet Asvistavts, Wilam J, Lamdin and James F. Lam: in; Second Assistants, J. McEimell and dcbn Purdy; Third assistants, William fl. Gladding, E. Laws and H. ©. Meltvain, Among the other articles of destruction taken on board the Powbaten, area number of light howitzers, which will be landed at some place where required. The boats having been all heisted in, the Powhatan hauled out into the stream at six o'clock, and will leave to-day. The following vessels are also at the Navy Yard:— THE ROANOKE. This is a splendid ateam frigate, one of a new class that was constructed a fow years ago, when they ox- cited the admiration of the naval men of Europe, from their beautiful proportions, the solidity of their construc. tion, and the formidable nature of their armaments. They comprise the Niagara, Roanoke, Colorado, Merri- mac, Minnesota and Wabash; and although some of them have not realized aj] that was expected, they are a do. cided improvement on the old class of frigates, while whatever may be the errors in their construction will be avoided ia future, 80 that their successors wit proba- bly as far excel them as they do the olden time vessels. The Roanoke is a forty gun screw frigate, of 8,400 tons burthen, and was built in Gosport in the year 1865, For some months pest she has been undergoing repair in the dry dock, though, contrary to rumors that have been afloat from time to time, no orders have been received to get her ready for gea. The work on her has so far progressed that all the lower parts of her bull have been completed and mado perfectly taut, while her upper works are fast approach- ing completion, and in two or three days’ time she will be taken out of dock, and be completed with ordinary dcepaich, unless orders be received—and they may bo looked for at apy moment—to fit her for soa imme- diately, in which event, with the immense sppliances at band in the yard, a very few days will guffice to put her in seagoing trim. The several decks of this veesel were strewn with the debris of carpenters’ work, and there are indications every where of the extent of tho repairs she has undergone, and which are still in progress, Tho roof, which was constructed over hor deck to protect her from the weather, stiil remains, but will be removed as soon as it becomes necessary to take in her masts and rig her. THR WARASH Like the sister ehip Roanoke, the Wabash is a screw frigate of forty guns; she is of 8,200 tons burthen, and was built st Philedelpbia in 1855. She is Wing alorgside the quay, nearly opposite the North Caro. lima, and at right angles with the Roanoke. Like this latter vessel, she is covered over from stem to stern with a shed, and has been undergoing repsire in the upper part of her hull and her interio® for several months past. Up to within about a week ago, and for a considerable period before that, the visiter to the yard woul! bive bis ears assailed with an almost in- fernal din, which, ou examination, he could fad proceeded frem one of the shiphouses opposite where the Wabash ig lying. The nolee was caused by a number of workmen tightening the rivets of the water tanks belonging to this vessel. This jor has been completed, and the tanks, to a large number, have been removed by oxen to the open air close to the ship, ready to be taken on board. This, it must be con fereed, has rather a seagoing appearance, although, like the Roancke, the Wabash has not yet—at the time of writing—been made the subject of any special order. There is no knowing, however, what a minute may briog forth; and, in spite of the characteristic reticence of the officers belovging to the yard and the several vessels, orders may be received at any moment for the com- missioning and @ttin, out of these splendid vessels. Such, too, is the impression of most of the visiters to the yard who will not belleve that the movements there, which are evident to the most careless observer, are not closely connected with the events that are transpiring in the South, and the deliberations that are continually taking place in the Cabinet. A very few days will now solve the great national problem. Te PERRY Js a elx gun ealling brig-ot-war, of two huntred and eighty tons burthen. She was built at Gosport in 1843, ‘and baa been for some time past laid up im ordinary. Orders were recently received from Washingt m to dt her out for sea, with the view of putting her in commission; but the work bad been scarcely commenced when the order was countermanded and the work stayed. it is expected, however, that on the departure of the Powhatan orders will be transmitted to resume the fitting out of the Perry, in which event eight or ten days, or even leas time, if baste is called for, will suffice to put hor in seagoing con ition, THR SAVANNATL ‘This vessel is a sailing sloop of-war of twenty-four guns and 1,726 tons burtben, and was built at Brooklyn in 1842. She is lyieg up {n ordinary, and no orders have been received respecting her. THR POTOMAC, This is one of the olden time sailing frigates, which are now passing out of use She is, however, capable of being put in condition to be a formidable antagonist. ‘The Potomac was built at Washington iu 1821, and has coreequen ly arrived at the venerable age of forty years. She is a fifty gun ebip, of 1,796 tons burthon. No orders have been received respecting her, and it is doubtful whether she will be ordered to sea yet a while. THR COAST GUARD PLERT, RIC. In addition to theee vessels there is a little forest of maats belonging to about fifteen achooners, attashet to the coast guard rervice, some of which might in an emor- gency be made useful a8 tenders, &c. There also a fow old yossels-of- war rotting in the docks, which, as they never can be of any use at sea, need not be particular. ized, ‘The veasels that are out of commission are, of course, without officers and crews. Some of the latter have been paid off and discharged, while others were placed oo poard the North Carolina, and thence drafted on board wr ehips. At present there # a great paucity of sea- ‘men on board the receiving ship, in consequence of frequent drafts from here; and, in the event of men Deing wanted for the Roanoke, the Wabash, or the other veeeels in the yard, they mast be hovked for elsewhere In speaking of the armament of tho Roanowe, Wabash and other vessels, it ie pot pretended that the bupbder of gone mentioned are what they will go w sea “says may be made in this purticul, whan with, Altera. the armivg of the ve. ale Dagome sthe subject for inme- diate consideration and the opment of them with che most improved modern ordnance SY be regarded as a matter of course. We here anpex a tabuler statement of (N@ Baval pre parations designed for operations in the South. Coomr dore Pendergast, a Soutbern man, has been detached frag. the commend of the Pome squadron, and Con. Strioghag has been substituted in bis piace The vessels nernaftor nemed are either in commission or under orders, and ait of them will be ready for active service within one week. Name. in Gus. Steam frigate Roanoke ee oe 0 Steom frigate Minnesota. +0 Steam frigute Wabash. Steam frigate Merrimac. 10 Frigate fab've.., 0 Bleop-of- war Cumberland. pty 2 Py i u 4 M Lieutenant Strong 11... 5 Lieutenant Craven. 8 - 6 net: 4 Cutter Harriet Lane . Jobn Fannee. 5 Bteamer Water Witch. - . 3 Tota)... oe M6 It would be conjectural on our part to attempt to give the figures of the number of men required to oparate this immense fleet. It te presumed hewmver, that it will re- quire upwards of th-ee thousand five buadred mea. It must not be supposed, however, that any of this force would be avatlsbie for land demonstrations of aay charsc- ter, as their services would be required to oparate the guns of the several shige THE STEAM FROUP TRANSPORTS, THE ATLANTIC AND ILLINOIS CHARTERED BY THE UNITED STATES—PROVISLONS, CEMENT, LUMBER AND IRON ON BOARD—RUMORS AND FACTS ABOUT OTHER STEAMERS, BTC. We received information, which we deemed reliable, yesterday morning that the United States gove pment had chartered the steamers Arie}, of Van terbiit’s Hoo, and Baltic, belonging to the North Atlantic Steamship Company, for the tranaportatien of troops and enpplies to ome destination unknown. During the day Rumor, with Der thousand tongues, told the same story with a thou- sand variations; and if one cyuld believe the re ports current in the streets, the Daniel Webster, the Iilinois, the Ariel, the Adriatic (now in Furoga), the Baltic, the Ocean Queen snd the Vanderbiit had all been engaged, and under the woight of such state- ments the government stock went down. The afternoon papers went farther and the rumors farod wo: as, for by this time the vessels had been purchased by the United Btates, and were to be transformed into man of war— ‘A traneformat'on devoutly to be wished, no doubt, but masifestly difficult of accompliehment tn the limited time (about a day anda half) allowed. At about two o'clock the eteamer Atlantic was entere! at the Custom Honse as ‘cleared for Brazos, Toxen, with government stores,’’ and this gave anthenticity to tha ‘various rumors. By this time, however, our reporter had investigated the matters, and visited the various steamers named, with the exception of the Adriatic, which being somewhere in Europe, bad evidently ng. been a subject of any of the eelis perpetrated by govern. ment. A ENOW NOTHING, Our reporter first visited the office of tha Pacific Mail Steamship, and inquired for the gentleman wh» bad charge of the affairs of the North Atlantic Sompany The gentleman to whom we were referred was a tall, flve looking personage, got upZim the English style, and ba- tween him and the reporter the foliowing conversation pnsued:— “Is the Baltic chartered now? ‘No, sir.” Reporrzr—I am a reporter, &c.; have deen informed, &c. So you know whether the Cuited States has char- tered any of your steamers? GrsTiEMaN—lI don’t know, sir, If it were so, | wouldn't ‘be likely to know. R.—Who would? G.—No one concerned with the buriness. If the gov- ernment chartered steamers, it wouldn’t have the thiog talked about, It might make another Star of the Weat amfair. R.—Precieely. Where are your staamers lying? G —Foot of Canal street, North river, R.—Can I see them and go on board? G,.—You oan see them if you go there. and can go on board if they'll let you, I suppose. There's always some ‘one on beard. R.—Cannot you give me a pass to make the going on Doard as certain as the see ng. G.—No. (After a pause.) Trav no, becanse we never ven passes under the circumstances That is to say, e steamers are laid up and you couldn’t sec anything o! ‘Adieu and exit. ‘WHERE IGNORANCE I8 BLISS. In one of Jerry Bryant’s etories he says that he came to the door, raw “No admittance,” and so went in; and, upm the same priaciple, wo baving been informed that we couldn't go on board the steamers, and that there was nothing for ‘us to eee, immediately start-d for Canal street and the Gompany’s pier. A Girnorvirg view of a gentioman so muh resembling our inte locutor at the office that, in spite of the dust, we kept our eyes npon bim, and sor- rowed that he rhould walk 60 fast upon #o warm a day, fret greeted us. the pier, No 41 runsa long way ont into the river, and upon either ido of it les the Baltic and the Atlantic. arta and drays, loaded with all sorts of gocds, kept paseing in et the piargate, and, astoolahed at aeoing so much sctivi'y abovt stesmors laid up and pot chartere¢, we followed the carts end enteret the shed. Boxes, barrels and bundles everywhere about Piles of mattresses, heaps of lumber, bales of gunny bage crowded togethar oats of all sorte of articles arriving ira bi at str hening barrels for Lips jammed tn tho hold. Workmen rnnning about and working like hees. Bustlo confuewn bard labor all around fw cos) barges lying alongside the Atlantic and pouring their loada into the ptonmer ag fartas horees and men coult G1, hoist and empty the buckets. For a veegl which was not char- ter 4 to g0 anywhere, and which was laid up for the sum- mer, the preparations were certainly extraordinary. THE ATLANTIC ia a large, finely furniahed, site wheel steamer, of the Gret clase, Sho waa built by W. A. Brown, in 1849; ber burthen nearly three thousand tons; her draft ahoat twenty-one feet. She has threo decks; is propelled by a fine side-lever engine, and will carry, comfortably, over five hondred passengers, under ordinary cir- cnmetances, but conld tranaport for any reasonable dis- t aa: trom this port to Texas—at lesat two thousand troops, with their provisions and accoutrements. Her a jons are:—tength, two bundred and sighty six fret; breadth of hoam, fifty nix feet; depth, thirty-two fort, be is in excellent order and ready for instant seri- vier. The gentleman who gave ur these particulars abont the veeeel nppeare! like one having anthority, and wo ac cordingly inquired with what the Atiantic was inading “Took around you,” wae the reply; ‘with everything ” every th me enough There wee tnd 4 barrels of potatoes. bh apa f cabbages, boxes of aslt, bar reig of floor. biscuit, mackerel and rhip etores; boxes of beef, plank, joiets and tim ber of every kind; bars of iron mattresses ‘tea. Nquora bread. and nearly two bun ired herrela of cement Dow ‘She sails to-morrow, #ir.”? what none of ne mnet know mert \¢ ging tocosemetbing Do you see those barrels of cement! Upon inquiring whether we would be allowed on board wo were referred so aa ther gentlemen, in quest of whom we went to the , over the dock to the enal barges, ane finaly np the ade of the Atanti>. We never saw the gentlemen who was as ueefnl to ue and as impersonal as Yrs Harrie to “ary Gamp, but having goton bad we didn’t care 10 search for him any forher Sailors and Nongehoremen were working ike atunte? giants getting the coal in, holstirg the stores up and lowering burrela and hoxes into the bolt The coske were polishing to their vtengile an’ potting a bright face opm their partof the business, “he engines s wee bray in thelr om, the fires were light d and the ateam getting 1p. Everything gave evirence of a burried and apeedy da per tore, but rething told, «hither and for what parpose The cles ance Fave tor Braz 8; inverence ad'a t) owmnvey the United States troope from Texaa to New York fo that care the prov siors #re for the support of the tro ps, the mattresses for them to reat noon, the lamber to make them temporary hedetea 8 Bot why the tron bars and the cement? Rumorfrays that troope are to be pa on hoard of Goverro:'e Islurd, and that ®ome one of ths sonibern forte ie to be retoforded and provisioned. Ra mor may be correct an’ may not Are we tohave smother tar of the Weeat affair? At any rate there ie no atternot at concealment aa to the fact of the vessels Joa’ing, Although no more people wre about than apse pny ordinary occasion. there might have been a crowd for all any one Reems d§to cao The gates wore upon you could enter, look and wonder aa you please! Obvi- viously there will be no necessity for any special secret deepatohes to Charleston and subseqnent Grand Jury to vestigations. The government seoma willing to let all the fouth know that the Atiantic. loaded with mores, is coming, but declines to tell anything more. Although cleared, the Atlantic “1d not rai! yeaterday afternoon. OTHER VESSELS. ‘There ia nothing whatever to justify the rumors in ro gard to any of the other steamers named above except the Minois, The Baltic is at the same dork with the At- lantic, bot is not loading, and has noone on board, In rogard to the Minoie, she waa advertised by Commodore Vanderbilt to leave at noon to.day for Havre; but inte in the afternoon—euch ia the urgency of the ment it was apnovnosd that the weuld be withdrawn for the Prevent from the line, and sho will ssi] w-day or to mor ihe sail noon?” we arkort. “Where for?’ “Ab! that’s T tel yon, air, the govera: veyane of tror.s The Ocean Queen is at pier No 46, at the foot of K ng street Evidently she rs tog wpy whereas on the Daniel Webster and the “Ariel are at the foot of Eleventh street, East river, A troop of regge4 obildren, torturing 4 fiebie-minded equise ia & vac nt lot opprsrte the per, was the only hostile de- monstra‘i-n ip the vicvnity There was no bustle aor activily thereabouts. One or two ship paiaters, lently su earing black lead upon the bow of the” were | the only persone near tbr atoamors. Atiar tic apd Tilinos are going somewhere with visions 200, peesibly , troops, That is the result of ‘the wwvestigaton, msi THE VERY LATEST. IMPORTANT NEWS FROM WASHINGTON, Preparations for War at the North and the South. The Confederate States Ready for Hostilities. Probab’e Surrender of Forts Sumter and Pickens in Case of Attack. INTENSE EXCITEMENT AT CHABLRSTON. The Policy of the Federal Government Towards the South, ae, ae, as. THE RiVAL CONFEDERACIES PREPARING FOR WAR, Wasurvorox, April 6, 1861. MEETING OF WHIM CABINET. The first regular Cabinet mecting convened to-day at neon, and continued in session for three hours. Southern affairs exclusively occupied its attention. Lieutenant Gilman’s report of the condition of matterg at Pensacola and Fort Pickens was the principal subject uader con- ski ration. ‘The faiture of the government to obtain any informa tion from Fort Pickens was the subject of great surprise. Fears were entertained that a confi.ct had ensued, in con- sequence of the landing of supplies, and that telegraphic communicat) pad been cut off Up to a late hour there are no reports from Fort Pick- eng, and the government is exceedingly auxius to bear from there. It wae noticed this morving that an unusaal number of official teiegrapbic despatches wers veut over from the War apd Navy Departments to the lresident, ARARM OF THY WASHINGTONIANS, ‘The excitement tha! prevails here among al) classes in conrequence of the war prospect 1s indescribable. The radical republicans are in high glee at the display of ad- ministration vigor, and walk about with an air of defance. The Washingtonians all look exceeding!y eober. POLICY OF THE ADMINISTRATION, The country is on the brink of civil war. Lamentable though this consummation may be, its imminence can no longer be denied. the knot that has beon tying since last November, and that the highest etatesmanebip of the nation failed to disentangle, will be out by the sword. A Western Covgressman, who has satisfied himself as to the purposes of the administration by an interview witb the President wi hin the last twenty four hours, re- marked to day that ‘Blood would be epilied in less than ten days.”’ Tho unmistekeable symptoms of an impend- ing strife render it bat too probable that his ori! pro phesy will be vorified But although tho tnanguration of a fratricida! conflict is now evideatly inevitable, it would be injustice to charge the doleful calamity to the federal administration. It does not moan to engage in aby aggressive demonstrations. Ite men of war are not put in fighting trim, aad its troops are not collected in large bodies for a war subjugation. It simply means to discharge its constitutions! duties. It intends to strengthen, protect and defend, in case of at- tack, all the Southern forte still tm its possossion, excepting Fort Sumter, which it is ready to aban- don in order to avoid useless bioodshed. It will use aH the resources at {t command to collect the revenue. if the revolutionary powers of the South aball interfero with this discharge of duties which the laws of tho land impose upon its federal minis ters, the interference will be repelled, and then the con flict wil come. But the administration will not strike the first blow. The shot that will open the bloody drama of civil strife will have to be fired on the side of the revo Tationists, and not on that of the lawful protectors of the federal authority. The doings of the administration sioce the beginning of this week were studiously sought to be kept tn the dark, but pot only ita actual purport of the nsval and army movements has been definitely ascertalnet, but something bas also leaked out in regard to the Cabinet proceedings. It is known that Mr. Sew ard advorates an adhererce to the former pis- tive attitude, but that he found his colleagues upapimoarly advocating @ vigorous response to the appeal of the commander of the naval forces in the Day Of Pensacola for additional supplies of men ani pro- vicioue, which demand, together with the representations of the tecetsity of some action in regard to the collection of the revenue, formed the, immediate occasion for the consent for{the present armament. Postmaster Geoeral Blair was foremost in urging the adoption of energetic measures. TUF WAR PRESSURE ON THR PRRSIDENT. Since en ntteck upon Forts Samter and Pickens has be- come probable, the President has received @ number of telegraphic exhortations from leading politicians tn ali puts of the country, urging him not to surrender any thing, and offering to volunteer in undertaking reinforce ments. An Ooterpriaing Yankeo offered to supply Major anderson with m+n and provisions for five thousand A proainent Bell mao collars On ten days? votive. of Cincinnati telegraphed to a Western Congress nan to tell the President not to budge an inch— that to yield anything was to yield everything, ant that & millon of Northern men would spring to arms rhould thi Southern forte be wttacked. The despaich was handed to the Presitent this morning by a member of the Cabinet, hete appeals are said to exercise a consiicrable stiffening influence. he omar oipated bo of President ie wo nfuenees fully from the the tate, and Wo lend bis ear wostly to Blair and Chase, Frank P. Blair talked some backbone into Old Abe ove day thie week, after bis outspoken, unaparing fuebion, He told him plainly that peaceable secession, or separation, Was an impoesibiity, and that the auccees of the repybhean administr. tion depended oo the fullliment of the assurance ® belt ovt in the inanguaal, He i aaid to have done @aything but minced word's {9 his allusions to the views of the Premier upon the secession question REPORTS FROM MONTGOMERY, Deepetebes received here to-day from Montgomery and easton, Indboaty that the Confederate government ia now —#nid inert Seovotary of re EW YUKK HEKALD, SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 1861.—TRIPLE SHEBT. Feady for any emergency, and fully and amply prepared ‘at all points to defend themselves, whenever and where- ever assailed. General Bosuregard saye be bas no fear Of their abutity to repel all invasion. TRE TREPARATIONS POR WAR. The government is exerting all ite power and energy in all ta departments to carry out the policy deckled upon towards the secede’ States. That they are of the most determined and extraordinary character is clearly evi- dent from the movemente that are in progress; but the impression ie that they have waited too long. The Con- federate goverenment is in better condition to day, for defence and active operations on land, than is the Wash- ington government. The fact that the administration intend t reinforce Fort Pickens bas reached Pensacola ere this, and when the attempt is made it will be reatated to the death. Several members of the Cabinet have expressed ap. prehensions that Fort Pickens would be immediately at- tacked, and that the equadron now collecting would ap- pear in Penracola bay too late to be of real service. It 8 expected to be upon the ecene of action in about ten days. Governor,@urtin, of Pennayivania, besides being closet, ed with the President an hour, has bad aa interview to- day wth Secretary Cameron and General Soott, and at eleven o'clock to-night bad @ private interview with ono cf General Scott's confidential officers, What is up? There is no doubt that Pennsylvania will be put upona war footing immediately, ‘Maseachusetts has six thousand six hundred and seven- ty men, all equipped and ready to march at twelve hours notice. Amovg them are two flying artillery batterios, almost as expert in drill as the beet reguiars, and several dragoon and cavalry corps, not surpassed Ln efiiciency by any in the volunteer militia in the United States. The ‘nfantry corps sre well drille}. ‘New York Stato is pladged to furnish ten thousand men at forty-eight hours’ notice, and other States {2 propor- tion. Tlinois and other Western States are begging to be called into the field. We have lively times beforo us, STRAMER PAWNER ORDERED TO SEA. Fxtraordinary efforts have been making a!! day at tho Navy Yard here to put the steamer Pawnes in condition to leave here to-morrow morning, under sealed orders. AN ENVOY FROM FORT SUMTER, Lieutenant Talbot, with deepatohes from Fort Sumter, 1® expected to arrive hore in the morning. The opinion is that he comes to inform the government that bis sap- plies are cut off, that he must evacuate the fort from no cessity, and to learn at what post he shail report with his command. It is usdoubtedly true that the soccesioniats are anxious to get Major Anderson out of Fort Sumter, for the purpose of despatchirg a portion of the troops now at Charleston to Pensacola, REPORTS FROM PORT PICKENS. Lieut. Gilman, aftor testifying to day before the Court of Inquiry in the case of Commodore Armstrong, who surrendered the Pensacola Navy Yard, ha/l an interview with the Secretary of War and Gen. Scott, and left this afternoon for Pensacola. It is beMeved in high administration circiee that the Brock!yn has ero this landed supplies at the fort, and some interpret the silence of the telegraph wires as evi- denco of an attack from the secession fore This news is hourly expected. Capt. Slemmer has kept the government here advised of his condition, and frequently told them, within the last month, that he could not hold out much longer with- out men and supplies, Yet the a¢ministration did nothing. It is believed hore, from information just received, that should an attempt now be made to reiaforce Capt. Slem- mer, he will consider it his duty, under existing circum stances, to baul down his flag and surrender at once, being satisfied that 1t would be useless to attempt to re- pist the overwhelming foress surrounding him on al sides. He never will consent now, it is said, to sacrifice his iittie band, but will throw the ontire responsibility on the administration. They have been aware of his critical condition for more than month, and of the ex- traordinary efforta ip progress by the Gonfederate govern- ment to surround the fort with fortifications and batte- ries of the largest description. It would bea most wan- ton sacrifive of haman life for him now to attempt to ro- sist them. Whenever an attack is mado it will certainly de taken. PROBABLE SURRENDER OF FORT SUMTER, The same state of things exists in regard to Fort Sumter. The officers in command of these two forts will, it ig believed hero by military men, surrender whenever an attack is mado. By this course thoy will avoid the shedding of blood at these points at least, OPINION OF JOHN MINOR BOTT. There is a Jargo delegation of Virginians here, heatea by John Minor Botts, They have come for the purpose of aecertaining something respecting the movements now in progress by the administration towards the Confede- rate States, Botts i¢ of opinion, from the best informa- tion he can obtain, that the administration does not in. tend war. He says that, even in the event of hostilities, Virginia will etill refuse to join the Southorn confederacy. Mr. Botts also says that the secession feeling is steadily gaining groutd, and that unless the demands of the Old Detainiop upon the North be complied with, she will fol. low, sooner or leter, in the wake of tho cotton States, He called on the President, and advised him to withdraw Major Anderson from Fort Sumter, and not to disturb the present etatua of the other Southern forts. His counsels probably come too late. TRE YRESIDENT’S LEVEE POSTPONED, ‘Tho regular levee this evenirg was not held, on account of the preesure of public business. RECRUITING FOR THE #OCTHRRN ARMY. An officer of artillery in the South Carolina forces ar- rived here yesterday , and is engaged in recruitiog soldiers tofight against thetr country. The mon thus enlisted aro n teent beyond Richmond, Va., whe o @ strong force now eaists, which ‘8 daily being strengthened from among | the floating adventurers and filibusters of Northern | cities. )ALL POR AN EXTRA SESSION OF CONOHESS. Thero will be an extraordinary seesion of Congress in | about tixty dasa JHE DISTRIBUTION OF THE OFFICES. Wasntvarow, April 5, 1851. Washington was evacuated to.day by the départure of about one hundred Pepnsylvanions and New Yorkers, who learned from the White Pouse that the appo otments for those two States would not be considered fur oue or two weeks. (fice Feckers are much distroesed at tho pregent ab sorption of most of the President's time by the const eration of political matters. Abou: two hanitred mado | thei ance at the White House this morning, but | oply about a dozen of the mort prominent were a/laniteed. Senator Burris, of New York, had « flare-up with the Preeicent before leaving, aud bade him farewell for over. Congressmen Kellogg is eaid to have bad quite a scene with the President about some appornt nents be desired, TUS CALIFORNIA, SEW YORK AND PRANSYLVANTA APPOINTMENTS, ‘The California appolntments will be faished ins fow daye. The New York appoinimenta will then be cous!dered and mando, which, it is believed, will occupy nearly all of next | week, #0 that the Perusy!vania appointment, which will be subsequently mace, cann% be effected until week Aller next. It in confidentiy asserted to-night that Schulte is ap: pointed Marsbal of New York, tn order that Ryndure may be removed from his present position. Although the other New York appoin'mente will not bo mute for a week, {1 Is said that Wakeman j¢ settled upon aa Surr6y or, Denninon a4 Naval Officer, D D.C, Marshall as Navy Agent, and R. M. Blatchford as Sub- Treasurer. 3 nt Gov. Ourtin and Mr. MoClure, of Pepnsylvania, both had Jong interviews with the Presideattday. Mr, MoClure oft for Harrisburg this afternoon, and Governor Curtin g0¢8 t0-morrow morning. A vast exodus of Philadelphians took place this after- ‘boon iM consequence of the pustpovement of the oonside- Tation of their appointments antil next week. Some wag telegraphed to the city of Brotherly Love what purported to be & complete list of city appointments agreed upon im to-day’e Cabinet meeting, but the sell wag detected sefora any miechief was done. Interested parties vainly busied themsetves a] the afternoon to dircovor tne author. THE BORTON AVPOINTMENTS. The Boaton appointments have been left to a number of country representatives, who proves = ore 44 tg her republican interests than did her Boston Senator, who ignored her altogether. Mr. Sumner has consented to the country programme for Surveyor, simply because he could not help himself, His first choice for that offica was G. B. Weston, of Cape Cod, Tho delegation deter. mined to give the Surveyorship to C. A. Phelpa, who was defeated for Postmaster by Mr. Sumner, who endorse Mr. Palfrey. The Massachusetts representitives have determined Upon the following recommendation to vhe Prestlent for the remaining offices, excopt Navy Agent:—For Sub ‘Tressurer, Ezra Lincoln, of Boston; for Surveyor, Charles A. Phelps, of Boston; for Marrhal, John 8, Koyes, of Oon- cord; for United States Attoroey, R. H. Dana, Jr., of Cambridge. The office of Navy Agent waa not acted “upon, becAuse Mr. Lawrenee, of Maine, is the candidate, ond is here figuring with the President for the place; and the dolegation, with the exception of one or two, had not pluck enough to deslare openly for Mr. Thompson, of Botton, who holds as good an endorsement from all tha great interests, political and other, of Boston, aa has ever been prodaced. APPOTYTSNNTS, D. W. Cheesman has been appointed Asglatant Treasurer at Ban Francisco. James G. Zalen, Postmaster at Hudson. Chas. H. Thomzon, Postmaster at Oorning, New Yori, Nebemiab D. Speery, Postmaster at New Haren. Fd. Prentiss, Collector at New London. ‘Thos. H. Trainer, Marshal for the Eastern District of Virg’nla. Chas, 8, Loring, a Chief Engineer in the Navy. THE LAND OFFCES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, ‘The Interior Department has under cusiderntion the subject of the organization of the land offices in the new Territories of Dacotah, Colorado and Novada. THE CMILE MBN. Henry T. Blow, prominent merchant and repubiioan leader of St. Louis, will doubtlessly be appointed Minister to Chile. His appointment is solicited by Mr. Bates and the two Blairs, APPOINTMENT POR FLORIDA, Mr. Boynton, of Missouri, has been appointed United States Attorney for Florida. ‘THE UTAH GOVERNORS, B. D. Harris, of Vermont, will be Governor of Utah should he desire the position. IMPENDING REVOLUTION IN VIRGINIA. Wasauxeton, April 6, 1861. A special meeting of the Cabinet was called to-night at half past ten, to give a bearing to # Select Committee from the Virginia State Convention. The committee ar- rived here to-night, and it is believed that they not only laid before the Cabinet tho exact state of affairs in Vir- ginia, where there exists a strong revolutionary feeling, but they bring a letter from Letcher, expressing a hope that the administration will take some prompt action to stay the tide of revolution and restore fraternal feeling in all the States. A private letter from Governor Letcher to a gentleman ip this city, explaining the sad state of affairs in Vir- ginia, was shown to the President yesterday. ‘With reference to the recent threat of the secessionis‘a of Virginia to s+ize certain guns belovging to the United States, Secretary Cameron addressed a letter to Governor Letcher, informing him that as the United States needs money more then guns, and as Virginia sooma ta want guns more than money, she could have the guns im queation if she would pay for them. THE GOVERNMENT LOAN. Wasnivaron, April 6, 1861. It ia understood that the Secretary of the Creasury wil receive offers for Treasury notes, redeemable in two years, for the balance of the losn no! taken under tho last notice. Another has been made fur two millions at an o’ghth per ceatum premium. MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. Wasumaton, April 5, 1961. ‘The Cabinet were in session today for several hours. It was the first of the regular meotings since the agree- ment to bold them Tuesdays and Fridays without a cal’ of the President. Mr. Seward submitted his instructions to several of the new Ministers, which absorbed the at- tention of the Cabinet for a time. Tam ceedibly informed that the termination of Mr Clay's office as Minister to Peru was not intended by tha ‘administration as any indication of the policy to be adopt- d in relation to the Peruvian diffoulty. If the policy of the late administration is not fully carried out, it will not be because the soundness of the position is doubtful, but ‘because of a wish not to assume new responsibilities at this time, The Pernyian claims will be insisted upon. It is not true that the Southern Commissioners hava taken a bouse in Washington. It is well anderstood that the length of their sojourn here will be dependent on cir- cumstances. Senator Neamith, of Oregon, leaves here to-morrow. IMPORTANT NEWS FROM CHARLESBON. Cuaniaston, April 5, 1961. Aterrible moment is evidently at hand. The news from Washington and New York to-night corroborates the general impression, that within twenty-four hours ‘war will be upon us. Every man has been ordered on duty, and the utmost activity prevails, The State is propared for any emer- gency. ‘The highest officials gay the present state of things can- not last but a short time longer. ‘Tho excitement throughout is intense, and cverything wears a warlike aspect. THE SOUTHERN CONSTITUTION, Citartastos, April 5, 1861. The Binal vote took place in the Cnvention today on the a¢option of the permanent constitution of the South- ern confederacy. The whole number of members of the Convention is 172, of whom 146 voted for and sixteen ogninet the constitution, Ten were absent, There is nothing new as to Fort Sumter or other mat~ ters. INTERESTING FROM NEW ORL®ANS, PEN- SAOLA AND TRBXAS, Naw Onteass, April 4, 1861. A second company of Zouaves, numbering 100 men, left this city thie evening to join the battalion of Zouaves before Fort Pickers It i# reported bere that the United States steam sloxp- of- war Brooklyn arrived off Pensacola harbor on the Sist ult., from Key West. Adviors from Indianola state that the United States steamer Mobawk, and the steamers Star of the Woat and Empire City wore lying outsidy of Pass Cavallo | bar, waiting the arrival of the feleral te ops from Brazoa to transport them t York The steamer Fashion nav been chartered by the fe feral government to transport the troops from Indianola to Past Cava lo bar. Ten companies are expected to arrive shortly from San Antonio. New Onteans, April 6, 1861. More fengation despatches from Washingtoa day state that President Davis had orderod General Beauro- 2rd to stop Major Anderson's supplies and cut off all communication with him, and place Fort Sumter in & stato of slogo. If such was the fact wo would recstva immediate into.ligence from Montgomery and Charleston, It is quizzical for Waehington quidnuncs to tell of prov ceedings at Charleston. ‘The political excitement in New York to-day is repre- rented as intense, and @ collision is believed to be inevi- “ie Cabinot at Montgomery believe no belligerent stepa will bo resorted to, while the Confederate States fare belong pat on complete war foeting. No alarm iq entor'ained. Advices from Jamaica to the 28d ult, state Princes Alfred met a royal reception at Parbador, Preparations aro making to give bim a magnificent ball at Jamaica,