jj VTt55. SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 1861 TO AnvtorristuaThe circulation of THE PRESS exceeds that of'any other daily paper iii Philade)phia, with a single exception. Sa tisfactory proof of this fact will bo cheerfully given to advertisers. Fteer Peen.—Rev. Henry Ward Beecher ; -An other Royal Visitor; Interposition of the Border Slave States; The Revolution- in the South ; The hitittep _Strength and Weakness of Charleston ; Personal and Politleal ; General News; Weekly Review of the Philadelphia Markets. FOURTII Peon —The Pulpit; Marine Intelligence. The Secession Movement. It seems now to be a fixed fact that Ala baniapnd Florida are on the point of imita ting .the example of South Carolina and Mis sissippi. All fevers are contagious, and the Secession malady is far from proving an ex_ ception to this general rule. In Texas, the Disunion sentiment is almost unanimous, and she may be expected to follow in the wake of her erring sisters as soon as her Convention can bo called together. In Georgia, a large number of co-operation delegates have been elected, but it is scarcely possible that they can resist the madness of the hour. Within the next month, therefore, it may be cond. dently expected that South Carolina, Missis sippi, Alabama, Florida, Texas, and Georgia, will all be ranged under the Disunion banner, and It is probable that their example will be iraltated,4y„, , T,ouisiana and Arkansas before the firlif4,,Mitneth. The leaders of the move ment O rk t congiently, too, upon the eo-ope. ration,, Of.lttuclit , comparatively conservative States esNlrgliiii, North Carolina, and even Tennessee and *entucky, if no compromise is formed before-that period. The recent letter of#o,President BRECNINEIDOZ was proba sblrtt 'Or the purpose of securing, if ,40111PW-fitihe co-operation of all the slave •States•iti.,tkeZSeceseion movement. If Mr. 'CiliiiiiiiiOrliatepropositions are all de. fiateCit gil 4it i dilltletilt-task for those who sympathiaeviltkfth4iindwho still desire to preserve 'the Union, ;to. fight its battles suc cessfully, even in the.lionkey, States; and in the Gulf States public iinifi4ent is so over whelmingly in faiVoynca deatrtioiion of the Con federacy,ttbettlantifthesober second thought of-their inisgtildd People is invoked it will be in vain to seek to . Change theli.opinione. Conciliation and Coercion. Governor Balms, in his4etiring address to the Legislature of 'lllasssehusetts uttered a sentiment whiclswilf be, ) ;iestionded to by many of 'his falANitatrtollollren he said that .t i aiiciklOUooboooeFokili'are twin brothers; they;greari*:gt and into each other; and tteitheflrOY itself alone." In tie - prevent *mai 14te of feeling, It is eminently sin4ipeiver that every fair and reasonable mode ofpoaceable adjustment should be exhausted before an appeal is made to arms. Thousands of those who in a last dread alter native Would be ready to fight in the front ranks in defence of the Union and the Con stitution will not consent to drew a sword or shoulder a musket before they are fully as inured •that -every guaranty-which the! South aril in jestice demand, or the Nortlkin:Bonor bas been proffered and *ejected. ,EVeiy evidence of a disposition on thevat of our legislators at Washington, to adisiit ts fair and just compromise is hailed with general approval, while every sign of a stubborn re sistance to such measures excites discontent and dissatisfaction. The difference in the va rious propositions which have boon under dis cussion, and which have been considered ac ceptable, respectively, to the representatives of different sections, is, after all, not so radical and irreconcileable as to shut out all hope of a peaceful adjustment. • It should never be forgotten that much deference is duo to the overwhelming conservative spirit which still exists in the nation, not withstanding all that has occurred to excite sectional animosities, and that the restoration of confidence in business circles is an object well worthy the attention of representatives upon niusto- action will Alepend the actual value of many hundreds of millions worth of property, and the material welfare of mil. lions of men. At the November election Mr. LINCOLN was chosen to be our next Chief Magis trate; and an immense majority of his coun trymen are determined that he shall 'bo . inaugurated and sustained in the exercise of all the power with which, under the Constitu tion, he has been entrusted ; but the wishes and• views of the large wing of his supporters who would gladly sustain any appropriate con servative action that may bo determined upon, and of the nearly three million voters who cast their ballots for Davemes, BELL, and Barmaratinaz should nevertheless command attention and respect. It is a significant indi cation that Mr. BUCHANAN, who may be sup posed to bo 'a fair representative of those who supported Mr. BRECKINBIDO t: in the last campaign—Mr. Doucias, who, no doubt, speaks for a largo proportion of those who voted for bins in the late contest—and Mr. CRITTENDEN, who certainly possesses, to a very great extent, the confidence of the supporters of BELL and Evens's-L.—have all come forward with certain peace propositions, in the form et amendments to the Constitution, by which they propose to adjust the existing difficulties. The Committee of the Border, Free, and Slave States, by an almost unanimous vote, has - also agreed to recommend the proposi tions we published yesterday morning to Con gress, and to the people of the different States, for adoption, and those resolutions were sus tained by two of the five Republican members of that committee, Mr. Hate, of this State, and Mr.- Nixon, of Now Jersey. We allude to these facts l. here, because they servo to show that, iitihe*inion of some of the best and wiselii.lffigstrinifin of the country, who are dontstlOS - 4 Bfitbfeil . representatives of an im iiihin4e'T;OrswiOtaiicy, a period in our national hisioryhas'asilved when important new mea sitres'of conciliation are essential to the wel fare of the nation. And without specifically endorsing any particular plan of adjustment which has been presented, we do not doubt that an immense majority of the American people concur in this opinion. The general current of popular sentiment is now, as at all previous periods of our history, very strongly an favor of the preservation of the Federal Union—first, by cultivating a fraternal feeling, and again invoking the spirit of compromise which has already been found so effectual in establishing our Constitution and preserving our Government intact up to this period ; and second, by appealing to force, if necessary, when all other reasonable and proper expe dients have proved unavailing. But we hear tily agree with Gov. Bunts, that conciliation should be the forerunner of coercion, and the olive branch be borne aloft in advance of the sword. Condition of Fort Sumpter. A gentleman who made a thorough exami nation of Fort Sumpter a few months ago, and who is well skilled in military affairs, in forms us that it is almost Impossible for any successful attack to be made upon It, and that it is as near impregnable as human science can render it. Its walls aro so high that it is almost impossible for any shell or cannon ball to be thrown into the fort, and they cannot make a serious impression upon its massive walls. In case of an assault, any enemy that would come near enough to bombard or can nonade it would be subject to a terrific fire trom its heavy guns. Excellent arrangements have been made for securing a good supply of water. From deep wells which have been dug, any quantity of water necessary for washing and cooking can be obtained, but it is slightly brackish in taste, and for ordinary drinking, therefore, they rely upon rain water, which is preserved in immense tanks under the tort, where it is kept cool,'and, by filtering, ren dered 'agreeable to the taste. Our informant expressed a belief that Major ANDERSON would be able to bold it for six months against any force that Could be brought against him, if his ' supplies—and he has an abundance of all he needs except fuel—are not'exhausted. The ifluistsslpid henators. - ' While JUMBOS DAVIS was making his speech in the Senate on Thursday against tbe - President's message, his colleague, Governor BeowN, not only received a telegraphic an noUncoment of the passage of a Secession or dinance by Mississippi, but also a request that her Senators should at once withdraw from their seats and return to their homes. Mr. :DFLyte was 'not aware of this fact until he had concluded his remarks; but there seems-little doubt that they have both ended their Sena torial career for the present. WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE Letter from " Occasional." [Oorteepotolonoo of The Prom] WASHINGTON,JarI. 11,1861 The abstraction of the bonds of the Indian Trust fund has almost been lost eight of by the country, In the exciting events transpiring since its disco very, and the parties implicated are taking advan tage of the seeming indifference about the matter to escape punishment Russell is out on bail, and is bringing every inilnEnoo to bear to prevent the Grand Jury of - the District finding a true bill against Bailey for theft, and against himself ns an accessory. Bailey still lies in jail, unable to procure the amount of the bail required in his ease, and I learn is loud in denunciation of Secretary Thomp son, and a number of Senators, threatening to dis close certain transactions in which they have been engaged, and in which the interests of the Goiern ment have suffered, more oriminal than the one for which he is held. It will be remembered that this Gordon F. Bailey is a nephew of Governor Floyd, and that the late Secretary of War is directly im plicated in the abstraction of the bonds, ho having accepted the drafts of Russell on which they were paid out by Bailey. A curious fact connected with the matter, and going to show that Governor Floyd long meditated obtaining possession of these bonds, is contained in the Congressional Globe of the lset session of the 35th Congress, from which it appears that an amendment was introduced in the Senate to the Indian appropriation bill, disconnecting the whole Indian Bureau from the Interior Department, and placing it under the charge of the War Depart ment. lam informed that Governor Floyd showed great anxiety to have this amendment adopted by the House of Representative!, end was present in that body during its consideration urging his friends to support it, but, principally through the opposition of Ron. John B. Baskin, it was lost. The suspicions of Mr. Baskin that the Secretary of War desired to have this Indian Bureau placed under his care for no good purpose, are clearly shown in his remarks on the occasion, which I re produce. Speaking of the amendment, he said : tt I am opposed to this kind• of legislation, be cause I think it is indirect, covert, and mean. In the Constitution of the State which I have the honor in part to represent upon this floor, we have a provision that no hill before the Legislature of a general nature shall embrace more than ono sub• jest,. and that shall be specified in its title This, sir, is a bill making appropriations for the cur rent and contingent expenses of the Indian Depart meat, and for fulfilling treaty stipulations with certain Indian tribes.' Now, if the Constitution of the United States contained a similar provision to the one in the Constitution of New York, to which I have referred, in my judgment a great deal of smuggling legislation would thereby be pre vented. This section has been interpolated by the Senate into an appropriation bill, and by it one of the departments of this Government is to be ma terially changed, and that, too, without any re commendation of such change by our venerable President in his message. * # x* "Sir, I am not willing, by any vote of mine, to say that I have confidence in the War Department, and have not confidence in the Department of the Interior. The War Department, under Its present head, has expended more money during the past twe years_than was ever expended during a like period under any former Secretary of War—even during the Mexican war. If you are to judge of the expenditures of that department for the next two years by its expenditures during the two last, its expenditures during the four years of the pre treat Secretary will exceed, by $12,342.578, the ex penses of the department in the years 1849, '47, '4B, and '49, under Mr. Marcy, and when we were car rying on our brilliant war with Mexico. Sir, lam opposed to conferring upon that department addi tional patronage, and I judge, from this discussion, that this is a mere strife for patronage. It has already proven, by Its enormous expenses in rela tion to the Utah war, that it should not have this additional power conferred upon it." The Secretary of War, defeated in obtaining control of the bureau, turned his attention to, and succeeded in having hie nephew, Bailey, appoint ed clerk in, charge of the Trust bonds, under the Interior Department. This accomplished his evi dently long-cherished design of possessing the power to use the bonds for his own purposes. The special committee which has been appointed to in vestigate the ease, aro expected to return from New York at an early day, and the developments they will make, it is bailey's:l, will show that the whole machinery of the Government has been per. vented by certain of Mr. Buohanan's Cabinet, to enable their friends to plunder the Government. OCCASIONAL. Letter from “Kappa. ,, Correspondenc) of The Prom) WASIIINGTO:t, Jan. 11, 1881 Demooratie members from the North and South, who have been working day and night for the Union, are now giving it up. They despair of being able to stop the revolution in tho South, the ,more as the Republicans have not assisted them in any practical manner. The Cotton States will all go out—that is certain The question is, whether it ,will be possible to retain the northern slave States. But to judge from present appearances, it is very likely that they will also follow, provided that the 'Republicans do not make such offers as will enable the conservative and Union-loving citizens to throw themselves in the breach, and save the country 'from dissolution. The seceders of the ,Cotten Stites are very active to make the South a unit.: TP order to bring over Virginia, which will be.follow,ed by all the border slave States, they sitopoiliko make Senator Rutter Provisional Pro trident of the Southern Confederacy. Jefferson 'Davis is to be the commander.in•obief of the army of defence. Whether they will succeed will de pend upon the developments of the next ten or twelve days A kind of madness seems to have taken hold of the Southern Legislatures and politicians. Na tional economy and sound, statesmanlike policy, providing not only for the moment, but thinking also of the consequences in the future, are entirely disregarded. They run in debt, make leans at ruinous rates of interest, in accordance with the principle, ." After us the deluge." Their actions are of snob an excited and unstable character that one might suppose they have all been stung by the tarantula. Take, for instance, Virginia, the proud Old Dominion, which rather has the semblance of a retired gentleman in meagre circumstances, but who is still anxious to keep up appearances, in order to make the people believe that he is just as respectable and prosperous as in bygone Union, when he was young and had plenty of mo ney. Everybody knows that she is largely in debt and hardly able to pay the interest thereon. One of her great internal improvements, the Winches ter canal, she cannot maintain herself, and, there fore, she has sold it to a company of Frenoh capi talists. Her farmers, once opulent and in good circumstances, are more or less impoverished. Take, per example, a country paper,.and you will find hundreds of advertisements of estates and farms by the sheriff for nonpayment of taxes It is well enough to talk about chivalry, if you have your pockets full of rooks. But even in the most ariatootatio countries, a poor baron or count is less esteemed than a well-to-do tailor or barber. Instead of assisting their fellow.eitizens by inter nal Improvements, and other benefits of sound legislation, the Mons of Virginia seem to think that they have all the hidden treasures of Gol conda behind them. The farcical excitement about John Brown's in vasion cost the State no lees than $500,000. The present crisis will be followed by oven a more dis astrous sacrifice. Though it is well known that Virginia, at the utmost, can bring together only about 50,000 efficient fighting men, and though, as I was assured last night by a member of Congress from that State, the State posseeses 100,000 stand of arms, and 100,000 more in the hands of private citizens, sufficient to arm all the force Virginia ever will raise, yet the present Legislature has resolved to contract another ban of no less than $10,000,000, for the purpose of arming the State," though the State and the people have snore arms than they ever will be in need of. Supposing the white popu lation of the State to be about oaks million, every man, woman, and child will have to pay each ten dollars for arming the State." But the worst of it is, that the money cannot be raised at less than 30 per sent. interest. Taking into consideration the hard times which now exist, and will be still worse if Virginia goes out, it wants no prophet to state that the once glorious Commonwealth is ap proaching her ruin. Snob are the consequences of secession in Virginia. Lot ue cast a glance at South Carolina. It is true she is out, but how is she out? She is, if possible, worse off than Virginia. Tho Governor, in a message to the Legislature on the 7th, in forms them, that under the resolutions of the con vention, he has proceeded to raise two regiments of enlisted men; ono for ferVi.OP twelve months, the other for six months. Then he rehearses the expenses for military defence at which the State will be put: To raise and equip a regiment for twelve menthe $200,000 Col. OrOgg's regiment, already reload fur air months 100,000 The regiments now raising for six Months.. 100,000 Coast police, and vessels of war ordered by the Legislature , 150,000 The sot already passed by the Legislature to raise BD armed military force, under which enlistments are going OA 500,000 Provisions for purchase of arms, oto , al- ready passed 400,000 Making a grand total of war exponeeo thus tar $1,450,000 Fourteen hundred and fifty thousand dollars ex pense of war for a State with about 300,000 poo• ple, end with not a dollar in the treasury, and nothing but the bank of the btato to draw upon ! KAPPA. Drill Classes in Schools. The Board of Control have reported in favor of accepting a proposal made by Captain and Mkt. tent Fred, C. Harvey, lately of the British hoe, to form voluntary drill classes of the first military degree in the public, schools of this oily. lie would put the expense at a minimum of one cent for each weekly drill, payable by each pupil, male or female, who should join a class. ,Savo rani,, in torpors sano, (a sound mind in a sound body,) fa especially applicable to young people who are at dOhoof ; and we holier: , that Captain Harvorp gyfanaetio exerpises *ad drill would equally con- dune to health of mind and body. SZItIfON OP BEV. Namream. Wnsm, D. o.—Wit publirh on our fourth page a rormon by thin Hono rable clergyman full of hintorie and Biblical infor• motion applicable to the preEont orlEis. LATEST NEWS By Telegraph to The Press. FROM WASHINGTON. Special Despatches to "The Press." General Scott Insulted by Senator Toombs T At a private dinner party, yesterday, high words passed botween Senator Toombs and Lieu tenant• General Scott. According to the relations of the scene, in Congressional circles, the conver sation turned on the sending of troops to Charles ton, when Mr. Toombs expressed a hope that the People there would sink the Star of the West. General Scott, with much earnestness, asked if it was possible that he (Toombs), as an American, desired such an event. Mr. Toombs replied affirmatively, and that those who sent the vessel there should be sunk maker. Gen. Boon thereupon said he was responsible for what he said, and Mr. Toombs remarked: " You have known me for twenty-five years, end are aware that I, too, am responsible " The matter here ended, but the subject, it is said, is now in the hanie of the friends of the par ties. News from Charleston. No important news from Charleston has been received hero to day, and none can bo expected until Lieutenant TALBOT, the messenger of Major Annansox, who is now here, returns to that officer, and, bearing with him the instructions of the Go vernment, for which ho has asked, enables him to determine what course ho must pursue in the midst of the difficulties by which he is surrounded The Brooklyn It is asserted by some that the Charlestonians have been advised by their friends here that the mission of the war steamer Brooklyn is•of a peaceful charactor; and that they will, there fore, not attempt to molest her if she appears be fore their harbor. The Star of the lireet. It it said that MOLT, STANTON, BLACK, and Ton. CNN' have all agreed that the honor of the nation imperatively demands that the reinforeements on board the Star of the West should be permitted to reaoh Fort Sumpter. The steamer Fulton. is being fitted out to accompany her, and to aid in protect. big her—the Broohlyn not being able to cross the bar at the entrance of the harbor General Dix. It is a fact of FOIDO significance that General Dix, who has just boon appointed Secretary of the Treasury, was a number of years ago connected with the regular army of the United States as a captain. While serving in that capacity Major ANDERSON was his first lieutenant. It will, doubt less, be a source of satisfaction to the latter to thus have an old companion-of-arms in the Cabinet. Ex-Chief Justwe Lewis. Ex-Chief Justice Lxwm, of your city, hud a long interview with the President last night. More Arms for the South. I learn that an agont from fdiaainippi, today, made a contract with an extensive establishment in Conneeticut, for the purchase of a large num ber of Sharpe's rifles for the use of the biiseissip• piano. The extent of the war fever in the South, and the aotivlty of her people in arming and pre paring for a deadly conflict, cannot be realized by the people of the North. Speech of Senator Seward. The groat event of to•morrow hero will doubtless be tho speech of Senator SIMARD. Intense inte rest prevails in reference to it, and ho will have a large and brilliant audience. He has carefully endeavored to prevent the publio from ascertaining what position he will take, and tho existing ou rlosity, therefore, adds largely to the importance of the occasion. It is supposed that ho will, to a very groat extent, foreshadow the polioy of the President elect, whose Premier ho is to be, that he will ex press a willingness to restore the Missouri Compro mise, and urge the admission of both Nansas and New Mexico. It is believed that the notion of the Republican caucus, which is to meet tomorrow evening, will be influenced very inuob, if not con trolled by the views he will express. Ills speech will, therefore, probably prove one of the most im portant in its results that have over been delivered, as it may very materially affect the destinies of this country and of the world. The Appointment of Mclntyre. An effort will be made in the Senate to-morrow to recall the reference of the appointment of Mr. Molar - um, no Collector of Charleston, from the Committee of Commerce, whore it hoe now been hung up for some time, and from which the Se oe.,:,ionists think it cannot be removed, and to con firm him at once, so that without further delay he may proceed to Charleston to perform the import• ant duties which will there devolve upon him. The President's Policy. Another proof of the President's firmnoss he hie determination to remove from all the depertmonte of the Government men holding important posi tions who have been engaged in treasonable plots against the Union. Today or to-morrow It is ex paned that Philip It. Clayton, who was appointed by the late Secretary Cobb his Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, will resign or be dismissed. The Secessiou Programme. Many of the Southern men hero aro busily en. gaged sending off telegraphic despatohes, for the purpose of keeping up the excitement among their people at home, utterly regardless whether their statements aro true or false, and only wishing, as they say, to "raise h—l in the South." I hoar that Mr. Kohl, of South Carolina, has taken a house in Eleventh street, near E, and another commission from South Carolina are shortly expected to ar rive, not for the purpose of treating with the President, but to watch and report the movements of the Administration. It would not bo at all surprising if the delegation from that btato made their appearance and resumed their seats in Con. grecs to assist their Secession brethren from Mis sissippi, Alabama, and Florida, in breaking up the Government, the only object for which they remain hare The ca Constitution." Mr. Buchanan has withdrawn from hie official organ, The Constitution, all the Executive ad vertisements, and has given them to The intelli goatee, which will hereafter express the views of the Administration. Tho late attack upon the President and Air. Secretary Holt, which appeared In The Constitutjon, and the ultra disunion senti ments advocated by its alien British editor, have caused this change. In the venerable old Intel/c -gcnccr the President will have what he has never had before, a respectable organ The Kentucky and Ohio Difficulty. The ease involving a conflict of jurisdiction be tween the States of Kentucky and Ohio, growing out of the rescue of a fugitive slave from Kontuoky, and the refusal of Gov. Denniston, of Ohio, to de liver the rescuers up to the authorities of Ken tucky, was brought up before the United States Supreme Court this morning, and its argument postponed until the Bth of February. The Necessary Legislation During the proceedings in the House today, tho Secessionists manifested a design to prevent the ordinary legislation which is lately essential to a continuance of the Government, by calling tho yeas and nays on Mr. SHERMAN'S motion to ge into Committee of the Whole to conside: the Naval Ap. propriation bill. A number of the members from the border States avoided voting. This is regarded as an unfortunate evidence of their disposition to assist in the destruction of the Government. Governor Chase and the New Cabinet. It is reported here to-night, on apparently good authority, that Mr. LINCOLN has tendered the ap pointment of Sooretary of the Treasury to Gover nor Onesx, of Ohio, and that ho will undoubtedly aecopt. The Debate on the State of the Union. Mr. SILERMAN, chairman of tha Committee on Ways and Moans, said in the House to•day, that after the navy and array appropriation bills shall have been disposed of, the opportunity deelrod by Southern men for debate will be afforded. The New York rostmastership. It is said that Mr. TAYLOR, tho chief clerk of the Now York post office, will he appointed post master of that city, la place of General Dix, ap pointed Secretary of the Treasury Secretary Thompson. Ex•Sanator Thompson has replied to tbo Presi dent's letter of acceptance of his resignation. While adhering to his opinions formerly expressed, implying a breach of Cabinet faith, ho speaks in the kindest terms of the President and of his pa triotism. Lieutenant Talbot Lieutenant Talbot has arrived with the doe. patches to the Qovernment from bliapr Anderson. unter's Speephe Senator Ituptor'a spocoh today Ina produced a profound sensation. Gen. Cameron aid the Cabinet. A great deal of apprehension prevails in the pub lic mind in reference to the appointment of Gen. Cameron to Gm Cabinet of Mr. Lincoln. lam ip formed upon good authority that it is Gen. Came ron's iutontion. iu a short dine, to wife a state• moot of the facts of the ease to satisfy his friends, and dispme of many of the unfounded rumors on the subjeot. OCCASIONAL. North Carolina Legislature DEBATE ON TEE STATE•CONVENTION QUESTION RALEIGH, N. C., Jan. 11 —Both Rouses were engaged yesterday and today on the fitataCcu vention question, which has become complicated by mixing State constitutional reforms with Fede ral matters. Amendments for an open and for a restricted Convention were offered, but there was no vote on either. The subject is made the special order for Monday. The prevailing sentiment hero indicates that the p State is conservative, and would re and to a pro position for an equitable adjustin en ,f the national difficulties, hut will have hoc right at all hazards. Naval Movements. Nertrocit, VII , January 11.—Before daylight this inorptbs h steamer went' to tho Federal maga zine wharf, loaded with powder, and put to eea. Her declination is unitnotrn, THE PRESS.-PHILADELPHEA, SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 1861. SECESSION IN THE SOUTH THE FLORIDA FORTS. ALL BUT ONE ABANDONED. The United States Forces Concentra ted at Fort Pickens, ATTEMPT TO SURPRISE THEM OIIARLIISTON, January 11.—A private despatch to the Courier, from Montgomery, Alabama, says that Port Pike has been taken by Louisiana. The Federal troops have abandoned all the forts in Pensacola harbor except Fort Pickens, where they are concentrated. Three hundred men have left Mobilo to surprise Fort Pickens. The steamer Marion will resume her regular trips to New York from this port. [lt was mentioned in Thursday's despateh that this steamer was to be razeed for a man•of-war.— En. SECESSION OF ALABAMA, MONTGOMERY, Ala , Jan. 11.—The ordinance of Beaesslon was passed at 2.30 o'olaek this altar- soon. The city is in a blaze of enthusiasm. Salutes aro firing and bells ringing, with other manifests• tions of rejoicing. The following is the ordinance of secession : ORDINANCE OF SECESSION An ordinance to dissolve the union existing between the State of Alanama and the other nates united under the compact and sty le of the United States of America Whereas. The elootion of Abraham Lincoln and Han nibal Hamlin to the offices of President and Vice Presi dent of the United States, by, a sectional party, avowed ly hostile to the domestic inatitutions and pease and security of the people of Mamma. following upon the heels of many and dangerous infractions of the ilonsti totion of the United States by mini of the htates and people of the Northern section, is a political wrong of so insulting and menacing a character as to justify the People of the State of Alabama in the adoption of prompt and decided measures for their future pesos and seourity. Therefore be it declared and ordained, by the people of the State of Alabama, in convention assembled, That the State of Alabama now withdraw, and is hereby withdrawn from the Union known as the United States Uf America, and henceforth settees to be one of the said nited States. and is. and by right ought to be, a sove reign and independent State. SEC..% And be it further declared and ordained, by the people of the State.of Alabama, in convention as sembled. That all the powers over the territories of the said State. and over the people thereof. heretofore dele gated to the Government 01 the United States of Ame rica, be, and they are hereby withdrawn from the said Government. and aro hereby resumed and vested in the people of the State of Alabama, And, as it is the desire end purpose of the people of Alabama to meet the slavehold nig States of tl e South, who approve of such a purpose, in order to frame a pro visional as well as a permanent Government, upon the principles of the Government of the United Strome. Therefore be it also resolved by thepeople of Alabama in Convention assembled, i hat the people of the States of Delaware. Maryland, Virginia, North Caeolina,:f outh Carmine. Florida. Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas. Arkansas, Tenneasoe. Kentucky, and albumen be, and they see hereby. invited to meet tire people of the State of Alabama by their delegates in Conven tion on the 4th day of February next. at Montgomery. in the State of Alabama, for the purpose of consulta tion with each other as to the most effectual mode of securing concerted and harmonious action in whatever measures may be deemed most desirable for the com mon peace and security. And be it farther Resolved, That the president o:this Convention bo and he is hereby nstruated to transmit. forthwith, a copy of the foregoing preamble, ordinance, and resolutions to the Governors of the several states named in the said resolutions. • Done by the p eople N the State of Alabama, in con vention assembled. at Montgomery, on this the el eventh day of January, 1560. The preamble, ordinance, and resolutions were adopted by the following vote, yeas fa, nays 39. After the adoption of the ordinance, the ball was opened to visitors. A splendid flag, presented by the ladies of Ala. bame, was conveyed to the President's stand, and formally presented to the Convention through Mr. Yanoey, in an eloquent address. Mr. Smith, delegate from Tuscaloosa, followed. With a feeling reference to the stare and stripes he invoked Divine blessing on tho now flag that was to supplant it. Mr. -Alpheus Baker, of Eufaula, returned tho thanks of the Convention to the ladies in eloquent terms. The ordinance will ho ratified on Monday, when it is believed that many of the delegates who voted against it will sign it. An immense mars mcoting is now in session in front of the Capitol. Distinguished cooperation delegates aro pledg• ing their constituents as a unit to sustain the se cession. The flew presented by the ladles is now waving over the Capitol. It was hailed with intense en thuelaem. MONTGOMERY (Ala.), Jan. 10—Evening —Mont gomery is illuminated from the Capitol to the river. An Immense crowd is gathered in front of Mont mery Hall. Congressman Curry, Mr. Mathews, of Mississippi, and others, are making speeches. Se cession is receiving a perfcot ovation. . SECESSION OF FLORIDA. TALLAHASSEE, F/4., January 11.—The ordi nance of secession, declaring the separation of Florida from the Federal Union, waa passed by the State Convention yesterday at 12 20 P.M., by a vote of 02 yeas to 7 nays. Proposed Secession of Western Flori- da from the State Wasurzioroir, Jan. 11.—A private letter re. eeived here from Florida, dated the 7th lost ' says that s number of delegates from West Florida ex press themselves to the elfeet that, if the State shall secede without a proper and general under standing, they will secede from tile other part of the State, and all west of the Apttlaehieola river will annex themselves to Alabama. Seizure of the U. K. Arsenal at Chat- taltoochec, Fla The arsenal at Chattahooehee, Florida, has been seized by order of the Governor, under the pretext that the United States officer was about to remove the arms. MISSISSIPPI CONVENTION The Secession Ordinance Signed—O. S. Postmasters Continued. JecirsoN, January 11 —Mr. Eclat, the commis sioner from South Carolina, delivered an address this morning to the Convention, which was mnoh applauded. A lone star flag WAS pendant in the hall. The Secession ordinance was signed this morning. In the secret session yesterday a resolution was adopted recognizing South Carolina as a sovereign independent State. All the laws, regulations, and contracts of the United States relative to the mail service aro con. tinned in full force pntil otherwise ordered. The Qovernor has ordered the military to bp in readiness eta moment's warning to obey a mill on Saturday night. There is to be a complete organi- zation of the military of the State. Judge Chelsea, of the United States Court, has resigned. Tho Convention will probably adjourn to Vicks burg en account of the Legislature wanting the use of the capitol. The churches are docorated with evergreens, and the lone star is a prominent ornament. Important from Louisiana. sizunr OF TEE FORTE BY ORDER OF THE GOVERNOR NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 10.—All the troops were under arms last night, by order of Governor Moore. Five companies embarked this morning, at two o'clock, to some the arsenal at Raton Rouge. The Orleans Battalion Artillery and four ootn• panics embarked qt eleven for ports Jackson end tat. Philip, forty miles below, on the Mississippi, commanding the approach to New Orleans. The wharf was crowded with citizens, who vociferously 'sheered the departure of the steamer. Three companies left this afternoon on a steamer to seize Fort Piko, on Lake Pontohattrain. Now regiments of troops are being organized. A rumor prevails that the war steamer Cru• sada). is coming up the river, and the highest ex citement prevails. Texas and Florida will also seize their fortifica tions. The troops in Tennessee and Mississippi aro arming. Eight hundred thousand dollars in specie:arrived to•dap from Now York. Sepession Itfajority in the State Conr ME' ORLEANS, Jan. 11.—Tho returns from the State indicate that the aecosaionista will have a majority in the State Oonvention. Seizure of Forts Jackson, St. Phillips, NEW ORLEANS, Jan 11—Evening.—Forta Jack son and St. Phillips, on the Mississippi, and Fort Pike, at the entranoo of Pontchartrain Lak,s, wore seised by the Now Orleans troops today. No re• stance was made. TIM SECESSIONISTS IN POWER-INDIAN lIEPREDA TIONS. NNW ORLEANS, Jan. 11.—Gaivoston dates t the Stb inst. say that at the eleotion for delegates te the state Convention, the candidates favoring South. ern Confederacy obtained a majority. The Indian depredations on the Texas frontiers continuo. From Charleston. THE EXCITEMENT ABATED-PACIFIC NEWS FROM WASHINGTON. Cnenttnextorr, S. C., Jan. 11.—The exeitement here has somewhat abated, in consequence of the pacific nature of the advicee from Washington. The enlistment of colliers is going on, but all is quiet. The Legislature has transacted no business of importance. The Uabinet a Unit for the Union I=f2:l RESIGNATION OF 3IR. TEIOMAS WASIIINGToti, January 11.—General Dix, of New york, was, as stated yesterday, tendered the position of Secretary of War; but preferring that of the Treasury, the President to-day sent his nomination to the Senate for this office, Mr. Thomas hiving resigned. TIM rule ruiring it reference of nominations to the appropriate committees is Mime courteously suspended when the nominee is ad ex-Senator, as is General Dix, on the ground that his character and qualifications are sufficiently known without a speeial investigation. The rule on this occasion wee unanimously suspended, and the appointment of General Dix immediately confirmed. The members now in the Cabinet are a unit on the present political questions, all those claiming the tight of geoemien having retired. The Cabinet, as reoonstruoted, is as follows; Secretary of State—Mr. Black, of Pennaylvnnia. Secretary of the Treasury—Mr. Dix, of New York. . . Secretary of the Navy-31r. Toucoy, of Con neoticut. Secretary of War—Mr. Holt, of Kentucky, (acting ) Secretary of the Interior—Vacant. Postmaster General—Mr Holt, of Kontuoky. Attornoy General—Mr. Stanton, of District of Columbia Secession Meeting at Waverly, Mo WAvEnix, Mo., Jan. 11 —An ultra Secession meeting was hold here last night, and passed a resolution strongly denouncing the St Louis Demo. cant, and forbidding Its circulation Lincoln was burned in effigy amid the Bring of cannon, display of torchlighte, oto. The Glasgow at New York. NEW YORK, Jan. 11 —The steamship Glasgow, from Liverpool on December 27, arrived at this port this evening. for advises have been antici pated. venison. and Pike. The St. Louis Sub-Treasury, Custom Crouse, and Post Office Guarded by United States Troops. Sr. Louts, Jan. 11 —By order of Lieut. General Msa, a detachment of 40 United States troops, under Lieut. Robinson, has taken possession of the sub-treasury, custom house, and post erne •build lug. Everything in quiet hero. hr. Louis, Jan. 11—Evening.—The real °Neel of the appearance of United States troops in the Sub Treasury °Moo this morning i 3 still involved in mystery. Crowdeof citizens have surrounded the oubtom houso all day, but more from cariosity than any excitement being manifested. Many ru mors prevailed, hut nothing of a reliable character can ho stated. Everything is quiet at present. Virginia Legislature RICIIMOND, Jan. 11.—In the State Senate, the joint resolution from the house, relative to the preservation of the status quo, was received. A substitute was offered, milting of the President an assurance of en absolute preservation of the status quo for sixty days, except to repel hostile inva sions, was adopted, and the subject was finally re ferred to a select committee. The House, after a hot debate, adopted an amendment to the Convention bill, authorising the opening of polls at the time of the election, to take the sense of the voters whether any action of the Convention, relative to the Federal Union, shall be submitted to the people for ratification or rejec tion. Ayes 77, noes 62 No further action took place. Indiana Legislature INDIANAPOLIS, January 11 —Governor Ram mon's message, in alluding to Federal affairs, says thet the strength of the Government rests in the affections of the people of the several States, and is one of affection, not of force. An alienation of the affections of the North from tie South exists, which Is attriboti.blo to the agitation of the sla very question at the North, which has been mate rially intensified by the zealous efforts of the class of political teachers belonging to the ministry. This has produced ultraism South, resulting in the division of the country into sec tional parties Against these ultraisms, both North and booth, It is the duty of the conservative elements of the whole country to interpose This must be done, or disunion is inevitable. The North has a great interest in the welfare and prosperity of the South. The Consti tution plainly demands that fugitive slaves should be returned, and common honesty requires that the South should have lull and equal rights in all the Territories. The future condition of the Ter ritories, so foe as the extension of slavery is con cerned, will ultimately be determined by the natu ral laws of climate, soil, and the productions for which they are adapted. The election of Lincoln has caused the South to believe that there is no longer any safety for them or their property in the Union, nor for the slavokolding States. There can only be permanent peace between the sections when the free States are ready to stop the discussion of the abstraot question of morals con nected with this subject, and look upon it only as a political question What is most needed is the restoration of kindly feeling Then we may hope fir an honest, faithful discha , ge of all our constitu tional obligations toward each other, healing the present breach. Ile points with pride to the fact that Indiana. as a State, has hitherto fully kept the bond of Union with her sister States, and her record unstained with any act of bad faith. The Governor speaks of the laws for the protec tion of the ballot-box being defective, and recom mends the imposition of heavy penalties for frau dulent voting. lie also recommends a sub-treasury system, to prevent the depreciated condition of the Pm:irides upon which the bank circulation is based. Tho House today passed a resolution to display an American flag upon the capitol dome, and the firing of a salute of 33 guns in honor of the Union, which was done while the flag was being hoisted. Men and Money to Enforce the Laws. ALBANY, January IL—Speaker Littlejohn intro duced a resonlution in the House approving of President Buchanan's special message, and ten dering to the United States Government whatever aid in men and money was required to enforce the laws. BOSTON, Jan 11. —A resolution was introduced into the Legislature to-day, tendering the entire military means and forces of the State to aid the General Government. Workingmen's Convention at Pittsburg. PITTSBURG, Jon. lI.—A mass convention of workingmen was bold to-night. There was an immense gathering. Mr Henry B. McCarty, President of the Trades' Assembly, was milled to the chair, and Mr. Wm. 11. Moody, of the Typographical Union, ap pointed secretary. Resolutions, expressive of the strongest attach ment to the Union and calling on the President to exeouto the laws against all traitors, were adopted with the most hearty good will. The call for a National Convention of working. men at Philadelphia on the 22d of February was endorsed. LATER FROM EUROPE, THE STEAMER AMERICA AT HALIFAX WARLIKE PREPARATIONS OF FRANCE. £153,000 IN SPECIE Cotton Firtre-BreatbAufre Steady CONSOLS 921a92; liaLtrax, January 11.—Tho Cunard steamship America hae arrived, frith Liverpool dated to the 30th nit It is stated that the ;varlikepropamtions making by Franca exceed those of 1858 The America has on board £153,000 in spool°. GREAT BRITAIN The iron-plated war•ship Ti arnor was success fully la:ltched on the 29th ult. The ship Livingston, from Liverpool for Phili. dolphin, had put back. FRAME The Patrie says that Piedmont is purchasing apemen' in Franco to convert them into men-et vier transports. A Berlin despatch states that for some weeks purchases of horses have been mado in Eastern Prussia for the French and Piedmontese Govern ments. AUSTRIA Dispassionate European politicians express the opinion that Roohberg and Van Soholore cannot possibly pull well together in diplomatio harneas. The journals generally condemn the circular of the Austrian Minister. The posts of Ministers of Commerce and Potato Instruction In the Vienna Cabinet remain vaoant. FRANCE. The Monroe was depressed. Renter 67f. 75e. The Empress Eugenie Is not allowed to attend Cabinet meetings as formerly. The siege of Gaeta continues day and night Tho garrison replied. It was reported that the young Queen had left. A decree constitutes the provinces of Naples, Sicily, the Marches, and Umbria, as integral parts of the State. of Sicily. TtiRREy Tho Jeddah olaime have boon definitely settled. They aro to be paid in full in Turkish ooneolp at 51. The text of the Chinese treaty is published. It contains a reference to Dlr. Ward's agreement to pay sovereign homage to the Emperor, but the to legraphio summary at Liverpool makes the sense ammo. The English indemnity is nominally three millions aterling, which is considered too smell. The United Mateo steamer Hartford and Sloop of-war John Adams were at Ilong Kong, and the gumboot Saginaw at Shangbao. INDIA. The Times says Nena Sahib Is still alive, wi h 3,000 or 4,000 followers in Thibet, and has plenty of money. Sir ilugh Rose's prompt measures had stopped further insubordination in the army. CAPE OE GOOD HOPE. Commoroial and monetary affairs at the Cape of Good Hope had improved. Letters have boon rooeived from Zanzibar and from Mr. Moffatt. Commercial Intelligence. Livenroot, Belurdey, Deo, 29.—The sales of Cotton to day have been MOW baton, including 0000 bales for ape ou'atlon and export. The market cloned firm. Provisions null. LoNDON. December 29.—Console S2?lrs9M4 for account ex dividend. closing firmer. The London Money market was decidedly more strin gent. The bullion in the bank hen decreased £633,000 during the week. LIVERPOOL BREADST OFFS RICET.—M emirs. Richardson Spence report that the holidays produced quietness Flour firm, and advancing; sales at 29a edo32e 6d. Wheat has an advancing tandems., and the prices are partially higher . red lie ; white Molts. Corn quiet and •dvaneed ed ; mixed and yellow 39siza 89s ed. while 400415. Pi;elketield, Nash & Co. report Flour advanced ed, white lesal. Holders of Corn demand an advat cte, which ip not conceded. AN ERIO 9 1 lifroCKS.,The following sales are re- Rported: Illinois Central, 28%; Erie Railroad, 30i ow York Central, 760,00. RTATE ON 'IR N...—The Manchester advices are formal. rho markets aro film and prices for goods slightly advanced. The holiday produced quietness. HAVRN. COTTON NARKe.T.—New Orleans trss or dinette 101 f, has 96f, The market is buoyant and ad vancing ; salts of the week 16,600 bales; stock in port 102 OCO Wen. . . VhiltPCOL PROVISION . RKET.—Beef dull. Pork quiet. Barton dull. Lard dull, and quotations nominal, Wai.olteld, Nash. & Co. report a decline of 2e. '1 allow quiet • Butchers' quoted at MI. LIVERPOOL PRODUCh MA ucer.—The Brokers' circular moons busar quiet, Coffee steady. HlOO lam. No other articles mentioned. . . LONDON MARKLIII,--Baring Brothers quota a quiet market during tho hoiidays. Wheat quiet, as 1026 ad vance; white Western 65070; red 60;766. Iron dull, Boger steady. 'Pea unchanged. Tallow 60s. Bar Silver us I%d. Dollars 5s 21.0, rag les 76s 7,1 lIAVRI, MARICE.V.—Revn it • Dec. 27.—Breadsturs advanced ; ashes Broady ; coffee firm ; 'oils Comma!: rice firm; sugar firm, with a slight advance; turd steady. AMERICAN STOCKS.—Baring Brothers report a limited business at previous rates, and confined chiefly to the first-mortgage borate. New York Central Md., 86a83; Eriesevene, 916153; Pennsylvania Centralsaes,ses, saes, 87091•, Michigan Central eights, 118,194 United States flees, 86% ex-dividend. iipited States Supreme Court. WASDINGTON, Jan. 11.-1110 OM of Kentuoky against the Governor of Ohio, who refused to issue his warrant for the arrest of Logo, charged with paving entipod a slave from R - entuolcy tote Ohio, woo sot down for to-day in the United estates Su preme Court, bur tho Attorney General of Ohio having forwarded an affidavit that hie professional ongogentents prevented hie attendance, the ease was postponed till the Bth of Fobruary. The coun sel for the State of Ifentuoky was ready for trial. Excitement at Cincinnati CINCINNATI, Jan. 11.—Constance and Romain Lehrer, who stabbed policemen Long and Hallam, at a houso of ilLfame, on 'Wednesday night, were arrested yesterday and taken to prison. There was considerable exeitoment against the prisoners, aggravated by the death of Hallam, and au attempt was made to take them from Jail by fame. This was prevented by the Guthrie Grays being ordered out to protect tbe From Havana NEW ORLEANS, January 11.—The steamship Bit/wine, from Ilavana on tho 71h, arrived hate today. Sugar dull at 7101 nate. Stook in port 40,000 boxes, against 12 500 last year. Molasses—Olayed 8 rests; Muscovado, 41 reale. Freights dull. Exabango on London 1.21 per cont. premium. On New York, da--- nor-cont: . 36111 CONGRESS-SHOD SESSION. wioninororr, Jan.ll Mr. BIOLER presented memorials from the citizens of Lancaster county, asking for the restoration of peace and the preservation of the Union, and favoring the propositions of the Senator from IS n tue kr. Also. three memorials of a filmier import from Pbila delphis. Mr. CAMERON, of Pennsylvania, presented eight memorials from citizens of Pennsylvania favorable to the Crittenden resolutions Mr. DAVI 4 , of [VI isemeippi, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported a bill incurring into the ex penses of military establishments and forts. A debate sprung up on tty order of business. Mr. BIGLER called for the yeas and nays on taking up the Crittenden resolutions. Tho vote resulted—yeas 15. nays 31. YEMl — Meserq. Bigler, Bragg. Bright. Crittenden, Fitch, Hemphill, Latham. Mallory. Pearce, BIM Saulsbury. Sildell, Thomson, and Wigfall-15. Nays—Messrs. Anthony, Baker. Bingham. Came ron, Chandler, Clark, Clingman, Collamer, Dixon. t oo little, Durkee, Fessenden, Fitzpatrum , Foot, Foster, Green, Grimes. Hale, Harbin, Iverson, Ring, Lane, blares. Simmons, Sumner, Ton Eyck. Toombs, Trum bull, Wade. Wilkinson, and Wilson-31. The private calendar was then considered. After which • Mr. LANE moved to take up the resolutions reported by Mr. Davis Inquiring into the expenses of military establishmenta and forte. Agreed to. Mr. TRUMBULL moved an amendment approving the conduct of Major Anderson in withdrawing from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumpter, and the determination of the President to maintain that officer in his present omition, and that we will support the President in all non titutional measures for tire enforcement of the laws and the preservation of the Union. Mr. BUNTER, of Virginia, obtained the floor Hs said, before the end of this month, six or seven States will have seceded from the Union. It le no more a question of saving or preserving the old Union. We will construct a new liovernment and anew Union, which we hope and propose to be permanent. In 1821, the Berth declared war against the social system of tee south. cone:daring it to be founded in sin Personal - liberty Mlle have been passed ,o annul the Constitution of the United States. A sectional President hes been nominated and elected. and is to come to power, who once declared that the country must be all free or all wave, the object being to create a servils war among mt. ho social system of the people affects their moral being.. 1 he South has all the elements to found an em pire, both great and prosperous. To avoid this there must be the following amendments to the Constitution: First. Congress must have nopower to abolish slavery in any /Alto ; the District of Columbia, the dock yards, porta, and arsenals of the United States. Second. Nothing to obstruct the slave trade between the S.tates. 'hiird.lt shall be the duty of each State to suppress within its jurisdlotion all armed invasion of another. Fourth. Any State should be admitted With or with out slavery. according to the inclination 01 its people. Fifth. It should be the duty or a State to restore fuei 'lye's. or pay the value of the same to the Mates from whioh they fled. . . Sixth. Fugitives from justice should be deemed to be those offending the laws within the iurisdietion of it State and who escape therefrom. Seventh. Congress should recognize and protect pro pert. wherever the United States has exclusive ions dietion HUNTER also argued that all laws to be passed should be paned by &majority in the senate of Sena tors of the slaveholding States and a majority of the non-alaveltolding Suites, and every law mutt receive a majority of representatives from the alaveholding Staten, and a majority frt,m the non-alaveholding States the proposition being equivalent to having two Senates in one chamber, and two nausea of Representatives in one hall. The Supreme Court. he said, should be also re. adjusted, no as to consist of five judges from each sec tion—the Chief Justice to be one of the five. Mr. HUNTER contend , il that coercion was neither right nor just, and it pursued will destroy the chances of a reconstruction of the Union. After alluding to the retrocession of certain forts, arsenals, dock Yards, and otherproperty held by the United States for tea, Sta , es in which +hey are located, lie remarked, you our:Toss that foreign nations will allow a blockade of the 'southern coast? Kngland, whose very exintence depends upon cotton, would not allow this material of human industry to be denied her. tither Powers would also juin to prevent any blockade of the touthern ports And - suppose that the North should succeed in con quering the South. and by subjugating redone the States to dependent provinces , bow will the power be exorcised? Would they apply the doctrine of no pro perty in slaves; turn loose eight millions of whites and four millions of slaves; see the cultivated fields return to the bush, and the negroreatored to his primi tive condition of barbarism ? It is in the power of the North to save us from all these calamities. If you do not intend to coerce the South, you do not need the forte in Charleston Mirror. There is no telling where the flames of civil War, once begun, Will end; and if begun, it will destroy the chances of another Union. You have no right to hold and garrison the forts for the Purpose of coercion. They were constructed to be used for the defence of the States. and not for offensive measures; and in justice and e gutty you ought to re. store them. This policy should be promptly adopted, as there is no other way to prevent civil war. t here would be nothing impolitic* in such afeencession as the return of the forts, unless you intend to use them for (mermen. To the few who melees a desire to save the country. I repeat, that all hopes of a reconstruction of the Union will be lest on the breaking of civil war. Our motto is, The Union of the South for the sake of the South. It will be impossible to reunite the broken links of the Uaion when brothers have abed their brothers' blood. Mr. Bunter here pictured the horrors of civil war. and said that the North only battens what they wish to prevent. I believe that the attempt to coerce the Southern people will meet the general detestation of mankind, and will be met by a resistance such as has never before been known in history. But give them time, and the people will get together, arid see if they cannot bring togetheeence more the nat tered remnants ton snore perfect Union. Let them see if they cannot find some place, some common ground, on which all will rally once more, and when the columns come from the North and from the South. from the rising to the amine of the eon. to take part in the grand review. they will shake the heavens and bring the very birds down from their flight, and pro claim that, at last, we will be at least brothers in war. and brothers in peace, ready to take our wonted place in thegrand onward march of human progress. Mr. BARER, of Drams, asked if a majority of this branch and a majority of the other branch of Congress, a constitutional majority. And past amendments to be submitted to the approbation of the people, whether, in that event, If they be such as meet t. e views of the gentlemen on the other side, will the eenator.frolin Vir ginia throw the weight of Virginia to maintain the Constitution and the Government as it ia, and the laws as they new are. until the people of the states decide? Mr. HUNTER. That is a question I cannot answer. I am not authorised to answer for Virginia. Mr. BARER. That is not the question. Mr. HUNTER. If the gentleman is not satisfied, I cannot satisfy him. hir. Hai , LAN, of lowa, then took the floor, and spoke at length on the fugitive-slave law, oppoSing the idea that the South should govern the Notth. and that the North must obey the South, that the inaiority must sub mit to the minority. The real grievance, of the South ern people is explained by the fact that the Republicans gained a victory on the 6th of November liter. In the election of their candidates for President and Vico Pre sidont. They dislike to resign the reins of government to their political opponents. [A message was here received from the Precidnnt.l Mr. HARLAN concluded by saying that human liber ty, the libesty of speech. of the prime, and of con gruence, were all at om eip this struggle. Mr. WILSON, of hinassehusetts. moved an exeou tics veasion. which was carried, and, on the doors being reopened, the Senate adjourned. ROME OF REPRESENTATIVES Mr. JOHN COCRRANF. of New York„presentel memorial Rem the Now York Chamber a Reininoree for the encouragement of mail faelhies. through out siders, to the steamer lines between San Francisco and Bhanchao, ho. Referred to the Committee on Com merce. Mr. LOVEJOY, of Illinois. asked leave le offer a re solution deolaring, as the judgment of the Rouse, that in the present state of the 00111811 it would be wise and patriotic for the President to confer, temporarily, the Lewer of commander-mehlef of the army and navy on ieutenant tienerai Scott, and charge him to see that the Republic receives no detriment. Mr. JONES. of Georgia. and others objected. Mr. CURTIS. of lowa, suggested that the President could delegate no finch power. The 13 ek.A KER said the resolution had not been re ceived by the House, but woe merely read for informa tion. Besides objection had been made to its introdho tton. therefore, there could be no clrbnte on Xts merits. • • . Mr. BRANCH. of North Carolina, hoped the reticle-- Hon would be voted on by yeas and nays. Them were no further prOteedings on the eubleot. Mr HICKMAN, of penusylvenin• asked and wea ex cused from serving on Lao Seleot Committee to which was referred the President's special message He said ho had a great many reasons for the request, but it was not necessary to repeat them. The House then proceeded to tke consideration of private bills. Tho House considered the civil and miscellaneous bill. including appropriations for the rapport of the lieht house establishments. marine lirspitals. etc. While votive on an amendment (which was rejected) to morease the appropriation for the survey of the At lantic and Gulf coast, from 8100 000 to 3230.900, Me. - Hindman, of Arkansas,. said that he was anxious to as sist the Republican's m bankrupting• as soon as possi ble. a Government whose purse and sword were soon to be need for the subjugation of their brethren in the South. The hill wasassed. M. FLOA p CE. of Pennsylvania, presented a me morial from Philadelphm, signed by citizens of all par ties, asking that Congress pass the Crittenden 00111DIO rpm. The navy appropriation Lill was taken up and merely read, when a motion to antonym prevailtul. ?ENNSYLVANU LWIISLATURE. BARRISBURG, Jan. 11, 1861. SENATE. Messrs. NICHOLS, PARKER, CONNELL, and HP I STAND, presented memorials for the repeal of the ninety- fiftn and ninety •sixth 'motions of the Serial Code Messrs. SMITH and HEISTAND presented Peti tions fn.. the passage of a law making the county au thorities liable in oases of the rescue of fugitives from labor. Mr. CONNELL presented a remonstrance from Wm. A. Ciabb against any further appropriation by the State to the Fanners' High School. BILLS IN PLACE. Mr. BLOOD read in plane a bill to annnl the war ring° contract between Judge Downing and Mary, Ins wife. onio mat, nysotwrioNs. Mr. FINNEY offered a resolution which was adopted, authorizirg tbe speaker to appoint a committee to be entitled " Committee on Foreign Relations." dMITH. of khitedelphia, presented a petition from Ellen 1. Wells, praying to be divorced from her husband. 7118 IROUBLIB Or THE COUNTRY The Senate then again took up the joint resolutions telattve to the maintenancie of the 'Union. The question being on the substitute proposed by Mr. Welsh. that gentleman proneeded in an earnest speech to urge its adoption, as reflecting correctly the senti ments of the great mass of the people of Pennsylvania. Messrs. MoClure, Landon. lien, and others. followed, diseussing the various propositions submitted by Messrs. Welsh. Smith, and Wharton. Without coming to a vote, the Senate adjourned till three o'clook. AFTERNOON SESSION The Senate reassembled at 3 o'clock, and resumed the consideration of the pending resolutions relative to the condition of the country. Mr. tta.krid ER spoke at some lee gth in favor of the substitute offered by Mr. Welsh. He regarded the re solutions as conciliatory In their nature. and appealed to the Repuldicans to aid in such legislation as would Promote union and harmony, and prevent the etiakien of blood. Mr. KETCHAM supported the resolutions of Mr. Smith in an earnest epeeoh, and going int o a n elaborate and evidently carefully prepared deletion of the Repub lican early. Mr. IRIcH also Broke in favor of the original reso luDona, my FINNEY followed In a lengthy speech of the same tenor as that of Mr Ketcham, and in the course of which he declared himself in favor of coercion, and opposes to the repeal of any laws on the statute books, as well as to the amending of any not. whereby stare holders would be allowed to bring their slaves into this Commonwealth, and to hold them as such fur a period ot six montlin or any period. Mr. BOUND deprecated the introduction of party Politics in a question of this kind. oral spoke forcibly in favor of the Union. and maintaining it y all lair and peaceful means. Ile was in lavor of the original resolutions. Mr. WEI,SIi again spoke, supporting the amend scent. Mr. MCCLURE followed in an elaborate defence of the laws of this State. He &dared that the State of Virginia had a personal liberty law more stringent in its provisions than any act of either Vermont or w il , conP in ; Litt no man in that State could bo deprived of his liberty without a trial byiury. It was humiliating to ask us to repeal laws ageing wHoh the South iteel di es not complain. Ho could nut vote fir the amend manta of the Senator from York, because' ha regarded them as radically wrong, and violently partisan in their nature. • . A somewhat ywoirnated rennin, debate ensued be tween Messrs Welsh, fUoUlure. Finney, Smith. Irish, and others. alter which. the question being taken on !dr. web lee amendment, I published yesterday.it was voted down, the six Democratic Sonatorn voting rq the affirma ivo. The qUention recurring on Mr. Wharton'e amend ment, it was negatiliod. The question then recurred upon the original resolu tions offered lip Smith, and the first resolution way adopted unaminous'y. • The seeded resolution was agreed te—yeaa ?I, nays I. The third was agreed to—Teas ZS. nays none. The tooth wee agreed to—lea , '4l. tape U. The fate was agreed to—yore 21. nays 4. The sixth was agreed to—yeas 26. nays 6, Thy resolutions, es a whole, then passed finally by a etriot party vote—yeas 213, nays U—and the Senate ad tout nee until Monday afternoon. Mr. HOFIHS, of Merger, presented a series of reso lutions denouncing the threats of disunion; assorting that the present Demooratio Administration has met all laws; expectations in its °llona so uphold and enforce the that no reseal of one law exoluding slavers from the lerritories of the United States should be counts - nonacid; that the natural condition of the Territories is one of freedom, and should be so maintained, and that all attempts to introduce elavory therein should he re sisted. The resolutions further demand of Congress the pas sage of the Homestead hill, and declare that the Repub lican party is opposed to any change in rite naturaliza tion laws. The resolutions are the same as those adopt ed at the Chicago Convention. The House roused to proceed to the seoond reading of Ora resolutions Mr. HUHN, of Soliuylkill, offered a resolution cor dially inviting all oats no and societies in participate in the ceremonies of the inauguration of the Uovernor elect, on the bilth Inst. Mr. BILL said the committee had thought it advisa ble that no political organization should participate in the inn ure lion ceremonies. Mr. SELTZt.ft said the reason for such a r 00011111 1 ,311- dation by the committee. ai as tile, fast that the ndlt tary should not partionsitte, tf poVtidal Were elate]. • file. R 1.4171 could see no itoproprroty in political clubs pailing on smolt an occasion. Ile hoped the }louse 'would not summit such optic B. lie thought the Republican members had demollahed the Chinon° plat form by refusing a second reading to the resolutions of Mr. Rofius, and that tony were growing weak in the knees. Mr * WINS denied that the Republicans were cell ng weak in the knees. Be was not ashamed to parade with the Wide-Awakes Air. HUHN risked Mr. Rill if the Keystone Club of Philadelphia did not parade on the occasion of the in aukumlttiLo f r. Go . Packer. b v ed that hedid not know;but if it was so. it was improper. The Wide Awakes had fought the battle. they had sent to this House Repoblioan mem bers, numbering more than two thirds of tire whole body, and now they wanted to come here and partici pate to the inauguration He thought they had been vegr.WNlNllty.Ldltged by ilia , i t t gu ° ¢llt the notion of the committee wrong. Flo said the Wide-Awakes had covered themselves with laurels an the late nontest. They were mostly young men ready to shoulder the musket, if necessary. Was the committee, in prohibit ing them, afraid of offending the Routh Alter further debate, a motion was made to postpone. and agreed to—yeas O. nays H. Mr. GORDON moved to reconsider the vote refusing to proceed to a second reading of the resolutions of Mr. Bolus. He did nor believe the Republicans of this House were prepared to 14110rA the Chicago platform. Mr. I•F.ISENRIIIG railed for the yeas and nays on the question, and they were ordered. rho motion to reconsider was agreed to—Yeas M. nays Mr. The resolutions were then read a second time. Mr, RILL, moved to postpone the subject for the pre sent, and called for the Yeas and nays. Mr. BOK' UI said he introduced the resolutions for the puree e of testing the settee of the House- Its wonted to know bow many of the two-thirds of the Republican members here elected on the Chino plat form, were " weak in the knees." Mr.7II, S ON considered it Improper to swear mem bers u on any platform egos which they may have been e eoted. Hs had no obieotion to the Reading plat form, but his constitueeta did not require h ny to swear by it. Mr. HEINZ BR favored the maintenance of the Chi nas° platform. Mn said the present demoralization of the Deinootattoroarty was caused by Mr. Buohanan. and not by clicking to the Cinolnnati platform. We all see the to tee mole muss they are now in, and this certainly in not the time for Republicans to shake and ttemb.o in their boote. Mr. BARTHOLOMEW, of 1 30hcylkill, already saw trouble in the R pun Inman ranks. There are now three parties upon this floor. The Chicago platform should be retterated avant, and any Republican who voted against it was false to his trust Mr. A B 110TT was opposed to the application of strin gent party testa. He thought it injurious at the present time, and freighted with mtschief. Mr. WILSON thought such tests in had taste. &Ant tics time, specially calculated to inflame the public, mind. • . ht r. COLLINS, and several °there. followed. but without a vote on the reeolutione, the Hours adjourned till 10 o'clock tomorrow. THE CITY. AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. AMERICAN ACADRIET or "Romeo and Juliet "—" Rill or Cure." WHEATLEY & cla EN'S ARCH-STREET TERATEK. Arch street. ahoy* oixth.—" The Womin in White " The Brigands" W A LNUT-BTREET 'I'III2A.TRU. Walnut and Ninth sts.— The Zouaves—" blseher at.d Crasher " MCDONOUGH's OLYMPIC (late Gaieties), Race street, below Third —'• The Queen of the Brizande"—" Rich ard M"—" The Lord and the bleehamo." UNITED STATES BIIILDINGR. Chestnut street. below F.fth.—Van Amburgh & Co.'s M911E40110. ASSEMBLY BtrumiNes, Corner Tenth and Chestnut.— Tom Thumb. HANFORD'S ()PIMA. Hansa. Eleventh street. above Chestnut.—Concert nightly. MUSICAL FUND HALL, Locust street. above Eighth.— Germunut Orchestra. Taw MASS MBSTITIG OF TMS &SESSION cars —ln the list of seventy odd names attached to the will for the Breokinridge Becessien meeting of Thursday last, occurred the names of eight or ten Douglas Democrats. But one was present, (Mr. MoOartby,) soh. took any active past at the same. and the only additional Douglas man, (Wm. 0. Kline Erg ,) expressed by his 'Wenn the amount of his interest Mr. MoOarthy wail reported by us yesterday. as offering a rasolution deprecating any mass meetings at this juncture. We have obtained from him the precise resolution which he proposed. It is as follows : "Resoteed, That it would be unpin, and Inexpedient for those originating this meeting to make arrange manta for a mass meeting purporting to express the opinions of the Democracy of Philadelphia." Mr. McCarthy would not have made his appear awe, and this apt resolution would not have been intruded to shake the equanimity of the Secession ists, had they not attached his name, without con sulting him, to the list of adherents. He believed it due to the Douglas Democracy of the lower wards to thus define his position. There is no doubt that the object of the Secessionists SPEW to confound a few Douglas Democrats with their meeting, and use the names of such to influence the great mass of the Democracy. Such arts cannot avail them The wholesale denunciation of popular•sover eignty Democrats, the contemptuous allusion to gentlemen like Megan. Cassidy and Dougherty, tried and worthy chicane, and the epithets which greeted Mr. McCarthy, after using his name with out authority, sufficiently mark the notional and exclusive character of the arrangement. AL this junoture, more than at any other time, when the traitors who have opened their cannon upon the national flag are waiting eagerly for every brealh of dissension among the friends of the Confederacy, such open affiliation with their nefarious cabernet by citizens of Philadelphia can not be too severely condemned. While Baltimore has silenced the clamors of se cession, and its citizens have cheered the Union in mass meeting, there are those in our city who to ally encourage the disintegration of the Govern mont, and would forbid the Chief Magistrate from protecting Major Anderson, beleaguered in Fort Sumpter. It is due to Mr. Vandyke to state that be op posed the motion of Tyler, McDonough, and others, to hoot Mr. McCarthy from the room. Ulan SCrlool,, Avreitts.—Division A—the first class—of the Central High Sobool completed its examination tome time ago. The class num• bars twentyflve members The commencement will be hold at Concert Hall, the second Thurs day in February. George Shields will proba bly deliver the valedictory address. Efforts were made to procure the Aeademy of Music for the commencement, but without avail. The general examination for the under graduates will commence in the course of two weeks. On next Tuesday night (15th inst.) a conoort will be held in the High &boot mature room, under the auspices of Dr. - E. W. Vogdes, professor of pohtt pal voonomy end ethics Addreaeee will be deliver ed, chiefly of a drematio eharaoter, by a number of pupils, and some ladies from the Girls' High School will sing The occasion promises to be one of interest, and the Professor is entitled to credit for his zeal in the matter. A committee of the Board of Control yesterday forwarded to the direptara at the several school Sections copies of a reselutien empowering Major Garvey to drill the pupils of the school at the charge of one cent per pupil for each week, said oharge to be defrayed by the pupil The sectional boards will shortly act upon the matter. Professor Maguire Is said to be busily engaged at the preparation of his forthcoming annual report. The Professor will meet the °Notions to the com prehensive character of the school by a aeries of statistics, showing that most of the pupils applying to tho school for admission obtain the same. The number of rejections for a number of years have not exceeded twenty-five or thirty at each examination, and out of the average number of applicants (170) that apply for admission, about one•eighth only are rejected. In other words, all scholars competent to undertake the course are taken into the school, and these not admitted or dropped would be unable to go through the course even if admitted. Out of all the scholars of public schools, about 5,300 only are pupils in the Boys' Grammar Schools, and not more than 1.000 in the past divisions of the same. Of these 1,004, about third or one-fourth are admitted every year. It will thus be seen that the school is equal to the necessities of scholars. No man whose child as the mind and knowledge adequate to undertake its course of studies, need be de barred therefrom. To make the school a sort o mental hospital for the feeble-minded, the dilatory, and the idle, would be to weaken its efficiency and embarrass its comprehensiveness. Of the ono hundred and forty-five admitted at the last exami nation (when but fifteen were rejected), it is pro bable that ten or twelve will be dropped in Fe. brnary. They cannot attain a respeotable average, and to retain them would be unfOrtnuate to their own prospects and that of the sohool. Division A, hereafter, will be subjected to a more rigid system of examination and discipline No pupil can graduate without attalniug an average of seventy-five at tip Anal examination, and a term average of sixty in each department. Thus. the great number of lade who have been turned out from the school in the past, as from some intel lectual mill, whose diplomas are satires upon their incompetence, and to whom the four yeara of study have been a species of dream, "signifying nothing," will not impose upon the public as representa tives of the scholarship and training of the public college. After this term, the department of hellea-lettres proper will confine its attention mainly to the Bret six divisions. Nzaao THIEF.—An athletic, powerful negro, named Jacob Benton, with a number of aliases, made an attempt to rob a store in Market street, between Second and Third, on Thursday night The establishment was that of Price ,k Co. Offioers &blown, Sommers, and I,,evy had long wished to catch this negro, mho has been im plicated in a number of villainies He was ob served by the officers, from the opposite•side of Market street. ereopng into the store on his hands and knees. They crossed at once to seise him, but he started up, ran like a deer ihroegh innu merable alleys, and was finally grasped by Offmer aommero, when utterly wearied down. He is now in custody, and at the Central Station last night ate his supper with the voracity of a shark. LECTURES TO LADIES.—Mrs. Anna N. Longohore Potts, M D., a lady of extensive medi cal knowledge, and considerable facility and power of illustration, will deliver a course of lectures in the Assembly Buildings commencing on Monday afternoon. Mrs. Potts has given several courses of lectures previously, and the interest they have induced will doubtless attract many persons to the present series. The course embraces seven Imitates, upon anatomy, physiology, pathology, and anthropology. They will be illustrated - by , complete sets of life-sins and magnified drawings, paintings, and papier-macho preparations. Those ladies interested in the advancement of medical science with their sex will do well to hoar Mrs. Potts. A SUM:WTI ENTg,ll4'll,l4'lo - -A than called at a stationery store in North Sixth street some days ago, and exhibited a sample of curious pens Ile wished to buy forty gross, and was willing to give $1 87 per gross. !le gava the shopkeeper $2 wherewith to purchase him an initiatory number. The shoplreeptr made inquiry and ascertained the pens were worth but 25 rents per gross Recalled on Chief Wood, who told him that he was the sub• jeot of on ancient swindle In his absence a man Would call at his shoo with forty gross of pens, and offer thorn fox sale at 51 50 por gross, thereby making the nice sum of $6O. Of course, the $2 would not he reclaimed. The shopkeeper returned home, and found that a man bad really called with the pens to sell. His timely absence had saved his purse. INCITING TO RIOT.—A gentleman named M. B. Dean sends us a letter to deny that bo had anything to do with a meeting, advert:4od to take place before Mrs. Bowers' now theatre, adjoining Concert Hell, where . .I",ev. limy Ward •Beetlher was to bavo lN,tured on Thursday night. Our re port of yesterday did not individualize Mr M B Dean, er any other person of his name Wo ob tained the matter at the police station, and nar rated it substantially as it was told. We have the hest authority, however, for believing that Mr. M. B Dean would identify himself 'with no congrega tion calculated to impair the public peace, or in terfere with the right of speech. PROCEEDINGS OD THE GRAND Juar.—Wo understand from a private source that the Grand Jury, at its meeting yesterday, found a true hill for libel against J. It Flanigan, publishmi c. jhu Daily Ncias. The said libel consisted of a goasipy reportorial sketeh relative to ecitain ecclesiastical affairs, in which the obFa9tC-; Pf Air Vito Viii was implicate .A. '.che dory will present next week, we are kohl, tiumity of bread used at the West Phila tielphia msbeuse. Said broad, it is alleged, is made of bad flour, badly kneaded, and does not oontalu the proper nutriment. Judging it un healthy, the Grand Jury will take measures to se cure wholesome bread to the poor, SYNOPSIS OP THE OPSUATIONS OP POLICE TELEGRAPH DuRING THE PAST YEAR.—DorIni the p4.a. year. the whole number of messages Sent mit the Central Polies Telegraph Office, Fifth an I Chestnut streots. to the different stations, was 47 659. The same number nays also been received. The fire alarm telegraph has received from the Past fire dittriel 313 alarms, from the Second 102, flocs the Third 54, from the Fourth 139. from the Fifth 13, from the birth 12, from the Seventh 15. The State home bell has been rung 164 times ; 237 fires have occurred for which no alarm has beta given, orripg to the fires being of a trifling cha racter Tne number of general alarms was 5, and the number of false alarms 7 The number tf messages sent to the different gas offing was 1,016, end the same number received. The police tele graph hair been in operation since April 19, 1856 The fire alarm telegraph was established about one week afterward. Sines that time great improve ments have been made, and a number of other conneotions have been added When first esta blished, the number of messages received and sent was exceedingly small, when compared with the vast amount of busineeS now transacted with this useful and indispensable improvement. Through the operations of the police telegraph, numbergof highly important arrests have been made, arty-She parties brought to justice. The whole telegralik under the superintendence of Wm. J Philipsafei, who first constructed the line, and tintet;soolll: Management it has been more sueoessful.thestanyi. thing of the kind ever constructed in any other city The whole line, at the present time, em brawn about 140 miles, and is constantly , increasing. The only objection at present =Wing is the in 00ovenienoo to which the operators at the Central Station are subjected. This is owing to the small ness of the room in which the instruments are placed, the apartment not being at all suitable for the large amount of business therein traneaoted. The roof of the °film in in a most miserable condi tion, the water pt.nring through during rainy weather. and greatly retarding the operation of the employees. If a larger apartment was fur nished for the Central telegraph office. it - would be an institution which could not be equalled in any other city in the Union. AN AGREEABLE SURPRISZ.—OR last NeW Year's day, the residence of Mr. John Brooke, on Queen street, Germantown, was robbed during the absence of the family, of n lot of wearing apparel and other valuable articles to the amount of $209, as fully stated in The Press at that time. At the time of the robbery there was no one In the heave but a domestic. who was suscted of being itupli oated in the affair, and was held to answer. No In. formation wan obtained of the goods, until within a day or two since, when two unknown men called at the residence of Mr. Brooks and handed a basket In the door, stating that it was a paseentfer the family. They were allied what it was, when they replied they were sure Mrs. Brooks would be satisded with it, and immediately deoamped. The basket was taken into the house and found to con tain all the stolen artistes Who the men are is unknown but this was only a dodge on their part to release the domestic, who was most oertatnly Implicated in the affair. A DARING TRICK.—A few evenings since, a man residi, g at No 341 South Fifth street, named Elie, while walking up Second street, near Washington, about 8 o'olook, was robbed of a geld watch. Some one sneaked up belsini him, and placing his hands over his eyes, jerked the watch from his vest pocket, leaving the book of the chain stiokiog in the vest hole. His first impression was that some friend of his was playing a triok upon him The unknown fellow darted away quickly, and escaped. THB STABBING CASE IN THE &GOND DIE- TnICT.—In yesterday's Press we alluded to a quarrel between two men, at Swanson street and Mead alley, canoed by family difficulties, when one stabbed the other in four planes, Infliettng severe elite. The name of the man who inflicte d the injuries is John H Riley, who had a bearing yesterday morning, before Aldermen Dallas, and was committer, to answer the charge at court. The Injuries were inflicted with a large carving knife. A MEETING OF ALDERMEN was held blab evening at a hotel in North Ihird street. Six aldermen were present. Ald. biaoPeak took the chair. The object of the meeting appeared to be to give the aldermen power to' grant tavern Hammes. They will meet again next 'Tuesday night. To BB SENT BACK.—Yesterday afternoon, Charles Simon, who la charged with 'tulles a horse from Ceoti county, Md , had a further hear• leg before Police Magistrate Peltier, at the Central Station. Wm. F Hakim was sworn, and testified that he, was employed by Mr. Win. Preston,' from whiom the horse was stolen The horse s3id by the so ended to a man in this oity answered the Baum description as thecae stolen from Mr. Preston. The alderman oommitted Season to await a requisition. TR& GREAT CRESS MATCII.—The fourth game of the match between Messrs. Montgomery and Lichtenhein, commenced on 'Thursday morn ing. Mr. Liehtenbein adopted the cautions polio; 51 a close game, playing what is known as tha " French opening ' The game was hotly eon tested for seven hours, and was the finest exhibi tion of play yet made in this match. Mr. Vichten hein finally proved victorious, thus !qualities the which now stands Lichtenhens 2, Montgo mery 2 ARRESTED.—Three lads, named gobert Collins, Jobn Snyder, and Stephen Ashford, wore arrested, on Thursday afternoon, upon the charge of stealing two valuable pistols, ens other articles, from a store at Seventh and Arch streets. The licensed were all held for a further hearing, b 7 Alderman Hutchinson. Arroxruous —The author of an anony mous communication (J.) will oblige us by leaving hisladdress at this office, directed to the Reporter. I .EGAL INTELLIGENCE. UNITED STATES CIRCUIT COSIBT—Judge Cadwalader.—The following rule of court has been adopted : The practice of the court shall from henceforth be conformable to the present practice of the Su preme Court of Pennsylvania, at Nisi Prins, In every case in which judgment by default might, according to the said practice of that court, be en toted for want of an affidavit, Is sufficient affidavit of defence. SUPRRIER COURT—Chlef Justice /MM. and Justices Thompson and Strong.—Passmore, Williamson vs. Ellis Lewis. Certificate from NM. Prim; This was an action of debt brought by' Pasamore Williamson. plaintiff in error, against Ellis Lewis, late Chief Justice of the Supremos Court of this State, to recover the penalty of three hundred pounds, given by the thirteenth seotion oY the sot of February 18, 1785, for refusing to grant a writ of habeas corpus. The plaintiff in error, on the 31st of July, 1855, in vacation time. and out of term, stood committed to the custody of the marshal of the United States, for the Eastern district of Pennsylvania, under a warrant, issued by the Hon. John K. Kaneothen judge for that district, for a contempt in refu sing to make return to a certain writ of habeas eior•' pus, issued oat of that court at the inetause of John H. Wheeler, on a petition setting forth that he was the owner of Jane, Daniel, and Isaiah, three colored persons, held to service or labor by the laws of the State of Virginia, and that they were detained from his possession by the said, Passmoro Williamson, and praying the g reat of a writ of habeas corpus directed to the said Pawl more Williamson. commanding him to bring_befora the said judge the bodies of the said Jane, Daniel, and Isaiah On the 27th of July, it was ordered and ad j udged by the said court, that the said Passmorellium son be committed to the custody of the marshal, without bail or mainprize, as for a contempt in refusiog to make a return to the writ of habeas corpus. Afterwards, on the 31st of July, 1855, the pre, sent plaintiff, in vacation time and out of term. standing committed as aforesaid, and delete** i the jail of the city and county of Philadvkplkia, as for a contempt as aforesaid, and not fc mason vie felony, applied to the defendant„ the mid Lewis, being a judge of the Supreme Court off Pennsylvania, to award or grant a writ of habeas, corpus, according to the act . of Assembly in sulk case made and provided, that the said Paesmore, Williamson might be brought before the said cti k .. fondant, theft being judge as aforesaid, to do, alb. mit to, and receive what the law might resolve. And on the next day, en the Ist day of Augur, 1855, the defendant refused the writ of hi/Uncut pus, whereby and by force of the said net of Ate sembly, plaintiff alleges that the defendant for- , feited the sum of £3OO, for the recovery of - which the present notion is brought. The declaration was in debt stating these facts, to which the defendant pleaded the general issue and on the 14th of December, 1958, the case came on, to be tried before his Honor Chief Justice Low rie, who, on motion of defendant's counsel. direct ed a non suit. Error is assigned to this. It is maintained on behalf of the plaintiff, that Judge Lewis had no discretion whatever in the case, but was required by the plain and imperative language of the aot of 1785 to issue the writ, and that his discretion did not commence until the de fendant should bo brought before him on the writ so issued. It is further contended that the commitment et the plaintiff by the Dleirist Court of the United Statea was not a commitment on (incaution. It was a commitment as for a contempt, in refusing to. make return to the writ of habeas corpus thereto. fore leaned against the plaintiff, at the instance of Mr. John H. Wheeler. 1. If it was a commitment in execution, the court had no jurisdiction to commit, and, there fore, the commitment was null and void The defendant in error minas that the hahcast corpus not of 1755 does not apply to cases of isao prisonment, or execution of sentences after trial cad conviction, bui seas merely intended to relieve against etroggfill imprisonment, without or before trial 2 That to no ease can the writ be used to re judge the merits of a judgment of a court or judge of co ordinate jurisdiction 3. That the Constitution of the United States, adopted in 1738, suspended and annulled the Penn sylvania act of PM, so far as the latter counte nances any Interference with the judgments, sen tences and decrees of the judimat power of the new, independent, and supreme Government of the United States. 4. That the District Court of the United Etatee had jurisdiction to try, °envie, and punials Das& more Williamson for contempt of court, and the, jurisdiotion did not depend upon its pettier to try and determine any other Genie pending. 5. That, after trial and conviction in a emit of the United States, even the question of jurisdiction is not examined by a Sate courtor judge. The Supreme Court of the United States has been ap pointed by all the States for the purpose of finally settling ail rights claimed tinder the On/Mutton and laws of the United States, and the jurisdietion claimed by a Federal court under those laws is one of those rights 6 That the true construction of the aot of 118 S iS that the court or judge applied to for a babeak corpus is cot bound to grant the writ where it az. pooru to the prisoner's own application that be s Alai entitled to the relief demanded 7. That the construction of the act lathe set itself, and no judge in vacation or in term time, is liable to a penalty for eating in conformity to the act, because the penalty is given only to the " party grieved," and only for refusing a writ "rcquired by the Rot to be greeted." In raftodzig a writ not required by the true construction of the sot to be granted, there is neither a party grieved nor a violation of the act. The ease was held un,.! der advisement k, Rapper, Peter McCall, and William dith for plaintiff, and ut Geo T. o...cepbell and id. 141 Phillips for defendant. QUARTER. SESSIONS—J'Ao • Allison.— John Murphy and Henry .T i lisson, who wyre ar rested for stealing silk i rp.:4 , from the store of 3, T. Way Coon ‘skklida.,,y last, pleaded guilty. Charles Rosslter and Samuel 0. Wright were acqui . ttnA aia °barge of passing eon laden money. ,la wes Wyman, with a number of aliases; was oomiotod of a charge of passing a forged cheek.
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