Southern and War Items.
The state rights party of Fayetteville, N. C., on Saturday, raised a flag with
the fifteen slaves states' coat-of-arms, and the mottoes, "No submission
to the North," and "Southern rights." The Union men displayed
the national flag from Capitol Hill, with thirty-four stars. An immense crowd
assembled, and was addressed by Union and secession speakers.
The State Department has replied to the note of the Confederate State Commissioners,
declining to receive them in their official capacity, but expressing deference
for them as gentlemen. The Secretary expressed a peaceful policy on the part
of the Government, declaring a purpose to defend only when assailed.
A deplorable example of the demoralization of the public mind in the South
has recently come to light at Washington. In hastily opening one of the mail
bags from Virginia, a small box was thrown upon the floor and broken, from which
escaped two venomous snakes. It was addressed to the President of the United
States, and but for this accident would have been sent to him and opened without
hesitation, according to the design of the cowardly wretches who conceived this
infamous plot. Being free, there was no post-mark by which it might be traced.
The Secretary of the Navy has taken a decided stand in regard to such officers
as exhibit any hesitation about obeying orders. Some of them intimated an indisposition
to go South, and he immediately signified that whoever raised that point, or
any other concerning the performance of duty, should be immediately stricken
from the roll of the army. No complaints have been heard since this intention
became known.
Ben McCulloch, whose presence in Virginia has so alarmed the Union men, left
on Tuesday for Texas.
Active preparations are going on at Washington and in Maryland for the defense
of the capital. The secretary of war has decided to accept volunteers, if necessary,
as a posse comitatus.
Capt. Johns has returned from New York to Washington, under arrest for refusing
to go South with the troops ordered from New York Harbor.
Offers of volunteers from the border states continue to be sent to Montgomery
and tenders of 7000 "border ruffians" and 2000 Indian warriors have
been received there from the West. So says the Herald's dispatch.
President Jeff. Davis on Tuesday made a requisition on the governor of Alabama
for 3000 troops.--A Mississippi brigade, 1800 strong, arrived at Pensacola on
the 7th, and 370 Georgia troops, en route for Pensacola, passed through Montgomery
Monday.
Gen. Sumner, U.S. A., had been sent to supersede Gen. Johnston in the command
of the Pacific Division of the Army. Johnston is a kinsman of Floyd, and there
is reason to suspect his loyalty. Gen. Sumner is a man of Northern birth, and
of approved fidelity and capacity.
A letter to the Times, from on board the steamer Brooklyn, says the commander
at Fort Taylor, Key West, compelled the inhabitants to haul down the Confederate
States' flag, with the polite intimation that two different nationalities could
not rule in the same place.
The rumor that the Brooklyn had landed men at Fort Pickens proves untrue.
Lieut. Bowen has arrived at Washington, with dispatches to the government from
Col. Waite, commanding the department of Texas. He left San Antonio on the 27th
of March. Colonel Waite was carrying out the orders of General Twiggs. A large
number of troops had already embarked, and very soon nearly the entire force
would be in readiness to leave the country. He says there is no truth in the
statements that the Texans had interfered with or attempted to molest the United
States troops. The relations between them were friendly and peaceful. He says
he heard nothing about the United States troops being wanted there, and that
he does not believe the reports that the government contemplates sending any
there. He says that if anything of the kind had been known in Texas, he would
have heard something about it. At least, the officer commanding the department
of Texas would probably have been consulted about it.
In regard to political affairs, Lieut. Bowen says there had been considerable
change among the people. They seemed to be averse to the course which the secessionists
were pursuing, and he believes there will be a complete revolution in affairs.
He says the Union sentiment has always been pretty strong there, owing to the
large German element that resides in that section of the State.
The South Carolina convention adjourned Wednesday, subject to a call of the
president. Before adjourning, it passed resolutions approving of the treason
of Twiggs in skulking from duty under the cloak of a resignation, and stealing
the federal property for the benefit of other traitors. Gov. Pickens attended
a secret session of the convention Wednesday.
Col. Ripley, late superintendent of the Springfield Armory, who had a long
leave of absence from secretary Floyd, returnd from his travels in the steamer
Persia on Tuesday. He was known to be a true man, and being second in command
in the ordnance department, we presume that the Washington traitors were very
glad to get him out of the way. Hearing of the troubles in the country, he has
returned and is ready for duty. Col. Ripley was in command at Charleston, in
the times of the Jackson secession, and owes treason no good will. |