March 11, 1861; The Charleston Mercury
Our Montgomery Correspondence.
MONTGOMERY, March 7, 1861.
The developments for the last several days are of an unimportant character in political circles, the Administration appointments at Washington being about such as were very generally anticipated, and for which the public mind was prepared. Congress is busily engaged on the Permanent Constitution of the “Confederate States,” holding generally an extra session every evening. The secret character if these proceedings render them of little interest to gossiping letter writers, and we are about as ignorant of details in Montgomery as you are in Charleston.
The export duty of one eighth of one per cent per pound on cotton has promptly furnished a basis for the loan of fifteen millions authorized by Congress, and we are assured today that the entire amount will be bid for in New Orleans at five per cent.; in fact, and intelligent gentleman from Mobile told me today that he was reliably informed that the negotiation could be effected in New Orleans in one hour, so anxious were capitalists in that city to secure the bonds. This will be perhaps the most astounding blow to the North that has yet struck upon the sensitive nerves of that great moneyed monopoly on Wall street. I cannot, however, readily subscribe to the policy of any export duty, or other taxation which bears at once on the producer, or tends in anywise to disturb a uniform, incentive to industry and labor among an agricultural people. It is true that this new tariff, so novel among us, is light even now under the pressing exigencies of our infancy in governmental operations, but the predicate is laid, and it is at present impossible to contemplate the extent of the abuses to which such a policy may lead. No disposition to complain is anywhere manifested, but this is owing to the selling patriotism of a people who have been so long oppressed by unjust discriminations against them in every possible way, and who are now not only willing, but anxious to pay any price, for their deliverance from such a thraldom.
The appearance of the permanent Constitution is anxiously awaited, and its slow movements in Congress indicate the thorough sifting it is undergoing. We feel hopeful that the old abuses will be satisfactorily cared for, and that this Magna Charter of freedom will not give even the degree of dissatisfaction as did the provisional instrument. I hope to be able to give these varied criticisms a fair analysis in my subsequent letters, but waive them for the present.
Mr. REAGAN, of Texas, has been confirmed as Postmaster General, vice MR. ELLETT, declined.
Mr. MALLORY, who was here at my last writing, has now entered into the discharge of his duties as Secretary of the Navy. His was the only appointment in the Cabinet which has given the least dissatisfaction.
The Alabama State Convention convened on the 4th and is now engaged in altering the State Constitution. Members of that body have already signified the determination to repudiate any ordinance surrendering, on the part of the State of Alabama, to the confederate States of America, the public lands. A sentiment of this kind prevails to a great extent among the delegates to the State Convention, and I am inclined to think will control the body in that respect.
The city is still thronged with strangers, and every train contributes to the crowd.
Mrs. DAVIS held her first levee at the Exchange Hotel on yesterday. She is well received, and admired more as a true Southern lady than as the wife of our first President. All eyes are turned towards Charleston harbor, and the greatest anxiety is manifested for news from that quarter.
PENROSE PINCKNEY.