January 16, 1861, The New York Herald
The Cabinet had a meeting yesterday, and decided to send any reinforcements to major Anderson at present. The instructions to the Major have not yet been completed.
Messrs. Hayne and Guardin, messengers from the Governor of South Carolina, and Lieut. Hall, bearer of despatches from Major Anderson, arrived at Washington yesterday. The latter immediately sought an interview with the President, but the object of his mission had not been made public. Nothing had officially transpired respecting the mission of the gentlemen from South Carolina, but it was believed to have reference to measures for the prevention of hostilities.
There is but little news of importance from Charleston. The South Carolina Legislature has declared that any attempt by the federal government to reinforce Fort Sumter will be regarded as an act of open hostility and a declaration of war. The Legislature has approved of the attack upon the Star of the West, and decided to support the Governor in all measures of defence. Military companies were arriving at Charleston from all parts of the State. Governor Pickens has telegraphed to the President of the Bank of the Republic, of this city, that no vessel will be disturbed or prevented from entering the harbor of Charleston, unless bearing hostile troops or munitions of war for Fort Sumter.
A telegraphic despatch received by Messrs. Spofford, Tileston & Co., dated Charleston, January 13, states that it was blowing a gale from the northeast, with a heavy sea on the bar, and that the steamship Marion was detained, but would sail when the weather moderates.
Both houses of Congress were yesterday engaged upon the ending troubles of the nation. In the Senate Mr. Bigler offered amendments to the constitution similar to those embraced in the Crittenden propositions. The bill provides for submitting the amendments to the people for ratification on the 12th of February. Owing to the absence of several Senators, the subject was passed over. Mr. Grimes, of Iowa, introduced a resolution requesting the President to communicate any information he may have regarding attempts made or contemplated by any large body of men to interfere with the free navigation of the Mississippi river, and what efforts have been made to suppress the same. Laid over. A motion to postpone the bill to admit Kansas, in order to take up Mr. Hunter’s crisis resolutions, was defeated – yeas 24, nays 27. A motion to postpone the debate on Mr. Crittenden’s resolutions till Thursday was defeated – yeas 19, nays 25. It was then agreed to let them lay over till Wednesday. Mr. Hunter’s resolutions relative to withdrawing the federal forces from seceding States were then taken up, and Mr. Polk, of Missouri, delivered his views on the pending difficulties.
In the House leave to offer a resolution instructing the Committee of thirty- three to report the Crittenden proposition of adjustment was refused by the republicans. The committee made majority and minority reports. The first mentioned was made the special order for Monday next. A resolution to suspend the execution of the federal laws in certain States was referred to the Committee on the President’s Message. Several other propositions relative to the crisis were offered, and finally the House went into Committee of the Whole, when a general debate on the affairs of the country was inaugurated by Messrs. McClernand, of Illinois, and Cox, of Ohio. At the conclusion of their remarks, Mr. Reagan, of Texas, obtained the floor, and the House adjourned.
Hinton Rowan Helper again attempted to deliver his lecture on ‘The Two Systems of Labor,’ at Clinton Hall, last evening; but the trustees closed the hall against him. Quite a large crowd assembled, and Colonel Titus, of Kansas celebrity, was arrested by the police. A graphic report of the whole affair, with the resolutions passed at an extempore meeting of citizens, will be found in another column.
At the monthly anti-slavery prayer meeting last evening of the congregation attached to Dr. Cheever’s church, several addresses were made in which the speech of Mr. Seward was spoken of as being too yielding and conciliatory, and not at all satisfactory to abolitionist principles. The present crisis was also regarded as the judgment of God for the sin of slavery.
In the Circuit Court yesterday, Judge Smalley delivered an important charge to the Grand Jury in relation to the subject of treason against the federal government, defining what, in the eye of the constitution, constitutes treason, as also the lesser crime of misprision of treason. The Judge charges that not only those who, acting under the authority of different States, have seized the forts, arsenals and other federal property, are guilty of high treason, but also those who may have lent them assistance by the sale to them of arms and munitions of war, or vessels, knowing that the same were to b used in resistance to the authority of the United States government. The charge will be found in another column.
The Legislature reassembled last evening. But little business of importance was transacted, except a proposition introduced in the Senate by Mr. Spinola in favor of submitting the Crittenden amendments to the constitution of the people.