February 4, 1861; The New York Herald
Our despatches from Washington this morning are interesting. A despatch received from Governor Pickens assured his friends at the federal capital that no attempt would be made to take Fort Sumter until all peaceable means to get possession had been exhausted. The seizure of the revenue cutter Robert McClelland at New Orleans has been confirmed. Her commander sometime ago notified the government that he would not obey the orders of the Secretary of the Treasury. The instructions of Secretary Dix to the officer appointed to succeed Captain Brushwood, which, it appears, were intercepted by the Governor of Alabama, were, as will be seen by the despatch, of the most spirited and decisive character. It is now stated that the leading spirits of the republican party are about to make a serious change in their policy, and that hereafter the question to be decided will be one of boundaries and not of slavery and Territories; that they will submit to the loss of all the slave States, with the exception of Maryland and Delaware, the possession of which will place the National capital, with all its associations in their hands, and by a peaceable union with the Canadas, and a peaceable or forcible acquisition of Mexico and Central America, build up an empire greater than has ever existed on the Continent.
The Peace Congress will assemble in Washington today. Our despatches furnish all the gossip and rumors in regard to their proceedings that were current in the federal capital yesterday.
The Convention of the seceding States assembles at Montgomery, Alabama, today. A despatch received in Washington yesterday states that the Convention would probably adjourn over to await the action of the Peace Conference.
Colonel Hayne, the commissioner from South Carolina, on Saturday sent to the President a communication containing the ultimatum of that State. He proposes to enter into negotiations for the purchase of Fort Sumter, and in case of refusal threatens the capture of that fortification. The President will reply to the letter as soon as possible, and as his views have undergone no change, it is thought his answer will be substantially the same as that given a few weeks since.
By telegraph we learn that the Mint and Custom House at New Orleans had been seized by the secessionists of that place. The Mint contained a considerable amount of money, which, it was reported, the Assistant Treasurer had refused to deliver up to the agent of the United States. A communication in our paper explains the matter, and the writer thinks, the Legislature will return to the government at Washington whatever moneys may stand to its credit.