February 11, 1861; The New York Herald
Much excitement was created in this city on Saturday by the receipt of a despatch from Savannah, Georgia, stating that five New York vessels had been seized in that port by order of the Governor, in retaliation for the recent seizure in this city by our Metropolitan police of arms about to be shipped to Georgia. The news of the seizure of these vessels also caused quite a sensation in Washington, and in the House of Representatives. Hon. John Cochrane, of this city, offered a resolution calling on the Secretary of the Treasury for any information he may have received on the subject, which resolution being objected to, Mr. Cochrane gave notice he would present it again today. The Georgia arms seized by our police were on Saturday given up by the authorities here to Mr. G. B. Lamar, the agent in this city of the Savannah consignees, and intelligence of the fact immediately telegraphed to the Collectors or the port of Savannah. By a despatch which we give in another column, it will be seen that, immediately on the fact of the restoration of the arms to their rightful owners being made known to Governor Brown he ordered the release of the reprised vessels, and they were accordingly given up on Saturday.
The War Department at Washington has advices from Major Anderson, at Fort Sumter up to the 7th inst. He is in good spirits, and prepared for whatever may come. He seems to anticipate an early attack from the Carolinians but thinks, however formidable it may be, he can maintain his position for an indefinite period. He has been informed by the government that should an attack on him be commenced he will be immediately reinforced. It is said that leading secessionists in Washington advise the South Carolinians still to postpone the attack on the fort. It is also reported that the South Carolina authorities themselves are disposed to pass over the whole business connected with the possession of Sumter to the Congress of the new Southern confederacy. Indeed, it is even stated that the whole subject of the possession of the Southern forts will be passed over to his body for its action.
Colonel Judge, of Alabama, has called on President Buchanan, with a view of entering into negotiations for the transfer of the United States forts and other government property in Alabama to the government of that State. The President, however, declines to recognise him in an official capacity.
Our readers will remember that the telegraph several days ago reported the seizure of the Untied States Arsenal at Little Rock, Arkansas, by the State authorities. That despatch, however seems to have anticipated the event, as the Arsenal was not taken possession of until Friday last. On that day, as we learned by telegraph from Memphis yesterday, it was surrendered to the State. It contained nine thousand stand of arms, a large amount of ammunition and forty cannon.