February 26, 1861; The New York Herald
Mr. Lincoln yesterday visited both houses of Congress and the Justices of the Supreme Court. His appearance at the Capitol created quite a sensation. In the evening he had an informal reception at his hotel. Mr. Lincoln was occupied during a portion of the day in perfecting his inaugural address. The rumors respecting Mr. Lincoln’s Cabinet are as plentiful as usual on the eve of a new administration. The following list is supposed to be not very wide of the mark: Secretary of State Mr. Seward, of N. Y.; Secretary of the Treasury Mr. Cameron, of Pa.; Secretary of War C. M. Clay, of Ky. or Montgomery Blair, of Md.; Secretary of the Navy Mr. Welles, of Conn.; Secretary of the Interior Mr. Smith, of Ind.’ Postmaster General Mr. Etheridge, of Tenn.; Attorney General Mr. Bates, of Missouri.
The Peace Conference at Washington were busy up to eleven o’clock last night discussing the points of the plans of adjustment before them, with a determination to settle the question, if possible, before adjourning. The main subject in dispute was the territorial question.
In the Southern Congress yesterday the Committee on a Permanent Constitution announced that they would report on Wednesday. Hon. Henry T. Ulett, of Mississippi, and Hon. Judah P. Benjamin, of Louisiana, were confirmed as Postmaster General and Attorney General respectively. Messrs. Abroman, of Louisiana; Mr. J. Crawford, of Georgia, and John Forsyth, of Alabama, have been appointed Commissioners to Washington.
Despatches from Texas announce that General Twiggs, the commander of the federal troops in that department, has turned over to the State authorities the property of the United States valued at $1,300,000. The federal troops were allowed to depart quietly. There are, we believe, about two thousand United States troops in Texas. General Twiggs, it will be recollected, has been offered the command of the Georgia State troops.
We publish in another column the new Tariff act recently adopted by the Congress of the Southern Confederate States. It will be seen that all kinds of provisions, agricultural productions in their natural state, and munitions of war are exempt from duty. All merchandise purchased in any of the States not members of the Southern confederacy, during the ten days subsequent to the 18th instant, the date of the passage of the Tariff act, is also exempt from duty, provided said merchandise be imported into the States of the Southern confederacy before the 4th of March next. We also publish a circular from the Collector of the port of Charleston giving notice that all vessels from States not members of the Confederate States will, from and after the 22d inst. be regarded as foreign vessels, and as such must enter, clear, pay fees and comply with all the laws and regulations in force on the 1st of November last. Large orders for goods have been received at the North from the seceded States since the passage of the Tariff act referred to above. Collector Hatch, of New Orleans, has decided that goods purchased and invoiced on the 28th inst. can be shipped on board the steamer Bienville, which leaves New York on the 1st of March for New Orleans and will be exempt from duty.
In Congress yesterday the Senate passed the House bill authorizing the discontinuance of the postal service in the seceded States. The bill now goes to the President for his signature. The vote stood 34 to 12. The Miscellaneous Appropriation bill was taken up, the amendment for carrying out the Chiriqui contract was rejected, and the bill passed. The Oregon and Washington War Debt bill, and various Territorial bills, are special orders for today. In the House the Tariff bill was taken up. The Senate’s amendments, levying a tax on tea and coffee, were rejected, but all the other amendments of the Senate were agreed to. The bill was sent to the Senate, and a conference committee will be appointed on the tea and coffee amendments. The Force bill is the first business in order today.
The garrison at Fort Sumter fired a salute of thirty-four guns on Washington’s birthday. It is reported that Fort Moultrie responded, but how many guns were fired by the secessionists is not stated.