February 27, 1861; The New York Herald
The Conference Committee of the two houses of Congress on the Senate’s amendments to the Tariff bill, levying a duty on tea and coffee, have agreed to recommend that the Senate recede from their position. The committee will make their report today, and as the tea and coffee tax is the only point in dispute between the two branches, the report will no doubt be accepted, and thus the bill be passed, and sent to the President for his signature. The bill complete is published in todaypaper, and its great importance will insure its attentive perusal.
Our Washington despatches announce that Mr. Simon Cameron, of Pennsylvania, will go into Mr. Lincoln’s Cabinet as Secretary of the Treasury. The struggle between the conservative and radical sections of the republican party in Washington is increasing in intensity and bitterness, as our reports from the capital this morning abundantly prove.
The Peace Conference at Washington has, after three weeks’ labor, accomplished nothing – a result generally anticipated. The Conference yesterday voted upon the first section of the adjustment, and defeated it by a vote of 12 to 8. The vote was subsequently reconsidered, in the hope that some plan may yet be proposed upon which a majority may unite. It is the general belief, however, that the Conference will not be able to do anything towards a settlement of the existing troubles of the country.
We have received a very interesting letter from the United States steamer Brooklyn, off Pensacola harbor, giving a detailed account of the effects and complete failure of secession in Florida. The garrison holding possession of the government property is represented as nothing more than a wild and undisciplined gang of revolutionists, plundering and robbing where and when the opportunity presents itself. Those on board the Brooklyn were anxiously awaiting orders to retake the property occupied by the secessionists, which they are confident of accomplishing, without any great exertion, in about two hours.
In the Legislature at Albany yesterday the Senate again had up the report of the Committee on Federal Relations, in reference to the present crisis of the country; but after some discussion further action was postponed to a future day.