March 11, 1861; The New York Herald
Great excitement was created in Washington city yesterday by a report generally circulated that at a Cabinet council on Saturday night it had been determined to remove the troops from the Southern forts, as to reinforce them would cause an immense loss of life, and greatly aggravate the existing difficulties. It is now certain the stock of provisions at Fort Sumter is almost entirely exhausted, and that fort must be quickly reinforced or the troops at present there withdrawn.
From Washington we learn that the appointments from the leading federal offices in this city have been finally decided on. Hiram Barney is to be Collector; Wakeman, Surveyor; Webb, Naval Officer; Hoxie, Postmaster, and Nye, Marshal. Delafield Smith, it is said stands a fair chance to be appointed District Attorney.
Advices from the South inform us that the confederacy is making rapid strides toward forming a substantial and permanent government. A letter from a member of President Davis’s cabinet to a friend in Washington says that in less than a month they will be in the full tide of success; that they have inaugurated an elaborate war policy, and before the first of April will have an army of fifty thousand troops in the field, commanded by experienced officers. As to the question of money, he says that a plan has already been matured which will produce sample revenue to carry on the government even in time of war. Mr. Lincoln’s inaugural was regarded as a declaration of war, and every preparation was being made to meet the emergency.
From Texas we learn that on the 4th inst. the Convention declared that State out of the Union, and Governor Houston issued a proclamation to that effect. Vessels sent by the federal government to Texas are not to be seized. Governor Houston, it is stated, will neither take the oath of allegiance to the State nor resign. The returns of the election were still incomplete, but as far as ascertained show a heavy majority in favor of secession. Despatches from San Antonio and Fort Brown state that Colonel Waite, the commander of the United States forces, had endeavored to reorganize the troops, but, owing to their demoralization by the conduct of General Twiggs, found it impossible to do so. Captain Hill, the commander at Fort Brown, was in expectation of a collision between the State authorities and his troops.
The Alabama Convention has adopted an ordinance transferring all operations to the Provisional government at Montgomery, with the arms and munitions acquired from the United States, and vesting in that government authority over the forts and arsenals.