of Md., Hatton, Helmick, Hill, Holman, Howard of Ohio, NON-INTERFERENCE WITH SLAVERY IN STATES. THE Burnham, Butterfield, Campbell, Carey, Case, Coburn, Col- February 11th, 1861. Mr. SHERMAN of Quarles, James C. Robinson, Scott, Simms, William N. H. Resolved, That neither the Congress of the United States, nor the people or governments of the non-slaveholding States have the constitutional right to legislate upon or interfere with slavery in any of the slaveholding States in the Union. Which were agreed to-yeas 162, nays none. The bill was debated in the Senate, recommitted, re-reported, but objected to by Mr. Mason, Mr. Green, and others, and not finally disposed of. BILL TO SUPPRESS INSURRECTION. February 18th. Mr. STANTON of Ohio, re ported from the Committee on Military affairs a bill enacting: YEAS-Messrs. Charles F. Adams, Green Adams, Aldrich, BILL TO RE-ORGANIZE THE MILITIA OF DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE January 28th, 1860. Mr. STANTON of Ohio, reported from the Military Committee a bill providing that every officer, non-commissioned officer, musician, and private of the militia of the District of Columbia, shall take and subscribe to the oath required by the eighteenth section of the act approved January 11, 1812, the name of any person refusing to be stricken from the roll, or if an officer his commission to be forfeited. The rules were suspended-yeas 116, nays 41, to permit its introduction, and it was finally passed-yeas 120, nays 42, as follows: TEAS-Messra. Charles F. Adams, Green Adams, Adrain, Aldrich, Alley, William C. Anderson, Ashley, Babbitt, Beale, Bingham, Blair, Blake, Brayton, Briggs. Bristow, Ruffinton, That the President in any case in which it may be lawful to use either the militia or the military and naval force of the United States for the purpose aforesaid, may accept the services of such volunteers as may offer their services, as cavalry, infantry, or artillery, organized in companies of the maximum standard, squadrons and regiments, scribed for the organization of the respecrespectively, according to the mode pretive arms in the military establishment of the United States; and it shall be lawful for the President to commission the officers of such companies, battalions, squadrons, and regiments, in their respective grades, to continue till discharged from the service of the United States; and such volunteers, while in the service of the United States, war, and shall be entitled to same pay and shall be subject to the rules and articles of emoluments as officers and soldiers of the same grade in the regular service. A motion to reject the bill was negatived -yeas 68, nays 109, as follows: COLLECTION OF DUTIES ON IMPORTS. YEAS-Messrs. Thomas L. Anderson, William C. Ander- BILL TO PROVIDE FOR THE son, Wright-68. NAYS-Messrs. Charles F. Adams, Adrain, Aldrich, Allen, Alley, Ashley, Babbitt, Bingham, Blair, Blake, Brayton, Briggs, Buffinton, Burlingame, Burnham, Butterfield, Campbell, Carey, Carter, Case, Colfax, Conkling, Conway, Corwin, Covode, H. Winter Davis, Dawes, Delano, Duell, Dunn, Edgerton, Edwards, Eliot, Ely, Farnsworth, Fenton, Frank, French, Graham, Grow, Gurley, Hale, Hall, Helmick, Hickman, Hoard, William A. Howard, Hutchins, Irvine, Junkin, Francis W. Kellogg, William Kellogg, Kenyon, Kilgore, Killinger, De Witt C. Leach, Lee, Long necker, Loomis, Lovejoy, Marston, McKean, McKnight, McPherson, Montgomery, Moorhead, Morrill, Morse, Nixon, Olin, Palmer, Perry, Pettit, Porter, Potter, Pottle, Edwin R. Reynolds, John H. Reynolds, Rice, Riggs, Christopher Robinson, Royce, Scranton, Sedgwick, Sherman, Somes, Spaulding, Spinner, Stevens, William Stewart, Stratton, Tappan, Thayer, Theaker, Tompkins, Train, Trimble, Vandever, Van Wyck, Wade, Waldron, Walton, Cadwalader C. Washburn, Ellihu B. Washburne, Wells, Wilson, Windom, Wood, January 3d, 1860. Mr. BINGHAM of Ohio, reported from the Committee on the Judi ciary a bill providing— That whenever by reason of unlawful obstructions, combinations or assemblages of John T. Harris, Hatton, Hindman, William Howard, Hughes, Kunkel, Larrabee, James M. Leach, Leake, Logan, Maclay, Mallory, Maynard, Mc Kenty, Millson, Laban T. Moore, Isaac N. Morris, Nelson, Niblack, Noell, Peyton, Phelps, Pryor, Quarles, James C. Robinson, Ruffin, Rust, Scott, Sickles, Simms, William N. H. Smith, Stokes, Stout, Thomas, Vallandigham, Vance, Webster, Winslow, Wood-persons, it shall become impracticable, in the judgment of the President, to execute the revenue laws and collect the duties on imports in the ordinary way in any collec tion district, it shall be lawful for the Presi dent to direct that the custom-house for such district be established and kept in any secure place within some port or harbor of such district, either upon land or on board any vessel; and that, in that case, it shall be the duty of the collector to reside at such place, and there to detain all vessels and cargoes arriving within the district until the duties imposed on the cargoes by law are paid in cash, any thing in the laws of the United States to the contrary notwithstanding; and that, in such cases, it shall be unlaw. ful to take the vessel or cargo from the custody of the proper officer of the customs unless by process from some court of the YEAS-Messrs. Adrain, Allen, Thomas L. Anderson, Wm. United States; and that, in case of any C. Anderson, Avery, Barr, Bocock, Boteler, Bouligny, Brabson, Branch, Bristow, Burch, Burnett, Horace F. Clark, attempt otherwise to take such vessel or John B. Clark, John Cochrane, Cor, James Craig, Burton cargo by any force, or combination, or asCraige, John G. Davis, De Jarnette, Edmundson, English, Etheridge, Florence, Fouke, Garnett, Gilmer, Hamilton, J. semblage of persons, too great to be overcome Morrison Harris, John T. Harris, Hatton, Hindman, Wm. by the officers of the customs, it shall be Howard, Hughes, Kunkel, Larrabee, James M. Leach, lawful for the President of the United States Leake, Maclay, Mallory, Charles D. Martin, Elbert S. Martin, Maynard, Mc Kenty, Millson, Laban T. Moore, Nelson, Nibor such person or persons as he shall have lack, Noell, Peyton, Pryor, Quarles, Riggs, James C. Robin- empowered for that purpose, to employ such son, Rufin, Rust, Scott, Simms. Stokes, Stout, Thomas, Val- part of the land or naval forces, or militia of the United States, as may be deemed neces26th. On motion of Mr. CORWIN of Ohio, the bill was postponed till the 28th, to take moval of such vessel or cargo, and protectsary for the purpose of preventing the reup the report of the Committee of Thirty-ing the officers of the customs in retaining three, which was agreed to-yeas 100, nays the custody thereof. 74, as follows: Woodruff-109. 19th. A motion to lay it on the table was negatived-yeas 68, nays 105. The yeas were: landigham, Vance, Winslow, Woodson, Wright-68. YEAS-Messrs. Green Adams, Adrain, Thos. L. Anderson, Wm. C. Anderson, Avery, Barr, Barrett, Bocock, Boteler, March 2d. On a motion to take up the bill, by a suspension of the rules, the yeas were 103, the nays 62, as follows: YEAS-Messrs. Charles F. Adams, Adrain, Aldrich, Alley, Ashley, Babbitt, Beale, Bingham, Blake, Brayton, Briggs, Buffinton, Burlingame, Butterfield, Carey, Carter, Coburn, Colfax, Conkling, Conway, Covode, Dawes, Delano, Duell, Dunn, Edgerton, Eliot, Ely, Farnsworth, Fenton, Ferry, Foster, Frank, French, Gooch, Graham, Grow, Gurley, Hale, Hall, Haskin, Helmick, Hickman, Hoard, Holman, HumphKellogg, Kenyon, Kilgore, Killinger, De Witt C. Leach, Lee, Longnecker, Loomis, Lovejoy, Marston, McKean, McKnight, McPherson, Millward, Edward Joy Morris, Nixon, Olin, Palmer, Pettit, Porter, Potter, Pottle, Rice, Christopher Robinson, Royce, Sedgwick, Sherman, Somes, Spaulding, Spinner, Stanton, Stevens, William Stewart, Stratton, Tappan, Thayer, Theaker, Tompkins, Train, Trimble. Vandever, Van Wyck, Verree, Wade, Waldron, Walton, Cadwalader C. Washburn, Ellihu B. Washburne, Wells, Wilson, Windom, Wood, Woodruff-103. Bouligny, Brabson, Branch, Briggs, Bristow, Brown, Burch, The bill was not again reached. NAYS-Messrs. William C. Anderson, Barr, Barrett, Brabson, Branch, Bristow, Brown, Burch, Burnett, Horace F. Clark, John B. Clark, Clemens, John Cochrane, Corwin, Etheridge, Florence, Fouke, Garnett, Gilmer, Hamilton, J. Morrison Harris, John T. Harris, Hatton, William Howard, Hughes, Kunkel, Larrabee, James M. Leach, Leake, Mallory, Charles D. Martin, Elbert S. Martin, Maynard, Mc Kenty, Millson, Laban T. Moore, Nelson, Niblack, Pendleton, Pey ton, Phelps, Pryor, Quarles, Riggs, James C. Robinson, Simms, William N. H. Smith, James A. Stewart, Stokes, Thomas, Vallandigham, Vance, Webster, Whiteley, Winslow, Woodson, Wright—62. Two-thirds not having voted in the affirmative, the bill was not taken up, nor was it again reached. January 30th, 1861. Mr. JOHN COCHRANE from the Select Committee on the President's message reported a bill for the "Collection of Duties on Imports," which was ordered to be printed and re-committed to the committee. It was not again heard from. His views of the subject were expressed as follows: which it must perform. It holds valuable property in every part of the territory over which its jurisdiction has been, by the solemn mandate of the people of all the States, extended; and it holds every article of this property as the common trustee of all the people of all the States for their common use and benefit; and to them, and to all of them, it is directly responsible for the safe keeping and protection of such property. By constitutional legislation, supreme in its While fully concurring with the President character and irrepealable except by the in the opinion that no State possesses, under authority which created it, the Federal Govand by virtue of the Federal Constitution, ernment has established a system of revenue any right or authority to secede, or with-laws which it is bound to maintain, and draw, or separate itself from the Federal against all obstructions to the execution of Union, I am equally convinced that, not hav- which it is equally bound adequately to proing been prohibited, the justification of the vide. No extra constitutional action of any exercise of such right is referable to the na-State can possibly release the Federal Govture and extent of those rights reserved to ernment in any of its departments from this the States or the people thereof. Therefore imperative obligation. all the acts and ordinances of secession which have been or may be enacted by any State or States, acting separately, in my opinion, are, in as far as the same may be carried into effect, to be considered as revolutionary infractions of the supreme law of the land, however they may be regarded as the proper exercise of an indefeasible right of "resisting acts which are plainly unconstitutional and too oppressive to be endured." I also concur with the President that the Federal Constitution has abstained from conferring upon the Federal Government, or any department thereof, authority to declare and wage oppressive war against a seceding State, in order to coerce the repeal of any act or ordinance of secession which she may have passed, or the renunciation of any purpose of secession which she may entertain, or to compel her to remain nominally, as well as in fact, a member of the Federal Union. On the contrary, the plenary power of offensive war and reprisals, conferred by the Constitution upon Congress, is, in my judgment, designed exclusively to authorize and empower such war by the Federal Government, in its discretion, against such governments and communities as may be rightfully considered foreign to the United States. States which profess to have seceded from the Federal Union, by their separate State action, cannot, in my opinion, be rightfully so considered; and, therefore, a just conception of the constitutional authority of Congress combines with other and, if possible, higher and more commanding motives to prescribe other measures than aggressive and coercive war to remedy the grave inconveniences, perils, and evils of such secession. It is to this aspect of the duty of Congress in the unfortunate and unexampled state of facts presented for its consideration by the President, in his late message, that the attention of the committee has been specially directed, and they report herewith a bill designed, as is believed, peaceably and in a spirit of moderation and forbearance fully to protect the entire revenue system of the United States from all the unconstitutional and unlawful obstructions and disturbances with which it is now or may be hereafter threatened. In framing this measure there has been kept steadily in view, first, the obstacles of every character which oppose any attempt by the Federal Government to coerce a State; and, secondly, the principle upon which, as is conceived, the whole coercive action of our revenue system has, from its inception, been founded. The just and rightful coercion exercised under the Constitution by the Federal Government in the collection of its revenue from foreign commerce is a coercion, not directed against State authority, nor even against unlawful action by assemblages of persons within any State. That coercion on the contrary, applies itself directly to the bulk and body of the foreign importations upon which the revenue is chargeable, and to the vessels and the agents by which they are brought into our ports, opened to such commerce only under the protection and by the regulation of the Federal law. The well-understood and just assumption upon which all this foreign commerce proceeds is, that the Federal Government provides for it ports of entry and delivery in which it may be entered and delivered, and in which the lawful duties chargeable upon it shall It is, on the other hand, entirely manifest be collected and paid to the Federal Governthat the Federal Government, throughout ment, whose laws have, for that very conthe whole extent of its constitutional juris- sideration, established and protected and diction, both territorial and maritime, is regulated such entry and delivery. The vested with powers which it cannot surren- failure to observe those regulations is, by der, and charged with trusts and duties our whole code of revenue law, visited in penalties upon the agents by whom the merchandise is transported, the vessels in which it is carried, and finally in the form of seizure and forfeiture upon the merchandise itself. All this is a coercion of law upon foreign commerce, and not a coercion of force upon any State to which it may be bound. No State can rightfully expect that the United States shall permit foreign commerce to be carried on in ports and places open to it only under their authority, without compliance with the constitutional conditions under which those ports or places have been thus opened. It is in this view that the bill proposes that vessels from a foreign port bound to a port within the scope of its provisions shall, with its foreign cargo, be liable to seizure and condenation, and in the same view of applying its restrictions only to foreign commerce on which revenue is by law collected, all vessels lawfully engaged in the coastwise trade are exempted from the operation of its purely remedial and defensive provisions. January 8th, 1861. The President sent a message relative to the condition of the country, urging upon Congress to devote itself exclusively to the question how the Union can be preserved in peace, and recommending the establishment of a line and "letting the North have exclusive control of the Territory above it, and giving Southern institutions protection below it." He transmits copies of the correspondence between himself and the "commissioners" of South Carolina, pledges himself to preserve the public peace in the District of Columbia, warns his countrymen of the dangers which now surround us, and says that he shall carry to his grave the consciousness that he at least meant well for his country. 9th. Mr. HOWARD of Michigan, offered the following resolution: Resolved, That the message be referred to a special committee of five members of this House, and that they be instructed to report on the same as early as possible; and that said committee make immediate inquiry, and report: 1st. Whether any executive officer of the United States has been or is now treating or holding communication with any person or persons concerning the surrender of any forts, fortresses, or public property of the United States, and whether any demand for such surrender has been made, when and by whom, and what answer has been given. when, where, and with whom it was made, and on what consideration. 3d. What demand for reinforcements of the said forts has been made, and for what reason such reinforcements have not been furnished. 4th. Where the ships of the United States are now stationed, with what commands, and with what orders. 5th. Whether the custom-house, post-office, arsenal, and other public buildings of the United States at Charleston have been seized and are held in possession by any person or persons, and the particulars of such seizure and possession. 6th. Whether any revenue cutter of the United States has been seized and is now held in possession by any person or persons, and the particulars thereof; and whether any efforts have been made by the head of the Treasury Department to recapture or recover possession of said vessel. That the committee have power to send for persons and papers, to take testimony, and report from time to time, as facts material to the national safety and national honor may be disclosed by the evidence. Which was adopted-yeas 133, nays 62, as follows: YEAS-Messrs. Charles F. Adams, Green Adams, Adrain, Aldrich, Allen, Alley, William C. Anderson, Ashley, Bab bitt, Beale, Bingham, Blair, Blake, Brayton, Briggs, Bristow, Buffinton, Burch, Burlingame, Burnham, Butterfield, Campbell, Carey, Carter, Clemens, Coburn, John Cochrane, Colfax, Covode, Cor, Curtis, John G. Davis, Dawes, Delans, Duell, Dunn, Edgerton, Edwards, Eliot, Ely, Etheridge, Farnsworth, Fenton, Ferry, Foster, Fonke, Frank, French, Gilmer, Gooch, Grow, Gurley, Hale, Hall, Hamilton, Haskin, Helmick, Hickman, Hoard, Holman, Wm. Howard, Wm. A. Kellogg, Wm. Kellogg, Kenyon, Kilgore, Larrabee, De Witt Howard, Humphrey, Hutchins, Irvine, Junkin, Francis W. C. Leach, Lee, Logan, Longnecker, Loomis, Lovejoy, Maclay, Marston, McCternand, McKean, McKnight, McPherson, Millward, Montgomery, Moorhead, Morrill, Edward Joy Morris, Morse, Nelson, Nixon, Noell, Olin, Palmer, Perry, Pettit, Porter, Pottle, Edwin R. Reynolds, John H. Reynolds, Rice, Riggs, Christopher Robinson, James C. Robinson, Royce, Scranton, Sedgwick, Sherman, Somes, Spaulding, Spinner, Stanton, Stevens, Wm. Stewart, Stokes, Stratton, Tappan, Thayer, Theaker, Tompkins, Train, Trimble, Vandever, Wade, Waldron, Cadwalader C. Washburn, Ellihu B. Washburne, Webster, Wells, Wilson, Windom, Wood, Woodruff-133. NAYS-Messrs. Thomas L. Anderson, Avery, Barksdale, Barrett, Bacock, Boteler, Bouligny, Branch, Brown, Burnett, John B. Clark, Clopton, Cobb, Crawford, De Jarnette, Dim mick, Edmundsm, English, Florence, Garnett, Gartrell, Hardeman, John T. Harris, Hatton, Hawkins, Hill, Hourtom, Hughes, James, Kunkel, Landrum, James M. Leach, Leake, Love, Mallory, Charles D. Martin, Elbert S. Martin, Maynard, Mc Kenty, McRae, Millson, Laban T. Moore, Syden ham Moore, Niblack, Pendleton, Peyton, Phelps, Pryor, Quarles, Reagan, Rust, Sickles, Simms, Wm. Smith, Wm. N. H. Smith, Taylor, Vallandigham, Vance, Whiteley, Winslow, Woodson, Wright-62. January 10th. The Committee was announced, consisting of Messrs. HOWARD of Michigan, BRANCH of North Carolina, JOHN COCHRANE of New York, DAWES of Massachusetts, and HICKMAN of Pennsylvania. Mr. Hickman was subsequently excused from serving, and Mr. JOHN H. REYNOLDS of New York, was substituted. 2d. Whether any officer of this Government has at any time entered into any pledge, agreement, or understanding, with any person or persons, not to send reinforcements to the forts of the United States in the harbor of Charleston, and the particulars of February 14th. The committee reported such agreement, pledge, or understanding; unanimously that "the evidence produced ITAL. bore them does not prove the existence of a secret organization, here or elsewhere, ho tile to the Government, that has for its object, upon its own responsibility, an attack upon the Capital, or any of the public property here, or an interruption of any of the functions of the Government." SECRETARY HOLT'S REPORT. under date of February 18th, 1861, made reOn this subject, the Secretary of War, port upon a resolution of inquiry passed by the House of Representatives: This resolution having been submitted to this Department for consideration and report, I have the honor to state, that the body of troops temporarily transferred to this city is not large, as is assumed by and admirably adapted for the preservation of the the resolution, though it is a well-appointed corps public peace. The reasons which led to their being The majority of the committee, however, state that certain organizations in the District and in Maryland, formerly political clubs have since become military and are drilling, expecting arms from State authorities or private sub-assembled here will now be briefly stated. scriptions; but that, while they sympathize strongly with secession, there is no proof that they intend to attack the Capital or the District, "unless the surrender should be demanded by a State to which they profess a higher degree of allegiance." "Some of these companies in Baltimore profess to be drilling for the sole purpose of preventing other military companies from passing through the State of Maryland." These clubs are, in no proper sense, secret, and hence not such as are contemplated in the resolution of the House. I shall make no comment upon the origin of the revolution which for the last three months has been in progress in several of the Southern States, nor shall I enumerate the causes which have hastened its advancement or exasperated its temper. The scope of the question submitted by the House will be sufficiently met by dealing with the facts as they exist, irrespective of the cause from which they have proceeded. That revolution has been distinguished by a boldness, and completeness of success, rarely equalled in the history of civil commotions. Its overthrow of the Federal authority has not only been sudden and wide-spread, but has been marked by excesses which have alarmed all, and been sources of profound humiliation to a large portion of the American people. Its history is a history of surprises and treacheries, and ruthless spoliations. The forts of the United States have been captured and garrisoned, and hostile flags unfurled upon their ramparts. Its arsenals have been seized, and the vast to the use of the captors; while more than half a amount of public arms they contained appropriated million dollars, found in the mint at New Orleans, has been unscrupulously applied to replenish the enue cutters of the United States have been prevailed Mr. BRANCH of North Carolina, added a brief minority report, chiefly to the point that Lieutenant-General Scott has seven companies of artillery, and one company of sappers and miners of the regular army ordered to and quartered in the City of Wash-on to violate their trusts and surrender the property ington, and closing with this resolution, which he offered: coffers of Louisiana. Officers in command of rev in their charge; and instead of being branded for their crimes, they and the vessels they betrayed have been cordially received into the service of the seceded States. These movements were attended by yet more erally believed that this revolution was guided and discouraging indications of immorality. It was genurged on by men occupying the highest positions in the public service, and who, with the responsibilities upon their consciences, did not hesitate secretly to of an oath to support the Constitution still resting Resolved, That the quartering of troops of the regular army in this District and around the Capitol, when not necessary for their protection from a hostile enemy and during the session of Congress, is impolitic and offensive, and, if permitted, may be destruc-plan and openly to labor for the dismemberment of tive of civil liberty; and, in the opinion of this House, the regular troops now in this city ought to be forthwith removed therefrom. On motion of Mr. JOHN COCHRANE, this resolution was laid on the table-yeas 125, nays 35, as follows: YEAS-Messrs. Charles F. Adams, Green Adams, Aldrich, Allen, Alley, William C. Anderson, Ashley, Babbitt, Beale, Bingham, Blair, Blake, Brayton, Briggs, Bristow, Buffinton, Burlingame, Butterfield, Campbell, Carter, Case, Horace F. Clark, Coburn, John Cochrane, Colfax, Conkling, Conway, Covode, Coz, Curtis, H. Winter Davis, John G. Davis, Dawes, Duell, Dunn, Edgerton, Eliot, Ely, Etheridge, Farnsworth, Fenton, Ferry, Foster, Fouke, Frank, French, Gilmer, Gooch, Graham, Grow, Hale, Hall, Haskin, Hatton, Helmick, Hd, Holman, W.A.Howard, Humphrey, Hutchins, Irvine, Jaakin, F. W. Kellogg, W. Kellogg, Kenyon, Kilgore, Larrab. De Witt C. Leach, Lee, Logan, Longnecker, Loomis, Lovejoy, Mallory, Marston, McClernand, McKean, Mc Kenty, McKnight, McPherson, Millson, Laban T. Moore, Moorhead, Morrill. Edward Joy Morris, Isaac N. Morris, Morse, NelViblack, Nixon, Palmer, Perry, Porter, Potter, Pottle, Edwin R. Reynolds, Rice, Christopher Robinson, James C. Rhinson, Royce, Scranton, Sedgwick, Sherman, Sickles, Standing, Spinner, Stevens, William Stewart, Stokes, Stratton, Tappan, Theaker, Tompkins, Train, Vandever, Van Wyek, Wade, Waldron, Walton, Cadwalader C. Washburn, Ellihu B. Washburne, Webster, Wells, Wilson, Wood raf-125. NATS-Messra. Avery, Barr, Barrett, Bocock, Boteler, Bouligny, Brabson, Branch, Burch, Burnett, John B. Clark, Burton Craige, De Jarnette, English, Florence, Garnett, John T. Harris, Hindman, Hughes, Kunkel, Maclay, Elbert R. Martin, Maynard, Peyton, Phelps, Pryor, Quarles, Rust, William N. H. Smith, Stevenson, Thomas, Whiteley, Winslow, Wright-35. whose treasury they were living. As examples of the Republic whose honors they enjoyed, and upon evil are always more potent than those of good, this spectacle of demoralization on the part of States and statesmen could not fail to produce the most deplorable consequences. The discontented and the disloyal everywhere took courage. In other States, adjacent to and supposed to sympathize in sense of political wrong with those referred to, revolutionary schemes were set on foot, and forts and arms of the United States seized. The unchecked prevalence of the revolution, and the intoxication which its triumphs inspired, naturally suggested wilder and yet more desperate enterprises than the conquest of ungarrisoned forts or the plunder of an unguarded mint. At what time the armed occupation of Washington city became a part of the revolutionary programme, is not certainly known. More than six weeks ago the impression had already extensively obtained that a conspiracy for the accomplishment of this guilty purpose was in process of formation, if not fully ma tured. The earnest endeavors made by men known to be devoted to the revolution to hurry Virginia and Maryland out of the Union, were regarded as preparatory steps for the subjugation of Washington. This plan was in entire harmony with the aim and spirit of those seeking the subversion of the Govern ment, since no more fatal blow at its existence could be struck than the permanent and hostile possession of the seat of its power. It was in harmony too with the avowed designs of the revolutionists, which looked to the formation of a confederacy of all the slave States, and necessarily to the conquest of the capital within their limits. It seemed not very indistinctly prefigured in a proclamation made upon the floor of the Senate, without qualification, if not exultingly, that the Union was already dissolved-s proclamation which, however intended, was certainly calculated to invite, on the part of men of desperate fortunes, or of revolutionary States, a raid upon the capital. In view of the violence and turbulent disor |