"Under these circumstances it were impossible | of the secession movement, such good news would to beat it out of the brains of some uncharitable not have been kept for private consumption merely. persons that our Governor, in his hasty proceedings, New York Times. was quite as intent on bringing something from Montgomery as he was from New York. For our selves, we pretend to no opinion on the subject."Evening Post, Feb. 15. THE following is one of Mr. Lincoln's stories. These he tells often in private conversation, rarely in his speeches: "I once knew a good, sound churchman, whom we'll call Brown, who was on a committee to erect a bridge over a very dangerous and rapid river. Architect after architect failed, and at last Brown said he had a friend named Jones who had built several bridges and could build this. 'Let's have him in,' said the committee. In came Jones. Can you build this bridge, sir?' 'Yes,' replied Jones; I could build a bridge to the infernal regions, if necessary.' The sober committee were horrified; but when Jones retired, Brown thought it but fair to defend his friend. I know Jones so well,' said he, and he is so honest a man, and so good an architect, that, if he states soberly and positively that he can build a bridge to Hades-why, I believe it. But I have my doubts about the abutment on the infernal side.' 'So,' Lincoln added, 'when politicians said they could harmonize the Northern and Southern wings of the democracy, why, I believed them. But I had my doubts about the abutment on the Southern side.'"-Commercial Advertiser. Feb. 25.-It is said that Jefferson Davis is at Charleston. Shortly after his arrival it was quietly arranged for him to pay a visit to Fort Sumter, which was accomplished privately. The interview is represented to have been an earnest and prolonged one, but all not immediately in the secret were left wholly to conjecture as to what took place between him and Major Anderson. It has, however, been knowingly given out at Charleston that there will be no fight at Fort Sumter-great stress evidently being placed upon the fact that these two old acquaintances in the army cannot be brought into bloody conflict with each other. On the other hand, it is believed that if the alleged visit had elicited any particular comfort for the great leader A TRAVELLER passing through one of the counties of Tennessee, on horseback, stopped at a modest cottage on the roadside, and asked for shelter, as it was quite dark and raining. The "head of the family" came to the door, and accosted the traveller with, "What do you want?" "I want to stay all night," was the reply. "What are yer?" This interrogatory was not fully understood by the traveller, and he asked an explanation, "I mean what's yer politics?" rejoined the former. yer fur this Union or agin it?" This was a poser, as the traveller was not certain whether the "man of the house" was a Union man or a secessionist, and he was anxious to "tie up" for the night; so he made up his mind and said, "My friend, I am for the Union." Stranger, you kin kum in."-N. Y. Herald. "Air "THE writer of an elaborate four-column article in the Charleston Mercury contends that the prohibition of the slave-trade by the provisional government at Montgomery is intolerable-that it must be rebelled against. He says that it sets a stain, a stigma, upon slavery itself, and is little if any better than abolition. The secession party has swallowed the apple of discord, and the seeds are vigorously sprouting in its stomach." ་ "Jeff. Davis, in his Montgomery speech, said: Fellow-citizens and brethren of the Confederate States of America-for now we are brethren not in name merely, but in fact-men of one flesh, one bone,' &c. The confederationists may be of one bone with their new President and Vice-President, but if they are of one flesh with them, they are the lankest nation of bipeds ever known to natural history." "Save the Union, and make kindling wood of all your partisan platforms." "The Nashville Union, having despaired of be ing able to sustain secession in Tennessee by any other means, has taken itself to prayer. Has it made a sufficient trial of cursing? "The Memphis Appeal says, that the four years of Mr. Lincoln's administration will be the reign of steel.' The four years of Mr. Buchanan's have been the reign of stealing." "We don't think that South Carolina has any warrant for her conduct, but she evidently has a good deal of war-rant." "A new national flag proposed for the Southern Confederacy bears in its centre the figure of a Phoenix in the act of rising from a bed of flame and ashes, with the motto, We rise again.' The Phoenix and the flame is thought to be beautifully typical of the death of the old and the resurrection of the new Union. We don't like the Phoenix as well as the snake, for if you cut off the tail of the latter it will wriggle a little after the separation, while the proposed bird of fable lives alone without a mate, and goes out like a pipe in its own ashes. But the confederated South should remember the history of another Phoenix, son to a king of Argos, who ingratiated himself into the favors of his father's mistress, and was deprived of his eyesight by divine vengeance."-Louisville Journal. JEFFERSON DAVIS is a prim, smooth-looking man, | But, in the mean time, the prospect of having Sum with a precise manner, a stiff, soldierly carriage, ter is very pleasant." and an austerity that is at first forbidding. He has naturally, however, a genial temper, companionable qualities, and a disposition that endears him to all by whom he may be surrounded. As a speaker he is clear, forcible and argumentative; his voice is clear and firm, without tremor. THE editor of the Norwich (Ct.) Bulletin, sent Jefferson Davis, the President of the "Six Nations," a pen-holder made from a rafter of the house in which Benedict Arnold was born. In closing his letter of presentation the 'editor says: "I have taken occasion to present you this pen-holder, as a relic whose associations are linked most closely to the movement of which you are the head. Let it lie upon your desk for use in your official duties. In the eternal fitness of things,' let that be its appropriate place. It links 1780 with 1861. Through it, West Point speaks to Montgomery. And if we may believe that spirits do ever return and baunt this mundane sphere, we may reckon with what delight Benedict Arnold's immortal part will follow this fragment of his paternal roof-tree to the hands in which is being consummated the work which he began." ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS from childhood has been afflicted with four abscesses and a continued derangement of the liver, which gives him a consumptive appearance though his lungs are sound. He has never weighed over ninety-six pounds, and to see his attenuated figure bent over his desk, the shoulders contracted, and the shape of his slender limbs visible through his garments, a stranger would ever select him as the "John Randolph" of our time, more dreaded as an adversary and more prized as an ally in a debate than any other member of the House of Representatives. He is a careful student, but so very careful that no trace of study is perceptible as he dashes along in a flow of facts, arguments and language that to common minds is almost NEARLY all the favorites of Mr. Buchanan are enbewildering. He has the appearance of having un-gaged in the secession conspiracy. The monstrous dergone great bodily anguish, and his advanced transaction of Twiggs, in Texas, which bears the age and gray hairs contribute to give to his eye a double character of unmitigated treason and indirestless nervous movement. His size is medium, vidual dishonesty, has been long in process, and the and figure remarkably slim. His forehead is much celebrated Ben McCullough, one of Mr. Buchanan's wrinkled, and his locks flow over the shoulders, most intimate friends, has been engaged in it. His which stoop very much. A habit of wearing the household editor, William M. Browne, is at Monthat advanced to the left gives to his whole contour gomery, assisting disunion with all his ability, while an appearance at once remarkable and prepossess his late Secretary of the Treasury, his late Secreing.-Herald, March 4. tary of War, his late Secretary of the Interior, and most of those who advocated his policy in Congress, either hold position under the Southern Confederacy, or occupy prominent places in the organization which sustains it."-Phila. Press. "SUMTER is to be ours without a fight," says the Charleston Mercury. "All will be rejoiced that the blood of our people is not to be shed in our harbor, in either small or great degree. To those who have troubled themselves with vague fears of war on a large scale, and the horrors of war extensively, the relief will be as great as the apprehension has been grievous. For ourselves, notwithstanding all the Northern thunder, we have never been able to bring ourselves seriously to believe in the probability of any more than a few collisions, sufficient to show that we are in carnest, and competent to make good our position of independence against our would-be masters. These gentry 'hold our valor light,' as also the honesty of the determination of the Southern peoples to be quit of them and their impertinent and detrimental interference through a government in common. It may, perhaps, yet be necessary to instruct them a little in these particulars. But it appears that for the present, under the circumstances in this case, they are inclined sensibly to dispense with experiment and its teachings. How far this discretion will revivify the hopes and stimulate the efforts of Reconstructionists throughout the South, is a matter to be discovered by observation, The temper and intention of the Northern people has now been so thoroughly developed and exposed to the eyes of all those at the South who will see, that we trust Union-menders are too late in their attempts upon the virtue and integrity of our people. Crushed eggshells and friendship abused can never be mended. We have no doubt, however, that herculean efforts will be made in that direction, and must only take good care of these weaker brethren at the South, whose sentiments are stronger than their reason, or who live in the past rather than the future. The strait-jacket was a valuable invention. hundred extra mounted policemen constantly, to THE city of New York has to employ fourteen keep the enormous crowds of starving people in that city from committing acts of violence.-Charleston Courier. CONFEDERATES AND UNITED STATESMEN.-The southern secessionists must be admitted to be blest with at least the philosophical virtue of self-knowledge. They term their new league the "Confederate States of America." Thus they call themselves by what they doubtless feel to be their right name. They are confederates in the crime of upholding slavery. A correct estimate of their moral position is manifest in that distinctive denomination of theirs-"Confederate States." This title is a beautiful antithesis to that of the United States of America. The more doggedly confederate slavemongers combine, the more firmly good republicans should unite.-London Punch. LETTER FROM UNITED STATES SENATOR LANE.We have great pleasure in publishing the following letter from that brilliant statesman, the Hon. Joseph Lane, of Oregon. It may seem somewhat paradoxical that a Pacific statesman should be ferociously warlike, but that is evidently none of our business. We cannot comply with Mr. Lane's request in regard to hoisting the Palmetto flag, but we will say that we admire his (we allude to Mr. Lane, and not the flag, of course) boldness, candor, and eloquence: 25 ing the chivalry to capture the fort after all. They and failed when there were only about seventy men have been threatening to do it for three months, in it. They may have an opportunity to accomplish it against only three.-Times, March 11. SENIT CHAMBIR, Washington, March the thurd, 18 & 60 onct. Eds. Vannurty Faire—if god spairs my live I shall Reeseed with in 20 dase. jonson of tennysea is fernenst me, but he haint got no intellect into him. Sivil war is sertin & I wants to here the Kannin Rore. Hist the Palmettoe banner from on top your offiis & let it waive to the Brees. Don't mucillate this mannerscript and be particular not to maike no Misstaiks in the spellin and punktooate it proper, amerykan Staitsmen suffers from scrofulus papers which tries to bring them into ridicool by mucilla-folded in a letter, and its recipient doubtless stuck tin there mannerscripts. On to the frey! the god of Bottles smiles upon the palmettoe flag. yours respectably, GOSEF LANE. -Vanity Fair. AN INCIDENT AT THE FORTS.-At an early hour yesterday morning, while the gunners were firing blank cartridges from the guns of the Iron Battery at Cumming's Point, one of the guns, loaded with ball, the men not being aware of the fact, was discharged. The ball struck the wharf of Fort Sumter, close to the gate. This, it appears, caused some excitement in the garrison of Sumter, for three or four of the ports fronting Cumming's Point were soon after thrown open. No warlike reply to the unintentional shot was given, however; and about two hours afterwards a boat was sent over to explain the occurrence to Major Anderson. Major received the messenger in good part, and The thus the matter ended, after having caused no little talk at the harbor forts and in the city.-Charleston Mercury, 19th March. WASHINGTON, March 10.-The question of reinforcing Fort Sumter has been under consideration in the Cabinet, and it is understood that the question whether or no it is not desirable to withdraw all the troops, except two or three men, rather than incur the bloodshed which will probably occur before troops and supplies are put into it, is now to be decided. The immediate necessity of settling this question, grows out of the fact, that there is only a limited supply of bread at Fort Sumter, but plenty of salt meat, and that it must either be re-supplied or abandoned very soon. The question has been under discussion in high military circles for several days. Gen. Scott advises that reinforcements cannot now be put in, without an enormous sacrifice of life. Of course his views on the subject, cannot be known officially to the public; but he is understood to say that we have neither military nor naval force at hand, sufficient to supply the fort against the threatened opposition, which it would require twenty thousand men to overcome. initiate civil war, in addition to uniting the South Besides, if it should and overwhelming the Union sentiment there in the waves of passion, it would require two hundred and fifty thousand Government soldiers to carry on the struggle, and a hundred millions of money to begin with. In such an event, twenty thousand men would be needed to preserve Washington and the Government archives. The general impression here on the streets is that the Administration has determined on withdrawing the troops from Fort Sumter, leaving only one Corporal, two men, and the Stars and Stripes, compell sheriff's bulletin, this morning, for recruits for the IN New York city a bill was found posted on the any local excitement, created considerable amusearmy of Georgia. Its appearance in the absence of ment. The bill had the appearance of having been it up among the sheriff's auction notices for a "sell."-Commercial Advertiser, March 7. THE authority of the Government of the United States has been called in question, to a greater or less extent, on eleven different occasions, viz.: several officers of the Federal army to consolidate the thirteen States into one, and confer the supreme The first was in 1782, and was a conspiracy of Power on Washington. The second was in 1787, called "Shay's Insurrection," ," in Massachusetts. The third was in 1794, popularly called "The Whisky Insurrection of Pennsylvania." The fourth was in 1814, by the Hartford Convention Federalists. The fifth-on which occasion the different sections of the Union came into collision-was in 1820, occurred on the question of the admission of Missouunder the administration of President Monroe, and ri into the Union. The sixth was a collision between the Legislature Georgia. The eighth was the memorable nullifying ordinance of South Carolina, in 1832. Island, between the "Suffrage Association" and the mons, who resisted Federal authority. recently gave a novel party to the young people of COLONEL DONALD, of Leake county, Mississippi, his neighborhood. The ticket sent to each young lady, required that she should come dressed in Mississippi manufactured apparel, in the manufacture of which she must in some way assist. The young gentlemen were also required to dress in the manufacture of Mississippi, made in Leake and Attala. sexes in attendance, all attired as directed. The There were nearly one hundred persons of both scene was not brilliant, but the papers say it was patriotic.-Evening Post, March 29. Gov. BROWN of Georgia, has attached the Northern in a most woeful fix. If coercion is attempted towards the seceded States, the Border Slave States | fore resorting to it, the Administration would be will go out of the Union, and the country will be lost. If a pacific policy is adopted, the Chicago platform will go to pieces, and the Black Republican party will be broken into fragments. The President's position may now be likened to an intoxicated individual, who was one very cold night holding on to a spile on the edge of the dock, and who thus moralized: "If I hold on here," said he, "I shall certainly freeze to death, and if I let go I shall fall in the water and be drowned."-Charleston Mercury. WHAT is martial law? Few there are who understand the full significance of this term. At this time, a correct understanding of its meaning is unusually important. Martial law is defined by Bouvier, as "a code established for the government of the army and navy of the United States," whose principal rules are to be found in the articles of war, prescribed by act of Congress. But Chancellor Kent says, this definition applies only to military law, while martial law is quite a distinct thing, and is founded on paramount necessity, and produced by a military chief. Martial law is generally and vaguely held to be, a suspension of all ordinary civil rights and process and, as such, approximates closely to a military despotism. It is an arbitrary law, originating in emergencies. In times of extreme peril to the State, either from without or from within, the public welfare demands extraordinary measures. And martial law being proclaimed, signifies that the operation of the ordinary legal delays of justice are suspended by the military power, which has for the time become su preme. It suspends the operation of the writ of habeas corpus; enables persons charged with treason to be summarily tried by court-martial, instead of grand jury; justifies searches and seizures of private property, and the taking possession of public high-ways and other means of communication. Involving the highest exercise of sovereignty, it is of course, capable of great abuse; and it is only to be justified in emergencies of the most imperative and perilous nature, such as now appear to exist in Baltimore and Washington. constrained to expect that alternative. Even if successful without great loss of life, nothing would be gained but the retention of a fortress which has only a local value in protecting Charleston, and is of no national moment whatever. Capt. Fox is fully impressed with the courage, integrity and sincerity of Major Anderson, with whom, however, his communication was necessarily limited, as Gov. Pickens sent Capt. Hartstein, late of our Navy, as an escort with him to the fort, who kept within earshot during most of the interview, or at least, near enough to prevent any free communication. He considers that the fort can be reinforced either by a military operation, which, of course, would require a force not at the disposal of the President, or by the strategy already referred to, with its attendant hazards of a desperate conflict. The supply of provisions now in the garrison, will probably enable Major Anderson to sustain his command reasonably well until the 15th of April. From all the facts disclosed by this investigation, it is manifest that Fort Sumter must be abandoned, or civil war inaugurated. Capt. Fox is cautious, intelligent and well-informed, and was brought to the notice of the government by Mr. Aspinwall and some of the principal ship-owners of New York and Boston.-N. Y. Tribune. THE HEIGHT OF IMPUDENCE.-Parson Brownlow thus felicitously describes "the height of impudence." "An Alabama secession paper inquires if the border States know what is The Height of Impudence?' We answer for the border States, that it is to see and hear a man swaggering and swearing in every crowd he enters, that he will go out of the Union because he can't get his rights, by haring the privilege guaranteed to take slaves in the Territories, when in fact, he does not own a negro in the world, never did, and never will; and withal can't get credit in any store in the country where he lives, for a wool hat or a pair of brogans!" NEW YORK, April 3.-It is reported from NewOrleans that the Mexican General Ampudia was marching to invade Texas with 3,000 men, and that he had declared the State to belong to Mexico by right, and as it was no longer defended by the Union, a good opportunity was offered to Mexico to reassert her authority.-N. Y. Tribune. WASHINGTON, March 26.-Capt. Fox, who visited Fort Sumter on the requisition of the War Department, has returned here and reported the result of his mission. It is very well understood that he had a plan for introducing reinforcements, which had been submitted to members of the Cabinet, and was regarded as measurably practicable, but attended with the probability if not certainty of collision, which constituted the chief objection to its adoption. He is perfectly familiar with all the approaches to the harbor of Charleston, having been long connected with the Coast Survey, and had practical experience as the commander of one of Aspinwall's steamers. His scheme did not contemplate any serious danger in running the gauntlet of the batteries on the islands which guard the channels, but only in landing the men and provisions at Sumter, after it had been reached. If a fire was opened upon his transports from Fort Moultrie or the other batteries, it would be necessary for Sumter to si-York Tribune, April 1. lence them in order to discharge the reinforcements. March 31.-Mr. George N. Sanders telegraphed to-day from Montgomery, a special despatch to the N. Y. Tribune, that "Newport is again to become the commercial rival of New York. If Sprague is elected Governor of Rhode Island, that plucky little State will at once abandon the old hulk of the Union, offering at once a commercial depot and a summer residence for Southerners. The estimated value of the traffic thus diverted from New York, may be set down at $50,000,000 annually, so long as the latter remains in the Union. "Fort Pickens will soon be reduced to the same condition as Fort Sumter. Glorious accounts come from all parts of the New Confederation."-New Any attempt, therefore, looking to that object AN interesting incident is told, concerning the would almost inevitably lead to bloodshed, and be-independent and successful stand taken by a wo 27 response, "if you could make it $100,000 it would be of no use; for where the Seventh Regiment "Father," was the kindly but decisive goes, I go."-Tribune, April 20. man in New Orleans, on behalf of the Union. She [iering." "Determined not to be outdone in a matter of THE Missouri Democrat has a letter from a soldier at Fort Smith, Ark., bearing the date of March 5, in which the following passage occurs: 46 "Yesterday the citizens of Fort Smith raised a Palmetto flag in town, and one of the soldiers, private Bates, company E, First cavalry, went out and climbed up the tree upon which the flag was suspended, took it down and brought it into the garrison. Captain Sturgiss ordered him to take it and put it back where he got it. He said he never would. The captain ordered him to the guard house, and in going he tore the flag in pieces. He was then ordered to be put in irons, and was sent to the blacksmith shop for that purpose; but the smith (a citizen) refused to put them on, and he was discharged in consequence. D company, First cavalry, farrier was then ordered to put them on, and he refused, and was sent to the guard-house. E company, First cavalry, farrier then put them on. The soldiery then gave three shouts for Bates, and the blacksmith who refused to put the irons on."The World, April 1. "My son," said a New York merchant, to his heir and namesake, on Thursday, "I would rather give $1,000 than have you go to Washington sold New York, in regard to the course of affairs, that the members of the Board offered to sell Govern- shot from Stevens's battery was fired by the ven- ance on the streets in this city this morning, wear- made a breach in Fort Sumter;" that Senator ChesApril 13.-Among the ridiculous rumors to day, are the following: that the South Carolinians "have hole in the wall of the Fort; that Major Anderson nut fired a shot, "as an experiment," and made a is the guest of General Beauregard, and that Senator Wigfall received the sword and returned it to Maj. Anderson.-Tribune, April 16. St. Louis directed to "Old ABE or any other man." On one side was the Confederacy flag, on the other April 11.-The President received a letter from the seal and flag of the United States, with the on the Union Bank of South Carolina, "to help words "played out." Inside was a five-dollar note pay the expenses of reinforcing Fort Sumter.Times, April 12. of Fort Sumter, which, for its peculiarity, deserves AN incident occurred during the cannonading, particular mention. Roger A. Pryor, of Virginia, ex-Member of Congress, was one of the second deputation that waited upon Major Anderson. He Literally dressed to kill, bristling with bowie-knives and revolvers, like a walking arsenal, he appeared was the very embodiment of Southern chivalry. the fort, without any extraneous assistance. Into think himself individually capable of capturing side of the fort he seemed to think himself mastèr in keeping with this pretension, seeing upon the of every thing-monarch of all he surveyed-and, table what appeared to be a glass of brandy, drank it without ceremony. Surgeon Crawford, who had witnessed the feat, approached him and said: "Sir, what you have drank is poison-it was the iodide of potassium-you are a dead man." revolvers and all, and passed into the hands of tative of chivalry instantly collapsed, bowie-knives, The represenSurgeon Crawford, who, by purgings, pumpings, and pukings, defeated his own prophecy in regard |