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■ xtm atriot KIT VOL. XXIII. GREENSBOROUGH, N. G, MAY 28, 1861. NO. 1,144. Cj)? dDmnsbanmgjj patriot PUBLISHED SEMI-WEEKLY, BY SHERWOOD &LONG, EDITORS AND PROPRIETORS. RlHSi *'1.00 A. YEAR, IX ADVANCE. RATES OF ADVERTISING IN THE PATRIOT. ONR dollar per square for the first week, and twenty-five cents for every week thereafter. TWKLVR LINES OR LK»S making a square. Deductions made in favor of standing matter as follows: 3 MONTHS. 6 MONTHS. 1 YBAB One square, $3 50 $5 50 $8 00 Two squares 7 00 10 00 14 00 Three " 10 00 15 00 20 00 Bad Faitb Of the Lincoln ment. Govern- On the 8th inst., President Davis commu-nicated totho Southern Congress the follow-ing letters from Judge Campbell, late of the U. S. Supreme Court:— Washington City, April 13, 1861 Sir: On the 15th March, alt.* I left with Judge Crawford, one of the Commissioners of the Confederate States, a note in writing to the effect following : *« I feel entire confidence that Port Sumtor will be evacuated in the next five days. And this measure is felt as imposing great respon-sibility on the Administration. " I feel entire confidence that no measure changing tho existing status, prejudiciously to the Southern Confederate Slates, is at present contemplated. " I feel an entire confidence that an imme-diate demand for an answer to the communi-cation of the Commissioners will be produc-tive of evil and not of good. 1 do not believe that it ought at this time to be pressed." The substance of this statement I commu-nicated to you the same evening by letter. Five days elapsed, and I called with a tele-gram from Gen. Beauregard, to the effect that Surntcr was not evacuated, but that Major Anderson was at work making repairs. The next day, after conversing with you, I communicated to Judge Crawford in wri-ting, that tho failure to evacuate Samter was not tho result of bad faith, but was attributa-ble to causes consistent with the intention to fulfill the engagement, and that as regarded Pic-Icons, I should have notice of any design to alter the existing status there. Mr. Jus-tiro Nelson was present at those conversa-tions, three in Lumber, and I submitted to hint each of my written communications to Judge Crawford, and informed Judge Craw-ford that his (Judge Nelson's) saction. I gave you on the 22d of March, a substantial copy of tho statement I had made on tho 15th. Tho 3()Lh of March arrived, and at that time a telegram came from Gov. Pickens in-quiring concerning Col. Lamon, whose visit to Charleston ho supposed had a connection with tho proposed evacuation of Fort Sumter. I lull that with you, and was to have an answer the fallowing Monday (1st April.)— On the 1st of April, 1 received from you £the statement in writing, "(I am satisfied) the Government will not undertake to supply Fort Sumter without giving notico to Gov P." The words "I am satisfied," were for me to use as exproesivo of confidence in tho remain-der of the declaration. Tho proposition, as originally prepared, was : "The President may desire to supply Sumter, but will not do so," &c, and your verbal explanation was, that you did not be-liovo any sach attempt would be made, and that there was no design to reinforce Sumter. There was a departue here from the pledges of the previous month, but with the verbal explanation I did not consider it a matter then to complain of. I simply stated to you that 1 had that assurance previously. On the 7th April 1 addressed you a letter on tho subj-ct of the alarm that the prepara-tions by the Government had created, and asked you if tho assurances I had given were well, or ill-founded, In rospect to sumter, your reply was, "Faith as to sumter, fully kept—wait and seo." In the moring's paper I road: "An authorized messenger from President Lincoln informed Gov. Pickens and Gen. Beauregard, that provisions will be sent to Fort Sumter peaceab'y, or otherwise, byforce. This was the 8th of April, at Char-leston, tho day followingyour last assurance, and is tho evidence»of the full faith 1 was in-vited to wait for and see. In the same pa-per, 1 read that intercepted despatches dis-closed tho fact that Mr. Fox, who had been allowed to visit Major Anderson, on the pledge that his purpose was pacific, employ-ed his opportunity to devise a plan for sup-plying the fort by force, and that this plan had been adopted by the Washington Gov-ernment, and was in process ofexecution.— My recollection of the date of Mr. Fox's visit carries it to a day in March. I learn he is a near connection of a member of the Cabinet. My connection with the Commissioners and yourself was superinduced by a conversation with Justice Nelson. He informed me of j your strong dispositions in favor of peace, i and that you were opposed with a demand of 1 the Commissioners of the Confederate States tor a reply to their first letter, and that you desired to avoid it, if possible, at that time. I told him I might, perhaps, be of some service in arranging the difficulty. J came to your office entirely at his request, and without the knowledge of either of the Commissioners. Your depression was obvious to both Judge Nelson and myself. I wa3 gratified at the character of the counsels you were desirous of pursuing, and much impressed with your observation that a civil war might be preven-ted by the success of my meditation. You read a letter of Mr. Weed, to show how irk-some and responsible the withdrawal of troops from Sumter was. A portion of my communication to Judge Crawford on the 15th of March was founded upon these re-marks, and the pledge to evacuate Fort Sum-ter is less forcible than the words you em-ployed. Those words were: "Before this letter reaches you (a proposed letter by me to President Davis,) Sumter will have been evacuated." The Commissioners who received those communications conclude they have been a-bused and overreached. The Montgomery Government hold the same opinion. Tho Commi sioners havo supposed that my com-munications were with you and upon the hypothesis prepared to arraign you before the country in connection with the President. 1 placed a peremptory prohibition upon this as being contrary to the terms of my communications with them. I pledged my-self to them to communicate information up-on what I considered as the best authority, and they were to confide in the ability of myself, aided by Judge Nelson, to determine upon the credibility of my informant. 1 think no candid man who will read over what I have written, and consider for a mo-ment what is going on at Sumter, but will agree that the equivocating conduct of the Administration as measured and interpre-ted in connection with these promises, is the proximate cause of the groat calamity. I have a profound conviction that the tele-grams of the 8th of April of General Beaure-gard, and of tho 10th of April of General Walker, the Secretary of War, can be refer-red to nothing else than their belief that there has been systematic duplicity practi-sed on them through me. It is under an op-pressive sense of the weight of tho responsi-bility that I submit to you these things for your explanation. Very respectfully. JOHN A.'CAMBELL. Associate Justice of the Supreme C. U. S. Hon. Wm H Seward, Secretary of State. Despatches to L. P. Walker, Secretary of War. An authorzed message from President Lincoln just informed Governor Pickons and myself that provisions will be sent to Fort Sumter peaceably or otherwise by force. Gen. P. G. T. Beauregard: If you have no doubt as to tho authorized character of the agent who communicated to you the intention of the Washington Gov-ernment to supply Fort Sumtor by force, you will at once demand its evacuation, and if this is refused, proceed in such manner as you may determine to reduce it. L. P. WALKER. WASHINGTON CITY, April 20,1861.—Sir : I enclose you a letter corresponding very near-ly with one 1 addressed to you one week ago (13th April,) to which I have not had any reply. The letter is simply one of enquiry in reference to facts concerning which 1 think 1 am entitled to an explanation. I have not adopted any opinion in referenco to them which may not be modified by ex-planation, nor havo I affirmed in that letter, nor do 1 in this, any conclusion of my own unfavorable to your integrity in the whole transaction. All that I have said, and mean to say, is that an explanation is due from you to my-self. I will not say what I shall do in case this request is not complied with, but 1 am justified in eaying that I shall feel at liberty to place these letters before any person who is entitled to ask an explanation of myself." Yery respectfully, JOHN A. CAMPBELL, • Associate Justice of Supreme Court of U. S. Hon. Wm. H. Seward. Secretary of State. No reply has been made to this letter. April 24, 1861. Montgomery, Ala., May 7, 1861. Sir : I submit to you two letters that were addressed by me to the Hon Wm. H. Seward Secretary of State of the United States, that contain an explanation of the nature and re-sult of an intervention by mo in the inter-course of tho commissioners of the Confed-erate States with that officer. I considered that I could perform no duty in which the entire American people, whether of tho Fe-deral Union or of the Confederate States, were more interested than that of promoting the counsels and tho policy that had for their object the preservation of peaco. This motive dictated my intervention. Besides the Interview referred to in these letters, I informed the Assistant Secretary of State of the United States (not being able to see the Secretary,) on the 11th April ult., of the ex-istence of a telegram of that date from Gen. Beauregard to the Commissioners, in which he informed the Commissioners that he had demanded the evacuation of Sumter, and, if refused, he would proceed to reduce it. On the same day I bad Leen told that President Lincoln had said that none of tho vessels sent to Charleston were war-vesaels, and that force was not to be used in the attempt to supply the fort. 1 had no means of test-ing the accuracy of this information, but of-fered that if the information was accurate, I would send a telegram to the authorities at Charleston, and that it might prevent the disastrous consequences of a collision at that Fort between the opposing forces. It was the last effort that I could make to avert the calamities of war. The Assistant Secretary promised to give the matter attention, but I tiad no other intercourse with him or any other person on tho subject, nor havo 1 had any reply to tho letters submitted to you. V ery resyectfully. JOHN A. CAMPBELL, Gen. Davis, Pres't of the Confederate States. ■ i i Fort Pickens. The Mobile Advertiser, in counselling ^pa-tience to those who are clamorous for j,Gen. Bragg to order an assault upon Fort Pick-ens, says : ''Gen Bragg is an old soldier and a famous-ly brave and shrewd one, and will not begin the work before he is roady, or be provoked into beginning it; and he will not consider himself ready to begin befor he is ready to end the work victorously. 'Tho magnitude of the preparations which the commanding general considered necessa-ry to making a sure job of the bombardment of Pickens may bo estimated by considering the number of men who have been unceas-ingly at work for so long. A small rity could havo boon built by this force while it has been preparing for tho destruction of one erection. When the bombardment commen-ces it will be one of the grandest events of the sort on record." "From the forts and batteries occupying an area of near three miles a continuous storm of shot and shell will be rained upon a common centre, tho stronghold of the Lin-colnites, and if it long holds out against this destructive shower it will disappoint the cal-culations of men best versed in the science of warfare. "Theablo engineering officer who superin-tended its construction says it cannot with-stand the attacking batteries. Wc have heard no complaints of the delay in] the at-tack but much natual impatience is felt.— Better that the army of the Confederacy should wait six months, it necessary, and make a sure thing of the attack, than make it prematurely and encounter a repulse. But Bragg's 'big guns' are arriving and certain signs indicate that the end is at hand." National Hymn. A committee of prominent citizens of New York, consisting of Gulian C. Verplank, Charles, King, Hamilton Fish, George Wm. Curtis, Eichard Grant White, Luther Brad-ish, John A. Dix, Moses H. Grinncll, and others, announce that a prize of five hundred dollars will be awarded for a National Hymn which must be, not a war-song, but purely patriotic ; to consist of not less than sixteen nor more than forty lines, exclusive of a chorus or burden, which is regarded as es-sential, and to be of marked rhythm and po-pular melody. For the words and music from the same hand, five hundred dollars will be paid, or agold medal of that value will awarded. For the hymn alone, or for the music alone (two hundred and fifty dollars will be given. Whig Principles. The Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle and Sentinel recently made the following reference to the principles of tho old Whig party : % "Time, the test of all things, has placed the stamp of trnth'upon the principles for which the old Whig party was condemned and vil-ofied. The Missouri Compromise, the repeal of which theWtiigs opposed, and for regret-ting which Mr. Filmoro was defeated, has re-cently been sanctioned again by some of the very men active in its repeal. ThejT woro willing to acknowledge thatMr. FiImore,s as-sertion wastrue—that the repeal has proved a "Pandora's box," full of evil to the country. Wo fear that tho box has been open so long that not even hope remains. The destruc-tion of that compromise has done its work of evil, and there is little hope that its restora-tion, proposed by the Peace Coogress, will repair the calamity. It is always easier and more popular to destroy than to reconstruct. "A tariff for revenue with incidental pro-tection was another Whig princiqle. The Democracy of the North have, by their acts, fully recognized the justice and expediency of such a measure, and our new Confederacy have adopted precisely such a tariff. True 'free trade' still has its admirers here, but wo seem to be just as far from it as we wore thirty years ago—tho necessities of the Confederacy will always stand in the way. So far from having freo trade, trade is more shackled than ever—we have not only import but export duties, and we have like-wise the dictum of our Premier, Mr. Toombs, that any roduction of tho United States tariff would bo 'unwise in tho last degree.' A sound paper currency, national and current everywhere in the country, was another Whig principle. North and South, all par-ties have given up the idea of an exclusively metallic currency, and propose now to issue Government promises to pay in small sums, such as may serve as currencj'jm money trans-actions. The only difference botween this Democratic and the old Whig idea is, that the new rag money is not based oh specie, nor on demand convertible into coin. The cry of'hard money' is no more hoard in the land, unless the words signify that money is a great deal harder to get. The School Fund of Missouri. The Legislature of Missouri passed on the 8th instant a resolution directing tho Superin-tendent of Public Schools to postpouo the ap-portionment of tho school fund for the pres-ent year, and to let it remain in tho treasury, bubject to tho order of the General Assem-bly. This is nothing moro nor loss than the first step towards robbing tho children of the State of tho money set apart as a sacred fund for their education. The Bchool fund consists of twenty-five per cont. (about $200,000) of tho general revenue, tho dividends on the State's stock in the Bank ofthe State of Mis-souri, and other amounts tho proceeds of lines and forfeitures, tbe whole amounting perhaps to$2O0,OOO per annum. This sum has for years been apportioned to the common schools of the State, and has been tho chief support of thoso schools, rendering efficiont service in tho cause of edifcation. Now, however, the Legislature proposes to divert this money to tho purchase of arms and ammunition, while tho school-houses ph.ill be closed, and the in-nocent children of the State grow up in idle-ness, ignorance, and vice. The children of Missouri, whoso education tho State took charge of as a sacred trust, are to bo ruthless-ly deprived of their birthright, without tho power to raise their voico in protest against the iniquity.—St. Louis, May 9th. Prespyteuian General Assembly.—This body met in Philadelphia on Thursday last. Tho delegations from the Northern States were numerous, but there were none from North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas or Texas. Only one Presbytory was represented from Virginia, one from Missouri, two from Tennessee and three from Kentucky. The Kov. Dr. Backus was elec-ted Moderator. i > The New York and Massachusetts troops withdrew from Federal Hill on the morning of the 16th, taking half their battery with them, and returned to tbe Relay House. Terrible Earthquake.—In addition to the six thousand lives lost by tho earthquake at Mendoza, South America, we learn that San Juan, situated one hundred and twenty lea-gues north of Mendoza, had been nearly de-stroyed by the same earthquake, with an es-timated loss of three thousand lives. The earthquake approached from the direction of Valparaiso, and great anxiety is manifested to hear from that quarter. Brigadier General Butler has been promo-ted to the rank of Major General, and or-dered to report at Washington.
Object Description
Title | The Greensborough patriot [May 28, 1861] |
Date | 1861-05-28 |
Editor(s) |
Sherwood, M.S. Long, James A. |
Subject headings | Greensboro (N.C.)--Newspapers |
Place | Greensboro (N.C.) |
Description | The May 28, 1861, issue of The Greensborough Patriot, a newspaper published in Greensboro, N.C., by M.S. Sherwood & James A. Long. |
Type | Text |
Original format | Greensborough [i.e. Greensboro], N.C. : Newspapers |
Original publisher | M.S. Sherwood & James A. Long |
Language | eng |
Contributing institution | UNCG University Libraries |
Newspaper name | The Greensborough Patriot |
Rights statement | http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/ |
Additional rights information | NO COPYRIGHT - UNITED STATES. This item has been determined to be free of copyright restrictions in the United States. The user is responsible for determining actual copyright status for any reuse of the material. |
Object ID | patriot-1861-05-28 |
Digital publisher | The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, University Libraries, PO Box 26170, Greensboro NC 27402-6170, 336.334.5304 |
Digitized by | Creekside Media |
Sponsor | Lyrasis Members and Sloan Foundation |
OCLC number | 871562161 |
Page/Item Description
Title | Page 1 |
Full text | ■ xtm atriot KIT VOL. XXIII. GREENSBOROUGH, N. G, MAY 28, 1861. NO. 1,144. Cj)? dDmnsbanmgjj patriot PUBLISHED SEMI-WEEKLY, BY SHERWOOD &LONG, EDITORS AND PROPRIETORS. RlHSi *'1.00 A. YEAR, IX ADVANCE. RATES OF ADVERTISING IN THE PATRIOT. ONR dollar per square for the first week, and twenty-five cents for every week thereafter. TWKLVR LINES OR LK»S making a square. Deductions made in favor of standing matter as follows: 3 MONTHS. 6 MONTHS. 1 YBAB One square, $3 50 $5 50 $8 00 Two squares 7 00 10 00 14 00 Three " 10 00 15 00 20 00 Bad Faitb Of the Lincoln ment. Govern- On the 8th inst., President Davis commu-nicated totho Southern Congress the follow-ing letters from Judge Campbell, late of the U. S. Supreme Court:— Washington City, April 13, 1861 Sir: On the 15th March, alt.* I left with Judge Crawford, one of the Commissioners of the Confederate States, a note in writing to the effect following : *« I feel entire confidence that Port Sumtor will be evacuated in the next five days. And this measure is felt as imposing great respon-sibility on the Administration. " I feel entire confidence that no measure changing tho existing status, prejudiciously to the Southern Confederate Slates, is at present contemplated. " I feel an entire confidence that an imme-diate demand for an answer to the communi-cation of the Commissioners will be produc-tive of evil and not of good. 1 do not believe that it ought at this time to be pressed." The substance of this statement I commu-nicated to you the same evening by letter. Five days elapsed, and I called with a tele-gram from Gen. Beauregard, to the effect that Surntcr was not evacuated, but that Major Anderson was at work making repairs. The next day, after conversing with you, I communicated to Judge Crawford in wri-ting, that tho failure to evacuate Samter was not tho result of bad faith, but was attributa-ble to causes consistent with the intention to fulfill the engagement, and that as regarded Pic-Icons, I should have notice of any design to alter the existing status there. Mr. Jus-tiro Nelson was present at those conversa-tions, three in Lumber, and I submitted to hint each of my written communications to Judge Crawford, and informed Judge Craw-ford that his (Judge Nelson's) saction. I gave you on the 22d of March, a substantial copy of tho statement I had made on tho 15th. Tho 3()Lh of March arrived, and at that time a telegram came from Gov. Pickens in-quiring concerning Col. Lamon, whose visit to Charleston ho supposed had a connection with tho proposed evacuation of Fort Sumter. I lull that with you, and was to have an answer the fallowing Monday (1st April.)— On the 1st of April, 1 received from you £the statement in writing, "(I am satisfied) the Government will not undertake to supply Fort Sumter without giving notico to Gov P." The words "I am satisfied," were for me to use as exproesivo of confidence in tho remain-der of the declaration. Tho proposition, as originally prepared, was : "The President may desire to supply Sumter, but will not do so," &c, and your verbal explanation was, that you did not be-liovo any sach attempt would be made, and that there was no design to reinforce Sumter. There was a departue here from the pledges of the previous month, but with the verbal explanation I did not consider it a matter then to complain of. I simply stated to you that 1 had that assurance previously. On the 7th April 1 addressed you a letter on tho subj-ct of the alarm that the prepara-tions by the Government had created, and asked you if tho assurances I had given were well, or ill-founded, In rospect to sumter, your reply was, "Faith as to sumter, fully kept—wait and seo." In the moring's paper I road: "An authorized messenger from President Lincoln informed Gov. Pickens and Gen. Beauregard, that provisions will be sent to Fort Sumter peaceab'y, or otherwise, byforce. This was the 8th of April, at Char-leston, tho day followingyour last assurance, and is tho evidence»of the full faith 1 was in-vited to wait for and see. In the same pa-per, 1 read that intercepted despatches dis-closed tho fact that Mr. Fox, who had been allowed to visit Major Anderson, on the pledge that his purpose was pacific, employ-ed his opportunity to devise a plan for sup-plying the fort by force, and that this plan had been adopted by the Washington Gov-ernment, and was in process ofexecution.— My recollection of the date of Mr. Fox's visit carries it to a day in March. I learn he is a near connection of a member of the Cabinet. My connection with the Commissioners and yourself was superinduced by a conversation with Justice Nelson. He informed me of j your strong dispositions in favor of peace, i and that you were opposed with a demand of 1 the Commissioners of the Confederate States tor a reply to their first letter, and that you desired to avoid it, if possible, at that time. I told him I might, perhaps, be of some service in arranging the difficulty. J came to your office entirely at his request, and without the knowledge of either of the Commissioners. Your depression was obvious to both Judge Nelson and myself. I wa3 gratified at the character of the counsels you were desirous of pursuing, and much impressed with your observation that a civil war might be preven-ted by the success of my meditation. You read a letter of Mr. Weed, to show how irk-some and responsible the withdrawal of troops from Sumter was. A portion of my communication to Judge Crawford on the 15th of March was founded upon these re-marks, and the pledge to evacuate Fort Sum-ter is less forcible than the words you em-ployed. Those words were: "Before this letter reaches you (a proposed letter by me to President Davis,) Sumter will have been evacuated." The Commissioners who received those communications conclude they have been a-bused and overreached. The Montgomery Government hold the same opinion. Tho Commi sioners havo supposed that my com-munications were with you and upon the hypothesis prepared to arraign you before the country in connection with the President. 1 placed a peremptory prohibition upon this as being contrary to the terms of my communications with them. I pledged my-self to them to communicate information up-on what I considered as the best authority, and they were to confide in the ability of myself, aided by Judge Nelson, to determine upon the credibility of my informant. 1 think no candid man who will read over what I have written, and consider for a mo-ment what is going on at Sumter, but will agree that the equivocating conduct of the Administration as measured and interpre-ted in connection with these promises, is the proximate cause of the groat calamity. I have a profound conviction that the tele-grams of the 8th of April of General Beaure-gard, and of tho 10th of April of General Walker, the Secretary of War, can be refer-red to nothing else than their belief that there has been systematic duplicity practi-sed on them through me. It is under an op-pressive sense of the weight of tho responsi-bility that I submit to you these things for your explanation. Very respectfully. JOHN A.'CAMBELL. Associate Justice of the Supreme C. U. S. Hon. Wm H Seward, Secretary of State. Despatches to L. P. Walker, Secretary of War. An authorzed message from President Lincoln just informed Governor Pickons and myself that provisions will be sent to Fort Sumter peaceably or otherwise by force. Gen. P. G. T. Beauregard: If you have no doubt as to tho authorized character of the agent who communicated to you the intention of the Washington Gov-ernment to supply Fort Sumtor by force, you will at once demand its evacuation, and if this is refused, proceed in such manner as you may determine to reduce it. L. P. WALKER. WASHINGTON CITY, April 20,1861.—Sir : I enclose you a letter corresponding very near-ly with one 1 addressed to you one week ago (13th April,) to which I have not had any reply. The letter is simply one of enquiry in reference to facts concerning which 1 think 1 am entitled to an explanation. I have not adopted any opinion in referenco to them which may not be modified by ex-planation, nor havo I affirmed in that letter, nor do 1 in this, any conclusion of my own unfavorable to your integrity in the whole transaction. All that I have said, and mean to say, is that an explanation is due from you to my-self. I will not say what I shall do in case this request is not complied with, but 1 am justified in eaying that I shall feel at liberty to place these letters before any person who is entitled to ask an explanation of myself." Yery respectfully, JOHN A. CAMPBELL, • Associate Justice of Supreme Court of U. S. Hon. Wm. H. Seward. Secretary of State. No reply has been made to this letter. April 24, 1861. Montgomery, Ala., May 7, 1861. Sir : I submit to you two letters that were addressed by me to the Hon Wm. H. Seward Secretary of State of the United States, that contain an explanation of the nature and re-sult of an intervention by mo in the inter-course of tho commissioners of the Confed-erate States with that officer. I considered that I could perform no duty in which the entire American people, whether of tho Fe-deral Union or of the Confederate States, were more interested than that of promoting the counsels and tho policy that had for their object the preservation of peaco. This motive dictated my intervention. Besides the Interview referred to in these letters, I informed the Assistant Secretary of State of the United States (not being able to see the Secretary,) on the 11th April ult., of the ex-istence of a telegram of that date from Gen. Beauregard to the Commissioners, in which he informed the Commissioners that he had demanded the evacuation of Sumter, and, if refused, he would proceed to reduce it. On the same day I bad Leen told that President Lincoln had said that none of tho vessels sent to Charleston were war-vesaels, and that force was not to be used in the attempt to supply the fort. 1 had no means of test-ing the accuracy of this information, but of-fered that if the information was accurate, I would send a telegram to the authorities at Charleston, and that it might prevent the disastrous consequences of a collision at that Fort between the opposing forces. It was the last effort that I could make to avert the calamities of war. The Assistant Secretary promised to give the matter attention, but I tiad no other intercourse with him or any other person on tho subject, nor havo 1 had any reply to tho letters submitted to you. V ery resyectfully. JOHN A. CAMPBELL, Gen. Davis, Pres't of the Confederate States. ■ i i Fort Pickens. The Mobile Advertiser, in counselling ^pa-tience to those who are clamorous for j,Gen. Bragg to order an assault upon Fort Pick-ens, says : ''Gen Bragg is an old soldier and a famous-ly brave and shrewd one, and will not begin the work before he is roady, or be provoked into beginning it; and he will not consider himself ready to begin befor he is ready to end the work victorously. 'Tho magnitude of the preparations which the commanding general considered necessa-ry to making a sure job of the bombardment of Pickens may bo estimated by considering the number of men who have been unceas-ingly at work for so long. A small rity could havo boon built by this force while it has been preparing for tho destruction of one erection. When the bombardment commen-ces it will be one of the grandest events of the sort on record." "From the forts and batteries occupying an area of near three miles a continuous storm of shot and shell will be rained upon a common centre, tho stronghold of the Lin-colnites, and if it long holds out against this destructive shower it will disappoint the cal-culations of men best versed in the science of warfare. "Theablo engineering officer who superin-tended its construction says it cannot with-stand the attacking batteries. Wc have heard no complaints of the delay in] the at-tack but much natual impatience is felt.— Better that the army of the Confederacy should wait six months, it necessary, and make a sure thing of the attack, than make it prematurely and encounter a repulse. But Bragg's 'big guns' are arriving and certain signs indicate that the end is at hand." National Hymn. A committee of prominent citizens of New York, consisting of Gulian C. Verplank, Charles, King, Hamilton Fish, George Wm. Curtis, Eichard Grant White, Luther Brad-ish, John A. Dix, Moses H. Grinncll, and others, announce that a prize of five hundred dollars will be awarded for a National Hymn which must be, not a war-song, but purely patriotic ; to consist of not less than sixteen nor more than forty lines, exclusive of a chorus or burden, which is regarded as es-sential, and to be of marked rhythm and po-pular melody. For the words and music from the same hand, five hundred dollars will be paid, or agold medal of that value will awarded. For the hymn alone, or for the music alone (two hundred and fifty dollars will be given. Whig Principles. The Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle and Sentinel recently made the following reference to the principles of tho old Whig party : % "Time, the test of all things, has placed the stamp of trnth'upon the principles for which the old Whig party was condemned and vil-ofied. The Missouri Compromise, the repeal of which theWtiigs opposed, and for regret-ting which Mr. Filmoro was defeated, has re-cently been sanctioned again by some of the very men active in its repeal. ThejT woro willing to acknowledge thatMr. FiImore,s as-sertion wastrue—that the repeal has proved a "Pandora's box," full of evil to the country. Wo fear that tho box has been open so long that not even hope remains. The destruc-tion of that compromise has done its work of evil, and there is little hope that its restora-tion, proposed by the Peace Coogress, will repair the calamity. It is always easier and more popular to destroy than to reconstruct. "A tariff for revenue with incidental pro-tection was another Whig princiqle. The Democracy of the North have, by their acts, fully recognized the justice and expediency of such a measure, and our new Confederacy have adopted precisely such a tariff. True 'free trade' still has its admirers here, but wo seem to be just as far from it as we wore thirty years ago—tho necessities of the Confederacy will always stand in the way. So far from having freo trade, trade is more shackled than ever—we have not only import but export duties, and we have like-wise the dictum of our Premier, Mr. Toombs, that any roduction of tho United States tariff would bo 'unwise in tho last degree.' A sound paper currency, national and current everywhere in the country, was another Whig principle. North and South, all par-ties have given up the idea of an exclusively metallic currency, and propose now to issue Government promises to pay in small sums, such as may serve as currencj'jm money trans-actions. The only difference botween this Democratic and the old Whig idea is, that the new rag money is not based oh specie, nor on demand convertible into coin. The cry of'hard money' is no more hoard in the land, unless the words signify that money is a great deal harder to get. The School Fund of Missouri. The Legislature of Missouri passed on the 8th instant a resolution directing tho Superin-tendent of Public Schools to postpouo the ap-portionment of tho school fund for the pres-ent year, and to let it remain in tho treasury, bubject to tho order of the General Assem-bly. This is nothing moro nor loss than the first step towards robbing tho children of the State of tho money set apart as a sacred fund for their education. The Bchool fund consists of twenty-five per cont. (about $200,000) of tho general revenue, tho dividends on the State's stock in the Bank ofthe State of Mis-souri, and other amounts tho proceeds of lines and forfeitures, tbe whole amounting perhaps to$2O0,OOO per annum. This sum has for years been apportioned to the common schools of the State, and has been tho chief support of thoso schools, rendering efficiont service in tho cause of edifcation. Now, however, the Legislature proposes to divert this money to tho purchase of arms and ammunition, while tho school-houses ph.ill be closed, and the in-nocent children of the State grow up in idle-ness, ignorance, and vice. The children of Missouri, whoso education tho State took charge of as a sacred trust, are to bo ruthless-ly deprived of their birthright, without tho power to raise their voico in protest against the iniquity.—St. Louis, May 9th. Prespyteuian General Assembly.—This body met in Philadelphia on Thursday last. Tho delegations from the Northern States were numerous, but there were none from North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas or Texas. Only one Presbytory was represented from Virginia, one from Missouri, two from Tennessee and three from Kentucky. The Kov. Dr. Backus was elec-ted Moderator. i > The New York and Massachusetts troops withdrew from Federal Hill on the morning of the 16th, taking half their battery with them, and returned to tbe Relay House. Terrible Earthquake.—In addition to the six thousand lives lost by tho earthquake at Mendoza, South America, we learn that San Juan, situated one hundred and twenty lea-gues north of Mendoza, had been nearly de-stroyed by the same earthquake, with an es-timated loss of three thousand lives. The earthquake approached from the direction of Valparaiso, and great anxiety is manifested to hear from that quarter. Brigadier General Butler has been promo-ted to the rank of Major General, and or-dered to report at Washington. |