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' ; \ \ - > \ *"K " -.>- ' Tk - - v;*- . ,.v- 7T -* T_ '*- ';.- * **^*!9fWpt *" " ? # ' ?_ -V - .. P-'.'^'v *. , V 1 . y * -Vr* ^ ' - 9 *f> . ';< "' , Vt ' .; ? -* vJit* vjtr , . - ' - ' * 1 v - * ? * - * - * .cJsf'J*?.?.w - ** r . " i1 : ^ jlfar*?"T'jji "*^3fnf1- > ^ ^ a? ^ | . ^ j ^ | | ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ C"'^^ wSiam w^east }ETOprietore- It" liibtpcniitnt Jfamilg ttetospaper: Jor % liramotioit of t|e folitiltl, Social, ^griratturat ant> Commercial Interests of ijjje Sottt|- {$2 pee tba^, iw';a^a^^ '* ? ? j ' "n-r :.'. v u,\?t'. Y0LUME7 YORKVILLB, REPUBLIC OF SOUTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY MORNING, JANUARY 24,1861. " iMBfl ? 1 '- < ? ? -'?i?-?i-iM? ?-?- MjmtjaL ? TO ASMS! The war drum is beating?prepare far the fight! The stern bigot Northman exults in lis might; Gird on your bright weapons?your foemen are nigli, And this be yourwatchword?1"We conqueror die!" The trumpet is sounding from mountain to shore; Your stvords and your lances mus* slumber no more! Fling forth to the sunlight your banner on high, Inscribed with the watchword?"VVe conquer or die!" March on to the field, there to do or to dare, With shoulder to shoulder all danger to share; And let your proud watchword ring up to the sky, Till the blue arch re-echoes?"We conquer or die!" Press forward undaunted, nor think of retreat, The enemy'8 host on the threshold to meet; Strike firm, till the foemen before you shall fly, Appalled by your watchword?"We conquer or die!" Go forth in the pathway your forefathers trod; We, too, fight for freedom?our captain Is God ! Their blood in our veins, with their honors we vie ; Theirs, too, was the watchword?"We conqueror die!" We strike for the South?mountain, valley and plainFar the Sou ill we will conquer again and again; n? J? and trlnmnh Id niirh x1ci uuj vi doitouvu uiu ui?*m*|#u ?" Ours, then, be the watchword?"We conquer or die!". Ik? fil? mI ,fto?*!. For the Yorkville Enquirer. ABGUMENTS FOE SLAVERY. THE PATRIARCHS WERE SLAVEHOLDERS. THE MOSAIC INSTITUTES AND TEN COMMANDMENTS RECOGNIZE ITJ AND IT CAN 3E TRACED DOWN TO THE CLOSE OF THE OLD TE8TAMENT CANON. 2. Id resamiDg the Biblical argument, we advance to the position that slavery can be traced in the history of the Patriarchs. Two hundred years after the flood, we And it appearing in the time of Job, whom we presume to have lived about this date. See Job 1:3, 15,16,17; 3:19; 19:16; 31:13. Let it be remembered that this first historic slaveholder is pronouoced, in inspired language, to be a "man that was perfect and npright, and one that feared God and eschewed eviland yet he held his fellow men in bondage. Every Eibit reader knows that Abraham, the father of the faithful, was the owner of a large number of slaves. See Gen. 12 : 5, which exhibits both him and Lot as having "gotten (by purchase) souls in Haran." In Gen. 14:14 and 17 : 12, 13, 23, 27, the slaves of Abraham are also mentioned, and divided into those "born in bis house" and those "bought with his money of the stranger." They are referred to again in Gen. 20 :14?16 and 24 : 34. Thus this faithful Patriarch not only nomad nlnvea Knf. mnsfc hfivfl had an im mense number of them, at least tico thousand, and as is probable bequeathed these, in part, to his son Isaac, who is also represented as bearing the same relation to a " great store of servants." See Gen. 25: 6 and 26 :12, 13,14. Jacob, also, had "men servants," or slaves as the Hebrew word means, "and maid servants," Gen. 30:43; 31:14,15 16; 32 : 5. That slavery was also extensively prev alent in this period, is evident from the sale of Joseph to the Ishmaelites. Gen. 37 : 26, 27; and from the proposition made by the sons of Jacob to be "bondsmen" and by the Egyptians, to sell themselves to be slaves to Pharaoh. Gen. 44 :9; 47 :19. 8. The Biblical argument, also, admits expansion by a reference to the Mosaic Institutes and the laws not only authorizing, bnt, also, regulating slavery among the Jews. The recognition of the relation of master and servant, appears in two of the Ten Commandments, whioh were formally de livered to Moses. See 4th and 10th Commands. In the civil institutions of the Jews, provision was made for the operation of a regular system of domestic slavery, and under these, slaves were of both Hebrew and Heathen birth. Those brought into servitude, who were of Hebrew origin, are to be distinguished from those procured from the Heathen. The Hebrew was liable to do menial service, under a variety of circumstances. a. The daughter could be sold by the father. Exod. 21 :7. b. Liberty could be sold on account of poverty. Levit. 25 : 39. c. Debtors often became the servants of their creditors. 2d Kings, 4:1; Mat. 18:25. d. A thief became, in many cases, the servant of him whom he robbed. Exod. 22 :3. c. If taken captive in war, he could be reduced to slavery. 2d Chron. 12 :8. /. He who had been ransomed or recaptured from a Heathen, by a Hebrew, could be again sold as a slave, to one of his own nation. Levit. 25:48?53. But in reference to these Hebreic servants, they were all entitltd to release from servitude, at certain intervale, except in case where they refused to accept liberty ; then they were to be made servants for life. See Exod. 21: 5,6, and Deut. 15 :12, in both of which it is distinctly said, they are to be "servants forever." The times of manumission were, 1. Every seventh year. Ex. 21: 2, 6. In this event it is plain that the man servant alone went out from bondage, unless he was married at the time of his subjection to slavery, then his wife might, also, be released with him ; but the children were never released on this occasion. The maid servant, also, sometimes enjoyed this privilege, as is evident from Exod. 21: 7?11, but hers was an exceptional case. 2. When a material injury, as the loss of ? ?- o moo onf'orerl t.hp SPrVftD t au CJK7 ui a luutuj h-m (Hebrew) could claim his freedom. Exod. 21:26, 27. 3. Theyear of Jubilee, every fiftieth year, brought liberty to every servant of Hebrew blood. See Levit. 25 :39 ?43, 47?55. Id addition, however, to this class of servants, who were of Jewish extraction, and hence, having their term of service subject to limitation, there were authorized in the Jewish code of laws, other slaves whose term of service was perpetual. The law is un Levit. 25:44?46. "Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids which thou shalt have, shall be heathen that are round about you; of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids. Moreover of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they begat in your land; and thej shall be your possession. And ye shall take them as an inheritance for your childrec after you, to inherit them for a possession they shall be your bondmen forever."? Upon this, which may be called the Divine rule, touching the enslavement of the Ham itio race, styled here "heathen" and "stran- n gere," we make the following comments.: t A. That it authorizes the reduction of c the heathen to slavery is too plain for dis- ii cussion. The manner of that reduction is p specified to be by purchase, gift, or inheri- f tance Violence and fraud in the acquisi- t tion of even these slaves, constituted the g crime of "man stealing," and was visited c with death. Exod. 21:16. e B Such were to be real property to the a owners. Proved by his "buying" them ; a by their being called a "possession," an p "inheritance" and "money," as in Exod. a 21: 20, 21; and by their being recognized C as property in the 10th Command. This, \ by no means, implies that they were regar-io 1 1 ?J 4-J fAw fkair frnflf. I n aea auu ireuieu as uiuic^, iui ?u?n r mentas men, whose services were controlled o by their owners, is plain from Exod. 21 : 20, where cruelty was to be punished, and ? from Exod 20:8?11; 12:44; Deut. 16: j 9?12; 12 : 13?18, where they were to S receive religious privileges as other mem- ^ bers of the family. j C. This servitude was perpetual, as fol- 1 lows from the phrase, "shall be your bond- J men forever," and from no provision being j made for this class of servants, entitling S them to emancipation, as in case of Hebrew c slaves; and from their being held as an "inheritance for their children after them." D. The ownership here granted to the v Hebrew master over his heathen slave, cer- j, tainly entitled him to retaiD and recover n him if he attempted to escape from his ^ bondage. This is deducible from the very n terms of property used, which indicated a D supreme right to the services of the slave; t from there being no provision made for t such a slave to escape from a Hebrew mas- y ter; from the fact that for one thus to de- d prive his neighbor of his property, by decoying his slave from him, would have convicted him of man stealing, which was con } demned. and if allowed, in case of slaves n escaping from one Hebrew tribe to another, e would have soon put an end to slavery; t from the fact that God sent back Hagar to f her mistress, thus inculcating the princip'e r of the rendition of fugitives. See fact also a taught in 1 Kings 2 : 39, 40. There was, o however, an exceptional case, in which the v Jew was not bound to send back the slaves C escaping into Judea from foreign countries t and so from heathen masters. Deut. 23 :15, T lfi, compared with 1 Sam. 30 :15. This p was a specific law, and had special reasons \ to be enforced in the cases for which inten- c ded. To return a slave under these cir- t cumstances would be subjecting him to al- s most certain death, from his oruel heathen I master, and besides it would be banishing s him from the religions privileges of Judea, c and consigning him to the horrors and darkness of heathenism. A law then, so well ii guarded and commended by special reasons, r 13 not to be perverted into a principle of ac- 1 tion, in cases where there is no similarity ? but contrariety of circumstances. t 4 The Biblical argument, also, receives r illustration from the traces of slavery all r through the Jewish history down to the ad- \ vent of Christ. It is found in the time ? of the kings, as proved from 1 Sam 8 : 15, r 16, and 9 :3, and from its mention in the c Psalms, and in the history of David and of \ Solomon, 1 Kings 10 :7, 8; iu the time of f Nehemiab, chapters 5:10; 4:19, 22, and s from the same book, 7 :67, as contrasted with Isaiah 14:1, 2, it is certaiu that the Jews, on returning from BabyloD, had over e seven thousand slaves. And throughout ( the whole old testament there is not a sylla- ] ble intimating either the suspension, repeal I or even modification of the slave laws, en- ( acted for, and exemplified among the Jews. I From what we have now seen, it is an i inevitable conclupion that the institution of { slavery, beiDg supported by Patriarchal ex- < amples, incorporated in the civil code of I Jewish laws, and recognized in the Ten I Commands, and traceable through the Jew- j ish history down to the close of the Old ] Testament Canon, and not one word of re- I buke or condemnation uttered against it or i {its advocates, must have an implied, not to I say, as we might, direct sanction in the I word of God. How this conclusion can be I avoided, and yet the facts be fairly inter- j I preted is not patent, at least, to the mind of PHILEMON. i r\< >*, 4* j* i m m? The Forts Already Captured. The following named forts have thus far been seized by order of the Governors of the States in whioh they are respectively located, and are now in possession of the seceding States: Cost of Construe- Cost of tion anil JlrmuForts and Location. Guns. Repairs, ment. Fort Pulaski, Savannah, (la 150 .? 923,65'J 138,032 Fort Jackson, Savannah, Ga 1 I t 1*25,0001 11,880 Fort Morgan, Mobile, Ala 1 132 1,212,556 104,475 Fort Caines, Mobile, Ala j 89 j 20,000 66,473 Fort Macon, Beaufort, N. C I 611 460,000 48,920 Fort Caswell, Oak Island, N. C...] 87j 571,2211 72,711 Fort Moultrie, Charleston, S. C..J 54 75,301 48,732 Castle Pinckney, Charleston, S. C. 1 25! 43,807 23^906 Fort St. Philip,Louisiana j 124 : 203,734 10i,980 For, Jackson, Louisiana i 151' 817,608 123,669 | Fort Pike. Louisiana ' 49; 472,001 36,520 T..1-1I 1 1 4.325.089 777.248 Total cost of the above 11 fortifications'... .'..$.">,703,337 j PENSACOLA AND ITS FORTIFICATIONS. Pensacola bay has rare properties as a harbor. It is now accessible to frigates.? J The bar is Dear the coast, and the channel ? . I : across is short aDd easily passed. The harbor is perfectly land-locked, and the roadstead very capacious. There are excelleot | positions within for repairing, building and launching vessels, and for docks aDd dock-yards in healthy situations. The supply of good water is abundant. These 1 properties, in connection with the position ! KorW qc rpararrJe fflA nnasf;. h&VG ill vt tut? UttlV/Uij v-w ? ~ J duced the government to select it as a Na- J val station, and a place to rendezvous and , repair. The upper arms of Pensacola bay i receive the Yellow Wateror Pea river, Middle river and Escambia river, eleven miles i from the Gulf. SANTA ROSA ISLAND. , Santa Rosa Island is situated East by . Northwest by South fourteen leagues, and completely shuts out Pensacola from the sea. It is so low that the sea in a gale washes its top. It is not more than one- i fourth of a mile wide. The West point of i i this island is at the mouth of Pensacola bay. i i The latter is not over one and a quarter mile wid6. 5 FORT PICKENS. 1 The principle means of defence to the i aouth of Pensacola Bay and the naval staion is Fort Pickens. This fort is a first lass bastioned fort, built of N. York grante, and situated on low ground on the East ioint of Santa Rosa Island. Its walls are orty five feet iD height by twelve feet in hickness; it is embrasured for two tiers of ;uns, which are placed under bombproof asemates, besides having one tier of guns n barbette. The guns from this work radi te to every point of the horizon, with flank nd enfilading fire at every angle of apiroach. The work was commenced in 1828 nd finished in 1853. It cost the Federal government nearly one million of dollars Vhen on a war footing its garrison consists f 1260 soldiers. Its armament, only a iortion of which is within its walls, consists f? Guns. ' - : fiS orry-iwu puuuucr iruu 'hirty two pounder iron guns 17 'hirty four pouuder iron guns 49 ixteen pounder iron guns 5 'welve pounder iron guns 18 irass field pieces 6 truss flank howitzers 26 leavy eight inch howitzers 13 'hirteen-inch mortar 1 leavy ten inch mortars 4 light eight-inch mortars 4 lixteen-iuch stone mortar.- 4 loeborn mortars 6 Total armament 210 The fire from this work completely covers the navy yard, and in case the latter s held by the Federal authorities, it would iot hold out long against Fort Pickens.? 'he bar on the exterior of the Bay is three uiles distant, and beyond that there are io facilities for a hostile fleet to lie in safe y. All the forts in Pensacola Bay are ere his gariisoned by Alabama troops, who ?ere invited there by the Governor of Fioria. FORT M'RAE. This fortification is situated on Foster's Jank, and guards the West side of the aouth of Pensacola Bay. It is a bastiond fort, built of brick masonry, with walls welve feet in thickness. It is embrasured or two tiers of guus, under bombproof casenates, and has one tier en barbette. Its rmament consists of 150 guns and in time f war requires a garrison of 650 men. The rork cost the Government about 8400, 00. Its guns radiate at every point of he horizon. It is a very effective work.? ['he full armament of the fort is not compete, but a sufficient number of guns are n battery to make a very good defence in onjunction with Fort Pickens. Below his fort is a water battery, which mounts ome eight or ten guns. The interior of i'ort McRae is provided with the necessary hot furnaces, offices and soldiers quarters, aagazines, &c. ?KJ rwx DA-tlEVUni/^lO s on the North of PeDsacola Bay, and diectly frootiog the entrance to its mouth, rhe work is erected oo the site of an old Spanish fort. The fort is a bastioned work, milt of heavy masonry, and mounts 49 ;uns, and in the time of war requires a garisouof 250 men The.vrmamentofthe work 8 fully mounted, and its magazines are in rood order. In tha rear of the fort is a edoubt, which is auxilary to Fort Barran;as. Some extensive repairs have recently )een completed oq this redoubt, and the lanking howitzers of scarp and countericarp can be mounted with very little labor the north carolina forts. Fort Macon protects Beaufort, N. C., ind is situated on a bluff on Bogue's bank, me and three-fourths mile from the city.? [t commands the entrance to Beaufort har>or, having full sweep of fire on the muin shannel. The opposite entrance to the larbor is Shackleford bank, one and a half niles across. The fortification is of hexagonal form, has two tiers of guns, one in jasemated bombproof and the other en bar ]>tUe. Its armament consists of twenty thir;y-two-pounders, thirty two twenty-four pounders, two eighteen-pounders, two 12 pouuders, three field pieces for flunking defence, twelve flauk howitzers, eight eightinch howitzers (heavy,) eight cight-inch howitzers (light,) one thirteen-inch mortar, three ten-inch mortars, two Coehorn mortars. Total, eighty seven guns. The war garrison of the fort is three hundred men. This fort, however, is sadly in need ol repairs; the masonry requires pointing in many places; nearly all the iron work, such is dnnrR and window fastenings, are rusted away. One of the wooden bridges across the ditch is decayed, as also the shingled ontire slope of the covert way. The shot furnace is useless, the store rooms need ren ovation, and the roadway requires to have its embankment repaired, and anew bridge to be built across the canal. The wharf, having its piers undermined by the sea current and its wooden superstructure much decayed, requires to be rebuilt. The fortiScation cost the Federal Government hull a million dollars. Fort Caswell is a first class fortification, of a hexagonal form, built of massive Northorn granite masjnry, having two tiers ol nuns under bombproof casemates, and one tier of guns en barbette. It is situated at the entrance of Cape Fear River, two mile? from Smithville. Its armament consists ol 12 32-pounders, 22 24-pounders, 4 18i 4 1rt ? J *1 /? IJ _! pounaers, * impounders, turee ueiu pieces for flanking defences, 6 flank howitzers, G jight-inch howitzers, (heavy,) 2 ten inch mortars and 2 Coehorn mortars?in ail 87 guns. The work is surrounded by ditchas and advanced works, and is in eve ry particular a first class work. It cost the Federal Government 8571,000. Its war garrison consists of 400 men. The work is generally in very good condition. A change is required in its armament, so that more guns may be mounted upon the gorge ol the main work of the covered way, as these portions now bear directly upon the channel, which has shifted from the East to the West shore. New platforms for these guns will require to be constructed. The battery Johnson, mouting ten guns, situated at Smithville, with a magazine, is aux ilary to Fort Caswell. Another Fort Captured ?The Pal metto Flag Waving over a Connecti cut Fortress !?Treason in Connecti cut !?Our citizens were surprised yester day morning, by discovering an immense Palmetto flag waving from the walls of Fori Hale, near the mouth of our harbor. The flag bore the secession emblems?a palmetto tree and a lone star?and was hoisted on a fifty feet staff, so that it was visible for some miles around. The Government some time ago removed all the troops from Fort Hale, and the harbor and city has since then been entirely defenceless, so that the traitors had easy work in seizing the fort. Intense excitement was created by the appearance of the treasonable emblem, and it was universally declared that it must come dowu. Fortunately Fort Wooster, on Beacon Hill, commands Fort Hale, and it can be easily demolished, should the garrison (which rumor says is composed of Southern students) attempt any resistance. In the language of the New York Express, "Woe ! woe. Alas ! alas I"?New Haven Journal and Courier. Correspondence of the S. Carolinan. i/? i ftni Charleston, January 10,1001. Yesterday morning, the Coast Police Act was ratified in the presence of the Senate and Bouse of Representatives of the Independent Republic of South Carolina. This was the first Aot ratified after the passage of the Ordinance of Secession. The usual formula of ratification was departed from The Clerk of the House of Representatives, J. T. Sloan, Esq., and the Clerk of the Senate, Geo. Wm.E. Martin, stood in front of the President's desk. Mr. Sloan Bigned the Act, and passed it over to the Clerk of the Senate. He read the title, and announced, "An Act to establish a Coast Police for the State of South Carolina," ratified in the 85t d year of the independence of the Commonwealth of South Carolina. The appropriation bill was brought up in the Senate to-day. It appropriates upwards of $1,400,000. A word about our military preparations. These are going on rapidly. Morris' Island, which is farthest out in the channel, is fortified at several points. The Palmetto Guard, of tibout 110 men, a brave and able company, is stationed at Morris' Island Light-House. They are nuder strict orders, commanded by Capt. Middleton.? All lights on the island are extinguished at 7. p. m. The companies cook for them selves?L believe that Uorporal L. a. Webb is chief cook for the Palmettoes. The companies, I believe, do their own washing and ironing, if there can be said to be any of the iatter work done at all. All seem to be in fine spirits, and make merry over their hardships. Their female friends in the city, seem to bo very attentive to their welfare, and cart loads of good things are continually being carried down to them. At Camp Emmet, on the upper end of the Island, the Irish Volunteers, Capt. E. Magrath, are statiojed. This was the company that gave notice of the approaoh of the "Star of the West." At Fort Morris, five companies, among whom are the Vigilant Rifles, the Citadel Cadets, Washington Light Infantry, German Artillery, and the Zouave Cadets?in allabout3Q0 strong?are placed. About 150 msn are stationed at Fort Johnson, 500 at Fort Moultrie, and 250 at Castle Pinckney. Various dragoon companies are taking care of the island. The foroe in the harbor is estimated at about 1,500 men. There are good forts at the mouths of the various inlets., and these are under the pro tection of the Parish troops. The ladies in Charleston seem to be very patriotio. Wherever a depot for the reception of goods to be sent down to the volunteers is opened, there may be seen piles of boxes, bags, and bundles, piled up, to be sent down to enliven the hearts of the military. Fair hands are employed in preparing lint, bandages, and bedding. Everything that can possibly be of any use to the soldiers, is immediately done up and sent down to them. Do not think that the citizens are in the midst of such terrible calamities as Northern papers have placed us in. All suoh , troubles exist only in the imagination of their reporters. We have no mobs here ! Our soldiers are quiet and orderly. We have no starvation staring us in the face ! TU - lllClC in u picuijr lu cab picutjr \jk wujivic for the outer aod inner man. The Governor sent in, to day, to the Le, gislature, a message, proposing to raise two more regiments, to be enlisted for three . years' service. I do not know, nor is it known yet, what action will be taken upon it. The Senate went into secret session upon it. The House, it is probable, will cou| siderit in open session. MEM. . The U. S. Arsenal at Chattahoochee Taken by State Troops.?On last Satur, day evening Col. W. J. Gunn, of the Sev, enth Regiment Florida Militia, reoeived orders from Governor Perry to proceed at once to take the United States Arsenal at Chattahoochee, containing about 5,300 noundsof Dowder. 10.000 of lead. 120,000 ' C f ' / [ musket cartridges, a 6-pounder, 57 muskets, cannon balls, cartridge boxes, &o. The Young Gunrd was ordered out on the errand. On arriving at the Arsenal, and be? ing informed they had reached the point of , destination, and finding no meD to resist their attack, they seemed to be not very a, greeably disappointed. Sergeaot Powell, ? who was in command of the Arsenal, appeared much mortified at having to surren, der, but, having only two or three men, i was unable to make any defence. In a spirited and. patriotic address toCapt. Jones and company, he said that, had Lc their number of men, they would never have entered the gates of the Arsenal without first , marching over his dead body. He was . pained to see other than the United States i troops occupying it, but from want of force , was unable to prevent it from falling into 11 1 -J" nnk#* ??J I lUCir LiciuUB. luu otaio auu otupcD noiv f taken down, and the lone star flag hoisted i in their stead.?Florida paper. Hon. Robert Toombs.?This eloquent and distinguished statesman arrived in this | city at eleven o'clock last night. A large concourse of citizens, Minute and Military meo, greeted him on his arrival with loud and vociferous cheers, and friend Meredith's cannon opened its brazen mouth and spake in unmistakeable tones the heartiness with . which the welcome waa given. Mr. Toombs, being called for, responded in a brief, but eloquent and soul-stirring manner. He ! said that within the past forty two honrs he : had left the city of Washington, and in i what a condition ? The Cabinet torn with discordant opinions, and the President proi oeeding still io his vasoillating career?each rtait^ of the sun witnessing a change in his policy. When he left, the President had issued orders for coercive measures, and before six hours we might probably hear, the thunders of Federal despotism against Southern independence in our neighboring Republic. The news of the result in Georgia had carried emotions of joy not only to Southern men in other States, but to our friends in the North. Everywhere he had been met with demonstrations of rejoicing ?in Virginia, North Carolina, and the proud Palmetto Republic. Ho brought all these,sand laid at the feet of Georgia, to which he owed unfaltering fealty. He counseled unity of action, and the burial of past differences of opinion, and the issues of the late oanvass, in the waters of obliv: rT i ? ? i . f . . .it iuu. ue urgea ms inenas to iorget oia party lines and feuds, and to come up as one man to tbe defence of the honor and independence of Georgia. He thanked the assemblage for the warm greetiug which they had given him. Augusta Evening Dispatch Statement of Captain MoGowan. Tbe following is an official aocountof tbe trip of the Star of the West: Steamship Stab op the West, New York, Jan. 12, 1861. M. 0. Roberts, Esq.?Sib: After leaving the wharf on the 5th inst., at 5 o'clock p. m., we proceeded dowu the bay, where we hove to, and took on board four officers and 200 soldiers, with their arms, ammunition, &c., and then proceeded to sea, crossing the bar at Sandy Hook at 9 p. m. Nothing unusual took place during the passage, which was a pleasant oze for the season of the year. W? arrived at Charleston bar at 1.30 a. m., ol the 9th instant, but could find no guiding marks for the bar, as the lights were all out. We proceeded with caution, running very slow, and sounding until about 4 a. m., being then in four and a half fathoms of water, when we discovered a light through the haze which at that time covered the horizon. Concluding that the lights were at Fort Sumter, after getting the beariugs of it, we steered to the Southwest for the main ship channel, where we hove to, to await day-light, our ligths having all been put out since 12 o'clock, to avoid being seen. As the day began to break, we discovered a steamer just in shore of us, which, as soon as she saw us, burned one blue light and two red lights, as s'gnals, and shortly after steamed over the bar and into the ship channel. The soldiers were now all put below, and no one allowed oa the deck except our own crew. As soon ap there was light enough to see, we crossed the bar and proceeded on up the chanuel, (the water bar buoy having been taken away,) the steamer ahead of us sending off rookets and calcium lights, until after broad day-light, continuing on her course up near two miles ahead of us. When we arrived about two miles from Fort Moultrie, Fort Sumter being about the same distance, a masked battery, on Morris' Island, where there was a red Palmetto flag, opened fire upon us?distance about five-eights of a mile. We had the American flag flying at our flag-staff at the time, and soon ufter the first shot, hoisted a large American ensign at the fore. We continued on under the fire of the battery, for over teu minutes, several of the shots going clear over us. Oue just passed clear of the pilot house. Another passed between the smoke stack aod walking beams of the engine. Another struck the ship just abaft the foreriggiug, and stove iD the planking, while another came within an ace of carrying away the rudder. At the same time there was a movement of two steamers from near Fort Moultrie, one of them towing a schooner, (I presume an armed sohooner,) with the intention of cutting us off. Our position now became critical, as we had to approach Fort Moultire to within three-fourths of a mile, before we could keep away for Fort Sumter. A steamer approaching us with an armed schooner in tow, and the battery on the island firing at us all the time, and having no cannon to defend ourselves from the attack of the vessels, we concluded that to avoid certain capture or destruction, we would endeavor to get to sea. Consequently we wore round and steered down the channel, the battery firing upon us, until their shot fell shirt. As it was now strong ebb tide, aud the water having fallen some three feet, we proceeded with caution, and crossed the bar safely, at 8 50 a. m., and continued on our course, for this port, where we arriveu tuis morning, alter a ooisterous passage. A steamer from Charleston was about three hours watching our movements. In justice to the officers and crew of each department of the ship, I must add that their behavior while under the fire of the ba'tery reflected great credit on them. Mr. Brewer, the New York pilot, was of very great assistance to me, in helping to pilot the ship over the Charleston bar and up and down the channel. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. McQ-OWAN, Captain. Incidents of the Affairs of the Star of the West. The Richmond Dispatch makes some very handsome comments upon South Carolinians, in connection with their course in firing upon the Star of the West from Fort HT /Mth?tA mUiln ??n Jam r?\ino nf 1UUU1U1U, vruiIC UllOUblJ UUUC1 vug guuo vr* Fort Sumter: The oonduct of the defenders jf Ft. Moultrie ought to satisfy the most sneering enemy of South Carolina of the mettle of which her sons are made. With the assurance that Fort Sumter would turn its tremendous batteries at once upon their little fort, and convert it into a slaughter pen, if they fired upon the Star of the West, they fired nevertheless, and forced the steamer to give up her errand. What was there in the unmolested and unmenaced movement of Major Anderson from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter, which compares with the nerve that was required to fire upon the Star of the West ? The New York Evening Post also has the following: One of the officers hazarded a joke soon after we left the Charleston harbor. "The people of Charleston," he remarked, "pride I themselves upon their hospitality; but it exceeds my expectation. They gave us several balls before we landed " We too have our joke, which we will : likewise hazard. i There is more in the remarks of the Dispatch than possibly it may have intended. The guns of Fort Sumter are within point blank range of Fort Moultrie. At the time that the guns of Fort Moultrie opened upon the Star of the West (which by the way, ' was quite out of their range), those of ! Fort Sumter were ranged with all the pre- J cision that mathematical skill and instruments could effect, directly upon each gun of Fort Moultrie. When the firing from Fort Moultrie began, it was fully expected thatit would immediately be returned, with interest And here comes in our joke. When the Star of the West turned tail, and it became evident that she would ap proach no closer, the young fellows under orders became clamorous and eager for "a shot anyhow." "Well," says the Major (Ripley), jumping upon the parapet, "fire away, boys, butyon'll all be io in five minutes." The boys did fire ; but the Major's prediction was not fulfilled. Maj. Ripley was twice brevetted for gallantry duiiugthe Mexican war.?Mercury. Response of the North. The following resolution was adopted in the House of Representatives of the Pennsylvania Legislature on Saturday, by a vote of 50 to 26. Read it. Resolved, That we affirm the dootrine of the Chigaco platform as expressing the sentiments of a large majority of the people of Pennsylvania, and that we have no reason to ignore it. We do not believe that anything io our political condition demands concessions on our part. Immediately r.fter the adoption of the foregoing resolution, another was offered by Mr. Bowyer, of Berks, for the appointment of a select committee to report a bill to repeal portions of laws of Congress. This resolution was indefinitely postponed, by ?yeas 49 nays 26 ! Thus, says the Richmond Dispatch, answers Pennsylvania to the petition 456 feet long for the repeal of these acts ! The New York Legislature has passed the following resolutions: Whereas the insurgent State of South Car; lina after seizing the post office, custom house monies and fortifications of the Fed-' eral Government, has, by firing into a vessel ordered by the Government, to convey troops and provisions to Fort Sumter, virtually declared war: And whereas the forts and property of the United States Government in Georgia, Alabama, and Louisiana have been unlaw fully seized with hostile intentions : And whereas their Senators in Congress avow and maintaiu their treasonable acts; therefore, Resolved, If the Senate concur, that t':e Legislature of New York \t, profoundly impressed with the value of the Union, and determined to preserve it unimpaired; that it greets with joy the recent firm, dignified and patriotic special message of the President of the United States, and that we tender to him, through the Chief Magistrate of our own State, whatever aid in men and money may be required to enable him to enforce the law3 and uphold the authority of the Federal Government; and that in the defence of the Union, which has conferred prosperity and happiness upon the American people, renewiug the pledge given and redeemed by our forefathers, we are r'eady to devote our fortunes, our lives and our sacred honor. Resolved, If the Senate concur, that the Uninn-loving citizens and representatives of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Caro lina, Kentucky, Missouri and Tennessee, who labor with devoted courage and patriotism to withhold their States from'the vortex of secessiou, are entitled to the gratitude and admiration of the whole people. Resolved, If the Seuate ooucur, that the Governor be respectfully requested to forward forthwith copies of the foregoing resolutions to the Presidentof the nation, and the Governors of all the States of the Union. The question was taken on the adoption of the preamble and resolutions, and they were adopted by 117 to 2 With four States out of the Union, and with the certain withdrawal of others, the above is the position defiantly assumed by two of the so-called "Middle States," and two of the most powerful. What hopes remains of any "adjustment" with such a people ? None. The popular branch of the Legislature of the Keystone State has reaffirmed the infamous doctrines of the Chicago platform, and that of the Empire State has declared in favor of coercion. Here are two States, the commercial cities of which have received, for many years, a large portion of the profits of Southern trade; yet we see that even the great commercial interests of these cities are overslaughed, and are powerless to stem the surging waves of fanaticism. If the two States quoted have thus responded, what may be expected from States and communities not so deeply affected by the withdrawal of Southern trade ? In view of these manifestations, is it not a vain attempt, through the medium of a National Convention, to reconstruct the Federal Government ? The two sections are now being divided, and the division must be permanent and enduring. The in stitution of slavery will be the basis of tbe Southern Confederacy?a basis which the people of the Northern States, from education, and from the supreme control which fanaticism has secured, never could or would recognize. We believe this to be the confirmed belief of the great body of tbe people of the Southern States, and, therefore, a re-union or a reconstruction is simply impossible. To preserve this country in its greatness and prosperity, and to secure the perpetuation of a sound republican form of government, a separation is indispensable. Together, there would be perpetual strife? separate, each seotion, managing its affairs in its own way, there would be no obstruction in the way of their individual prosperity. It would be the interest of both to live in peaoe and friendship. Living thus, they would be powerful in defence against foreign foes and might defy the world! The true friends, then, of the establish meat and perpetuity of a republican government on this continent, are those who now advocate a peaceful separation of the two sections of the late United States.? Columbia Guardian. I Mississippi Seceding. It is stated that the scene in the Con- | vention of Mississippi, when the ordinance , of secession was reported by the Committee, 1 aud came up for consideration, was highly impressive aud solemn. The following is the ordinance, as reported: An Ordinance to dissolve the Uuion be- ( tween the State of Mississippi and other States united with her under the com pact entitled "The Constitution of the United States of America." The people of Mississippi, in Convention assembled, do ordain and declare, and it is hereby ordained and declared, as follows, to wit: Section 1. That all the laws and ordinah ces by which the said State of Mississippi , became a member of the Federal Union of , the United States of America be, and the same are hereby, repealed, and that all ob ligations on the part of the said State, or the people thereof, be withdrawn, and that the said State doth hereby resume all the rights, fuictious and powers, which by any of said laws and ordinances were conveyed to the Government of the said Uoited States, and is absolved from all the obligations, restraints 1 1 1 . . 1 T1 1 t TT ana duties incarrea to tne saia i^eaerui uoioD, aDd shall henceforth be a Free, Sovereign and Independent State. Section 2. That so much of the first section of the Seventh Article of the Constitu- i tion of this State as requires membors of the Legislature, and all officers, both Le- < gislative end Judicial, to take an oath to snpport the Constitttion af the United States, be, and the same is hereby, abrogated and annalled. Section 3. That all rights acquired and vested under the Constitution of the United States, or any actot Congress passed in pursuance thereof, or under aoy law of this State, and not imcompatablc with this ordinance, shall remain in full force, and have the same effect as if the ordinance had not been passed. Section 4. That the people of the State of Mississippi hereby consent to form a Federal Union with such of the States as have seceded, or may secede from the United States of America, upon the basis of the present Constitution of the United States, except such parts thereof as embrace other portions than suoh seceding States. The "yeas" and "nays" were ordered. Slowly the Secretary called the roll, and each member responded in a tone that indicated deep, intense emotion, but a firm and earnest purpose. Tears gathered in the pups nf nparlu evfirv antor and sneetator of the solemn ceremony. When the call was completed, and the President announced the result?ayes, eighty four; noes fifteen ?a profound silenoefor some time prevail* ed. ? Mississippi Retiring. The following is a correct copy of a communication from the Mississippi delegation in Congress to the Speaker, resigning their seats: Washington Jan. 12, 1861. Sir : Having received official information that the State of Mississippi, through a convention representing the sovereignty of the State, has passed an ordinance withdrawing from the federal government all the powers delegated to it at the time of her admission into the Union, it becomes oar dut7 to lay this fact before yon, and to announce that we are no longer members of this body. While we regret the necessity which impels our State to the adoption of this course, we desire to say that it meets our unqualified approval, and we shall return to her bosom to share her fortunes, whatever they may be We have the honor to be, very respectfully, OTHO. R. SINGLETON, WM. BARKSDALE, REUBEN DAVIS, JOHN J. McRAE, L. Q. C. LAMAR. Hon. Wm. Pennington, Speaker of the House of Reps. What Louisiana is going to do, may be beat inferred from the following comment on the Convention election, taken from the Picayune, one of the strongest and most unyielding co-operation papers in the whole South :* The vote in this city prefigures the result in the State. The chief hope of the favorers of united Southern action, as opposed to immediate disunion, was in carrying the city for the co operutionists. The canvass of votes, which shows twenty immediate secessionists to five co-operationists?a majority of fifteen in the Convention from this parish?settles the point, that Louisiana will be with seceding States us fast as the forms of making the enactment by ordinance can be got through, at the Convention, on the 23d. The developments around us, in every direction, are sufficient indications, however, that this was only a question of time. The sectional majority in Congress and the triumphant Republicans of the Northern States, have so willed it, that there is no Union party left in the Southern States. Guard the Coast. It is stated that the notorious Redpath, John Brown, a son of Ossawattomie, and some 13 colored passengers, have chartered a brig to proceed first to Jersey City, and thence ostensibly to Port-au Prince. The Boston Transcript, however, says: "It would not surprise us if Redpath and some of his associates were found, ere long, making a dash upon the coast of South Carolina. These men are capable of almost any aot of daring, and they will be found as difficult to catch as Montgomery on the frontiers of Kansas and Missouri.? There is more method iu their madness than in that of old John Brown." Tt hehnovea our State authorities, and the people aloDg the exposed portions of the coast, to look oat for these piratical i bands, and everything should be in readi- ; ness to give them a warm reception. When i caught, let them hang as high as old Off- 1 sawattomie. . -f i Virginia for Secession. a* The Washington correspondent of the NV Fork Times states: - r'f - i "I am informed by a member of the Virginia Legislature, who is a strong Union man, that a great change of feeling has taken place there; whereas, sir weeliff4%$ * ^ more than two-thirds of the people of the State were for Union, now not three in twenty are for it. Secession seems to be getting control of the State rapidly, afid al- 4 though be denounces it in the most unqualified terms, thinks the State wilt inevitably secede. The idea is rapidly gaining ground among the people, and cannot be cheeked;-' We have testimony from different parts of the State, through channels that ard'above suspicion, all confirmatory of the fact . that the popnlar feeling in Virginia is over- f whelmingly for secession. Nothiog has contributed half so much toward the developementof this feelio^ as the coercive 4 {.ioy which Mr. Holt uud Genera)-Sdoti: have adopted To this extent the LfeuttJoiot- jfcGeneral and the ad interim Seoretarjr of War are efficient secessiod agents.; If they proceed during the next two weeks as tbey> have proceeded during the last tea daysv we predict that the border slave States will f . be like the cotton States?a unit for secfl^-V sion. The change in Virginia is stmptomaticof the revulsion which the application of the force doctrine will produce in Mary^ , land and Kentucky: Tennessee, already jjyfe' follows close after Virginia.-^JFasAin^tod Constitution. Post Office Correspondence.-?Washington, January 15.?Information having* reached this Department that, un^er an order of the Governor of South Carolina, the correspondence between Major Anderson and his command is subjected to the surveillance of the post office and a .t # rtt m#.. tt i* t >^imF a'* tnomy 01 unariescon, mr. noit nas t dressed a letter to Postmaster Hager, x<?: kiog inquiry in the matter. He replied that when the communication between the city and the fort was first iuterraptedi under intense excitement and in order to a- "'Lm void collision between unauthorized parties, A a distinction was made by order of Gov. Pickens, in two instances, between official ^ and private letters. Relations subsequently to this decision seem to have been reconsidered, and I now send matter to Major Anderson and his command under sealed * cover, and shall continue to do so as oppor- v * tuuity occurs, and I do so withont smveillance of the post office or other authorities/ Volunteers.?Chester District, small *> as she is, has already raised near five hundred volunteers. Six excellent companies have been organized and officered within her limit*, and have been accepted by the Governor. They are all ready to the shortest notice to Charlestonj ortoauy other point where their services may be needed. The Rifle Company prev^pnsiy organized at this place, when notified thsfr they oould not be aeoepted as a Rifle Company, disorganized and formed themselves;on Saturday last, into an Infantry Company to be known by the name of "TbV Chester Blues." This is a fall company and is composed of oar most worthy'Jritv* zens, ten of tbe members being graduate. # of literary institutions. But as we'afe ^ member of this company, we have no further comments to make, but publish the names of officers: E C. McLure, Captain, E. T. Atkinson, W. JI. Gill and beriisd|p vin, Lieutenats. ? Cheater Standard: * .. : nt<i t-?' '/? Contradicted.?The reported' alteres tion between General Scott and Mr Tdbmbsr_. is authoritatively contradicted. There was^ but eight persons at the table on the occasion, one of whom, a well known gentleman of this city, says there was not thejeost foundation for the report. The fecte are as follows: Geu. Scott, Senators Toombs and Benjamin, and others, dined at the house of Mr. Corcoran on Wedueeday, and tbe Southern Senators denounced the Unm # with insane passion. Mr. Toombs wished that the Star of the^ West coold be souk; * but no discourtesy was offered to Ger,*fcrt( Scott, and no difficulty ensaed. General * Scott has authorized a denial of the re|ibrt which has been oircolated.-r-.iVew York Expras. " . ' The Foet Moerjs Firing.?A Torres- * pondent of the New York Evening Post, who was on board the Star of the West, and who gives a rambling account of h6r trip to Charleston bar, thus speaks of the firing from the Morris' Island batteries : "The military men on board highly com plimented the South Carolinians on their ' shooting in this first attempt. They say it was well done; that alt whicti*wa8'needed was a little better range, wbioh they probably could bave.obtained in ajfew minutes^' _ Their line was perfect, and the opinion is expressed that some one bad oharge of^fche t-' * guns who understood .his business/' " : " ' / . . ; The Armament or North Carolina. ?The Commission for the purchase of arms, . appointed by the Legislature, met in Raleigh, on the 12tfrioat. It was composed of Governor Ellis, Col. Tow, of the Hillstxh rough Military Academy, aod Maj. HiU, of the North Carolina Military Institute. It . ' is not proper that . the kind and quality of the arms should be generally known; but the people of the State may rest satisfied that the purchased arms, together with what we now have, will make North Carolina one of the best armed and equipped States in the South.?Charlotte Bulletin. The Pooe op New Yobk.?There is terrible destitution in New York. The Day Book "says : "It will be seen by our police reports that six hundred poor people sought lodging in the station houses. last night. Thousands are suffering for the want of food and clothing; many are dying ?actually dying of, starvation. We report another ease to-day. Meantime, preparations are going on to make war on the South because it cannot recognize the bles siogs of negro equality." "Relief" foe Sooth Carolinians in the Massachusetts Legislature.? Boston, January 15.?Mr. Taylor introdused a resolution in the House, to-day, appropriating a sum of money for the purchase of provisions and stores for the relief of "our suffering fellow countrymen ip South Carolina."