13 APRIL 1861, Page 2

Our latest intelligence from America is to the 26th March,

up to which date Mr. Lincoln had not decided on the policy to be pursued with the Southern Confederacy. The evacuation of Fort Sumter, in Charlestown harbour, has been agreed on, and Fort Pickens is re- ported untenable. It is surrounded by the troops of the Confederated States, who are raising sand batteries, and must be abandoned. The first promise, therefore, to maintain the Federal forts has been broken. The second, to occupy those already lost, there is no

attempt to fulfil. The third, to levy the revenue in the harbours, is declared to be illegal, the constitution providing for no such con- tingency. The President, moreover, has no soldiers, no navy, no mihtia, and no funds, and can get none till Congress meets again. The Secretary of the Treasury has invited tenders for a loan of eight million dollars, at 6 per cent., repnyable on 1st January, 1881. It is believed that the rates offered will he disadvantageous to the Trea- sury, as until the Morrill tariff is repealed there is no probability of financial equilibrium. Trade remains depressed, and there is a general feeling of distrust of the future. The act passed by the Confederate States inflicting a tax of one- eighth of a cent per pound upon cotton has been published, and the duty is proposed as security for the loan of fifteen million dollars at eight per cent., now offered to the American and English markets. The State of Louisiana proposes to pass a resolution in favour of free trade with the Western States, and meanwhile has handed over all Federal property to the Southern Confederacy. Considerable dissension exists in this State about secession. The Act has not been submitted to the people, who, it is supposed, would reject it; and a minority in the Convention freely discusses the propriety of the step. In Texas dissension has gone still farther. The Convention, after decreeing in favour of secession, suspended General Houston, the Governor. The General protested, surrendered his office to the Lieutenant-Governor, but appealed to the people. He is supported by a moiety of the inhabitants, and civil war is expected in the State.

The official return of the census has been published, as if to con- vince Americans of the greatness of the country they are destroying.

The population of the United States and Territories, aecordhig to the Eighth Census (1860) :- States. Census of 1860. States. Census of 1860.

Free. Slave. TotaL Free. Slave. Total.

Alabama ... 529,164 485,182 964,296 Ohio 2,389,599 - 2,339,599 Arkansas... 324,328 111,104 435,427 Oregon__ 52,464 - 52,464 California... 380,015 - 380,015 l'ennslyvan 2,906,470 - 2,906,370 Connecticut 460,151 - 460,151 Rhode L 174,621 - ' 174,621 Delaware... 110,420 1,798 112,218 S. Carolina. 301,271 402,541 703,812 Florida 78,686 61,753 140,439 Tennessee.. 834,063 275,784 1,109,847 Georgia 595,097 462,230 1,057,327 Texas 420,651 180,888 601,039 Illinois. 1,711,753 - 1,711,753 Virginia__ 1,105,196 490,887 1,596,081 Indiana. 1,350,479 - 1,350,479 Vermont 315,116 - 315,116 Iowa 674,948 - 674,948 Wisconsin.. 775,873 - 775,873 Kansas 107,110 - 107,110

27,185,109 8,90,557 31,134,666 Kentucky 980,223 225,490 1,135,718

Louisiana_ 376,913 332,520 709,433 Territories :

biaine 628,276 - 628,276 Colorado.... 34,197 - 34,197 Maryland 599,846 87,188 687,084 Dakotah ... 4,839 - 4,839 Massaehus 1,231,065 - 1,231,065 Nebraska... 28,832 10 28,842 Mississippi 354,699 436,696 791,395 Nevada...... 6,857 - 6,857 Missouri 1,058,352 114,965 1,173,317 New Max_ 93,517 24 93,541 Michigan._ 749,112 - 749,112 Utah 0,266 29 40,295 Minnesota.. 162,022 - 162,022 Washing 11,578 - 11,578 New Hemp. 326,072 - 326,072 District of

New Jersey 672,031 - 672,031 Columbia 71,895 3,181 75,076 New York_ 3,887,542 - 3,887,542

27,477,090 3,952,801 31,429,891 N. Carolina 661,586 331,081 992,667