The Daily Dispatch: March 8, 1861., [Electronic resource]

Affairs at the Southern Capital.

‘ The Congress met to-day at 10 o'clock, thus disappointing some of the reporters, and the visitors generally who were not advised of the change of hour; and a third of the Deputies, too, failed to come to time; the President himself had to quicken his gait, greatly to his own inconvenience, to get to the Capitol by the hour of meeting. I could but laugh at Mr. Cobb, as he came puffing and blowing up Main street, as if in haste for a physician.

’ He called the Congress to order, the minutes were read, the States called, and reports from Committees asked for, but not a resolution, memorial, or any other thing of a public character submitted — not even a model flag or design for a seal. Then followed secret session, and reporters felt relieved and disheartened; relieved from the suspense of writing, with pen in hand for items, and disheartened because they had obtained nothing of interest, or event of interest, important or unimportant, to report. This, the twenty-third day of the session, may be set down as a blank day in the public proceedings of the Southern Congress. The public will agree, too, that on several of the other days of the session what was done in open session was of little interest or importance.

A fracas occurred on Wednesday last, between two of the Charleston reporters, which resulted rather discouragingly to one of them, who in consequence is confined to his room.

Information has reached here that the Hon. Mr. Ellett, appointed Postmaster General, has declined the honorable position. Mr. Wirt Adams, a citizen of Mississippi, and a commission merchant of New Orleans, and late Commissioner from Mississippi to the Louisiana State Convention, is mentioned now as the next appointee for that Cabinet office. D. P. Blair, Esq., Special Post-Office Agent for Alabama and Northern Mississippi, is also spoken of for the place. I am advised that the Hon. W. P. Chilton, of this city, and Deputy in the Congress from this District, was tendered the office by President Davis. No more competent gentleman for that post can be found in the Confederate States or anywhere else. He possesses a superior intellect, sound practical sense, much experience, enlarged views, pure private character, and is emphatically a working man, and withal is a Christian gentleman. It would prove greatly to the interests of the department and the public interests if he would accept. I presume his large practice as a lawyer, his regard for the interests of his clients, is the bar in the way of his acceptance. Again, he is the partner of the Hon. W. L. Yancey, who, you are advised, will leave next week as the head of the important Embassy to the European Powers, so that if Mr. Chilton should take the seat in the Cabinet, no one would be left to attend to the numerous causes in which the firm is engaged.

The members of our volunteer companies, lately at Pensacola, are busily engaged to-day in rubbing up their weapons, which would look as if they were preparing for another expedition, probably to Charleston, to participate in the attack upon Fort Sumter.