The Charleston Mercury, noting the arrival of
Col. Lamon (
Lincoln's agent,) there on Monday, says:
‘
The city was all agog yesterday, at the announcement that still another ambassador from
Washington had come to town, and was in close conference with the
Governor.
It appears that this last envoy,
Mr. W. H. Limon, of
Illinois, arrived in the city on Sunday morning, and registered his name upon the books of the
Charleston Hotel as from
Virginia.
He remained quietly at the hotel until yesterday morning, when he sent his card to the
Governor, requesting an interview.
The nature of his communication has not been made public.
About one o'clock, accompanied by
Col. Duryea, Aid to the
Governor,
Mr. Lamon left the city in the steamer
Plaster,
Capt. Ferguson, and proceeded to
Fort Sumter.
The title being low, the steamer was unable to reach the
Fort wharf, but was met at a short distance by a boat commanded by an officer, who, we understood, was
Lieut. After presenting a written communication to the
Lieutenant,
Mr. Lamon was invited into the boat, accompanied by
Col. Duryea, and they were then taken to
Fort Sumter, where they remained for about one hour.
’
On the approach of the steamer to the fort, about half the garrison had collected on the wharf, and some half dozen officers were on the ramparts, using their spy-glasses.
After staying in the fort for some time,
Mr. Lamon, accompanied by
Major Anderson, took a walk around the ramparts of the fortification, the
Major apparently explaining to his visitor the position of the fort and its surroundings.--While on the steamer, the
Envoy from
Washington alluded several times to the importance of preserving the peace, saying that he expected to leave immediately for
Washington City, and hoped to return here in a few days.
The last remark would indicate that he bore no order for the evacuation of the fortress, and would give color to the opinion held by many, that the question of leaving is still in debate between
Major Anderson and the
Washington authorities, each being anxious to shift the responsibility of leaving off their own shoulders.
This matter as it stands is becoming rather annoying to the public here, and the people are expecting with anxiety a final settlement, either peaceably or by the sword.
Mr. Lamon left by the night train last night for
Washington.
The latest and apparently most reliable rumor was that his brief visit related to postal affairs, and that his trip to
Fort Sumter was merely incidental, as bearer of dispatches.
The Courier has the following significant paragraph:
Many members of the
Convention arrived yesterday evening, and with them many friends and visitors, who expect to visit
Fort Sumter very soon.
The Convention has the war-making power of
South Carolina, and
Fort Sumter must and shall be under the
Palmetto flag before any questions of Federal accession or alliance are considered.
Mercury has this item:
Hon. W. Porcher Miles, on his return from
Montgomery, brought with him the original flag of the
Confederate States, which he presented to
Mrs. Pickens, with the request that she would have it hoisted over
Fort Sumter.
