The Daily Dispatch: March 1, 1861., [Electronic resource]

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From Washington.
the Peace Conference--its votes — political Rumors--Mr. Lincoln, &c., &c.

The Peace Conference adjourned sine die at 1 o'clock on Wednesday afternoon. On yesterday 100 guns were to be fired by order of Lt. Gen. Winfield Scott, in honor of the result of its labors. An account of the voting in the Convention is interesting. A dispatch in the Baltimore American-says:

‘ The Peace Conference adjourned at one o'clock to-day after adopting the Guthrie propositions, as amended by Mr. Franklin. The vote on the Territorial-clause stood — ayes 10, nays 9, whilst it was recommended to Congress by a unanimous vote.

Virginia and North Carolina, by a majority of their delegations, voted against the controverted sections, and would have voted against the whole had such a vote have been allowed. The New York vote was divided: Indiana and Missouri declined to vote. The Missouri Commissioners, or at least a majority of them, were opposed to the propositions, but they were willing to let them go to the people without their endorsement. If they had voted negatively they would have defeated the whole purposes of the Convention.--Hence, they declined voting. The vote stood as follows:

Ayes--The States of Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, and Kansas--10.

Nays--Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio, Wisconsin and Iowa--9.

’ The other clauses of the compromise were adopted by heavier affirmative votes, indicating the variety of opinions entertained by the Commissioners. As, for instance, Virginia voted against that clause which provides for the payment for runaway slaves whose recovery is obstructed. Massachusetts, to cap the climax, voted, with several of the New England States, against the clause which prohibits the opening of the slave trade, or the introduction of coolie apprentices into the country. Massachusetts also voted against the clause calculated to check filibustering by the acquisition of new territory.

After the whole plan of compromise, as above given, had been passed, a statement was drawn up to accompany its presentation to Congress. This statement sets forth that the Conference having adopted ‘"the following proposed amendments to the Constitution,"’ recommends them to the immediate action of Congress as calculated to restore peace and harmony to the country. A vote being taken on this recommendation to Congress, it was adopted unanimously, and thus it goes to Congress with the sanction of the entire Convention. A committee was then appointed to convey it direct to Congress, when the Convention adjourned sine die.

The full particulars of the vote cannot at this time be ascertained, but we have learned some of the details, which are worthy of notice. The great struggle in the Conference was on the 1st section, in relation to slavery in the Territories. This was passed by a vote of ayes 9; nays 8--New York being divided, Indiana declining to vote, Kansas and Missouri being divided, and Virginia and North Carolina voting against it. Thus, had not Indiana declined to vote, and New York and Kansas lost their votes by division — all of which was doubtless done to allow it to pass — it would have been defeated.

Messrs. William C. Rives, and Summers, of Virginia, protested against the vote of that State being cast against the compromise, but were overruled by their secession colleagues, Messrs. Tyler, Seddon and Brokenbrough, who voted throughout with the most uncompromising of the Republicans. They being a majority of the delegation cast the vote of the State, and undoubtedly cast it in opposition to what they knew to be the popular sentiment of the people, as represented in the Convention now in session at Richmond.

Judge Ruffin and Gen. Morehead, of North Carolina, also entered a strong protest against the vote of that State being cast against the proposition — and no one even for a moment doubts that these two gentlemen represent the views of a large majority of the people of the State.

The action of Indiana requires some explanation. The delegates were instructed not to vote on the Territorial question without first submitting it to the Legislature. Under these instructions they did not vote on the Territorial clause, though all were in favor of it. On the other clauses of the proposition they took the responsibility of casting the vote of the State in the affirmative.

A correspondent of the Baltimore Sun gives this version of the voting:

‘ I send you an exact transcript of the resolutions of the Peace Convention. Against each is annexed the vote therein. The States that voted for the first section were Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio and Illinois. The States that voted against it were Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Virginia, North Carolina and Iowa. The delegations that did not vote were from Kansas, New York, Missouri and Indiana.

Had it been necessary, the votes of New Hampshire and Indiana would have been in the affirmative. So probably Missouri. Vermont is four to one for having Congress refer the propositions of the Convention to the people of the States, as recommended.--Messrs. Boutwell and Crowninshield, of Massachusetts, did not, towards the last, show the bitter feeling exhibited by some of their colleagues. Rhode Island was unanimous, ex-Governor Hoppin having changed his views since coming to Washington.--Mr. Spratt, of Connecticut, dissented from his colleagues. So did Mr. Chamberlain, of New Hampshire. Maine was straight-out bitter. Mr. Field, of New York, being necessarily absent, the delegation was at odds, and did not vote. New Jersey was unanimous. --Messrs. Wilmot and Meredith stood out against their colleagues. Delaware was unanimous. It is understood that Mr. Crisfield, of Maryland, differed with his associates. The dissenters to the action of the majority of the Virginia delegation were Messrs. Summers and Rives; of North Carolina, Messrs. Ruffin and Morehead. None expressed dissent openly in the Kentucky and Tennessee delegations. In the Ohio delegation Mr. Chase was left almost alone. He exhibited much disappointment. Iowa was ultra, as were two of the Illinois delegates.

’ From a variety of Washington dispatches, we take the following:

‘ The Mayor of Washington has been compelled to detail an additional police force to guard Mr. Lincoln's apartments against intrusion. The corridors of Willards' Hotel are crowded with every grade of office seeker, from hundreds of Dutch and Italian confectioners, who wish to furnish bon bons for the White House, up to those who are willing to go into the Cabinet, or even serve the country at foreign Courts.

The number of office seekers already in the city, especially from the West, is almost unprecedented since the establishment of the rule by General Jackson that ‘"to the victors belong the spoils."’ We have usually had a crowded city on the eve of the inauguration, but judging from the crowds that are pouring in by every train they will be compelled to take to the hearth-rugs for sleeping accommodations.

Last night ex-Senator Bell, of Tennessee, Messrs. Douglas, Guthrie and Rives, and Governor Hicks and others, urgently appealed to Mr. Lincoln to interpose his influence for a settlement of the pending difficulties. Their interview continued several hours.

The Commissioners from the Southern Confederacy are expected to arrive here before the close of this week. They are accredited to the incoming Administration, and pending the efforts to negotiate nothing will be done calculated to disturb public peace.

Official announcement has been made that no argument will be heard by the Supreme Court after Friday, March 8th, and that the Court will adjourn on Thursday, March 14th.

The Justices of the Supreme Court will attend the inauguration in their judicial robes of office, and Mr. Chief Justice Tancy will administer the oath of office. He was appointed in March, 1836, by General Jackson, who had previously appointed him Secretary of the Treasury in 1833, but the Senate had refused to confirm the appointment.

It has consequently been his privilege to adminster the oath of office to Presidents Van Buren, Harrison, Tyler, Polk, Taylor, Fillmore, Pierce, and Buchanan, and on Monday next, (Deo Volente,) he will administer it to Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois.

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