From Washington.
[special Correspondence of the Dispatch.] Washington, Jan. 9th, 1861.
If it be true that the Federal cavalry were sent to Harper's Ferry at the request of the Superintendent, it will become my duty to make known some ugly facts in connection therewith.
It is no time for men to tamper with the safety of Virginia.
See where we are even now. Fortress Monroe is strongly garrisoned by the soldiers of a power which proclaims itself determined to coerce any or all seceding States.
Fort Washington on the Potomac, though on Maryland soil, commands the commerce of Alexandria, every one of whose ships must now pass under the guns of the Buchanan Scott administration — for it is very evident that Scott's energy is at the bottom of recent movements.
List but not least, Harper's Ferry is in the hands of the enemy, and all its munitions of war ready to be used in coercing Virginia if she dare to resent the threats of Buchanan and Lincoln.
Shall we sit quietly and permit the manacles to be welded on every limb?
Then I know nothing of the character of Virginians.
It will be remarked that soldiers are sent hither and thither in secret, not openly and above board.
Does this mean nothing?
Some say that the "Star of the West" is bound not to Charleston, but to Pensacola, and the idea receives partial confirmation from the plan of subjugating the South developed by General Scott privately a month or more age — which was to land a large army in the State of Mississippi and another at Pensacola, and for the two armies to fight their way toward each other until they met, and a cordon of military posts was established in the very heart of the Cotton States.
On the other hand, the Constitution, of this morning, affirms that the "Star of the West" did go to Charleston, and that Secretary Thompson resigned because this was done in defiance of the plighted word of the Administration, and without his knowledge.
Here is the third perjury of Buchanan.--First, his honor was pledged to the members of South Carolina and to Gov. Floyd; second, to Mr. Boteler in regard to Harper's Ferry; third, to Secretary Thompson.
And General Scott is a party to this violation of pledges.
When we have to deal with those who violate their solemn engagements, is it not high time for Virginia to take her welfare into her own hands?
Gen. Lane is of opinion that the best chance for peace is for Virginia to act promptly.
All the border States look to her. I received a letter from Knoxville yesterday, which closes thus: ‘"Tennessee will, I feel certain, call a Convention next week, and consult with Virginia, and whatever she (Virginia) does, we will do with all our might."’ Brownlow, by a gentleman of my acquaintance now here, sent this message to Andy Johnson: ‘"Tell him that he and I are in the same bed at last, and that I am ashamed of him. "’ As both hate each other as they do the devil, this message will disgruntle Andy not a little.
Last night I asked a member from Texas how his State would act. He replied by reading a passage from a letter just received: ‘"We shall elect Frank Latham to the Convention, because he is in favor of Texas going out yesterday"’--that is to say, one day in advance of immediately.
Latham lives at Point Isabel, on the Rio Grande, where there are no negroes at all. He is a Connecticut man by birth, but has been in Texas for twenty years.
In case of a general war, we shall have three Texas Rangers to rely on, viz: Ben McCulloch, Jack Hayes, and Major Bell, new living in North Carolina.
Give each of these renowned partisan leaders three hundred picked horsemen to command, and we should have three whirlwinds of destruction whose rapid forays the North could neither anticipate nor resist.
Mr. Pryor's absence from your meeting last night, is attributable, I am cold, to the fact that he failed to get any telegraphic response to his letter accepting the call to speak on that occasion.
General Duff Green, through the N. Y. Herald, announces his belief that Lincoln is not unwilling to accept a compromise which Congress might make, but which he himself could not. The Tribune, urged on by its Washington correspondent, "J. S. P," is much alarmed at the prospect.
But, then, a friend just from New York, tells me that four-fifths of the Democracy there are in favor of coercion, and one Soerman, of that city, an influential politician, reached here last night in a state of frenzied passion against the South.
So, at least, I heard.
At the Theatre, yesterday evening, I saw Hackett play Sir Pertinax Mac sycophant — He is a capital actor.
Miss Alice Pracide Mann, a stylish, pretty, graceful, spirited woman, played her part admirably.
The weather this morning is as capricious and unreliable as Buchanan's consonance.--When I went to breakfast, it was snowing; when I left the hotel for the post-office, it was raining; when I left the post-office, it was snowing again; and now it don't know exactly what it is doing.
I believe it is trying to rain.
Wilson, the Massachusetts cobbler, speaks in the Senate to-day.
Unwilling to muddy my boots for his sake, I have stayed at home and written till I am as tired as your readers will be when they get through this letter.
Zed. 