Charleston, Feb. 18, 1861.
I beg that you, nor your readers, will get offended if I give you a little something beside politics and the on dits of our city — a little religion will not hurt, I am sure.
I will get on politics soon enough.
Yesterday being a bright, sunny day, I visited the Citadel Square Baptist Church, Rev. Dr. Kendrick, Pastor. This is a new house, not yet completed on the exterior, of the "Norman " order of architecture, and cost seventy-five thousand dollars, and, as I understand, all paid for. There was a large congregation in attendance. They have perhaps the finest organ in the city, performed on by Prof. Robinson. The choir is a select one, and, I learn from musical amatears, it is equal to any in the city. One female voice in that choir was to my unpracticed ear most exquisite. I may say it appeared to me to have more sweetness and melody in it than any voice of the same volume I ever heard.--I understand this sweet singer is a Miss Seymour, a sister to Rev. Mr. Seymour, a youthful and highly gifted minister, lately deceased, of this city. Dr. Kendrick selected as his text the rich Dives and the poor beggar Lazarus. He mentioned that in a ministry of twenty years, ranging through all the Bible for subjects, he had never preached from this parable of the Lord. I had often heard Dr. K. Spoken of as one of the most accomplished pulpit orators in this city, or perhaps of the South, and though, I confess, I am not a very good judge of sermonizing, I must say I was not disappointed. I don't remember ever to have heard a more impressive discourse, and one more replete with sound, wholesome, Gospel truth. It would have been well if many a rich Dives could have heard it. I never saw a more impressed congregation, for, in so large a house, with so large a congregation, every word of the speaker, however low, was heard distinctly, and for forty-five minutes he held the multitude in breathless silence. Dr. K. is, apparently, about 35 years old, light hair and complexion, very erect, hardly six feet, a flashing blue eye, high forehead, nose rather of the hawk-bill order, enunciation clear, distinct and chaste, and by no means offensive in gesture, yet, having sufficient to be effective; in private circles a charming companion, and of untarnished Christian repute. This church was formed in 1854 with fourteen members, and, I understand, it now numbers over four hundred.
Now for the city news. The floating battery is to be launched next Wednesday. It is of huge proportions, and so entirely unique, that I can hardly give you an idea of it; but it will be, when completed, a most terrible machine, if not an ‘"internal"’ one. Where is its destination, no one yet knows, except those in the Governor's counsels; but it is an engine of destruction, evidently.
You will see that the importers and merchants generally of this city, have recommended to the Southern Congress a tariff of ten per cent, on all imports, except spirits, wines and tobacco, which will be 20 per cent. No doubt this tariff will be adopted. So persons shipping here will have to be quick.
Major Anderson is dangerously ill in Fort Sumter, with pneumonia. He sent over for Dr. Robertson, of this city, who is now attending him regularly.
President Davis is to be in this city on Thursday next, to look around and see what is to be done in military matters. He doubtless will have things put in the right direction very soon.
Mr. Memminger, of this city, is spoken of as Secretary of State in the new Confederacy. I suppose he will be chosen by President Davis for that high position. No man in the Confederacy has superior claims. Mr. Memminger is a gentleman of the first order of mind, logical, discriminating and comprehensive — a hard student, industrious and persevering, overcoming what many a man physically stronger than himself would sink under. To Mr. Memminger is this city indebted mainly for the admirable system of public education now in existence here, and for the fine normal school. No man in our day is more entitled to the name of benefactor. His primary education was in the Orphan Asylum of this city — an institution unequalled in America, and in which Mr. Memminger has to this day a large and interesting class of females as Sunday School scholars. Great men can afford to condescend to what the world calls small things.
From Washington.
[special correspondence of the Dispatch.]
That part of the Compromise of 1850 which secures to slave-owners the right of appeal to the Supreme Court, was repealed in the act creating the Territory of Colorado out of New Mexico. This act was passed with indecent haste and violence. The House, by a majority of 43, refused to reject the most infamous force bill ever enacted, and it will probably pass to-day. This bill authorizes the President to call out the army and navy, and the militia. It also gives him the power to arm and equip volunteers raised in any part of the United States, out of the refuse and riff-raff population.
Notwithstanding these force bills, and notwithstanding the fact that Senator Wilson declares that war will begin on the 4th of March, and the further fact, as confidently asserted to me, that even the Tennessee Commissioners have abandoned all hope of compromise, I feel assured that something will be done to ‘"placate"’ poor old Virginia, and keep her in as the tag-rag of the Abolition Empire. The Republicans understand all these study resolutions about a "final settlement," to be mere wind and pother. Virginia, by a decisive vote, has declared her preference of the North to the South, and all she wants is an excuse for staying in. Something will be done to allay the weak sensibility which has replaced in the present generation the high sense of honor and of right which distinguished the heroes of old.
The organization of the Seward-Douglas Andy Johnson-Union party goes bravely on, and the work for the next Congressional campaign in Virginia and Tennessee is already cut and dried here. Southern-Rights' men are no match for this coalition, as they will find next Spring. Seward is going to play the oiliest and sweetest of games. I hear that he will have all the forts vacated as soon as Lincoln is inaugurated. Oh! how the people of Virginia will love him in less than a year form this date.
President Davis' inaugural excites general admiration. My lord, the king Abraham, is improving some what in his itinerant tunable. At Buffalo and at Albany, he exhibited faint rays of intelligence, which would not have disgraced a cultivated orang-utans. He bids fair to rival ‘"The Learned Pig,"’ eventually.
Beyond the occasional stabbing of a hackman and a nightly alarm or two of fire, we are without pleasing entertainments. The Theatre bills promise us a treat to-morrow night from Miss Joey Gougin-him, or some such name.
