February 5, 1861; The New York Herald
The Peace Conference met at Washington yesterday, and organized temporarily by appointing Mr. Wright, of Ohio, Chairman, and A.E. Ward, of Maryland, Secretary. A committee to select permanent officers was appointed, and it is supposed ex-President Tyler will be chosen to preside. Without transacting any other business, at half past one othe Convention adjourned. All the States that have appointed Commissioners were represented, excepting New York, Tennessee, Missouri and Illinois. Eleven States were fully represented. No reporters were admitted to the Convention.
There was considerable excitement throughout the city yesterday, caused by a report that Fort Sumter had been reinforced. There was, however, not the least foundation for the rumor.
Gov. Brown, of Georgia, has demanded of Gov. Morgan the immediate surrender of the arms recently, seized in the city by the Metropolitan police, by order of superintendent Kennedy, and in his communication expresses the hope that a like outrage will not again be committed. Gov. Morgan has not yet replied to the demand. The illegal action of the police in this matter, if not speedily repudiated, will doubtless lead to reprisals on the part of Georgia.
A public meeting was held last evening in the large hall of the Cooper Institute for the purpose of aiding Mr. Orville Gardner and the committee to carry on the charitable institution located in the new Bowery, and known as the Fourth Ward Reading Room – an institution intended to reclaim drunkards and to prevent others from becoming such. Addresses were made by Mr. Wm. C. Noyes, Rev. Dr. Chapin and Mr. Gardner, and the sum of $230 was collected from the audience.
According the City Inspector’s report, there were 367 deaths in this city during the past week – a decrease of 36 as compared with the mortality of the week previous, and 103 less than occurred during the corresponding week last year. The recapitulation table gives 3 deaths of diseases of the bones, joints, &c.; 65 of the brain and nerves, 9 of the generative organs, 13 of the heart and blood vessels, 149 of the lungs, throat, &c. 9 or old age, 42 of diseases of the skin and eruptive fevers, 5 premature births, 46 of diseases of the stomach, bowels and other digestive organs; 25 of general fevers, and 3 unknown – of which 8 were from violent causes. The nativity table gives 243 natives of the Unites States, 76 of Ireland, 5 of England, 30 of Germany, 4 of Scotland, and the balance of various foreign countries.