1861: Jan. 4: Fast day, appointed by proclamation of President Buchanan, is observed in Kentucky and other border states. Jan. 5: Steamer Star of the West sails from New York with supplies and reinforcements for Fort Sumter. Arrives off Charleston, Jan. 9, is fired upon by Confederate batteries and driven back to sea. Jan. 7: A committee of one member from the representation in congress of the states of Maryland, Kentucky, Ohio, New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Missouri, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee, -- agrees upon a scheme of compromise -- generally spoken of as the "Border State proposition: -- which Mr. Crittenden, who was a member of the committee, accepts as a substitute for his own. Jan. 8: the constitutional Union (Bell & Everett) convention, and the Democratic Union (Douglas) convention, assemble in Louisville. Ex-Gov. John L. HELM presided over the former, and Ex-Gov. Chas. A WICKLIFFE over the latter. Among the resolutions agreed upon by a joint committee of conference, and unanimously adopted by both conventions, are these: "Resolved, That we recommend the adoption of the propositions of our distinguished senator, John J. CRITTENDEN, as a fair and honorable adjustment of the difficulties which divide and distract the people of our beloved country. "Resolved, That we recommend to the legislature of the state, to put the amendments of senator Crittenden in form, and submit them to the other states; and that, if the disorganization of the present Union is not arrested, the states agreeing to these amendments of the federal constitution shall form a separate confederacy, with power to admit new states under our glorious constitution thus amended. "Resolved, That we deplore the existence of a Union to be held together by the sword, with laws to be enforced by standing armies; it is not such a Union as our fathers intended, and not worth preserving." These two conventions, by joint action, appointed a central committee, composed of John H. HARNEY, Wm. F. BULLOCK, Geo. D. PRENTICE, James SPEED, Chas. RIPLEY, Wm. P. BOONE, Phil. TOMPERT, Hamilton POPE, Nat. WOLFE, and Lewis E. HARVIE. Jan. 16: The Crittenden compromise practically voted down in the U. S. senate -- by adopting a substitute, that the constitution is good enough, and that secession ought to be put down. Jan. 17: Legislature meets in called session. Gov. Magoffin's message recommends that body to adopt resolutions inviting a conference at Baltimore, early in February, of the border slave states, including Tennessee and North Carolina, and of such other states as may choose to co-operate; also, to "declare by resolution the unconditional disapprobation of Kentucky of the employment of force in any form against the seceding states. --- The adjutant-general reports, as the sum total of arms belonging to the state, 58 pieces of ordnance, 11,283 muskets, 3,159 rifles, and 2,873 cavalry arms. 45 companies of the State Guard are "admirably drilled in rifle tactics, handsomely uniformed, and fully armed and equipped." Jan. 19: The hose of representatives, by a vote of 66 to 23, "directed the sergeant-at-arms to hoist the American flag over the capitol during the present session." Jan. 21: The following resolutions, by Geo. W. EWING, of Logan county, adopted in the house; the first unanimously, the second by 87 to 6; they were not acted on by the senate: "Resolved, That this general assembly has heard with profound regret of the resolutions recently adopted by the states of New York, Ohio, Maine, and Massachusetts -- tendering men and money to the president of the United States, to be used in coercing certain sovereign states of the South into obedience to the federal government. "Resolved, That this general assembly receives the action of the legislatures of New York, Ohio, Maine, and Massachusetts, as the indication of a purpose upon the part of the people of those states to further complicate existing difficulties, by forcing the people of the south to the extremity of submission or resistance. And so regarding it, the governor of the state of Kentucky is hereby requested to inform the executives of each of said states that it is the opinion of this general assembly, that whenever the authorities of these states shall send armed forces to the south for the purpose indicated in said resolutions, the people of Kentucky, uniting with their brethren of the south, will as one man, resist such invasion of the soil of the south as all hazards and to the last extremity." Jan. 29: The senate unanimously, and the house by 81 to 5, appoints six commissioners to the peace conference, Feb. 4, at Washington city -- in accordance with the invitation of the Virginia legislature: Wm. O. BUTLER, James B. CLAY, Chas. S. MOREHEAD, Joshua F. BELL, Chas. A. WICKLIFFE, and James GUTHRIE' and appropriates $500 each for their compensation and expenses. Feb. 4: Peace Conference assembles in Washington city, 21 states represented by 133 commissioners, and continues in session until Feb. 27 -- ex-president John Tyler chairman.