The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-12-31

represent that IN their opinion the provisions of
! the 95th and seth sections Of the Revised Penal
Code, so lar the relate to tugitives from la
Dor or servtude, not needed for the protection
ofthe rights of the citizens of Pennsylvania, and
may be regarded by the citizens Of other States as
| untrlendiy in their purport, and, therefore, they
| pray your honorable body to enact the repeal of
such provisions. number of names in print fol
| low the memorial, among which are those of Mayor
Henry, David Webster, Edward King, Charles B.
Irego aAd a number of prominent merchants
| .-s-.-..~..u.---.-laa---~-zn~~
| From The Charleston Courier of FriGay Dec 251
The EVACUATION OF TORT M0ULTRIE.
Throughout the city yesterday the greatest ex-
| cltement prevailed in relation to the news from
| Forts Moultrie and Sumter. AS early as eight
O'Clock IN the forenoon the rumOrs of the destruc-
tion of the former of these military posts and the
occupation Of the latter by the forces of the United
States, were circulated. 1t was at first currently
reported and believed, that Fort Moultre had been
laid in ruins; that the guns were sniked, and the
carriages &c, together with the barracks, burned,
! and that the post had been entirely abandoned.
The reports spread like wild fire, and soon gained
currency in every part of the city Crowds of citi
zens anxiocsy inquired of each other the latest in
telgence in relation to the affair; squads Co lIeced
on every corner of the Streets and ia front of the
! public resorts, to canvass the subject.
| lnstinctyely men flew to arms. Orders were i'm
mediatey issued to the military to hold themselves
in readiness for service, and the streets were soon
| enlvened by the appearance OF individual members
OF the different organizations in their uniforms
| About noon the excitement in the streets had at
| tanned the highest pitch. The Convention was
known to be in secret concave and it was believed
that this was the subject matter of their delibera
items. The streets swarmed with people Addi-
| tioaa flags were displayed from the stores and
houses on the principal streets. The custom house,
and other buildings formerly in the possession of
the United States Government, displayed the bunt-
ing of the infant Republic of South Carolina. Ev-
! cry one looked upon the 'war actually begun"
and all seemed to feel that their brethren were in
the field, and themselves began to grow restless at
the prospect of inactivity and suspense.
| Later in the day, however, the excitement was
| somewhat abated, when it became known that the
movement on the part Of the forces of the United
States at Fort Moultre was not at the instance of
the Administration at " Washington, but merely
precautionary measure taken by Commander
Anderson under conviction that his position with
in the fortress Suliivans Island would not be
tenabe, if attacked in it by well organized and dis
ciplined troops The contradiction of the first re
ports in relation to the damage done the fort by
the troops that had evacuated it, also had tenden-
cy to allay the excitement on the occasion.
FORT SUMTER AS OCCUPIED.
In order to ascertain truthful statements of the
actual damage done to the Forts of the causes of
the movement and of the state of affairs generally
reporters were dispatched to the during the
forenoon. On the way across the harbor the hoist
ing OF an American flag from the staff of Fort Sum
ter at precisely II O'clock gave certain Indication
that the stronghold occupied by the troops of
the United States. On a nearer approach the for |
D.
peared to be mounted, and sentinels were discover
ed on duty, and the place to give every sign of oc-
cupancy and military discipline. The grim fortress
trowned defiance on every side~-the busy notes of
preparation resounded through its unforbidding |
recesses, and everything seemed to indicate the ut
most alacrity IN the work on hand.
FORT MoULTRIE AND ITS CONDITION
Turning towards Fort Moultrie, dense cloud of |
smoke was seen to pour from the end facing the |
sea. The flagstaff was down, and the whole place |
had an air Of desolation and abandonment quite the
reverse of its busy look week ago when scores
of laborers were engaged in adding to its strength
ali the works skill and experience could suggest.
In the immediate vicinity of the rear or land |
side entrance, however, greater activity was motto
able. At the time of our visit large force of
hands had been summoned to deliver up their i'm .
plements for transportation to Fort Suinter.-
Around every side were the evidence of labor in
the fertilization of the work.
In many places, portion of the defences were |
strengthened by every appliance that art could su
gest or ingenuity devise; while, in Others the un-
completed works gave evidences of the utmost con- |
fusion On all hands the process of removing |
goods, furniture and munitions, was yet going on /
The heavy guns upon the ramparts of the Fort /
were thrown down from their carriages and spiked /
Every ounce of powder, and every cartridge had /
been removed from the magazines; and, in fact ev
erything like small arms, clothing, provisions ac
coutrements and other munitions of war, had been
removed off and deposted-nothing but heavy
balls and useless remained.
On the ramparts Of the fort fronting Fort Sum
wooden carriages. AS soon as the evacuation of
the fort complete, the carriages of these guns
were fred and at the time of visiting the fort yes
terday, were nearly consumed, and the guns there
by dismounted These guns, as well as those con- |
stitung the entire armament of the fortress, were
spiked before it was abandoned. This is the only |
damage done the tortifcati0n, further than cuttag
down the flag staff, and the breaking up of ammu-
milton wagons to form ramparts on the walls of the |
fort.
TEE EVACUATION.
The fort was found to be in charge of two officers
and four men, who had been left behind merely to |
act a watch. The place was sealed to all but |
the watch, and none but these were allowed to .
enter.
From the officers in charge it was learned that !
the evacuation of the fort commenced little after
sundown Wednesday evening. The men were |
ordered to hold themselves in readiness, with |
knapsacks packed, at moments notice, but up to /
the moment of their leaving had idea of aban-
doning the post. They were reviewed parade,
and were then ordered to two schooners, lying in
the vicinity, where they embarked taking with
them all the necessaries, stores, &c, requisite in
their evacuation.
Several trips were made during the night, and
great part OF the provisions and camp furniture
were transported under cover OF night. The bright
of the moon however, afforded but slight con-
cealment to their movements, and in one of the
trips, Lieut.. Davis in command, a schooner fall of .
soldiers and baggage passed directly under the bow
of the guard boat Nina. The officer who made the .
statement expressed himself to be ignorant wheth- /
er the watch on board the Nina discovered the |
movements or not-at all events, he said they did /
not signify any cognizance of the iact.
REASONS FOR EVACUATION.
From conversations held with the gentlemen in
possession of the fort yesterday it was ascertained
that the first impetus given to the work of strength
ening the fort, was after the speeches of Messrs.
Magrath, Memminger and others, when fears were
aroused that the time would shortly come which
would call into exercise the use of force in protect
ing the public property. Upon this, all the ener-
gles OF the officers and men were called forth to
render the position as strong as possible. Attacks
were expected only from the land side and to the
strengthening of these points all the available force
was put The officers expressed themselves to be
able, after preparation, &C., to make a successful
resistance against any mob or undsciplined force,
but against organized troops the small garrison
could make no stand.
Major Anderson had been ordered to hold the
Fort, to protect the work. and he intended to do it
at every hazard. He denied that either the Pres
ident or Secretary of War had given any orders
for the evacuation of the post. Major Anderson
had done this on his own resposbiity-thinking
that by such step he would make himself secure
against attack protect the lives of his soldiers and
could better guard the public property, for in his
position at Fort Sumter he could easily command,
and II necessary, silence the batteries of Fort
Moultrie.
TROOPS.
At twenty minutes to eight o'clock the troops on
board the Nina and Gen. Clinch landed on the
wharf of Sullivan's Island Rapidly forming thew
proceeded under the command of Col. DeSaussure
towards the walls of Fort Moutrie. A sergeant
and ten men held possession OF the place. On the
approach of Col. DeSausslre's command, the de-
tachment of United States troops retired without
offering any resistance.
The gates were not closed, even, and forty min
utes after the steamer touched the wharf, the Pal
metto Flag. mounted on hastily prepared staff,
(as the original one had been cut away, was flung
to the breeze amid the huzzas of the Occupants
Active preparations were Immediately commenced
to render the place defensibe. The spiked guns,
and those dsmantled by the burning of the carria-
ages, will soon be in position to respond to any
hostile demonstration made against the place.
At twelve o'clock last night, when our Reporter
lett the Island, all quiet and orderly Sentres
were pacing the ramparts and the hail of 6all wel