New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-01-12
OUR POSITION AND OUR DUTIES.

unsrrned vessel bearing the stars and stripes
Of the Republic; and it was not without emo
ton that our citizens realized the fact that
what the Southerncrs are pleased to call
" secession" had begun to ripen into civil war.
With the news of Maj. Anderson's soldierlike
correspondence came news also Of the progress
of the rebellion throughout the South aud the
seizure Of Forts Jackson and st. Philip on the
Mississippi, commanding tue approach to New
Orleans; Of Forts johnson and Caswell in North
Carolina; and telegraphic line with warl'ke
brevity announces, "Texas and Florida viii also
" seize their Notifications"
1t will be difficult for people, even of the cool
and pblegmatic temperament that belongs to citi-
zens of the North, TO view with indifference the
ong line Of forts built by them to protect the
eastern and southern border of the Union, at
the expense Of so many millions, and with such
care aud engineering skill, betrayed by their own
trusted servants into the hands Of their enemies
and see their own guns, az those of Fort
Moultrie opening fire upon American vessels
bound for an American harbor, and bearing aloft
the American flag.
Anderson might have stood siege of months
aud defed the united navies of England aud of
France, have been REASONABLY given up by
Cabinet Minister, by the Secretary of War!
The supremacy in ipfamy that has made cOnspic-
uous the name OF Benedict ArnOld is at last
ecpsed. Hencefcrth, when Americans refer to
meanness unsurpassed, to trcachery unapproached
and unapproacbable, they viii speak not Of Ar
mold but of Floyd. Whether We have yet
learned the extent of his treason-wbat other
forts have been left defenseless, what coniel.
crates the Cabinet traitors who have fled from
Washington and from Justice may have left
behind them in the Departments, in the Army
and in the Navy-it is impossible TO tell.
Treacbery lurking in high places, with ramif-
cations extending far aud vide, eats speculation
at defiance aud renders confidence impossible.
With traitors in the camp, no general can be
secure. At West Point on the discovery Of Ar
nolds treason, Washington, pale with emotion,
said 10 his staff, "Whom, gentlemen, can we
"nOw trust7" And such is the question which
one might put yet more significantly at Wash
ington, where, among a class Of politicians, honor
and faith would seem 70 BE- as little known or
cared Tor as the lost arts.
We would respectfully suggest to Congress that
Immediate information be- demanded Of the War
Department touching the surrender Of the forts
now occupied by the rebels, aud also touching
the condition Of the remainder, 30 far as may be
consistent with the public welfare. And
we would further suggest that the plan
adopted, We believe by Gsaertl Scott, IN 1852,
during the first rebellion of South Carolina, Of
requiring the officers Of the army on duty az
Charleston 10 take anew the oath Of allegiance to
The United States, may be adyantageoasly
adopted, both in the army and navy and IN the
civil service, especially IN our maritime cli'es,
and in the case of officers of high trust, where
q recurrence Of the treacbery 20 rife at Wash
ington might be attended with serious loss and
detIiment TO the country BY bctraying us al
most critical moment.
r But the interest attaching to the denoucment Of
the drama now enactiDg in Charleston harbor, IN
which the gallant commander Of Fort Sumter,
and " the Star of the West" are performing
parts that viii live in history, must not be al
lowed to divert attention frou the grand scheme
of the seeding States to make Washington the
capital of q Southern COniederacy. Tie En-
press has a Dispatch from a special CORE
spondent announcing that Gen. Scott has de
handed six thousand men for the defense OF
Washington. This demand cannot be complied
with too soon. The hopes Of the Republic and
of the world now center at Washington. Not
withstanding the efforts of the rebels TO keep
this part Of their plan u secret, il is being dis
closed from every quarter. dispatch last even
ing announces the organization at Washington OF
o band already numbering 500 men, calling them
selves National Volunteers, with the bvOwed
object of assisting the Reyolutoniss, and who will
doubtless be ready, by day or night, to possess
of the public buildings; and unless 81
largc u force is instantly gathered at Washington
as to render the attempt to seize the city ALSO
lutey hopeless, the country may awake to learn
that byia coup dc MAN. the rebels are ia possess
sion of the District of Columbia, prOclaiming u
new COniederacy from the Chambers of the Cap
itol, and issuing executive edicts from the White
House.
This is a matter that concerns tho honor and
rights Of the People. Let them look to the
safety of their capital, nor trust too conhdingly
10 the unassised efforts of their Federal officers.
Let volunteer companies, paid by the States, be
instantly rendered to the President and Gen.
Scott. Let the people hasten to prevent the pos
sibility of such an infamy a. the seizure of
Washington; and, in addition to the prompt ten
der of troops by every Northern Governor, for
u IL, a., Ia In, In
case of volunteers, let the State Legislatures,