The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-01-09
The Progress of tho Revolution.

tne proOaDliipes oI speedy war between
portions of the South and the Federal Gov
ernment. This has been the result Of the
evacuation of Fort Moultrie BY tho Federal
Troops, in violation Of an express under.
ptanding between the President and South
Carolina. The President had assured our
Convention that the Forts in tho harbor
would not be reinforced nor the position of
the Federal troops changed in any respect
until after an attempt had been made to
settle the differences between the two gov
ernmcnts by negotiation /; and on behalf of
| the State, assurances were given that no
attempt would be made by the people of
South Carolina to take possession Of the
property in the State then held BY tho
United States authorities. Maj. Anderson,
the officer in command Mt Fort Moultrie, &C.
tua,ed no doubt by fear, abandoned the lat.
ter point, after spikiug the guns and doing
other damage, and took his position at Fo,t
Sumter, much stronger post aud less liza.
ble to be taken than tho other. This act
of Anderson was understood by our Con.
war. The South Carolina Commsrioner.
then ut Washington demanded of the Pres.
dent whether il way done through his or
dcrs, and also that Anderson bs required
to resume his former position at For, Moul,
trie and matters placed in statue quo The
President replied that Anderson had not
acted under orders, but positively against
orders. He, however, refused 10 order him
back to Fort Moultrie. Upon his refusal
to do thi, the Secretary of war, Mr.. Floyd,
believing that the Government had violated
its faith with South Carolina, resigned -
| Thompson and Thomas swo other members
Of the Cabinet also resigned. The td graph
announced that the war steamer Harriet
Lane had been ordered 10 Charleston, with
rsinfOrrvments for Anderson.
Ia the mean time the other Notifications
IN Charleston harbour were taken posses
sion of by our State Troops aud vlglsnt
preparations made to prevent reinfor:emcnts
reaching Anderson. AT this tho President
evinced di.pleasure and telsgrnphed to the
Convention that South Carolina would find
the question between her and Tho Govern
meDt to be more ola military than u polili.
cal one. Governor Pickens returned for
answer that tho Steamer Harriet Lane
would be received with bro.dside from
the guns in charge Of our Stale troops
The order tor her departure wa. either
countsrtnanded or has not yet beon put in
execution.
The accounts from Washington Clearly
show that President Buchanan has no act
tied policy his aim is to preserve the
Union if possible; but whether he will n:-
tempt the desperate remedy of coercion re.
mains to be seen. The remaining members
Of his Cabinet. together with the whole Of
the Black Republican host strongly urge
him TO this course. He could not adopt
one more likoly to defeat his purpose. The
first gym fired will unite tho South as one
man we have abundant evidence of this
in The way in which the report Of hnderson's
change Of position nt Charleston waA re-
ceived in all Of the Southern States. We
have intelligence tha, the Government Forts
in Savannah. Ga, and Wilmington, N. e.
have tsen taken by State troops, and that
the For's in Virginia and Florida hive pro.
badly before this been seized.
The rcyo uton is progressing admirably
for the c"nsummniion of Tho poIicy of So.lh
C"roina. y glorious destiny awaits The
South il she is but true to herself in this
tying ordeal nor is the danger in her psi!
50 very great when We reflect for a NJ om.ut
upon the condition Of those from whom
the threatened harm is to come. The
Government itself is parulized and il in the
last throes of dissolution its standing e ar
my is a mere shadow II 10 completely
bankrupt and cannot get money 10 supper,
an army if il had one. The people of tho
North are divided among the nisel, 60. and
with anarchy staring them in the face, ne
in no condition 10 make war upon the
South Tho Southern States, if thsy act
promptly, can form q Provisional Govern.
ment before the fourth Of March. This i.
what our Convention proposes 10 effect in
sending Commissioners TO those States that
have called Conventions. Ii the border slave
States secsdo before that time and join the
Cotton States, rs it is believed they will,
Lincoia piH nerer be inaugmaied at Wash.
tnston, and if war ensues between the two
sections, there is where the .hickest Of lhe
fight will be. All, however, i. conjecture
~ to the future every day brings with il
some new phase in tho revolutionary
drama. We have not absolutely dsspaired
OF a peaosabls solution Of our difficulties,
though the probabilities are perhaps The 4
other way. Our wisest course 10 to prepare 4
- either contingency. Every man Of the
South, whatever may be his position or
calling, should feel that 10 aid 10 sustaining
tho honor, rights and liberties of his coun
try II, this critical period, Is but his simple
dnty unA .,,.,a.u l;,,..H ...o