The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-04-18


were burning, Gen. Beauregara sent
offers of assistance before the white
flag was run up. Senator WigfaIl re-
ceived the sword of Major Anderson
and returned it to him.
The feet is still off Charleston.
Dispatch to the Baltimore American.
Events Of the Last Few Days.
History Of the Negotiations IN the mat
ter Of Fort Sumter sacea5le OUer-
tures Refused! = Traitors at the
CdpitoEG0vernme,at Po,0er to CAL
Volunteers, de-, dc.
WASHINGTON, April 10.
This has been a most exciting day
in Washington-almost unprecedented
the rumors afoat being more varied
and contradictory than on any preced-
ing day in this lamentable era in the
history of the Union.
1t is very generally conceded here
to-day, that the recent Navy and Army
movements at New York are intended
for the relief of Major Anderson and
his beleagured garrison in Fort Sum-
ter. The difficulty that has arisen with
regard to the proposed evacuation of
Fort Sumter, and the present position
OF affairs are, as near as can be aseer-
tanned, as follows:
Nearly four weeks since the Presi-
dent and Cabinet, on the representation
of Gen. Scott, decided to evacuate
Fort Sumter as military necessity
that is to say, the reinforcing and pro-
visioning of it was not deemed essen.
tial, in view of the cost of blood and
treasure it would require to accomplish
the purpose. This decision of the
President was communicated to Major
Anderson by special messenger, with
instructions to open negotiations with
the military authorities at Charleston
to carry the project into execution.
These negotiations have been pro-
crossing ever since, and the numerous
messengers that have been passing be-
tween Charleston and Washington
have communicated to Major Anderson
the instructions of the Government and
to the President the demands of the
authorities of the Southern Confedera-
cy. 1t is understood that Major An
dersoH eftsSctS, under instructions, an
unconditional surrender of the fortress
to the Confederacy, but proposed to
abandon it ,cith his garrison, Leaving
the fort IN possession Of corporal
and taco pricates, to protect the proper
ty Of the Gover1anaent, and leare at thus
to aaodit future ecents. He is also UNI
derstood to have demanded of Gen.
Beauregard that pledge should be
given him, that no attempt should be
made to take possession of it after the
evacuation of the garrison, and that
the officer left in charge should not be
molested, or his possession as the NOM
inal representative of the Government
interfered with. s.
This proposition did not meet the
views Of Gen. Beauregard, who de-
manded that the flag of the United
States should be saluted and lowered,
as was done at the Pensacola Navy
yard, and that formal surrender of
the fort should be made by the Govern
ment of the United States to the Gov
eminent of the Southern Confederacy,
and the Confederacy flag of seven stars
raised on the flagstaff and saluted.
This demand, which would be a vir-
tual recognition by the President and
Major Anderson of the existence of
the Southern Confederacy, aods firmly
Irefassed, and the decision of Major an
derso,, acds subsequently sustained and
approved By the President andhis Cab
met. Thus matters stood up to the
commencement of last week, when Gen.
Beauregard iptimated to Major Ander-
son that if the demand of the Confed-
.eraoy was notlcomplied with, an order
would be Immediately issued to cut off
all further communication between the
fort and Charleston, and that his regu-
lar supplies of marketing would be
stopped. This fact was brought to
Washington by Col. Lamon, as the ul-
timatum of the Confederacy. A Cab
met meeting was then called, and it is
said that the refusal to make formal
surrender of the fort and the lowering
of the flag was unanimously reaf6rmed.
Immediately after this decision or
ders were given to the military and ma
val preparations that have since occa-
stoned so much excitement, the object
being to use them, if necessary, in re-
lieving the garrison of MIor Anderson
from threatened starvation, and main
tanning the dignity of the Government
and the honor of the flag in Charleston
Harbor; or if not required there, to
dispatch the expedition to Texas, to
maintain the treaty stipulations of the
government on the frontier, and drive
back the Indians and Mexicans who
are threatening to invade the State.
In the meantime Lieut.. Talbot was
dispatched by Major Anderson to
Washington, with further information
as to the condition of affairs, in which
rumor says that Major anderson urged
the GoUer7anaent not to aHoao the fao
schich he had so long maintained u,
the face Of his. 6eseigers, to be bundled
as they required, and to compel the
gallant men who had stood SO nobIy
by him, including the mechanics who
could have left him if they desired, to
witnessthe humiliating sight of any FLAG
but that OF their country floating from