New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-01-10
MAJOR ANDERSON.

III the poet who declared tnat peace main Her
I" victories no less renowned than war;" had been
cotemporaneous with Major Anderson, one might
be almost persuaded that he had that particular
officer in his mind when writing so Tar 1t Is
manifest that the hero of Fort Sumter has
achieved a decisive victory, its importance being
heightened by its entire peacefuness No one
ought TO doubt that Major Anderson was fully
aware that he occupied the only position in
which, by a single blow cOurageousy struck at
the proper moment, be could lay bare and rem
der harmless the whole deep laid plan OF treason.
II is now certain that all orders to strike this
blow had been carefully withheld from him, and
that he had received no official warning OF the
contemplated treason. If the Government were
in collision with the traitors, he had not been
let into the secret. IL known that he could
be trusted to defend the Union, but not to be-
tray it. Yet he had sufficient sagaclty to detect
the plot, even without the convincing evidence
afforded BY the refusal Of the Secretary Of War
10 strengthen his little command in their most
rerilous position. Thus left with handful OF
men to his own resources, without enough am
muniton to batter down the wooden houses
on his front, wherein thousand rifle
men could be adyantaseously posted, his
subsequent action has shown him to be
possessed Of the highest order of military
genius. The reasonable compact between the
Secretary of War and South Carolina, under
which hostilities were to be suspended until the
result Of the Commission to Washington was
known, WAS purposely concealed from him.
But his good sense satisfied him that those Com
uisnoncrs would fail in their object, and he
had the best possible evidence that so coon as
that failure could be telegraphed to Charleston,
he would be attacked and massacred. Armed
steamboats, were plying round him every night
10 intercept any movement he might be contem-
Mating Sumter was to be- seized, and he was to
be- Inundated by being compelled to surrender
Moultrie. The emergency was exactly such as
to test the military capacity of the man thus
forced to encounter it. Maj. Anderson had not
the least hesitation in knowing what to do, but
that be nstinctiyely accomplished it by move
H'rn' 20 mastery rs to electrify the country. He
shifted his command lrUn, a defenseess position
to an impregnable one, doing so on his own
responsibility. The whole glory of this decisive
movement is his own. The consequences belong
to the nation, and the nation has been prompt to
recognize them as of incalculable value.
The occupation of Fort Sumter broke UP the
well-concciyed plans OF the conspirators, and
scattered them to the winds. 1t rendered an
entire change of their programme necessary. Al.
that they have undertaken since has been
costly and meaningless abortion. 1t drove igno-
mnously from the Cabinet the powerful con-
sp.ratOr Who under cover Of his official position,
Lad long been secretly giving momentum to the
black scheme Of tTeasOD-uncOyered treaty he
Lad secretly made with the traitors-emancipate
the President from the fatal influences which
were fast preciptating even him into the com
mon infamy-and introduced him to the direct
counsel and control of men in whom the country
has abiding confidence What wholesome results
have quickly followed from this change, the
people see and cheerfully acknowledge. New
confidence inygor0tes all the channels of bust
ness. The advancing treason has found its inso-
lent progress suddenly checked, ts councils dis
organized its objects ioiltd. 1t stands hesitating
and cOnfounded. During this fortunate pause,
the half disorganized Government is fast recoy-
cring its ancient equilibrium. 1t bridges over
the anxious interval between the expiration of a
long doubtful Administration, and the advent of
another at whose Inauguration oil doubt will
vanish. These important advantages are legtl-
mate fruits of the mastery movement Of Major
Anderson. He probably ioresaw them all. But
whether foreseeiDg them or not, it would be
difficult TO oyerestimate the value of his services
TO the Union. The extension of time he has
gained for us may yet be found to have healing
On its wings.