Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-03-15

1t is generally believed ia Washington that
orders have been given for the evacuation OF
Fort Sumter. IL is said that Major Anderson
has provisions only for a few days, and Gen.
Scott SAYS that it would take 10000 men to
reinforce the Fort. This is a terrible state of
affairs, and the administration of Mr.. Bu-
ehanan win be held responsible. The n. Y
Tribune on this subject says:
FORT sUMTER.
If, asis predicted with some confidence by our
Washington correspondents, Fort Sumter is to
be evacuated, no doubt the humiliation will be
great, and the order for such movement will
be given by the Government with regret quite
equal 10 that with which the people will receive
the tidines But let it be borne in min6 that
this humiliation cones, if it must come, not from
any negligence or ftabieuess of the present ad-
ministratioD, that it is not an evidence of a re-
treat from we'll defined and strong position:
that it is concession neither to the Reble pow
CT of the South nor to the tmid expostulatlons
os the Few in the North whose eounsels are
weakness; but that il is one of the last bitter
drops in the cup left in our hands by the Gov
ernment which has SO long weighed Us down,
and which has now hardly passed out Of our
sight. The evil which Administrations, as we'll
as men, do, lives after them, aud we must ex
pect 10 feel the curse. The duplicitg, the mean
scheming, the iueonceivable baseness which
have brought us to the present complication
of our national affairs cannot lose their poison
at once.
The people will be prepared, if this withdraw
al OF troops takes place, for yell OF exultatlon
from every traitor in the land, for taunts and
swelling self-ecDgra from The men who
have labored more earnestly than any others
for the destruction of the Union by crying out
for concessions and compromises; bat let all re-
member that the strength has Eot yet depart
ed from our flag, and that this movement may
be only as the crouch which is to precede the
decisive leap. No matter if the treason which
has woven around US its toils compes step
which no one wishes to take no matter if Re-
bellOn seems to have advanced its banners, or
it Treason tusns more confidently toward US
its brazen front. The policy of the Government
remains unchanged, and its firm foot is just as
lmmoVable as ever on the Constitution and the
laws
10 case the predicted event happens, the pec-
pie will place on the proper heads the respon
President 10 his retirement with sharper In
digBation than they have before felt; they will,
moreover, ask, with an earnest taess which calls
for reply, why the repeated assurances went
forth from the beieagursd for: that the com
mandiug officer needed no aid, nc supplies, they
will demand from all who have borne part 10
the transactions of the past two months with
relation to this important place strict
count of their stewardship. They will none
tbs less renew their confidence in the power
they have set over them at the National Cap
ital, and will by that confidence strengthen the
hands of the Administration fer vigorous ac-
ton in the future and forward.
The following article, commenting upon the
Inaugural Address of President Liucolp, is
from the Baltimore .f0leacan, Southern Bell
paper, which opposed Mr.. Lincoln and tie Re-
publican party bitterly. 1t nevertheless has
the candor to do justice to the President
THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
The .aoxiety with which the Inaugural Ad~
dress of Mr.. Lincoln has been looked for and
waited for betokens tho public estimation of
the Importance Of the questions which the new
President was expected to discuss Every
separate sentence has been or will be carefully
read wherever there is mao in the country
able to read and able to apprehend the ma :
ture of the crisis that is upon this people
The whole of the Address is taken ~ with
the discussion Of the all-engrossing topics of
the times, and We proceed 10 give our impress
sions of the entire document without attempt
iog, at present, to examine 10 detail the sepa~
rate sections, or to inquire into the possible
constructions that may be placed upon any
individual announcement of doctrine or poll
icy.
The tone of the speech is pacific, that is to
say, Mr.. Lincoln avows his determination 10
preserve peace, SO far as it may be done, in
the performance of his duty as he intends it.
de denies that be has the power to recognize
the right or the fact of secession, and there
fore denies that the liberty to refrain from the
performance of what would be plain obligA,
iious if no such right or fact had been assum-
ed to exist. While, therefore, he announces
bis intention 10 collect the revenue and to
possess aud defend the forts, be distinctly de.
cares that he will do these things 10 such a
manner as 10 avoid the necessity for strife, if
il is possible TO do 80. 1t is perfectly evident
from the whole tenor of bis Address, that be
does no; intend to be the aggressor, if peace
may not be preserved.
10 defence of this position be appeals to The
fact that bis oath of Office leaves him no lati
tude. He sweaIs TO uphold Government
that comes ipto his hands unbrokeu, so far as
the admission of that Government itself is con.
ceraed He processes to find 10 the laws that
are to govern him in his official conduct no
loop-hole through which be can escape from
the pressure of enAciments that have been
lef: for his guidance. Aud, If we understand
bis argument upon this part of the discassion,
be simply asserts his inability to do anything
else than enforce thu laws which s'resclves and