New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-02-25

eroes TO labor on the harbor defenses. Not only
has Gov. PickeBs given notice by advertisement,
but planters are served with special applications
to send certain proportion of the field hands to
Charleston to labor for the State, together with
provisions to feed them. This is only another
way to force men TO give to the cause. The oc-
casion for this sudden extraordinary demand for
laborers is, the expected reentorcements to be
sent by the Federal Government to Fort Sumter
Every days delay renders the reinforcing of the
Fort more difficult undertaking. Both sides
of the hsrbor, for miles around the mouth, and
up and down the coast, are being fortified with
batteries bearing on the course of vessels intend
! ing to enter. They intend TO be as thorough and
expeditions in their preparations to keep away
reenforcements as they have confessedly been in
making the siege of Fort Sumter successful.
am apprehensiye that the Federal Government is
not fully alive to this subject. Major Anderson,
as l have frequently suggested, and as l am now
able ~ state reliably, has never pretended that,
even under the most favorable circumstances,
with his small garrison, be cOnld make success
full defense for great length Of time, though he
could do 30 for several days, and possibly for an
indefinite period. lie has not desired reinforce
ments, hitherto, unless provisions came at the
! same time 4" except he was attacked" In case
he was attacked he would need them, IN order TO
! make the holding of the Fort certain Since an
! ATTEMPT to reinforce the Fort would bring on an
engagement-open the siege prematurely Tor MN
he has wished to have it deferred till he was
| fully prepared. In such q condition, or any
! thing ike it, he has not found himself I'LL
within the last ten days. Meanwhile
the rebels have perfected corresponding ar
! engagements, so far as such thing 10 possible
not only for making the siege successful, but for
defeating any attempt the Government might
| make for reinforcing Fort Sumter. BY delay
| by preserving the present stains of things as
| Mr.. Buchanan calls it-they have gained every
! thing. and the Federal Government lost in an
| almost corresponding degree. | hope the author.
tiles at Washington, they who have the practical
charge Of this very important matter, understand
well the difficulties that must attend any attempt
/ to reinforce Major Anderson either before or
/ after the siege shall have commenced. Three
weeks ago could have said how, in the Judg-
Inent Of many, the thing could have been done
with little hazard or loss. What then seemed
entirely practicable ,e,ms now altogether dubious.
! More than one who then, on the spot here,
agreed with me in the opinion that the intrOduc-
| ton of requirements all the way by water was
/ entirely practicable are now quite inclined TO
| favor the opinion that il ever Fort sumter is re-
| heyed il must be by troops landed on the coast
miles above and marching to Charleston, lighting
their way, as most likely they would have to.
! Government grayely mistakes if it supposes for
an instant that this matter has not grown 70 the
| full proportions OF real warfare to be treated as
one nation treats another in arms. To proceed
| on any other plan 10 TO fail. In no other way
will South Carolina act and she il now prepared
/ 10 carry on u formidable warfare with the Fed
! eral Government at any and every point. lt Is
| "A trial of strength, rs really 30 as was the late
war between tho United States and Mexico, and
/ the Federal Government should 90 a. earnestly
| about its plans and with az little reservation as
| il did then. Lees than this invites failure and
| Disgrace.
In order 10 give the readers Of The TRIBUNE
correct idea oil the spirit manifested by the
! fr,-eaters--the men in South Carolina who have
/ pushed the Secession movement 10 the point II
! has now reaehed-I hope you will publish the
| letter which send you, written by X. Barnwell
| Rhett to III, Courier from Montgomery, where
he is in the capacity OF representative from this
| State. The failure of the Southern Confederacy
is frankly predicted aud the probabilities of
| counter revolution freely INDUCED in.
! The project is talked by some commercial men
Of forming company to charter steamships for
| establishing direct trade between Liverpool and
! Charleston Ii is argued that the whole South
could be made tributary TO the success of the
enterprise. Should it ever be- attempted, the pro-
iectors viii find that all attempts ~ force CON-
merce by unnatural means into unnatural chan
nels. entail loss and failure. IL is also proposed
TO 20 into the manufacture of everything necessa-
~ in warfare including rfed cannon, and il is
said that this enterprise has considerably pro-
crossed. 1t will be found cheaper to continue to
buy of tbs North as heretofore. Northern capi.
tai, .kill aud mechanics would have to BIZ relied
on in any event.
Three or four young gentlemen have recently
appeared here from New-York and vicinity to
volunteer their services in the rebellion. They
represent that large number are to follow. OF
course, they will want Offices aud good pay,
neither If which can be had just now. The
truth is. South Carolina has officers enough ~
officer al army OF million of men, and the dis
appointments already experienced have caused no
! little trouble
IL ia loubtess true that the Montgomery au-