Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-04-16
THE FIRST GUN.

Ifthe bombarding Of Fort Sumter be the out
break Of deploTsble war, the responsibility for
the act, and FOR al it's consequences, belongs,
beyond a question, to the Government at
Washington.
The ofieial dispatches published in this
paper last evening expose the authority under
which Gen. Beauregsrd acted, and the grounds
for the decision Of the Government for ordering
the FIRE to be opened. This act Of visor hsd
bean made necessary by the periidv OF The Lin
coin Cabinst. They had hello the most eoncil-
istory language to The Southern Commission
ers. They bad protested their disinciination
TO commence hostiiities, and given pledge after
pledge TO s0lieitOus inquirers that thew would
abstain from everything likely to hiring on a
collision. They would not reinforce the forts
nor change the status Of the question by nev
military movements against the South. They
csused il 70 be understood abroad that the
evacuation Of Fort Sumter was already deci-
dsd upon, and their organs OF public opinion
were induced elaborstsy to defend it, az de-
creed BY military necessity. They told all
comers that there was to be peace: that If
here was not peace, Il should be no fault OF
theirs, for nothing would be done to increase
southern irritation. Included in these pledges
was the implied understanding, and intended
to be distinctly implied, if it were not. as we
suppose it to have been, more than once dis
tinctly expressed, that the southern forts were
not to be in any manner reinforced without
previous. timely, distinct notice that peace
policy vas 10 be abandoned for one Of force.
All this time the Cabinet were secretly pre-
pairing for force, were deceiving and design
ing 70 deceive the South, as it is sometimes
iustifsbe to deceive an open enemy in a case
Of declared war and they were using for thar
purpose means which, in open war, are left to
the mana gemen' Of the tools who undertake
mean Offices for hire, with the risk OF Infamous
punishment. With words Of peace, they OBJ
Z tsined admission into The forts for spies. who
/ betrayed tbe confidence reposed in their honor,
! and, with the pledge that bis purpose was ns-
I cifc, arranged there plot for the introduction
/ Of armed succor. 10 time Of war, the agent
OF such scheme would be subject, il detected.
/ 10 the fate Of Andre. L adds 70 The shame of
/ the attempt, that the relations OF the Go-ern-
! ments rested on mutual professions OF the de-
l sire to avoid collision, and maintain peace
/ and thus, by removing The formal risk Of pun
ishment under the laws Of war, imposed an
I additional obligation upoa the conduct Of men
/ Of honor The betrayal Of such a trust Is the
| culminstion Of a long course Of medi ated du-
| piicity In 'he Cabinet at Washington, and is
ample Justification FOR 10 longer irustibg either
! 70 their sense Of hon or the sincerity OF snv
/ professions they may make If they desire 70
] adjust the pending controversies in any other
/ way bat by an issue Of force. They NAV dis
/ sembls and iemporize, but here is no security
/ hereafter but in treating them az meaning al
ways, whenever they can fad the means, ard
] wherever they can discover a place 10 attack
I 70 pursue the purpose Of recovering the Con-
! fedsrate States BY force.
However we may depl0re the outbreak Of
/ hostilities-becsuBe no man can tell bow widely
they may extend, and how long they may last,
/ to tbe scourge Of the people OF both Govern
( ments-a candid world will not fail to pro.
nounce judgement that the necessity was in.
I perious. and made 50 BY the detected, and hap
I PLY bafled, inirigues Of faithless Executive
And il viii also bear witness to the human
fly and forbsarance with which this act wal
approached BY the officers Of the Confederat,
I States.
Here terminates, in a disTsceful exposure
The iuggle with which the Lincoln Cabine
have been praeticingfo deceive the public FOL
the last six weeks. From the first promuiga
tion, IN the ambiguous inaugural Of the Presi
dent, down to the recent protestatisns Of hi
smooth Secre' sry Of State to solieRous Virgin
lans, the policy has been ine promises IN ever
form to be that of peace, and eredulous peopi
put the Interpretation Of taeir own wishes upo
il Bat il always meant peace, on eondjtio
.hat the Federal Government should not be on
posed Peace Il was, provided the aggsessio
did not eons this side, and Il ls construed nov