The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1861-03-16
Evacuation of Fort Sumpter.

lightning, when it was announced that 1t
had been decided in Lincoln's cabinet at
Washington to Withdraw Maj. Anderson
and his gallant little band from Fort sum- :
ter, and surrender that fortress to the Sc
cessiouists 1t was at first pronounced
another Geographic lie; but in a few days
came in such unquestonable
shape, that its truth had 10 be admitted,
along with the other doubiy humiliatins
suggestion, that the policy OF sIr DoUG-
Las viii tie adopted by the administration
with reference to al the southern forts"
The Policy Of Mr. Douglas" Hare
Lincoln and his cabinet 10 policy, that
they must take advice from Mr.. Douglas?
Yes; certain members, az least, OF Mr.
Lincoins cabinet had clIaiked out policy |
1t was, in g word, TO reinforce Anderson ,
at all hazards; also 10 reinforce all the
other southern forts that Wers N danger
of being taken and to retase such as have
bee, surrendered that lay upon the sea
board. This would have produced war,
rs the coercion;sts desired, in thirty days.
Opposed to this, was the policy suggested
by such men as Crittenden, Douglas, John
son, &c; which was, to s i've up at once
such forts az could not be held without
endorsements, and not reinforced with
out fight, and to place others that could
be reinforced and defended without neces-
sarily producing collision in a perfect
state Of defence Both policies were thor
oughly caryassed in cabinet, and the re-
suit is, that a messenger IS sent to Maj.
Anderson, directing him to- Withdraw;
thus evincing that the policy Of Mr
Douglas has been adopted in preference
to TIE other.
The superior wisdom Of this policy over
the other is too palpable to leave room for
debate. Fort Sumrter, for instance, is
said to have but fifteen days provisions
left, which, in an emergency, might be
made to last thirty days. To get q new
supply into the Fort, with reinforcement.
enough 10 meet an assault, would take
ten thousand nen-nore than two-thirds
OF the whole I. s. army. The thing was
GU, OF the question. Dir. Lincoln had NJ
/ choice in the matter. The evacuation O
Fort Sumpter was unavoidable.
Fort Brown on the Rio G2ande, and tn
: military post on Brazos Island, were il
j about the same condition Four or fv
: hundred Texas troops stood ready to "a!
: upon tAem-:t would take a month tim
> and en- army 70 reinforce them; the,
: must be given up too
e IN I'll this business there IS 10 ev;deac
OF a want Of energy or pluck on the pa.
D OF the tie administration. 1t is sirnpl
: yielding 10 the iHexorable necessities c
y the case With all their Wanted back
a bone and sSasger before ,Ir. Lincoln il
auguration, the republican majority il
x both houses Of Congress filled to pass til
e the first bill to enable the President I
= arm or equip man beyond the meagr
e 1900 Of the regular army. They talke
y coercion in true bobad;l style yet the
= action, except in the matter OF votin
a. down all propositions Of concession {
< compromise, was the essence Of procrast
nation and pacifcation. Dir. Lincoln h;
y no choice but TO pursue the policy the
e, inaction imposed upon him.
As to the result Of this policy, which
+, confessedly the very opposite Of what til
high combed republicans expected froi
Mr. Lincolas adnliqistration, We eater,ai
none but favorable auguries the ado
ton o. the peace policy by the admin
iy tration will in month break the lacl
=, bone Of southern secession. The onl
g hope Of the JET Davis government is
y q collision with the Northern State
Such a collision, they think, viii at one
, bring TO their side the border states, wit
n Virginia at the head. But with Virgini
]. and the border states in the old Unto.
d the little republic OF half dozen Of Go
e ton states, with but three or four million
OF people, will be too contemplate to con
K mand the respect OF the civilized worl
t to say nothing Of supporting goyernmel
8. projected on such an expensive scale
10 less than = year the secession drama woul
If lose its novelty, and die out CT itself
That the policy Of Mr.. Douglas won
3e be forced upon the administration by Il
Ia inaction OF the late republican Congress
however, was thing high wrought repu
o licanism seems to have been utterly unpr
= pared for. 1t IS really amusing to see IL
# politicians OF the big and little TiEm
stripe open their eyes at the announc
IS ment OF the evacuation Of Fort Sumpte
T. - Can such things be?' they cry in amaz
ment; and then, when they see the il
x possibility Of escape from such polio
they turn to abusing Buchanan; and fin
ing tina. not he, but the late congress a
really the party to blame, they raise cl
e NOR for an extra session Of Congress. Til
is now the battle cry of the coercionist
- Let Us have an extra session Of Conrre
lie to give the President an army and cloth
him with powers TO execute the laws
in the rebellious states. 1t is very que
tionable, however, whether Mr Linco
Just at present coyets the extra powe,
Al and We hardly think the extra session wi
- be called.
IL The NAVIGATION OF THE NIsslssIPPI.-Tl
al act passed By the Montgomery Conye
a. ton, entitled An act to declare and {
m tabl;sh the free navigation Of the Miss