New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-03-12


possible to Immediately resnfo, GO the garrison
either with provisions or men, appears 70 nav
been chs occasion Of the expressl. Us OF appre
henson and anxiety that have been he> 'rd.
Mr.. Douglas is quite too nice in bis .caicu'a
tons of supply; which there are various wa.Vs
rating. First, there is what may be termed
full supply, then an economical supply, and lastly,
supply on close allowance. Probably Mr..
Douglass 81 days could be readily extended over
period of couple of months, or even more.
Bat Mr. Douglas is right in saying there are
very serious difficulties in the way of relieving
Major Anderson. The utter pusillanimity OF Dir.
Buchanans Administration in failing to fellow
Gen. SCOTS advice in garrisoniDg all the South
ern forts, months ago, when it could have been
done with ease, has in great measure tied the
hands CT the Government in respect to those for
tifcatiOns.
The 4th Of March found Fort Sumter every
where surrounded by bristling fortiGeations; bat
teries at every point of access to the Harbor of
Charleston, the ship-channe obstructed by sunFen
vessels, and q night and day watch on guard to
prevent the approach Of small craft, steamers, OF
boats, either openly or by stealth, by day or by
night without their being challenged and in
spected.
The difficulties in the way of secret reinforce
ments were thus very great, apparently almost in
suImOuntable, when the new Administration came
into power. II is very natural to ask the qses-
ton, What will be done What can be done in
such case And it is no wonder the inquiry
perplexes the public mind. II would not be
strange il it should perplcx the Administrations
One thing seems clear: ii the fort cannot be
reinforced by sea, nor succorcd by military
force on land before it's supplies are exhausted,
then its garrison will have to be retired in the
end In other words, it will be starved out.
Assuming that resnforcements by sea are imprac
ticable, the question arises, can military force
on land be sent in sufficient numbers, and with
sufficient expedition, to succor the besieged. In
word, can an army be promptly sent 10 that
quarter large enough to invest Charleston, and
engage successfully any force that can be brought
against it. If we had an army already raised
and disciplined, it could be done. But we have
none. And armies are not created nor moved in
a day. 1t is a physical impossibility to raise an
army, discipline, arm and provision it, within
the time when the supplies of Fort Sumter viii
be entirely exhausted.
Such are the naked facts of the case, which
everybody can see and appreciate; and they con-
stitute the problem with which the new Admin
istration has to deal
have expressed the opinion heretofore that if
South Carolina ever got possession Of Fort Sum
ter, il would be by starving the garrison into
surrender. have given this as the opinion of
high military authorities. For it is a military
question entirely and military men alone are
competent Judges in the case No such man of
any standing has ever believed Sumter would be
attacked, unless in some frenzy Of folly, which
would result in defeat and discontinue 10 the
assailirg party. Raw troops are not Supposed TO
be capable of taking such fortress by storm,
a. the South Carolina boys proposed. They have,
however, been allowed to have their head, and
work of their surplus steam by tremendous. mill
tary preparations, marches and countermarches,
and proflise iahgucs. They have been allowed
10 imagine the leaders were only waiting to get
things All ready, when they would be permitted
10 60 in. While the fact has been, and now IT,
that no man OF good military judgment has ever
counseed anything of the sort, but, on the con
trnry. all have condemned the threatened at
tempt And no man more decidedly than jeff.
Davis himself. Since the Montgomery Conyen.
ton assembled, therefore, the conclusions OF the
wise heads have been gradually finding vent,
until now the confession is quite open that South
Carolina has saved her point OF honor by the i'm
Incnsc fuss she has made and to the sages of
Montgomery is RENTED the responsibility of
further delay. Their commanding General has
visited Charleston, and is reported to have Orac-
ulary declared that the reduction of Sumter is
merely work of time. Which, being inter-
preted, means that il must be starved out.
And this is the whole OF the Fort Sumter
case. There will be no attack and no fight |
there, after all the preparation, all the vast eS-
pendture for troops and preaching batteries, on
the land and On the water, all the threats, and
all the swearing determination to attack and cap
ture the fort at whatever cost South Carolina
has rushed ahead and incurred debt Of round
million. with headlOng impetuOsity character
istic of her theatrical people, and this is the
chief result of her demonstrations. The attack
OF the fort will BE- abandoned, and time allowed /
to do its work with the garrison, uDees it shall /
be- meantime in some WAY relieved. }. :. 4.
IMPORTANT IRON CHARLESTON.
TuE FAMOUS FLOATING BATTERY DEAD FAIL !
uEl.
I,