New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-01-01


Foster were completed, he reported the fact to
Major Anderson. Without any orders whatever,
or any suggestions whatever, from the President,
the Secretary of War, or the Conmander-in-
Chief, Major Anderson, looking upon his position
from an exclusively military point of view, seeing
the weakness of Fort Moultrie and the strength
of Fort Sumter, did precisely that thing which,
as q military man, he was compelled TO do, and
which he could not avoid doing without INJECTING
stain upon his military reputation. He left the
weaker for the stronger position. Az military
act, it's propriety admits of not tie slightest
question among military men. As a political
question, or an act of policy in reference to the
difficulties between South Carolina and the United
States, Mpjor Anderson had nothing TO do with
either, and acted with no reference to- either.
He simply discharged his duty as wise and
gallant soldier.
Mr.. Buchanan in the blindness Of his imbe-
cilty and tressbery, refuses to see this. And be-
has openly condemned the act Of Maj. Anderson
in terms, az know. And he went 80 far as to
call his Cabinet together to see if the salans
officer should not be reprimanded and ordered
back to Fort MouItrie. Long sessions were
held, and the determination of the Cabinet wa
at one time very doubtful. 1t is said that Mr..
Toucey finally held the casting vote. But Of this
do not know. 1t appears to be highly proba-
Bile. Mr.. Black of Pennsylvania, Secretary OF
State; Mr.. Stanton of this city, Attorney Gen.
sral, and Mr.. Holt of Kentucky, Postmaster-
General, were opposed to the incredible PROPOSE
ton. At least one of them threatened instant
resignation if it were executed. The position of
these gentlemen was sustained by the indignant
remonstrance Of men of the most distinguished
character and position addressed personally to
the President with great emphasis. On the other
hand, Messrs. Floyd of Virginia, Secretary OF
War; Thompson of Mississippi, Secretary of the
Interior, and Thomas of Maryland, Secretary Of
the Treasury, are understood to have sustained
the proposition, while Mr.. Toucey of Connects
cut, Secretary of the Navy, hesitated, but finally
went against it. .-
Thus narrowly has the Government escaped
the damnng disgrace of openly captivating to
the reyolutiODists, and treason been prevented
from issuing its proclamation from the Presiden.
tal chair.
The two propositions Of the Committee Of
Thrty-three, over which it has been long labor
ing, are now fairly before the country. In
ITSELF the first proposition is, so far az can
see, unexceptionable The only effect Of the
other, if pressed and contaminated, would seem
to be to break up the Republican party. ana
not going to argue it, for this you viii do your
selves. The obnoxious aspect Of the question Of
admitting Mexico at once as State, while
it ID yet slaveholding Territory, is answered By
saying it nevertheless can be, and viii be, made
Free State The extreme Southern men Of
the Committee oppose it on that ground
There is no Partially here among the Repub-
licans for compromises, and no belief in their
virtue. Yet the embarrassing position Of come Of
the border Slave States is fully recognized, and a.
strong desire exists TO save them from the rising
food Of revolution that threatens to to Nbmerge
them. They are loyal at heart, aud il they could
be cut of and dsengaged from the malicious rev.
olutionists of the Cotton States, do not doubt
that the feelings Of the Republicans would
rompt them to yield almost anything they might
SIX which could be granted honorably. And the
proposition Of the Committee of Thirty.three 10
perpetually secure Slavery in the States from
external molestaton is an earnest of such pur-
pose. and, in this point of view, perhaps a very
proper one to be made even ct this juncture.
But the difficulties of treating their case inde-
pendently of the revolutionists themselves, whose
malevoleDt and traitorous purpose is to psi down
the Government, environs the whsle subject
with the gravest complications. They are
in bad company, and there is danger
that they must suffer in consequence.
1t is impossible, however, to turn Q deaf ear TO
the appeals of the true men of those States, or
to be Indifferent to their fate. But the time seeing
to have come when every Free State and every
Slave State must renewedly choose it's own des-
tiny and work out it's own salvation. The Free
States will certainly stand by the old flag and tho
old Government, ballowed and rendered glorious
by so many memories, endeared by 20 many fond
recollectons, and valued for 90 many Substantial
advantages. 1t does not seem possible that the
border Slave States can think Of doing other-
wise, or of making any attempt to embark in the
suicidal policy into which the Gulf States have
been preciptated by disappointed and arrogant
political leaders. Yet, until the existing seces-
sion epidemic eliminates, there is no telling to
what insane conduct it may lead, even in the
Border Slave States. The power of the Federal
Government will certainly be great enough undec
the new Administration to restrain and cOnstrsr
any of the rebellious States in just what manner
it pleases. And this is most important consid-
GRAFTON that no State should overlook. lisp.