The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-11-15
The Blow In South Cnrol:na and Its
C0nseUuepsTes

Consequences.
The achievement of our navy in the waters Of
Port Royal Of which we gave lufl and authentic
accounts yesterday, only sustains the prestige
which that arm of the public service has won
in two wars with foreign foe; and it IS an ad
monitor 10 that very Power that it cannot with
impunity triile with the rights and interests Of
the American republic, or coverily aid and
abct IFS Acknowledgement, as it did In the case Of
the republic Of France. With all the vaunts
about its wooden walls," they have accom-
pllshed nothing in recent years to compare with
the brilliant capture of Forts Walker and Beau
regard, after q four hours bombardment, By
Commodore Dupont. In the Crimean war they
achieved literally nothing against the forts.
The works at kinburn were carried but it was
the feat not Of British "wooden walls" but of
French "ironsides ron-clad gunboats
by the use OF the same kind Of boats, which are
now in the course Of construction by order
OF our government the stone forts at
Charleston can be easily reduced, IT, indeed,
that doomed city does not fall very soon by
land assault on its rear. BY reference to the
Message of the Governor Of South Carolina
which we publish in another column to-lay-it
will be seen that Charleston is heipless-ninc-
teen thousand of the twenty-five thousand men
the State was able to raise being engaged in
the defence Of Eastern Virginia, and only three
thousand demoralizcd troops being left for the
defence Of the great commercial capital of
South Carolina. 1t only needs rapid advance
Of ten thousand men to capture it almost with
ont struggle.
Too much praise cannot be bestowed upon
Commodore Dupont for the mastery manner in
which he gained possession Of so important a
foothold in the Palmetto State whence the
whole rebellion sprang. If the blow is follow
ed up with promptitude and vigor, the most
momcntous results may be achieved Nor is
the commander Of the land force in the expe-
diton less entitled to commentator for his ad-
mlrab!e proclamation-th best that has been
issued since the war began. How remarkably
does it contrast with the foolish edict of
Fremont? Respect for the Just rights
of the people Of South Carolina, due regard
for constitutional obligations, and total ig-
noring Of the negro question, Of which others
have made such stumbling block and q rock
of offence are the distinguishing features which
characterized. The President and the War and
Navy Departments deserve the highest credit,
no less for the inspiration of (which General Sher-
mans proclamation bears evidence than for
the complete success of the expedition. He
announces to the people that he comes among
them not as an enemy but friend, if they will
submit to the constitution and the supreme
laws of the land. But, on the other hand. he de-
cares his determination to maintain the authori-.
ty of the federal Union at oil hazards. This is
the true course.
Now that a lodgment Of troops has been Of
fected in South Carolina, and that our govern
ment IS in secure possession of the finest harbor
OF that State, it ought Immediately to be made
base Of operations against Charleston and
Columbia, Savannah and Augusta, and the
whole interior Of South Carolina and Georgia
To this end achievements ought to be forward
ed Immediately to Port Royal; and other cxpedi-
tons ought to be sent forward without delay to
OTHER Southern ports before the cotton States
have time to rally under the staggering blow
they have just received. Fifteen thousand men
can hold the captured harbor against any force
which may be brought against it. George
town, Brunswick, Fernandina, Pensacola,
Mobile, New Orleans and Galveston ought to be
seized at once and garrisoned; and from each
of these points columns ought to be marched
into the interior of the country, so as to form
junction with each other, and with column
mo from, L al ~,
land Gap and Tennessee and another led down
the Mississippi by General Halleck By this
combination Of operations by land and water
the instruction would be completely crushed
by the Fourth Of July, if not long before A
tedious war viii not suit the temper or the nte-
rests of the American people 1t must be fin
ished at once. Let the force of the army be
raised to seven or eight hundred thousand--wc
have plenty of men--and let five hundred ships.
with G0,000 mariners, be fitted out-we have
the vessels, the sailors and the money. Let
short work, therefore, be made of the rebellion.
And when this is accomplished, and domestic
peace Is restored from the Susquehanna and The
Ohio to the Rio Grande, then we shall settle
accounts with England, to whose Vaccinations
we are indebted for our troubles, who has indi-
rcctly favored the rebels and who has sent
out fleets to our coast to threaten and
embarrass; with Canada, who has taken
a mean advantage of our civil war to insult us
through her press and her orators even
to the extent Of talking of the annexa-
ton of Maine, as if our government were like
a sick man, whose effects were all to be divided
by his relations after death. Nor shall we for
get what we owe to Spain fof her audacious
seizure Of the republic of st. Domingo, and the
expedition she is sending out against the repub-
lie of MeXico-measures affecting the destiny Of
the United States and the stability OF democratic
institutions on this continent The republic
hopes ere long to be able to pay off old scores,
and to open new leaf in It's ledger for the
benefit of all whom it may concern.
The MILITARY COMMANDERS OF THE GREAT
ExPEplrIoN.-With the characteristic modesty
Of brave man, General Sherman speaks of
himself as only a spectator during the Port