Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1861-03-28
WAsHINeroN, March Is. 1851.

WASHINGTON. March Is, 1861.
The President considered it due to that
portion of the Cabinet which dissented
from the policy Of withdrawing Mai. An
derson's command from TT. Sumter to have
the opinions of Gems. Scott and Totten, in
connection with the official data upon
which they were predicated, presented oral
ly before the final order was approved
These distinguished officers were according
ly summoned to attend special Cabinet
Council this morning, which was in session
for over three hours, where all the original
reasons and considerations that induced
them to advise the abandonment Of Fort
Sumter We're submitted, together with such
additional explanations and answers rs
could not have been communicated in their
official report.
No one doubts that military plan may
be devised for reinforcing Fort Sumter, but
the question now before the Administration
is, whether it can be done with the means
at the command of the President, or, if not
whether Major Anderson can hold out I'M
til Congress could be calleI together. 1t
is positively known that the available force
il entirely insufficient, even by stripping
all the forts yet held in..the Southern States,
which, Of course, would be the signal for
their immediate seizure, as soon as such a
purpose became known, and it could not
be concealed. Gov. Pickens would at once
order the daily supplies which Major An
derson now receives cut off. His garrison
could not hold out till Congress assembled,
surprising it to meet at the earliest practi-
cable time. The alternatives, therefore,
are, withdrawal or starvation.
The President and Cabinet feel the seri-
BUSINESS and importance Of this act, and,
therefore, are determined to protect them
selves at every point before taking the ire
vocable step. They will show the country
that it cannot be avoided, and that the
whole responsibility belongs to their pre-
decessors, mo purposely entailed this COM
riication upon them.
Another, and the final Cabinet meeting.
will he held tomorrow at IL o'clock, and,
before it adjourns, the last formality will
doubtless be completed. Every hour of
delay increases the embarrassment and
weakens the position Of the Administration,
by creating the belief that there is seri-
Gus division in its councils, or that the
question really admits of an alternative diff
ferent from that first presented. 1t has
now been one week under consideration,
and been discussed at not less than nine
sttings Of the Cabinet, with all the infor-
nation in possession Of the Government or
IN any way attainable.
The suggested operations by sea having
been considered with the fullest facts which
the charts and personal knowledge of Pro-.
Bache and the highest naval authorities
could furnish. The best science in the en-
gineer corps has been called into requisiton.
Superadded to all these, and other sources
Of instruction, the skill and sagacity of Gen.
Scott has been fully invoked. They all
concur in advising the withdrawal Of Maj.
Anderson's command, and il would be pre-
sumptuous to question this julgment on
this strictly military matter.
Upon the data of Maj. Anderson's last
statement to the War Department, his stock
of bread is reduced to fourteen days, and
rec is about twenty-three. With the 9th
er supplies on hand, he might maintain him
self a month.