Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-05-07

ANIL TCSSClS VI Ni, NAs 60
miIit.rv supplies, sailed from Northern
norris bound %southwards. Alarmed by. 80
extraordinary O demonstration, the COM
m;ss;oncrs requested the delivery OF an answer
to their official communication OF the la.i
March, and tbereupon received, on Inc eui
April, o reply dated on the 10Th OF the Prev
Gus month, from which it appears that during
the whole interval, whilst the Commissioner
were receiving assurances, Calculated 10 INSPIRE
hope of the success Of their mission, the Secle,
tsry of State and the President OF the onitea
States had already determined to hold no III
tercourse with them whatever to refuse even
to listen to any proposals they had to make
and had proftcd by the delay created by their
own assurances, in order to prepare secretly
the means for effective hostile operations,
That these assurances were given, has been
virtually confessed by the Government OF the
United States bv its sending a messenger 10
Charleston. 10 give notice Of its purpose, to
use force, if opposed in its intention OF sup.
nIyinr Fort Sumter. No more striking proof
Of the absence OF the good faith in the conduct
Of the Government of tho United States to-
wards this Confederacy can be required than
&c contained in the circumstances which ac'
companied this notice. According 10 the
usual course of navigation, the vessels com.
posing the expedition designed for the relief OF
Fort Sumter, might be expected to reach
Charleston harbor on the 9th OF April yet,
with our Commissioners actually in Washing
ton let, nee under assurances that notice
should bc given Of any military movement tho
notice was not addressed 10 them, but a mes
scnger was sent to Charleston TO give The no.
tice TO the Governor Of South Carolina, and
the notice was so given at IL late hour on the
sth April, the eve Of the very day on which
the fleet might lie expected TO arrive. That
this manauvre failed in its purpose was not
the fault OF those who contrivcd it. a heavy
tempest DELAYED the arrival Of the expedition.
and cayc time to the commander Of our forces at
Charleston to ask and receive the instructions OF
this government. Even then, under ell the pro-
vocation incident to the c%onte!nptous refusal ~
Listen 10 our Commissioners, and the tortuous
course Of the Government OF tine United STATES,
was sincerely anxious 70 avoid the ettuslon OF
blood, and directed Il proposal to be made to
the commander of Fort Sumter. who had arow-
ed himself to be nearly out Of provisions, that
We would abstain from directing our fire on
Fort Sumter if he would promise not to open
tire on our forces unless first attacked. This
~uroposal was refused. and the conclusion was
reached that the design OF the United States
was to place the besieging force at Charleston
between the simultaneous fire Of the feet and
the fort. There remained, therefore, no alter
native but to direct that the fort should at
once be reduced. This order was ut once exc.
cuted BIZ General Beauregard, with the skiil
and SUCCESS which were naturally 70 be ex.
Dected from the Hcll.known character Of that
gallant officer; and although the lombard
Incnt lasted but thirty-three hours, our flag
did not waive over its battered walls until after
the appearance of the hostile feet off Charles.
ton. Fortunately, not a life was lost on our
side, and We were gratifed in being spared the
necessity Of = useless etfIsion Of blood by the
prudent caution of the officers who command.
cd the fleet, in abstaining from the evidently
futile effort to enter The harbor for the relief OF
!M.ior Anderson. | refer to the report Of the
Secretary Of War and the papers which &C.
company it for further details Of this brilliant
affair.
In this connection | cannot refrain from 4
well.deseryed tribute to the noble State, the
eminent soldierly qualities Of whose people
were so conSpicuously displayed in the port Of
Charleston. For months they had been irrits-
ted by the spectacle OF q fortress held within
tkeir principal harbor, az Z standing menace
ueaias: their peace and independence. Built
in Fart with their own money, It's custody con.
liIed with their own consent to all agent who
held no mower over them other than such as
they had themselves delegated for their own
benefit, intended to be used by that agent for
their own protection against foreign attack,
they saw it held with persistent t~enacity as a
means of offence against them by the very gov
eminent which they had established for their
protection. They had belcaguered it for
inenths-lelt entire confidence in their power
to capture it-yet yielded to the requirements
Of discipline, curbed their lmpatience, submit
ted without complaint to the unaccustOmcd
hardships, lebors and prirations Of a protractcd
siege; end when Mt length their patience was
rewarded by the signal for attack, and success
had crowned their stead. ard gallant conduct.
even in the very moment Of triumph, they
cvinced a chivalrous regard fo- the feelings of
the brave but unfortunate officer who had been
compelled to lower bis flag. Ali manifestations
Of esultatioa we're checked in his presence.
Their commanding general, with their cordial
approval. and the consent of his government,
refra;neI from imposing any terms that could
wound the sensibilities of the commander Of
the fort. lie vas permitted to retire with the
IiOnors OF war-to salute his flag, to depart
freely with all his command, and was escorted
to the vessel in which he embarked, with the
highest marks of respect from those against
whom bis guns had beer so recently directed.
Not only does every event connected with the
siege reflect the highest honor on South Caro-
lima, but the for5earance Of her people and Of
this government, from making any harsh use
Of a victory obtained under circumstances of
such peculiar prnvocation, attest to the fullest
extent the absence Of any purpose beyond Sc
curing their own tranquility, and the sincere
desire to avoid the calamities of war.
Scarcely had the President Of the United
States received intelligence OF the failure of the
scheme which he had devised for the re-
enforcement Of Fort Sumter, when be issued
the declaration of war against this Conlederacy
Which has prompted me to convoke you. In
this extraordinary production, that high func-
tionary affects tntAl ignorance OF the existence
0! nm independent Government, which, posscs-
sing the entire md enthusiastic devotion Of its
people, is exercising its functions without
question ever seven sovereign States-over
more than i've millions Of people-and
over Il territory whose area 9xceedS nall
u million Of square miles. He terms So
ycreign States combinations too powerful
to be suppressed by the ordinary course Of
judicial proceedings, or by the powers vested
in the marshuls by law" He calls for an army
of seventy.fve thousand men 10 act As a pose
eomttutss in aid Of the process Of the courts
of justice in States where no courts exist
whose mandates and DEGREES are not cheer
fully obeyed and respected by a willing
people. He avows that The first service to be
assigned to tine forces called out" will be, not
to execute the process Of courts, but to cap
ture forts and s~trongholds situated within the
admitted limits Of this Confederacy. and garri-
sored by It's troops; and declares that this
intended ito maintain the perpctuily
Of popular government" lie conclude, by
commanding 1.-THE persons composing the
combinations aforesaid" TO wit: the five
millions of inhabitants Of these States. ITO