The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-03-14
FORT SUMTER.


n messenger sent TO Charleston
WAsHINGroN, March 13.-Commissioners For
syth and Crawford have received such assurances
from high sources of the pacific intentions of the
Administration in reference to the Southern forts
that at present they will make no official demands.
Pending the movements looking to the evacuation
OF Fort Sumter, they will remain quiet 1t is said
that their instructions contemplate disregard of
forms and etiquette in the attainment of results.
A special messenger left here yesterday for Fort
Sumter.
From The Neo York Times Special DespatchI
WASHINGTON, March l2.-The impression prevails
here that the Cabinet to-day decided on the issue
OF an order for the evacuation of Fort Sumter
although, Oft course, nothing official is known on
the subject. The best evidences to which access
can be obtained lead me to believe it true, 1t is
generally conceded among military men here of
longest experience, that Fort Sumter cannot be
reinforced without great loss of life and the expen-
dture of millions of money In this opinion, Cen
Scott and Secretary Cameron fully concur
1t is understood that the President and
Secretary Chase have been strongly -opposed
to abandoning the post, and they are con-
stantiy receiving remOnstrances from Northern
radicals against the evacuation. Some of these
even go SO far as to threaten political retributon
ana the destruction of the party. Several letters
and papers with marked articles upon the subject
have been received by the President and Cabinet.
All this, however, will have no effect upon the set
tied policy of the Administration, which have
the strongest reasons for believing is to avoid anv
collision at Charleston. Forts Pickens and McRea
will not be disturbed, however, at present as it is
deemed necessary to have forces along the coast in
case of an emergency.
Rumors about the evacuation OF Fort Sumter are
at least premature. No such orders have vet been
! given, but nearly all consider it inevitable
nv Especial Despatch to the Nelc York Tribune
WASHINGTON, March l2.-The withdrawal Of the
troops from Fort Sumter still engrosses attention
here and though the actual order for that purpose
may not have been issued, it is morally determined
| upon, and was Immediately after Major Anderson's
last despatch, representing the condition of his
| supplies, which have been necessarily diminishing
! since the military operations against him com
! menced.
| Public opinion is fast settling down to the i'm
! perative necessity of step which could not be
avoided by any foresight, expedient or policy O.
| this administration. When it was practicable ia
/ reinforce Major Anderson, Mr.. Buchanan positive
ly refused to let the order be issued although Gen.
eral Scott had organized expedition, and officers
were ready and anxious to make the attempt With
! the limited means at tie command of the
! President, it cannot be rsked without immense
sacrltce OF life, and the probability off mortifying
failure which would be disastrous and humliating
From the Nel0 FORK Herald
am able to state positively, on the contrary,
that the abandonment Of Fort Sumter has Jee, deter,
mined upon By the President and his Cabinet An
order to that effect has, however, not yet been is
! sued and may not be for some davs The cause of
| the delay is not want of resolution but simply a
desire to prepare the Northern mind better for the
| now inevitable emergency. This is the case in a
nutshell. Both Gen. Scott and Gen. Wool have
! given, upon request, their opinion advising an
| evacuation.
The excitement and indignation of the majority
of the Republicans at the humiiato On in store for
them continues to be immense. The hotel parlors
and halls are pregnant with their curses But as
pgt hnya fo-,
their wrath will doubtless subside in a few DAYS
| Ben. Wade is said to do as much as anybody in.the
swearing line
Strange as it may sound, it is now positively
| known that Secretary Chase unexpectedly came
| out advocating the evacuation in the last Cabinet
meeting, and that Messrs Cameron and Blair were
| most reluctant to assent. Mr.. Chase is presumed
to have been influenced by New York fnanciers.
The case OF Fort Sumter only requiring immedi
ate action, nothing definite has been decided in re
ference to the other Southern posts. With the
! precedent thus established, however, their surren
der will probably be only a question of time.
From the Philadelphia In9,IrerI
The Cabinet have not yet announced their con
| clusions on the statement of General Scott, tha
the evacuation of Fort Sumter is a matter of mill
| tary necessity
This statement of the hero of Mexico is founded
upon an elaborate report Of General Totten, Chic
| Engineer of the Engineering Bureau, to the elec
| that regular series of well constructed fortifica
| tions have been erected around Fort Sumter com
would be required to silence their fire, if vessel
with renorcements were sent in the harbor
At the same time, Captain Ward, of the Navy
who has made special examination of the circum
stances, reports that it would be impossible to de
liver supplies by water, without considerable ac
| compartment of war vessels, to keep up a combined
| attack upon the hostile forts, while steamer OF
tug should be making its way to the garrison.
But the execution of either plan would require
more time for the preparation of it than now re
| mains, before Anderson and his little guard woulc
be completely short of provisions. Buchanan pro
crastinaed in his infamous and cowardly policy
until the stores are running within a few days o
| entire exhaustion.
WASHINGTON RUMORS.
| From tie Washington Cor. Of the Northern Journals
REFUSAL OF THE ADMINISTRATION TO RECEIVE THF
| SOUTHERN COMMISSIONERS,
Yesterday Mr.. Seward informed the Southern
Commissioners that he would see and confer will
them, and was glad of the opportunity, and that b,
would inform them this morning of the time apC
| place of interview. This morning he addressed
them briefly written communication, stating thai
upon reflection, and for political considerations h
| must decline to see them. 1t appears that in tn,
meantime he had conferred with the Cabinet upol
the subject, and that they had changed their pol
icy.
The Commissioners will now address an officia
ana formal communication to Secretary Seward
setting forth the character and purpose of the
mission. 1t is believed that this change of policy
on the part of Mr. Lincoln, in declining to receive
them grows out ofthe fact that he has got to aban
don Fort Sumter, and that is as much as and more
than the Republican party can stand at once.
If the administration abandon Fort Sumter, it by
no means follows that they intend to abandon tht
public property within the limits of the Conieder
ate States They will pursue policy towards then
that will lead to complications and difficulties in
Vulnerable.
HOW TO COLLECT THE REVENUE.
Secretary Cameron is understood to favor tn
policy of collecting the revenue outside the ports
M, hall box-a 1-o,,
upon the officers of the seeding States, and the
have refused to comply. As the Southern Confed
eracy have navy to attack vessels laving outsid
their ports, the revenue, in his opinion, can thu
be collected, and the rebeious States reduce
to allegiance by actual necessity consequent upo
trade.
WHO SHALL HOLD OFFICE IN THE BORDER SLAVE STATES
, Prominent friends Of Mr.. Lincoln's Administrs
lv rsk H. =