The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1861-07-12
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..

the called ION oi the 81. S. Congress
by Pre dent Lincoln:
40 tHe beginning Of tho present Adj
miuilalon ibe Federal Government was
Iound suspended in several Of the States,
except III regard 70 IFS postal functions
The national property 10 those States, ex
eept Forts Piekana Taylor Jefferson and
sumter, had been seized and put In an
offensive position; other forts had been
built. armies organized and being orraniz-
ed, which were ayowelly hostile to the
Federal Government The remaining
orts in the States were either beseged or
menlced a disproportionate amount Of
arms and munitions Of war had III some
manner found their way into tie rebelli-
Gus States the accnmulations Of the ma
t.ona revenues within the rebel borders
had been seized. The Federal navy was
scattered, and the Federal army and navy
officers had resigned in great numbers. Or
dinances declaring separation had passed.
These States, under the title Of Con.
fcderate7, were applying to foreign powers
Tor recognition and assistance.
The incoming Administration believed
It to be It's imperative duty to prevent
Ihe threatened dismemberment OF the
Union.
A choice of meaus beiag indispensable,
the policy chosen, as indicated in the in.
mgural address Of the Executive, was the
exhaustion Of all peaceful measures be
lore a resort to coercion, the Govern
ment seeking only to hold the public
places and properly, and the unresisted
collection of the pyenues, relying upon
time, discussion, and the ballot box for
the rest, and promising, in the meantime
a continuance Of the mails. Everything
was foreborne, compatible with the keep
ing Of the Government on foot.
On the 4th Of March, a letter was re-
ceiyed from Mai Anderson, in command
At Fort Sumter, tint the place could not
be held. After consultation, Gen. Scott
conceded with tile Administration that
the force at the disposal of the govern
ment was not adequate to the relief OF
Fort Sumter, without immediate yictual-
ing The Administration duty was thus
reduced TO the tafe Withdrawal Of the
garrison at that place 1t was believed,
however, that the abandonment of Fort
Sumter would be utterly ruinous-that
such an action would be misunderstood,
dscouragng to tie friends of the Union,
smboldening ruiuous enemies, and en-.
couragjng the Confederate recognition
abroad-In fact, causing national destruc
t ton.
This course WIS unbelievable. Previous
to starvation at Sumter, Fort Pickeu.
6 might be reinfotced, thus indicating tht
j Administrations policy, and preparing
D The public mind for the evacuation OF For
{ sumter as a military necessity. ORDER
T we're Immediately issued for the reinforce
ment Of Fort Ptckens it being impossible
to send these orders by land, they were
. sent by seattle first return to the orde
: being received one week before the fall o
Fort Sumter showing that the Brooklyn
acting under Buchanon's quasi armistice
refused to land troops for the reinforce
! ment Of Fort Piokens before the crisis wa
q reached AZ Fort Sumter.
70 prevent the evacuation Of Sumter
before the reinforcement Of Fort Piokens
tho Government planned an expedition
Ia yaL4hl,ssagfues ni4shdQvsfs.HSsd .GGsrl2d
4 eencies required the contamination o
! this plan, and Gov. Pickens, Of Soutl
4 Carolina, was notified that if the victual
+. ing was not resisted, no attempt would b
IF made to throw in men, arms, or amuni
1t ton without previous notice.
r. The tort was taken without waiting 10
y the victualug expedition thus the at
VI tack on Sumter was in no sense an act o
q selfdelense. The assailants knew that il
n no event could Sumter be miscbieyous
S and were notified that the feeding Q
re hungry men was the only object that tn
al Government had in view, wishing only t.
~ maintain nominal possession Of the font
~ thus preserving the Union from dissolu
y ton, and trusting to time, discussion ant
= the ballot. box for final adjustment c
sd the difficulties.
The assailing Of the fort had as its oil
% ect the driving out of all visible author
- ty and forcing immediate dissolution
at This tho executive understood, and hay
or ing his inaugural declared to the Soutl
Oh that it could have no conflict without be
,s ing the aggre'sors, he took pains to kee
m. this declaration good in the circumstance
lis surrounding tne Sumter affair. Then an
he there the Conlederates begin the conflict
by which they have forced upon the cour
n try the destructive issue Of immedlat
ad dissolution, or blood, embracing NOR
les than ever the fate of the Union.
re- solves the question whether people
~ government can maintain the integrity {
= MS territory against domestic foes wh'
a' Their individuals, too few to control tn
WI Administration by organic law, can brea
!, up the Government, thus ending free GOV
" eminent on the earth.
1t forces this question upon us MI:
,n the Government be too strong for tn
of peoples liberty, or too weak to mantal
vs its own exs ence No choice was lei
DID but to call ont the war power OF the Coz
ng eminent to resist the force employed tc
"a. its destruction. The response to the ca
I'M surpassed the most sanguine expectation
to of the Admin tration DelaTare alone
IN however, of the slave States responding
A few slave State regiment have bee
he raised by individual enterprise, and az
be cepted.
leg The border States were moi uniform /
Ia action. The course taken by Virgini
IN was the most remarkable ami importan
~ The State Convention, called to conside
"a "a this question was in Session when tn
u. AZ news Of the fall of Fort Sumter was re
~. ceived, with a large Union majority, whic
en- then went over and carried the State on
Nv of the Union.
d. The State made extensive military pr,
parations, seized upon Fede;al property
received large bodies of Contederat
troops within her borders, entered ire,
ty with the Confcderates, and sent repr,
"a sentatiyes to the Confederate Councill
~. and even permitted the inshrrectionar
.. Government to be transferred to Vii
p" o;p;,ts cspitol