Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-01-17
srar o. 10 w1Il at OIarIsStod.


ton mercury anu the NOuEleIl Vi tne ANth
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The Mercury of Thursday, under the head
of The War Begun, thus describes the
attack on the Star Of the West;
The first gun for the new struggle for inde-
pendence lii struggle there is to be) has been
frpd, and Federal power has received is first
repulse 1.ll a.t 'e.I. a-i ...'i
About seven o'clock, yesterday morning.
our citizens were startled by the firing Of
heavy guns in the diree ion Of SulliYhn,a and
Norris Islands. Il was at once surmised that
the steamship Star Of the West which had
been reported by the special telegraph cor
respondents Of the Mercury, as having left
New, York With reiniorcements and stores for
Major Anderson, had attempted to pass the
battery on Morris Island Our reporters
were Immediately dispatched to the entrance
of the harbor, and, alter visiting Ill the for
lifcations now occupied BY our troops, the
following facts were elected: ~ s-"
Yesterday morning shortly after "reveilie,
the sentries on Morris Island reported a steam
ship standing in for the ship channel. The
long roll was Immediately beat and all the
troops were promptly under arms, Lieutenant
Colonel J. L. Branch, of the Regiment Of
Rifles commanding. 2 These comprised the
YiEilant Rifles, Capt. Tupper, NINETY men;
the German Rihemen, Capt Small, NINETY
hen;) the ZouaYs Cadets Lieut. Chichester,
forty Eve men;l and detachment Of tOrty
from the Citadel Cadet Corps. The last
named body were at once marched to the bat
terry Commanding the ship channel, which at
this point passes within from one half 10
three quarters Of mile Of the beach. At
seven o'clock, when the Star of the West had
reached point within range OF the guns, Ma
ior Stevens fred q shot across her bOws, as a
signal for her to heave to.
After waiting three or four minutes, no
diminution in the speed or change in the
course of the steamer could be noticed. A
moment after the United States flag was run
up at her foremaSt The Star Of the West
continuing thus defanuy to pursue her course
towards Fort Sumter, the order was given to
the men at the Morris Island guns 10 open
FIRE Five rounds were accordingly discharg-
ed in quick succession. Two of these are re-
ported 70 have taken efsct-one forward and
the other abaft the wheel. At the sixth dis
charge the Star OF the West rounded TO and
steered outward toward the bar. At the
same time, the ensign, which was displayed
Immediately after the warning gun, was
lowered. Three more shots were hred-from
Fort Morris and three from Fort Moultrie;
one Of these, it is thought, took effect.
A gentleman on the Island -eports that
after the Star Of the West had cleared the bar
and proceeded considerable distance beyond,
q stesun propeller, oi about three hundred and
my tons barthsn, Joined her, apparently as
tender, and they steamed of together in an
E. n E. direction. gOI aF1o us
Thus terminated the first attempt Of the
Federal Government TO reinforce the great
stronghold of coercion in our hsrbor. The
approach of the Star of the West to Fort
Sumter, taken in connection with the fact
that her clearance was for New Orleans, and
that the troops were smuggled aboard outside
the harbor of New York, proves clearly
enough that the President has CHOSEN the
coercive policy, and that his officials will not
hesitate tn urnn,ath -iiz-s. ..------- n - ---
The same paper thus exults over the deed
above described:
THE NINTH OF JANUARY, 1851.
Great events crowd rapidly one upon
another Three short weeks ago, and the
greatest event of the century upon the West
ern Hemisphere was transacted in Charleston.
The Union Of the States of North America
was dissolved by the action of the State of
South Carolina. 81 y lEl --t
It appears to be a decree of history, that
upon all great revolutions or changes OF the
Government Of a people, the red seal OF blood
must be set Yesterday, the 9th day of Janu-
ary, will be memorable IN history. Powder
has been burnt over the decree OF our State,
timber has been crushed, perhaps blood
spilled. South Carolina will maintain her
liberties and her independence while there is
single shotin her lockers" Blind iufstu-
ton is driving our enemies forward, and
stroke by stroke the liberties of the South are
being welded and cemented together. -o
The expulsion Of the steamer Star of the
West from the Charleston harbor, yesterday
morning, was the opening of the ball Of the
Revolution. We are proud that our harbor
has been so honOred. We are more proud
that the State of South Carolina, so long, so
bitterly, so contemptuously reviled and scoffed
at. above all others, should thus proudly have
thrown back the scof of her enemies. En-
trenched upon her soil, she has spoken from
LuE uOuLu Oh ubE NAuuDuf anu uOb llOul buC
mouths of seurrilous demagoguss, fanatics
and scribblers. COntemned, the s4nctity ,,Of
her waters violated with the hostile purpose
of reinforcing enemies in our harbOr, she has
not hesitated to strike the first blow, full in the
face of her insulter. Let the United States
Government bear, or return at their good
will, the blow still tingling about her ears
the fruit of her own bandit temerity. We
would not exchange or recall that blow for
millions. It has wiped out a half century of
scorn and outrage. Again SOuth Carolina
may be proud Of her historic fame and an
cestry, without blush upon her cheek for
her own present honor. The naughty echo
cannon has ere this reverberated from Maine
to Texas, through every hamlet Of the North,
and down along the great waters of the
Southwest The decree has gone forth
Upon every acre of the peaceful soil Of the
South, armed men will spring up as the
sound breaks upon their ears; and it will be
found that every word of our insolent foes
has indeed been dragons tooth sOwn for
their destruction. Aud though grizzly and
traitoruus rufians may cry on the dogs Of war,
aed treucherous politicians may lend their aid
| in deceptions, South Carolina will stand under
i IeE owl 4 GLLLlNhso AASST AAASAAAuCA LIN
snarling groWls or assaults of the one, un-
deceived or deferred by the willy Vaccinations
of other. And if that red seal of blood be
still lacking to the parchment Of our liberties,
and blood they want-blood they shall have
and blood enough to stamp it all in red. =
For By the God Of our Fathers, the soil Of
| South Carolina shall be tTeel
A FLATTEEING PICTURE OF TIE PRESIDENT.
The Courier says; lfr
A monkey over an open powder magazine
would represent, With tolerable eKsctness, the
late conduct and present position Of the Presi-
] dent of the once United States.
/ No great confsderacy, or family Of States
was ever before cursed with a President SO
utterly ignorant Of the real character of the
people aud principles be was called on to rule
or direct.
The Charleston Mercury, in an article on
the military 4deisnsss Of the city, says: