The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-04-17
From the Charleston Mercury.
Our Washington Correspondence.

remark. For weeks past their proceed,
i"gs, which before were suspicious, have
been Threatening. Long before Mr.. Lin
coin came to Washington II Was clear
enough he bore deadly hatred to the
South. Ills inaugural ought to have dis
PEELED all doubts il the minds of sensible
people that he meant to employ force to
bring back The Confederate States. Il,
was talr and open warning. How il
should ever have been misunderstood I
nuot conceive. That it should be mis-.
represented toy men like Douglas, Seward
and the Bordcr State Umionists is con.
ceivabIe euouE ~. considering their gene,
,ai reluctance to tell the truth on .nv
subject. and especially upon one which il
mas Important for the South to be truly
advised about. Accordingly, these POI
tlclaus have "oried peace when there WAS
no pence" 1t 1t a satisfaction t. cuusid
er nov, when The veil is lifted from Il @
puIppses OF the Administration, tha, the
abe aCd sagagIous head of tue Mon,
g"merN Gorernmcul has not been d.ceiyI
"d .! ineut. and HAT no military lrrpa.
ration, has Oeer omitted winch was caI
ruarrd plac" the Souti IN p..per
rGitiau for defence
Since he 4lh Il March lie Uni,ed
State Govesuneul has pursued pre.;syl,
the policy which night have been expect.
~ hrm Bnct Republicans, Surprising
heir polcy to be war. To maiU,ain a
conti."tlr Texas ~i'h two or three thon-
sand scateret troops, without "a base Of
"perH'ious, sHrroHu 'eu bv hostile com.
mu"Ity, vel, tcIi.lutcJ w.lh fire arms,
vas evidently contrary to y sound policy,
Accordingly the troops waro withdrawn
"s las, ~ p"'orbI", anJ concentrated a,
points ,o'venteut TO the Southern coast.
IL was desirable also II avoid preyipi,
,ating conf. ct before they were ready
for It. Therefore, rumors were frs, start,
ed, and then explicit statements made
by Genera Scot and by members Of the
Cabinet, thai Sumter would be eyacua, ed
NO hus'l" step Was .aEcn at For; Pick
en', aud 1t Was more than limited tha,
there, too, III" garr,s"n would be with
drawn.
The Ministers of the Confederate States
weie rcceI'od with studied civIi,v. inior.
ma. negotiations opened, peaceful assn.
r"nces pr"ti"re.l, every ching done TO make
.hem 'e'ere that n peace policy MAS re.
so'ved on. IL was even stipu ated that
there should be 40 reinforcement OF For,
lick"ns without n previous notice TO the
Commissioners.
In order to regulate the Virginia Com
VenIi"n. communications were kept up
with The dominant party of Union men
III that body. The leaders were skiIfully
played With, and Messrs Summer and
Stuart made to believe they were shaping
nj Richmond the policy Of the Admins
tratlon. la fine, nothing was omitted to
he done which would throw HE South
off ils guard.
But IN the midst OF all this, the Gov
ernment went steadily on to Concentrate
its troops, collect its resources, fit out its
ships, drii! its troops. summon its boards
OF army and navy officers in cuuncil-in
short, to make every preparation for war.
AT first all this was done so quietly. tha,
it hardly provoked attention. But it is
now neariN three weeks since some South
ern men here, watching tie couise of
events, took The alarm, and gave il to the
Southern authorities. The ,ailitarv and
naval movements Of the lasi four DAYS
have pretty much dispeIled AL doub, as
to the course OF the Administration.
J. is possible the blow may be struck
a, Fort Pickens And yet it would be
altogether unsafe to assume that there is
no plan 10 relieve Major Anderson. 1t
has been given out in Republican quar-
tiers, that the thing will be done. Il is
possible that combined movement may
be made by landing hoops and compa
MES OF living artillery to engage the Con
tcderate State batteries in The rear, while
United States vessels press up the chan.
mel 10 Sumter. IL reinforcement be deem.
ed possible, i, will be attempted.
That Fort PIeEehs will he reinforced in
spite Of the pledges given to the contrary
Is most positively stated bv men who have
he means Of getting facts in reliable
manner
Ot course, the excitement and anxiety
in Washington has visib!y inCreased.-
There are very few out spoken Southern
men here, but the community are impress
ed with the belief hat conflict nj sny
point will prrc'pitate the secession Of Vir
eIns, and .eau to movement npon this
city b, the sold,ery OF that State. The
tide of secession is running strongly in
Virginia, ana the 6rSl gun fred 10 all that
ia needed to give shape to the feeling
which already exists.
IL is very probable that the fear Of an
early recognition Of the independence OF
the Confederate States by European pow.
ers, and he prospect Of heavy imports.
tons at the Southern por.s--divertinp
the trade from the Nouh--has has, ened
the proceedings OF the Administration.
SoUTR.