Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-03-16
The ETacuatIon SfiISor, is;;I,,, t.,.
tFronl tho \. Y. Words

North receive The statement that Fort Snm-
ter will bc evacuated is admirable. Every
cheek tingles with shune for the country.
and yet there is no blind warring against.
necessity. It is taken for granted that
General Scott, and the eminent officers in
counsel with him, would not consent to the
act if there were any other means of sav-
ing tue gallant garrisonh Faith in their
military Judgment and pnrest patriotism
holds in s4eckeye ilppqlse, aud no words
Hre wasted tuhngry clnppr- Ittisin puIi-
mission mi, which the understanding enjoins,
and yet the heart revoltS against, and IL Ia
in howise becoming high spirited and
yet practical people. The sense of hutnil-
tation is unavoidable. Fort Sumter, in
itself, is Of little real consequence to the
sFedcral government. For coercive puruo-I
ses it is useless; for defensive purposes IT
us of no Nccount, for ethere is nothing.
within its range for the federal gov
ernment to defend. IIutsthe nntionnl FAC
is flying there; it has w6yed as tho symb0iI
OF loyalty Ia ie tstce ili s. tsissf reheIlinn:s
for three livelong months 1t has rivetedt(
gaze Of every true American; and every
sentiment of patriotism, every instinct Of
honor, every feeling of pride has been en-
listed for its preservation. That emblem
.of national sovereignty, "the gorgeous en-.
rSA6A VI rue known ana hOnOFen+
throughout the 'tearth;" is now to make
way for nu Odious rag, every shred of
which is dyedin treason. Ofcourse' there
is 0busemeut here; aud although we NAV
say that it comes from the unfaithfrllness
OF tue late administration, for which the
present rules are not ut NIL resnonsibIc
yet It is, the less, a national reproach.
We cOnld have better lost a dozen battles
with foreign foe. 1t would not have slIa.
ken human faith half so much in our ubili-
ty to maintain u governments.
Tie Czar Nicholas pronounced Turkey
ia sick mans" we fear If he were living
now, he would put the United States too
on the sick list. The symptoms for tile
last few months certainly have been all
against us, and anybody might be excnsed
for Imagining that there is an actual dying
out of every element of national vigor.
What has made England the tremendous
power she is? What but the supremacy
of righteous law, and the universal recog-
milton of civil duty. And yet, If we were
to judge from the appearances of the last
four months, law in the United States,
even tho highest, the organic law ITSELF is
bnt the popular passion of the day, and
patriotic duty mere wnntOu caprice. What
has given France her foremost place
among the nations of the continent, If not
the supreme enthusiastic devotionEof every
Frenchman to the land which gave him
birth? And yet tue world sees Americans
shifting the bounds of their country as
they would the hurdles OF n sheep pasture.
We need not wonder that Christendom is
amazed at the apparent extinction of all
national spirit in this once glorious repub-
lie. The uncounted treasOns iof military
and civil officers, and the moral paralysis
OF the government, whose duty It was to-
countcract aud punish them, could not
tail of this effect; aud We may be sure
that this retreat from the harbori of
Charleston, this lowering of the national
flag In tie very face of rebellion, will be
taken as the last confirmation of our hope
less tlGEeneracy. f',.s ~
But it will yet be found that the heart of
tue great majority of the American people
isas capable as ever of genuine patriotic
devotion. The very fact that this apparent
yielding to traitors produces such profound
ctagrin, and'is submitted to only because
the most imperitivc necessity requires it, is
proof positive that the right sort of ma
tIOnal pride yet lives. We may rely upon
it that all that is needed to bring out the
old spirit of loyalty, and revive its lost
glow, is the firm and wise administration
of the Government, by those into whose
charge it has been committed. There must
be no more snccumbinR, even In appear
ance. The consequences tf the unfaith-
fplness of our late rulers will long remain
TO bnrass and embnrr rrass, and will have to
be met by skilful adaptation OF con-
duct TO actual circumstances. But yet
there will Ibe achanee for freshand posi-
tive policy-the Yindieatioa OF luws the
maintenance Of authority, the lIAbitnal
acting with a reference to the unbroken
unity OF the country and the uuq qbated SUI
tionahly it will require timeto compass nil
this; and great prudence, too. Will be me-
CessaTy, in order to avoid civil war, if
possible. The Northerp people, almost to
q mag, and the better pQrtiop Of tie South-
ernipeople, have evinced disposition to
Judge the administrator airlF4b at
,le,lsti with gmueli Teas ttf sectional
yirplenee Lhal might hive seen ekpected.