Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-02-11

Cause OF the Delayed Attncir on Fort sum-
ter-Active Preparations nt Charleston
ImpatieBce Of the Fire-E Eaters-nfajor
AndersOn's Position. Ni
The Charleston rs. o. correspondent Of
the New York Eeening Post writes ON the
Sd instant:
When the demand for the rendition of
Fort Sumter shall be made in the name of a
Southern Confederacy, though as yet con-
sisting but of six States, the Government,
however unwilling to grant it, will be
obliged to do so or accept the alternative of
civil war. That is how we stand at present.
There are reasons within reasons of
course, for this assent to temporary mac
tivity. Some of our cannon on James and
Morris Islands lack gun-carriages, we want
moro ammunition, and the floating battery
is incomplete. l visited il yesterday; Il
promises to be more formidable than | had
anticipted. The taller end, that where the
cannon will be placed, now presents front
of over seventy-five feet in width, while
eight portfolios are prepared for their ac-
commodation. It then rises from the bot
tom to hight of about twenty feet, and is
at least seventy in width from front to rear.
Carpenters are at work on it continually.
Notwithstanding these reasons for hold
ing back the pause offends many, the Rhett-
Mercury party particularly. They would
willingly precipitate matters, in the hope of
securing the adherence and completely Of the
dubious Border States, which they represent
as alternately cajoled and bullied by you
Black Republicans. Secretly, too, they de-
nounce and openly condemn Governor
Pickens, who is reaping plentiful harvest
of the thorns besetting authority. He has
even been waited upon by belligerent
Charlestonians, whom he knows how to an
swer.
The popular feeling, always prone to ex-
treme views in times of revolution, sides
with the Mercury. But for the fact that this
one has been, from the outset, under the con-
troll of authority, Fort Sumter would have
been attacked long ago. The name of it is
beginning to sound ike a reproach in the
ears of the more susceptible and fery-temp.
cred South Carolinians. l heard one, not
two nights ago, declare that he felt his blood
boil whenever he heard it mentioned, that
his State was stultifed, shamed and dis
graced in the eyes of the world as long as
that flag flew there that the tearing it down
might be counted cheap at the cost of 1000
lives, of which his own should be cheerfully
laid down as the foremost. And he unques-
tionably spoke his convictions.
Anderson's PoSidon-Major Anderson is
no doubt perfectly well acquainted with all
that transpires here and at Washington.
He gets his mails regularly, thanks to the
action of the Postmaster General, who, in
the opposite case, would have deprived all
Charleston of them; he is in almost daily
communication with the Governor. | know
nothing reliable Of his obtaining food from
the Charleston markets; were it 30, think
the Mercury (Which yesterday called atten-
ton to the horrible treason involved in 0
lady's smuggling a pound of wax candles
under her crinoline to the beleaguered gar
rison y would have improved the opportu-
nifty. II is now supposed that the Major
will not be re-enforced; that he has written
TO Washington requesting present absti.
nence from all attempts toward it.
The Hdr6or Distractions SWept AtCay
! 1t could be done without much difficulty, in
spite of the batteries on Morris, on James
and Sullivan's Islands, of the watch-boats
rockets and blue-lights which are, each night
ready to start into action upon an alarm o
any attempt to enter the harbor. For, frs
of all, know that the five ships sunk in tht
main channel have entirely disappeared-no
vestige of them remaining. In point o
fact, Charleston harbor can not be blockaded
swift westerly wind will remove any OBJ
structions. The Emily 81. Pierre, drawing
sixteen feet of water, came in with perfec
impunity. Suppose, now, vessel with {
commander determined to avail himself o
this fact by night, steering directly up. Il
the walls of Fort Sumter, or disembarkint
troops by means of boats2 There is ligh
burning nocturnally on the fortress, whicl
we, South Carolinians, are at present unabl
to extinguish.