Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-03-20

The surrender of Fort Sumter by the Lincoln
Administration. meets with different. responses
from the Republican press of the Union. Some
denounce it as surrender on the part of the Adj
ministration; others excuse and defend it. For
the benefit of the Republicans of this State, and
in order that they may helr both sides before
making up their minds, we publish a few quota
tons from these papers:
The P.ttsburg Dispatch (irrepre ssibie RePubli-
cam says: t.t .-+
Great surprise and intense Indignation, was
caused in all quarters on Monday, by the dis
patches from Washington announcing that the
Government had determined to surrender Fort
Sumter No matter what the reason assigned
tor the step--whether the seductive persuasions
OF the border slave States, or the absolute I'M
practicability as alleged, of reinforcing III sel-
sOn-the fact is regarded as establishing beyond
a peradventure that our Republican Government
is a interchangeable OF maintaining itself, as it
has proved unable to defend the liberty the prop
erty or the lives of its Northern subjects against
the contemplate slavehOlding minority.
The Lafayette (Indiana) Courier, Republican,
uses this language:
We confess to some degree of disappointment
and humiliation in the contemplation of such a
proceeding on the part of an Executive, who but
a week ago to-day thrilled the great heart OF the
nation with the declaration that TO "hoid and
possess" the Federal property was an imperative
duty. But our faith in the wisdom OF Mr.. Lin
coin and his advisers is unimpared, and ii 1t shall
be their settled policy to abandon the fortIhca-
tons at Charleston and at Pensacola, we shall
believe it all for the best. We shall hold 1t to be
the first duty of patriotism to preserve the Union,
and until every expedient to this end has been ex-
hausied, a brothers hand must not be lmbued III
brothers b God.
The Cincinnati Gasette holds forth thus:
Civil war with all its horrors, would be prefer
able to a Inundated and demoralized Govern
ment: and if the Administration shunld bow be
fore traitors, yielding all they demand, it would
at once lose the confidence and respect OF every
man capable OF distinguishing between manhooG
and imbecIty. We want Government that
will not seek peace at the expense OF everything
that is honorable, or calculated to command the
respect of the world-a Government not aggres-
siye or harsh, but firm and unyieldng IN defend
ing the property of the nation and enforcing the
laws. a Union maintained in any other way
would not be worth having. Peace preserved or
obtained by Welding to the aggressions of rebels,
would be such pelce as might be expected under
areign of anarchy. This is the policy we have
advocated, and this we believe to be the policy OF
the Administrator, and it is certainly the onl,
course that will be sustained by the citizens OF
this country, who are in favor OF the Union with
out conditions.
The Cincinnati Commercial says:
We occupy large portion of our space this
morning with extracts from the New York news
papers, respecting the proposed evacuation Of
Fort Sumter. Ii will be observed that all who
advocate or acquiesce in the policy OF the
Abandonment OF the fort, do so upon the ground
that il is Il military necessity The latest intelli-
gence will be found in our letter, by telegraph,
from Washington, in which it is positively stated
that the thing has been definitely decided upon.
Whenever, ii ever, the thing is done, the iron
will enter the souls of the American people.
There is reason to apprehend, that in addition to
the sense of humiliation which must be general
among the friends of the Government, at home,
the effect abroad will be disastrous. The public
opinion of Europe viii necessarily be that this
Republic is in hopeless state of Generalization
The inexorable military necessity" which is pre-
claimed will be appreciated abroad as comics
sion of the most contemplate weakness on the
part of oar Government; and indeed il would be
troublesome to Indicate to the popular under
standing here, that any other view OF the case IS
tenable There is no Cancellation in the acknowl-
edgment of the necessity Of evacuating the posi-
ton in which the pride of the people is now bound
up. The time for higgling about measures Is
over. and the time for action arrived.
The Chicago Tribune, Intensely irrepressible,)
won't believe the story, and if it is true, thinks
Major Anderson ought to disobey orders! 1t
closes in this vein:
The Cabinet, at our latest dates, had not de
cided, or at least had not made public, what line
OF policy would be pursued. Let us hope, how
ever, that Fort Sumter will be held by Major
Anderson, and that both provisions and men will
be sent to him, leaving the responsibility for the
upon those who may oppose that
action.
Our Washington correspondent gives the New
York TriJane's opinion on the matter. The
New York World, Republican, says:
This will never do is the spontaneous ex-
clamation OF nine tcnths ofthe Northern people,as
it is bruited abroad that the Administration intends
to give orders for the withdrawal of Major Ander-
sons command from Fort Sumter. With what
face can we devour the laudations which we so
freely bestowed on that gallant officer when he
electrified the country by planting himself in that
stronghold What will become of the pride, the
pelns, the exultation, the TIE Deum LaudGmus,
which followed the taking possession of that fort
tcittout orders, when the first important event un
der the new Administration is its evacuation in
consequence of orders? fthe currentreport shall
prove to be we'll founded, and the Administration
has really determined to give an order so humi-
ating, we are bound to believe that there are
good reasons for proceeding so unexpected. and
to every man OF SPIRIT so distasteful 1t is difficult
to reason on a subject that stirs the Blood but,
ii we can be calm enough 70 reason, it il doubt
less our duty to look at it from the same point of
view under which it presents itself to the men
who are clothed with the responsibility of power
On the other hand, the New York Times JUST
fies the Administration thus:
There is-every reason to believe that an as
sauit would instantly follow the announcement
that the garrison is not to be withdrawn. The
batteries including the floating monster whose
efficacy is so confidently reckOned upon by the
engineers who constructed it, await only the word
of command to pour their fire into the devoted
fort. Gen. Eeauresard, the commander just Sc
lected TO conduct the assault, is an accomplished
and experienced officer, who has seen much
tive service, and who, after thorough inSpec-
ton OF the defences and mems OF attack. declares
the post ''can be carried in forty-eight hours"
In these circumstances, what is the duty Of the
Government at Washington Shall it pesist in
the attempt to retain a position, the untenable
ness of which is demonstrated by every military
adviser. by every fact within its knowledge, and
and by the unwilling testimony of the comman-
der himself In this utterly hopeless enterprise
shall it pre-ip.tate civil conflict, the deplordble
results of which will be not only the industrial
and social ruin of this generation, but inheri
lance OF feud and bloodshed to its successorsg
When the border States, with patriotic modera-
tion have withdrawn all other conditions of their
abiding loyalty to the Union. save abstinence
from coercion, shall we ALLEVIATE them forever by
this wanton and criminal pursuit OF an imprac-
ticabie point of honor, the offspring OF sectional
or partisan prideg These are the questions
which engage the anxious attention of the new
Cabinet, and engross its deliberations. Upon the
determination, the immediate and remote future
OF the people are dependent.
The Toledo (Ohio) Blade alsojustifes the Ad-
ministration in this strain:
We can well imagine how repugnant to the
sentiments of every patriotic American is the
idea of anything like yielding an inch to traitors,
and If the step referred to should be dictated by
the spirit and purpose that denied the noble An
derson reinforcements and supplies when he de-
mInded them, and they could have been so easily
furnished all true men would protest against It,
a