Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-04-13
The News.

contained the most startling reports in relation to
the condition of affairs in Charleston harbor 1t was
stated that there were United States war YES
sells off Charleston harbor; that Fort Sumter was to
be provsioned at all hazards; that new batteries
had been erected Charleston, and five thousand
additional troops called out; that battle was GER
tain in the course of few hours, &c. &C. The col
umns of the Petersburg aad Richmond papers-cs-
tecally those of the Erpress-were cOnUulsed with
articles breathing war; alarm, and terror The VIII
mington Journal of Tuesday said:
WAR approaches rapidly. 1t is reported that
Gov Pickens has been officially notified that Fort
Sumter is to be reinforced; that squadron Of steam
ers and war ships is off the har5or of Charles
ton and the fight may now be commencing. All
the talk of evacuation much lying and decep-
ton The ChareStonians have watched and wait
ed" and like others who listened to that talk they
have been deceived. The surEboats, howitzers,
field batteries and forth WERE supposed, in
tended to effect landing on the beach somewhere,
and take the batteries in the rear.
P S.-A PositiUe despatch from Charleston lcaUes
nothing TO mere inference The aoGr may euen nOw
hare commenced, or if not it will be because the
forces sent out retire. The notification that Sumter
would be proVisioned peaceably if possible forcl-
ably if necessary, fOrcibly all the time, since
Mr. Lincoln knew perfectly that it could not be pro-
yiSioned unless by force. And yet this very week,
YEA Yesterday, Mr. Seward gave an answer to the
Confederate Commissioners breathing peace! See
telegraphic head"
Accustomed as we are to the tricks of the disu-
nionists, We confess somewhat startled by
these reports They appeared to be we'll founded.
We began to appreheud that blood would be She'd
and that our unfortunate country would be speedily
plunged into deeper difficulties. But still we had
serious doubts to the truthfuness Of these reports
and so we determined to watch and wait" This
was Wednesday forenoon, but Wednesday afternoon
a gentleman in this City received dispatch from
Charleston which by no means confirmed the reports
referred to- and just the back of this we received
the Wilmington Journal Of Wednesday, containing
fat and unequivoca contradiction of its dispatches
of the preceding day. OF course the Petersburg and
Richmond papers of to-day, which we will receive
this Thursday evening" will also contain contra
dicton Of these dispatches.
The latest dispatch to the Journal of Wednesday,
dated Charleston April 10TH states that there
no edr 0essels outside tie har6Or, far knOrn."
All is said to be quiet the surface" at Charles
ton, "but there is deep feeling" The Journal of
Wednesday admits the incorrectness ofits dispatches
of the preceding day, and adds
seriously, however, as OUT uISpSlCuSS
show there has been great mistake somewhere
about the vessels off Charleston, and we promptly
state the fact The regular agent of the associated
press at Charleston is not to blame. lie sent no
dispatch that there was We deeply regret being
placed in the position, however innOcentiy, of pub
fishing incorrect statements and we know also that
mere sensation news is bound to injure our cause,
readers may be assured that We would not
publish such, even on party reasons"
That several war vessels, containing supplies and
munitions of war, and number of men, have re-
Gently sailed from New York is well known; but
no one except the President and Cabinet seems to
know the object the destination of these vessels
They may be partly forthe waters of St Domingo,
partly for the Cuban and American Gulf waters,
and partly for Brazos Santiago, the mouth of the
Rio Bravo. Under the treaty of Gaudeloupe Hi
dalgo the government of the United States stipu-
lated with the government Of Mexico to protect the
frontiers of the latter against the Indians. Besides
the Ell Passo route to California must be kept open
for mail purposes and emigration. 1t may be that
our government has an eye these duties, and
this may account for portion of the preparations
referred to. Conirmatory of these views we find
the following which we clip from the Washington
Geographic correspondence of the Charleston Her
curry of the 9th:
1.-The commissioners appear to be impressed with
the belief that the expedition now lifting out is
principally intended for Texas. Intelligent Army
and Navy officers of the opinion that the bulk
of the New York Expedition is destined for Texas,
to operate the frontier against Mexicans and In
dams, and to reoccupy the Brazos, Fort Brown and
also the forts the Indian frontier where accord
ing TO official information they will be met with
cordial welcome by the settlers"
Both the governments 1--WE speak of the Confed-
crate States" as provisional government only,)
know how to keep their secrets. But that there is
Some serious difficulty between the government at
Washington and the Southern Commissioners as to
the manner of the evacuation of Fort Sumter, we
think there can be little doubt 1t may be that our
government has determined on Withdrawing Maj.
Anderson and his command, but insists on holding
nominal possession of the Fort-the latter not to be
used for offensive defensive purposes by either
government, but to remain unoccupied until the
present troubles can be settled. 1t may be that the
government at Washington refuses to transfer the
property of the United States in said Fort to the
Confederate States'-and that it thus refuses,
simply because it believes that it has no power to
make such transfer but that the real evacuation
and nominal possession referred to- having been
thus decided on, the government of the "Confed'
crate States" refuses to accede to these terms and
demands an absolute surrender of the Fort and
probably of Maj Anderson and his men. These, Of
course, are mere conjectures. No one seems to
knOw what the points of difficulty really are.
The news hereafter if bad, will travel fast and
lar enough. 1t is not worth while to anticipate