New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-11-15

perspicuOus. consistent, aud the rebels have
profted by the ambiguity. We trust that they
are 50 TO profit but little longer.
szE.uz1--ra
THE POssEssSON OF BEaUFOf.T'
1t lie fact of no little importance that the
authority Of the Federal Government is once
more established in the State where the fret
gun was fired at the flag Of the Union. As
the fall Of Sumter WIS, in some sort, humiI'
aton, SO we may be permitted TO rejoice,
without rendering ourselves lipble to the charge
Of vindictiyeness, that the blow Las fallen Oh
precisely that point where the state PRIDE oil
South Carolina is most. vulnerable. IL was,
probably, hardly considered as within the range
Of Yankee auJacity that che would be attacked
in the exclusive homo Of the most exclusive few
of that most exclusive aristccracy; for rs South
Carolina first fomilies" are the yery-srepe de
la creme Of human society, so tie concentrated
essence Of that fret iamilyism cOndesccnds to
own-condescended we should say, as they own
it no longer-Beaufort aid the surrounding
country, and, for q portion OF the year, has
hitherto permitted the sun TO shine upon them
in that region. How deep and total their dis
gust wa. at such an sudaciOus proceeding on
the part of the Northern GOtbs aud VaDdals,
was well shown by their total abandonment OF
the negbborhood, leaving behind them only one
solitary representative OF their Order Who was
too drunk to Escape.
~ a. ,.f n. xula If
of Carolinian aIistocracy, not only for their
own state, but for the whole country, this
Beaufort is on example. The broad estuary OF
Port Royal entrance ia noble harbCr, where
tho fleets Of nations nigh, ride safely at anchor,
and the largest merchant vessels might carry
and fetch merchandise up the narrower river
on which tie town Of Beaufort is built. The
surrounding country embraces the best rice
fields Of the South-so proyerbially 90, indeed,
that the irreverent "up-couniry' people are
accustomed to call the nrsiocratic inhabitants
Of the region rice.birds;" perhaps, also, 10
alluson to their worldly iatBcss--and the islands
Of the coast produce the famous Sea leland
cotton, the longest stapled and the moot pre-
ciou, Of oil the varieties of that royal yegeta-
bic. Why, then, is not Beaufort the principal
seaport of South Carolina, for which Nature
seems TO have designed her : And why doe.
the trade Of the State center at Charleston,
with its narrow aud tor,uous channel place
which, if Nature bad sny designs about It a.
all, she meant only to be ,pot where fsheT-
men should dry their nets Tie answer is
simple, and Characteristic Of tie Southern social
systematic gentlemen who oan Beaufort nnd
the region round about are residents of Charles
ton, aud they prefer TO keep the little town,
with It's splendid harbor, rs Il sort Of watering
place for their Summer res delce, while tie
trade of the State mu,t 80 in aud out at
Charleston, over its dangerous bar aud through
its wretched channels. II il not impossible,
however, that impending events may now come
to the aid OF Natures original intentions.
The natural advantages Of that portion Of
the State around Beaufort, which the South
Carolipian order Of society hns used only for
the benefit of class, lend importance to the
possession of that region BY Union troops.
What Union feeling there may DO in that State
viii not be found among the wealthy and ars-
tocratic planters, but in the harder and non.
slayehOldiDg people of the hill-country, who
naturally will not be sorry to see the first
blow fall where it belongs, on the original
offenders. The noble bay Of Port Royal, now
securely in our possession, may BIO made
convenient rendezvous for expeditions anywhere
along the coast, from Cape Fear TO the Florida
Keys; and if any port Of export or import Is
wanted, for any purpose, on the coast Of South
Carolina, is open to us. On these advantages,
with ordinary prudence, we may reckon Sc
cureiy. TO dislodge the Union troops is we'll
nigh impossible, unless q naval expedition, as
much superior to the land and sea force by
which we may hold possession, as that under
Dupont was to that commanded by Tatnall,
shall be brought against US. The archipelago
in the midst Of which Beaufort is situated, is
labyrinth Of rivers out Of which, il we have
boats enough Of proper draft, il will be impos-
sible to drive us, and every island could DO
separately defended. But ii is not at all likely
we shall be put to any such defense, for the
iCVcls uio "itnou' a'y hh'ni 'ViCct WHICH tnc
forts they have been so Kind as TO build for us
there lately cannot easily keep out Of Port
Royal; and an attack by land is even less
likely to be undertaken, or, if undertaken, to
succeed. The country is one Of swamps. The
roads aro few. and access by them all can
probably be easily prevented. To make this
defense sure, it will, Of course, be necessary
that our men should make Themselves familiar
with the character Of the country. the nature and