The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-03-12
The Scratched Condition Of Major
AndeTson's Command.
Waraike Movements Of tine Gov
ernxnent.
Concentration Of Troops and Ships Of
War on the Atlantic Cosst,
&c., &C., 90.
TEE QUESTION eoF CALCULATING FORT
SUMTER.

TEE QUESTION soF CALCULATING FORT
SUMTER.
wAsfnss-oE March H. 1861.
An Official letter Major Anderson, received Satur
DAY says he had only teen days Subsistence and wood
me qneztion has therefore risen with the administration
whether reimbursement shall be attempted the fort
shapeoned The latter course. it o thought, win be
dopsd from inevitable necessity, by advice CT Lieut..
General Scott.
The city has been in q state Of intense excitement all
day by the rumor that Fort Sumter Is be evacuated
The radical republicans upon hee the report fly into
sing ssoertanng what the facts Some de-
clare the par y ruined; others dercsnce the odmnsra
ton saying demoralized and disgraced. One says
ssReinforce Anderson He Is told tina. it cannot be
done; that before the troops could reach him with pro-
visions he would be compelled, under the army regula
s,oDs and by dictates Of humanity, saute his flag
and march his OF the fort TO them from
Another says Nosy the people Of Charles
ton that the government viii send supply vessel there
and if she Ia fred into Major Anderson viii shell the
city" The Of the statesman t, that is "Then
you take up quarrel you did not begin, ard rritate
people TO resist the federal government and initiate civil
war"
So the discussion has been gcrg al day. In almost
every knot of people that have assembled anywhere
The Cabinet had meeting this afternoon, when the
sumter
was that STOW out Of .hepower OF tho government
70 reinforce tho place TO MAJOR Anderson
before he will ts compelled to surrender 70 general
walton The question not now, as il warlweeks ago,
civil or political one but is narrowed down scientific
and military question.
The Cabinet In session four hours, bat came to no
decision aboatFort Sumter rreferrnefo postpone final
nti TO next day, but that Major Ander
sons command will be ordered 10 abandon Fort Sumter
there liz doubt. 1t is not yet settled how this viii be
done but likely that the Brooklyn viii be ordered
to Charleston to convey the troops away.
when the Cabinet settles upon ths course they will
undoubtedly decide also to blockade the hRrbor Of
Charleston and ether ports and collect the Fsvenue Ic
this policy Ia determined upon, extra session Of Con
Rress will be Immediately called AZ present, II troops
were needed for immediate service, the President would
have no power call upon the States for aid because
Congress psssed no law authorizing HIM 70 do so.
The administrator are yet undecided TO the policy
10 be pursued regard Fort Sumter and Fort Pckens
The radical republicans have entered their seomn pro-
,est against abandoning tho forts, and Mr. Lincoln Is
afraid 10 take the responsibility They are endeavorng
TO shiyk the matter and throw i upon the last admins
sration The will Thoy should come boldly
for ~ard the responsibility and share the credit
Of restoring peace to the country.
The republican Senator'S Immediately after tie ad-
sournment held CAUCUS ard remained in fer up
yards Of two hours 1t is understood that the question
Of evacustpg Fort Of The questions under
consideration. There large majority Of Senator'S
opposed to hat policy. They cay that would be re-
e.rded az back down from their position. Other Sena-
tors saw they had better back down thousand times
than plunge the country rto civil war.
WASHINGTON, March Q, 1851.
Thu. Cabinet sgala met at s.o p. M and remained in
session for nearly three hos It known that after
passing upon a appointments the question Of rein
forciur or abandoning Fort sumter came up and was the
subject Of ghy animated discussion; but nothing po-
sttye has rauspred the result Of the deliberations
IL Is however by those likely to be best inform
cd on tho subject that an evacuation win be determined
upon sooser later.
Mr. Chase il known DO firmly opposed TO such step,
but viii sa his radical colleagues, probably give away
% ,he fact Of the mpracticsby OF areinforce
ment with mo present military and financial OF
the administration
The President himself is said to chafe under the
apparently Inevitable necessity OF evacuatng much
any member a Cabinet but disposed nevertheless to
lie convinced Ny the conclusive demonstrations Of mill
sry authorities He, with his constitutional advsers,
greatly breads the deeply demorezng effect OF retreat
ut,or their party and the country at large
Tho gloom and .noriAcation Of tho republican poiti
eiaps now here Is full force the humiliation involved
n the mpending withdrawal of Major Anderson, is in
acscribsbc they cay bu, little, yet feel the more. They
ara ore willing to day TO acknowledge the imposs!bty
20 realize their favote idea Of relieving tho invested
fort and batter arch rebels Of Charleston But
they arc az yet unprspared to face the melancholy pro-
liability OF en- ahaudouent nj early date OF the last
s,ronend OF federal power In the State that pioneered
IN the Cause Of. They confess that the new
odmr istratlon could not possibly be placed in worse
dilemma.
An everg pner here cootaned the positive announce
rt Cha, tho President hsd issued order TO evacuate
Fsrt sumter this Morning This is mistake. General
Cy1eron tod seversl gentlemen who purposey called on
li, =. mon .hst no such movement has been decided
Upon
Tho avacuatas OF Fsr Sumter has the absorbing
onesto "a every circle tonight Men rave until they
hear the acs senator Wade Ia in favor Of painting one
hdudrcd housand engage the forthcstons about
Fort sumter In order TO reinforce Major Anderson ne
ccssary Thsddens Stevens says he does not believe the
sorry about provisions giving out Senator sumner says,
"for this necessity n exists the present adm nistrs
r. rot responsible. II Is part Of The legacy OF the ase
afminstrationthe ddrnosd hsTeds, "dsmnable inheri
tai ce-of tho Roman law. Among the more conserva'
tive and thonghfnl the idea Of tho withdrawal OF the
troops IL received as a wise policy.
Quite number Of Wan street men arc on here, making
the In regard TO Fort sumter the basis Of bulng
operations.
T5E CABINET IN A WAR CONFERENCE.-THE
SOUTHERN COMMISSIONERS, ETC.
WASHINGTON March II, 1851.
The despatch sent you Friday night 10 regard to
sfe ncut OF the fors vnu p,nv dcfapd ,uo, -