Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-03-16


Is Isitpossible that tho country has been the
victim Of huge sham, and that Maj. Ander-
son is not 50 much Of 4 patriot as be has been
popularly supposed 70 BEL II not why has
be constantly informed the Government thst
be bad "ao need Of re-inforoements; that
his garrison were strong enough for any at
tack; that he could sweep away al opposing
batteries in hall an hour with the eolumbiads
and mortsrs tbaths has mounted, and that all
Waa weil9. Such had been the tenor Of bis
dispatches day by day until ihe new Admin
istration had risen 70 the chair, and npon that
suppositlon no provision had been made to
re-intOrcs Or supply him. Toward the lattre
part Of Bochanan's administration there was
at least an appsrsnt disposition to resist the
advances Of the traitors, and siisr Holt had
beeA appointed Secretary Of War and Dix
Secretary ofths Treasury, and Scott had been.
entrusted with all military notsmsne, the
country bresthsd easier, and was satisfied
that Sumter would be retained at all hazards.
But there was no occasion for putting the
apparent disposition Of the Executive to the
test for Maj. Anderson almost daily tele-
gnphsd that be needed no re-inforeeuents,
and that the Fort was vslI supplied With pro
vision, the only articles wanting being fuel
and tOhacco. Soths Administration Of James
Buchanan came TO an end and that Of Abra-
ham Lincoln began, the people having no
sears Of the safety Of Fort Sumter, whatever
might be done with the other Southern
forts. q
When Mr.. Lincoln said in his inaugural
that be should hold and possess the s0pthern
forts, and protect the United States, property,
not one who heard or read ig--save, perhaps,
skaoving one or two-dresme1 Of any dan
ger'tO Fort Sumter. They felt hat at Forts
Moultris, PinSkhsy, Brown, and Pulaski, the
question was Of peculiar interest but Sumter
wa considered safe ct all events. But
scarcely has the Inaugural been delivered, and
the oath Of Office taken, which made Abraham
Lincoln President Of the United States, when
important dispatches are received by the
Government from Maj. Anderson, that he has
only Sheen days provisions in the Fort and
must be'relieTss or Withdrawn. To rs-inioree
OF supply the Fort Is now impossible and SO
we must submit 70 the infinite nortiAcation
Of seeing this grand old fortress surrendered
70 the rebels. There Is no alternative. The
President has no power to cali for more aid
than the regular arny and navy afford, and
ggen thsss-insuaieient in numbers as they
aFs-eould not reach the Fort before the gar
rison would be starved out The stars and
stripes must come down, and the black Gag
Of secession BAunt above s1mtsF's walls, and
tell 10 the world that we are sgain beaten. "
70 tbis Administzation belongs none Of
this disgrace. It Il necessity forced upon
it, and it meets the question in the only pos
sible way. But how comes it that If provi-
lions in tast tort are 50 nearly gone, the fact
was not known before7 Two weeks ago
there we're 'provisious enough to withstand
q seige," according to Maj. AndersOn's dis
patches one week ago there were "only
enough to last fifteen days" and in one week
more, the Fort will be in the hands of the
traitors.
We make no charges against Maj Ander-
son, in the absence Of proof but how can the
contradiction in these dispatches be eE-
planned? l t7.,.a.