Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-03-08


rHE lNAueuRAL--AS ATTACK ON FoRI .Sux1rR
Nor ADVISABLE.
The Charleston Mercury vehemently attacks
the Inaugural. itsays
are attempted to be carried out in full there will
beWar-open, declared positive war-with boom.
Ing cannon and blood, and battle In less than ten
DAYS from this date. For to carry out his threats
United States Government to be held, but the
fortresses along the coast In possession Of the
Confederated States Of America, are to be s'pos-
sessed' and "heid" by the United States Govern
But Notwithstanding the Mercury acce pts the
inaugural az declaration Of war IL does not ad-
wise an attack on Fort Sumter, It's policy on this
point having undergone decided change since
the Confederated States have taken comnand of
the military operations In and around Charleston,
On this subject the Mercury saws:
But still We would say to our people, for the
present, keep cool, and bid your time The honor
Of this State 10 further involved In this matter
1t has been transferred TO the shoulders ofhe GOV.
eminent Of the Confederate States of America
Whether wisely or not, 1t is now too late to dis
cuss. Our course now is one entirely Of policy
and war strategy. We do not profess to be accu-
rately cognizant of the plans Of President Davis
IL there Is to be war, there must be plan and a
from the heads ofthe Government. We have now
nothing to lose by tme-everything to gain.
war six weeks ago might have placed Virginia
now by our side. War would have been In the
W,
prestige, ard historic fame, would have been
hers 1t Is no longer 30. The blood, will be hers,
but little Of the profit That blood, however, her
people are still, as they have ever been, willing
generously to shed. Nor will any foreign foe un-
molested cross her border by sea and land. Be-
yond this policy and strategy must rule the action
Of the General Government at Montgomery.
Their decision with regard to this harbor will be
carried out by the troops Of Carolina.
That President Lincoln will attempt to collect
revenue OF the bar IL now beyond question
What them Here lies the question in which alone
this State is directly concerned. What course is
There are but two open. The one, immediate
attack upon Fort Sumter; the other to besiege and
starve out the fortress To attack the fort will no,
| remove the men-of war from off our bar What
then, will be gained! 1t is question To de.
clare martial law over the whole harbor, includ
ing both shores and the wharves Of the city, pro.
hibiting all approach to Fort Sumter by night or
by day, excluding from 1t all supplies OF any de-
scriptlon and all Information or communication
/ to Its inmates, may be the policy decided upon
Salt meat and warm weather may most effectually
do our work for To reinforce Fort Sumter 10
now only to hasten the period of starvation; for
no ship-ofwar can enter our harbor and land mp
plies. Should she succeed in running to the fort
she will be under the constant fire of three OF
four batteries Wi hin telling and destructive dis
lance. She must be quickly destroyed In the
meantime our ships, or shiTs ladened with our
goods for foreign ports, may continue their course
| as usual Even should blockade be declared 1,
| can in no way interfere with the egress and In
gress OF neutral bottoms In their ordinary avoco
tions Of trade duty may doubtless for the
present, be collected on such imports as arrive
here directly from abroad. OF this d reckoning
must be made in the calculation Of costs, pro and
con. few months must settle the whole ques
ton. And the taking Of Fort Sumter immediately
cannot, as far os we can perceive, hasten tina
period We will be q little further when we have
| flashed than when we begun-minus some val
liable lives.