New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-03-16
FORT SUMTER.

FORT SUMTER.
II the abandonment Of Fort Sumter to the
rebels be indeed military necessity, it must Of
course be abandoned. But the necessity must be
so plain that people will all believe In it. If the
abandonment of the Fort be present pressing
necessity, it seems probable that poor old
Buchanan aud bis band Of Cabinet traitors are
not alone to blame. Some fault must lie at the
door Of Maj. Anderson for having 50 repeatedly
declared 81, indeed, he has 30 declared, as we
have constantly heard he has) that he required
no succor, and especially for having done so
about the time the Star Of the West was sent 10
his relief We give no credence to the insinua-
tions alluded 10 by one Of our Charleston CORE
spondents as current there. 70 the effect that
Mai. Anderson has good understanding with
the rebels. But if DO has failed TO make known
TO the Government the real exieencies of bis
position. no is greatly 10 be bLamed lie has
communicated with the Government not only by
letters, but also by q special messenger, AID It
seems incredible that his real position was not
made known. II must be assumed, then, that IN
stating Lis position to be secure for some time
truth, and we must therefore conclude that
there is no necessity for an immediate abandon
ment OF Fort Sumter, on account u want OF
provisions. That the long delay in sending re-
endorsements and stores has given tho rebels
great advantage, none can deny. Unquestionably,
the danger 10 Fort Sumter from without is far
moro serious than il was q few weeks ago. The
rebels have had tine TO erect formidable batter
les, and 10 discipline their troops. Instead OF
being q mere State Government, they are Con-
federacy of States, possessed Of considerable
means for carrying on war, mainly derived from
the plumber of the United States property, and
the treachery Of United States military oficers.
From this state Of things, however there arises no
necessity for an immediate abandonment of Fort
Sumter, if that fortress bo indeed sufficiently
proysioned to prevent starvation, and sufficiently
manned TO work its guns. But if the fort has 90
power to resist an attack, the discovery is made
very late in the day, and oil the labOrs Of Major
Anders to put it in q condition to repsl an at
tack will enure only to the benefit Of the rebels.
The thought is far from pleasant.
But the real ground why Sumter is to be
abandoned, if at all is that the United States has
not sufficient power at its disposal to hold it.
We must reject the idea that the reason is be-
cause bloodshed and civil war will result; for TO
give that reason is only another way OF saying
that the Secessi0nists are TO have their own way
in everything. It must be justified, if at all,
upon the square, plump, and only tenable ground
of want of power to preserve the fort from being
captured. No other plea will ever satisfy the
people, nor will that, unless it be trus plea.
Thanks to honest Floyd aud loyal Toucey, the
Army and Navy are 80 disposed of that it is
difficult to say how for they are available for the
protection of the coast deienses but il they are
sufficient for that purpose, the people will expect
them 10 be so used. If they are insufficient,
that is an excuse for giving up untenable forts
before instead of after bloOdshed-for no CON-
nlander has right by the Laws Of war to pre-
tend to hold what is clearly untenable. Thus,
then, stands the casei
/. There is no necessity for an immediate
abandonment of Fort Sumter, on the ground of
o want Of provisions to subsist the men.
AuCAU u suOn hCCcoSity VII 6AVuN@
Of want of men and provisions TO mako tempo
rary resistance
III. The UnAed States have sufficient power
to reinforce the fort and destroy the batteries
opposed to 1t, and it is no good public reason
for not exertipg that power that blood would
few and civil war result.
Nv. But, although having the power, it is not
at the present time available, aud before It could
BIZ made so the fort would fall into the hands
OF the rebe,a
v. If tina last propositOn be really true, the
fort might better be given up at once.
We protest, however, against any acqueseence
on our part 10 this humilisting and truly mourn
full measure being construed TO mean that we
are in favor of any other concessions OF the
kind II the Gulf defenses all fan into tho hands
Of tho rebels, they will acquire military i'm
pSrtance not to be dsspisea. and perhaps 10 be