Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1861-02-01
From the Sonthera Guardian,
Fbrt Eftrifar

Fort Sumter.
"Why is hot Fort Sumter attacked p
"Why don't they attack Fort Sumter 9'
"What il the Governor about that he
don't attack Fort Sumter 2" "The troops
ase ready, willing and anxious to take, Fort
Sumter" Such is the chat which is ring
ing through Charleston and the State
Row, l know no more why the Governor
does not order attack upon Fort Sumter,
than the people who ask such questions
but Know that the Governor is as brave
and patriotic as l am, and l know there is
not man more ready to Gie for the cause
Of South Carolina than am and yet, If
l were Governor, l would not attack Fort
Sumter just at this time, if all the men in
South Carolina were urging me to do it.
Why would I not2 Because every day is
weakening the fort, and strengthening our
power over it-because nothing can be lost
by delay up to within eight or ten days
before Lincoln's Observation-Disclosures l
don't wish to give the suLmissionists Of the
South an apology for their fears-because
am sure every one of the seeding States
would oppose the attack, not because it
would be wrong, but because it would EN-.
barrass their operations s-because it would
give aboIitionsts at the North power over
our friends iu that quarter-because be-
lieve, as soon as the Southern Confederacy is
formed, the forts will be delivered up with.
out loodshed-because I am now sure no
reinforcements will be sent 10 Fort Sumter.
and if there should be, we could sink them
before they could reach the fort-Lecause
l would have South Carolina exchange
views now with her sister seeding States
before she takes any step which must in
volve their interests-because I would consi
der the possession of the fort Just now a
burden rather than benefit. Thus would
| act with my dim lights. But surely the
Governor, with his sage advisers, knows
better what lie is about than Tom, Dick
and Harry. His conduct seems strange to
US. Why? Because we do not know.
and ought not to know, what couase!s he
is acting under. The man was never made
who in his situation could please everybo-
dy; and if lie tries to do it, he will share
the fate of the old man in the fable. When
l was in Charleston, many were for attack
ing Fort Sumter, while / was supplying
him with information from a true friend
of our cause, which showed that he ought
not to attack Fort Sumter. True, Mr.
Buchanan deceived my friend, my friend
deceived me, and deceived the Governor
but was the Governor to blame for relying
upon this information in defiance of the
cIamor aroupd him9 Well, as the school
boys say: cheating luck never thrives.'
All came up right in tue end. The Star
Of the West surprised US, but we surprised
the Star Of the PEST. Let us wait the
action of the Governor patiently. nv
word for it, all he does would seem to you
right if you we're let into his secrets. am
not in hi, confidence. l am not advocating
your confidence in him for his sake, but for
the glorious cause Of South Carolina, in
behalf OF which am ready to stake all
am worth. Let me speak plainly to you
carolinians. Your fault is lsome wi1f call
it virtue) disposition to fight purely for
renown. But remember that aimIess,
needless gaIlantry, never gained lasting re-
nown since the world was made; while
wel-aimed gallantry, governed by prudence
never lost it. Charles XII of Sweden was
an instance Of the first kind; and he goes
by the name Of the Madman." Wash
ington was an instance of the second kind.
and he goes by the name of the greatest
and hest of heroes. '''''
A. B. LONGSTREET.