New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-03-08
me PRO-SLAyERY REBELLION.
FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.
TuE PREVAILING IDEA.

kUHfE RUNORS FROM fOhI
gp LEFT. DAyiss NEW BRISADiFR-SESERAL
-rup FLOATING BATTERY FAILURE
OPINIONS OF ENGINEERS
Raess Our Own Correspondent
CHARLESTON, 8. c., March 4, 1861.
Mart Sumter is the absorbing idea. This
community dream of it by night and talk OF
.sehing else by day. Trnde, finance, religion,
saacation, arts, may be started as the topic of
saaGeYsation-it is sure to lead straight to Fort
suster in less than FIVE minutes. You may
aepend on it, that if two or twenty persons are
beaether, the subject Of conversation IS Fort
Sumter. There is a painful realization now
that talking merely must soon cease, and bloody
action commences; else oil tho talk and prepar-
sfscn Of the last three months stand as hollow
spockery and disgrace to Carolinians
Strange rumors continue to gain currency
sua eredenee from Fort Sumter. Popular belief
IN the report that Maj Anderson and two sub
ordinate officers intend to resign, or have al
ready done 30, has strengthened in the last few
Ssys. Another still is, that Capt Foster has
ordered his furniture, which 10 stored in the
sits, to be sold, as he expects, with the rest of
shs garrison, soon To leave Fort Sumter and this
section OF the country. While the inference
would be that the evacuation of the fort il
szseDded, rebel near me suggests that it is
sfShiDg more than prudent fOrethought on the
part Of the captain, which, in view OF what
rnst be the result Of the impending conflict, the
sut4re garrison would DO well to initiate.
Mr.. Secretary Jamison Of the War Depart
ssens of South Carolina, has given notice that
he newy-appointed Brigadier. General of the
ecudederate States, Peter G. I. Beauregard, will
hspeafter have command Of the troops in and
shout Charleston, and that his orders will be re.
speeted and obeyed accordingly. Gen. b., who
has already arrived, is the representative OF Pres
Esont DAVIS, az well as commander of the Charles
tpn forces. There was before good deal of dis
content among the Charleston military, which
VIII be aggravated by this appointment. The
Nbarleston Rifles, one of the Oldest and most
u6eient in the State, have broken up through
suarrels and INSTRUMENTATION. Other companies
sse threatened the same way.
Az the critical moment approaches, the rebels
2istrust their ability to accomplish the feat OF
linking Fort Sumter. The prevailing impression
q, that the floating battery is a failure; soldiers
snutiny against serving in her. The Richardson
Goasds who were to do duty in her, have broken
sp. and disbaDded
more critical examination into the fortresses
Ger have constructed at such great cost and
Abor, has given rise TO grave doubts as to their
eciciency, and to welLgrounded apprebensioDs
sbst they would prove slaughter-pens before Maj.
andersOn's explosive shots Cummings Point
Battery, which is of much strength, is unques-
tnaably TOO far of, the distance between it and
Fsrt Sumter being twelve hundred yards, while
exoerience shows that FIVE hundred yards is the
hngest practicable preaching distance. The fas-
uo of the Floating Battery, which they intended
70 ush within five hundred yards of the Fort,
kpacks the underpinning from the Rebels.
nm reliably assured that these are the results
II the examination which JEFF Davis lately in
xksutea into the preparations Of the Rebels.
Gsmpetent engineers, among them an English
man of much experience, pronounce their blum
doris not only numerous but great. Davis is too
rood q military man to trust hmsef to go to sea
n q tub.
AH these things make for the cause of peace.
A letter received here from o well-iDformed
scarce in Montgomery states positively that if
ne Commissioners sent by President Davis Ia
Washington are not received in their official ca
Saexy, and the subject Of the surrender of the
a#ts, with which they are charged, is not recog-
nieed as one TO be negotiated about then Davis
policy win be immediately to attack Fort Sumter,
sna1in turn all the other forts similarly situated.
There is no doubt that Davis, on coming into
se6oe, determined to obtain absolute control Of
shs entire subject and hold the ultra CharlestOnian
ralicy in subsection, 80 that no mistake could De
committed. It would seem that he had accom-
p1sshed his object; 30 that with him rests not
en6 the responsibility, but the power. So far
Sxgn fearing the result of this, even if the prepa.
xutions were sufficient, am encouraged to re-
card the fact favorable to peace. Davis must
. ESQ that the seeded States require peace; that
shey have everything to gain BY it, and that war
must be fatal TO their cause. whatever might be
Che consequences TO the Union. Davis is the
kzrthest possible from fool; nor is he the rssn
man that be had OF one time the reputation Of
being. He ia surrounded by councillors Of mod.
psssion, with one Or two exceptions; and when
Il comes TO the point, incline to believe be will
hesitate long before he inaugurates civil war by
. sn attack on Fort Sumter
Mr. Colcock has issued instructions under the
new tariff, the following extract from which may
Be If interest 10 shippers in your city:
While vessels from States outside the Confederscy,
WI oe admitted 70 entry under enrolment and cen:e,
masters advised TO come under register, becsuse
they could procure at this por 60 hence TO
a. a.