Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-01-12


Mnlor Anderson Among the DiBlomatisfs.
\ Major Andersen is undoubtedly brave
and loyal man, and good soldier; but II is
easy to see, by his correspondents With the
Governor Of South Carolina, that he is no
diplomatist. His second letter dis4ppoints,
and will be thought falling of from tho
FIRST; and yet, itwas in the first that the
thing was done which prepared the way tor
the second. He failed in the choice Of his
position, and was out Unanswered By mon
who have more skill in words than in war
The soldier out, was not match for the
politician in, his element.
The error to which we allude, was in ad-
dressing an official parsonage unknown to
his Government, "His Excellency, the Gov
ernor of South Carolina" thereby virtually
recognizing the Secession and the legiti-
macy Of the claim to nationality set up by
South Carolina. This opened the way into
the field of diplomacy, of which his ad-
versary took the advantage. He, the Gov
ernor of an Independent Sovereignty, ex-
plains to this brave but-from his point Of
view-rather inconsiderate soldier, that
there are certain disputed questions existing
between his Government aud that Of the
United States, which require, until they
shall be settled, a suspension Of intercourse !;
and that Until such settlement is made he
shall look upon the appearance of vessels of
the United States in his waters as an act Of
hostility.
Here is a dilemmaI Things have some-
how or other undergone a transformation;
and the honest Major may be imagined al-
ternately scratching and shaking his head
over it. There is nation: Good There is
the Governor of that nation: Good again
Now this Governor claims a right, which
all nations are admitted to possess, to ex-
clude the vessels of foreign nations from
their ports. Just sol This right is en-
forced in the case of vessels of the United
States, with view to expedite negotiations
now going on for settlement of difficulties.
PRECISELY Now shall he, Major Anderson,
be the means of breaking the peace between
these two nations by IA hasty combustion of
gunpowder and the untimely shedding of
that first drop of fraternal blood-with ali
its terrible train of consequences Not 80.
He will inquire Of his Government; and in
the mean. time will keep in his tompions.
Now, to Major Anderson, as commander
of military post of the United States, and,
in some sort, entrusted with the keeping Of
the National honor, there was no such officer
as the Governor of South Carolina. There
was an insurrectionsry horde of national
peace-breakers, and that was all Viewed
in the light of horde of enemies of the
public peace, and breakers Of it, his duty
was to remain the soldier, and avoid the
meshes Of the dipiomatist, A Northern
man without State-rights theories would
have done so. Not SO did British officers in
revolutionary times. They addressed theil
letters to "Mr. Washington" and, from theil
point of view, they did as they should have
done. Perhaps it was providentially for th'
best; and in the mean time, if things should
warm up little down there, and the Major
gets at work at his own trade, we will war.
rant that he gives good account of himself