Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1861-05-10


This proposal was refused, and the conclu..-
sion was reached that the design of the
United States was place the besieging for
ces at Charleston between the simultanc-
GUS fire Of the feet ani the fort. There re-
manned, therefore, no alternative but to d.
rect that the fort should at once be reduced.
This order was executed by Gen. Beau.
regard with tho skill and success which
were naturally to be expected from tho we'll
known character Of that gallant on:ccr; and
although the bombardmcnt lasted but thir-
ty-thrce hours, our flag did not waive over
its battered walls until after the appearance
of the hostile feet off Charleston. Fortu.
nately not life was lost on our side, and
we were gratitied in being spared the ne
cesity Of a useless cffusion Of blood by the
prudent caution of the officers who COM
manded the fleet, in abstaining from the
evidently futile effort 10 enter the larbor for
the relief Of Major Anderson. I refer to
the report Of the Secretary of War, and the
papers which accompany it, for further
details of this brilliant affair.
In this connection cannot refraia from
a well-deserved tribute 10 the noble State,
the eminent soldiery qualities Of whose peo-.
pie were so consp;cuously displayed in the
port of Charleston. For months they had
been irrtatcd by the spectacle Of fortress
held within their principal harbor, as a
standing menace against their peace and
Independence. Built in part with their
own money, its custody confined with, their
own consent 10 an agent who held no pow
er over them such as they had themselves
delegated for their own benefit, intended toR
be used by that agent for their own protec-
ton against foreign attack, they saw it held
with persistent tenac;ty as means Of Of
fence against themb by the very Govern
ment which they had established for their
protection.
They had belcagured it for, months
felt entire confidence in their power to cap
ture it-yet yielded TO the requirements of
discipline, curbed their impatience, submit
ted without complaint to the unaccustomcd
bardships, lnbors and prvations of pro-
tracted siege; and when at length their
patience was rewarded by the signal for at
tack, and success had Gro wned their steady
and gallant conduct-even in the very mo-
ment of triumph-thcy eyinced chival-
rous regard for the feelings of the brave
but unfortunate officer who had been COM
PEELED to lower his flag. All the NANTES.
tations Of exultation were checked ip his
presence.
Their commanding general, with their
cordial approval and the consent of his
Government, refrained form imposing any
terms that would wound the sensibilities Of
the commander Of the fort. lie was per-
mitted to retire with tho honors of war, TO
salute his flag, to depart freely with all hi,
command, and was escorted to the vessels
in which be embarked, with the highest
mark of respect from those against whom
his guns had been so recently directed.
Not only does every event connected with
the siege reflect the highest honor on Soutl,
Carolina, but the forbearance of her people,
and of this Government, from making any
harsh use of victory obtained under cir
cumstances Of such peculiar pEQIeetion,
attest 10 tue fullest extent the absence of
any purpose beyond securing their own
tranquility, and the sincere desire to avoid
the calamities Of war.
Scarcely had the President of the Uni.
ted States received intelligence Of the fail.
ure of the scheme which he had devised
for the reinforcement of Fort Sumter, whcn
ho issued the declaration Of war against this
Confedracy, which has prompted me 10
convoke you. In this extraordinary .produc-
ton that high functionary affects total
ignorance Of the existence Of an indepen-
dent Government, which, possessing the
entire and enthusiastic devotion Of its peo-
pie, is exercising it's functio1k without qaes.
ton over seven sovereign States--over more
than four millions Of peopIe-and over
territory shose area exceeds half a'minion
Of squareniiles. lie terms sovereign States
combinations, too powerful to be suppress
ed by the ordinary course Of judicial. pro
ceedings, or by the powers vested in the
; marshals by law (.
F He calls for ansarmy Of seventy five
thousand men g sact as posse conalatus
in of the process: Of the, courts Of JUS
tice in statese.ghers no courts exist whose
mandates apd decrees are not ebesrfully
4 iobeyed and RESPECTED by q willing speople.
j Hee ayows that the first service to be as
/ Esigusd to hsforees called ont; will be, mot
!. tosesecats tbe procses of courts hpt to.cap.
i ture forts and stropgholds situated within