The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-03-12

shed, and before insurrection and civil war
have taken the control out Of the hands Of the
people.
The impending Evacuation OF Fort sum-
ter-"Is Anybody Hurt"
Who could have supposed, three days ago,
that the first movement in the enforcement
of the laws" under "Honest Abe Lincolns"
administration, would be the evacuation Of Fort
Sumter, and the abandonment of that bit of
government property to the rebels OF South
Carolina and her confederate States? No man
could have dreamed of such thing Mr.. Lin
coin, in his inaugural, however, left the back
door open, in his declaration that in the execu-
ton of the laws he would have to act according
to circumstances"
1t appears, too, that all the circumstances"
touching the reinforcement or relief Of Fort
Sumter are against him. The approaches to
that work from the sea are lined with hostile
batteries on both sides, fully equipped for
action, to say nothing Of the monster floating
battery prepared for a. tilt with Major Ander-
son at close quarters. land force Of ten
thousand men would probably be needed to
open the way for any relieving ship to the fort
This force the administration could not bring
together within q month, under the "circum-
stances" in which it is placed, and meantime
Sumter is getting short Of provisions, and if
not supplied within fifteen days the peculiar
circumstances" of starvation will reduce the
little garrison to surrender. 1t is an estab
cLoJ 60 -, hat
detachment of the bravest men, with
empty stomachs, cannot long hold out even
behind impregnable stone walls, against
an overwhelming beleaguering force in the en-
joyment Of three good meals day. Gen. Scott,
the ripest soldier and the best military authori-
ty Of the age, has perhaps been impressing
this important fact upon Mr.. Lincoln and his
Cabinet.
The case, then, is pressing. If the fort can
not be relieved, the administration must choose
between the abandonment of Major Anderson
to his fate or his withdrawal from the place.
To withdraw him, after all the magnificent
fourishes and vainglorious republican boast
ings of "Old Abe's" policy Of proving that 1--WE
have government" will be somewhat humi-
liating to such fighting men as Horace Greeley,
Giddings, Chase, the Blairs, Sumner and Sena-
tor Chandler; but to leave Anderson to the
chances of starvation and the mercy Of the
South Carolina fire-eaters would be a burning
and lasting disgrace to the administration.
Under all the circumstances of the case then,
the only alternative to President Lincoln is the
abandonment Of Fort Sumter to the custody of
President Jefferson Davis.
There is q world Of difference between talk
ing and acting. 1t was an easy matter for our
republican organs and indignant patriots to
denounce Mr.. Buchanan as a coward, traitor,
timid old dotard, an old granny afraid of
his own shadow, and to say that without
difficulty he might have thrown reinforce
ments and supplies into Fort Sumter; that
he ought to have done it at all hazards
and regardless Of costs, and that he ought
TO have arrested those South Carolina
treaty commissioners as traitors, and that
Honest Abe Lincoln" would soon make these
traitors and rebels understand that we have a
government; but sold Abe, !" when invested with
the responsibility, seems to come to pretty
much the same way Of thinking as "Old Buck"
to wit, that circumstances" must be consider
ed. Hence Mr.. Lincoln begins to suspect that
this legacy of Fort Sumter is not worth holding;
and that when piece of federal property has
ceased TO be Of any earthly value to the govern
ment, it is inexpedient to plunge into civil
war to retain it.
After the marvellous escape by the light Of
the moon of Abraham Lincoln from Harris
burg through the imaginary line of Southern
conspirators intent upon cutting him off from
Washington, Senator Wigfall, of Texas, gave
il as his opinion that there would be no war;
that Presidect elect who, in Scotch cap and
a long military cloak, could thus slip through
the fingers of his enemies, must be man of
peace, and not "a man who can look on blood
and carnage with composure." We now sus-
pect that the Texas Senator was more than half
right; for even that terrible fighting man, Gree
ley, is apologizing for the expected evacuation
of Fort Sumter. We have been urging this
very thing for some time, as step demanded
by every consideration Of peace and common
sense; and when this administration begins to
act accordingly, there is still some hope for the
country.
The issue is not yet definitely known; but,
IL Gen. Scott is against the radicals, we have
no doubt that Mr. Lincoln will conclude that
the retention Of Fort Sumter will not reimburse
his administration for all the calamities Of
civil war. But we shall see.
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The Curious CONTROVERSY About THE Fo-
REIGN AUTOMATICALLY controversy now
going forward in the republican press about
Carl Schurz, and other foreigners who have APP
nlied for missions to the governments of Eu-