Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-03-16
Opinion of the CharlestOnians Respecting
h Proposed Evacuation of Fort sumter
VIII they Allow the D~epredatIong

the Proposed Evacuation of Fort Sumter
VIII they Allow the D~epredatIonS
The Charleston Is. c. correspondent of
the New York Tribune says on the 10th
inst:
People on their way to church this morn
ing stopped to discuss briefly, in groups, the
flying rumor, said to be from an authentic
source, TO the effect that the Government
at Washington seriously contemplate with
drawing Major Anderson from Fort Sumter
and leaving the rebels masters of the field.
Others did not 60 to church at at all, but re-
NAMED at home or repaired to the lounging-
places to talk over the same subject. The
report is received variously; though, of
course, the general feeling is that of exulta-
{ IN over the Federal Government. There
are those who would rather fight it out, con-
fdent that the result would be the same. A
great many doubt, and suspect that the re-
port is but a ruse to cover an attempt about
to be made to re- enforce Fort Sumter. Hay-
ing just finished reading the Inaugural, they
can not credit the report.
Unless the new powers at Washington
want a fight on a large and bloody scale, and
civil wal close on its heel, it must withdraw
Anderson. The state of the case, as it
actually is, must be dealt with; and should
the report prove true it would not at all
astonish me. What has made the with
drawal of Major Anderson a military neces-
sity, and on whom the responsibility should
rest, are questions that may be discussed
when the sense of humiliation shall haVs
somewhat worn off. To say that Buchanan's
policy made it necessary does not tell the
whole story. His policy was based more or
less on dispatches from Fort Sumter. They
harmonized. And now we have the result
il the report, now in every body's mouth, is
true.
The question occurs to my mind whether
or not the rebels will allow Major Anderson
to evacuate the Fort, which means to with
draw or retreat from it with what he can
take with him, leaving things behind in
whatever condition he may choose. Will
they not require the garrison to capitulate
to them on such terms as may be agreed
upon? Will they allow a Government YES
sci to enter the harbor to tax Major Ander-
son and his troops away? Will he be per-
mitted to spike his guns and take leave by
the carsf
Rather, will they not require him to march
his command out of Fort Sumter, after he
has pulled down his flag, as prisoners, or on
conditions amounting to the same thing?
That the rebels can, if they are disposed,
impose terms that will make the giving up
of The Fort to them as bumiliating as posi-.
Bile to the Federal Government, and all who
do not acknowledge JEFF. Davis, there is no
DOUBT. nelner Iney Will De ulSpOSeu 10 90
il, is another thing.
/ am confident that to nobody will the re-
ported step at Washington be a matter of so
much establishment as to Governor Pickens,
General Beauregard and the other military
leaders, unless it be the three or four thou
sand men who stand all prepared for the
fight. That it would take place in a very
few days has been the confident expectation.
1t has never entered their minds that it could
be otherwise. OF course there are those
wiser than any. body else, who say, II told
you so; / never believed there would be
eight" While there is another set who look
knowingly and remark that at was a fine
game, well played; we never had any quarre.
with Major Anderson"