New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-02-08

ties upon his benighted mind. Other circum-
stances which have unhiDged the usual placidl'y
and equaninity Of the negros mind, relate TO
the persecutions and executions Of Northern men
in the remote interior districts; the neeros curl
osity, not to say sympathy, being excited, and
when he sees 8 man hung before bis eyes, he
asks why he has been hanged, and however
much the real truth il kept from bis knowledge
this attempt Of lodging the question only IN
creases the negro's interest in the matter
THE CRIME OF THE ADMINISTRATION
From Oar Own Correspondent
CHARLESTON, S. c., Feb. s. 1901.
More than two months ago, in the early stages
of this correspondence after gaining iull knoWl-
edge of the purposes Of the men who then held'
as they now do, the destinies OF South Carohna
within their hands, / stated that those purposes
embraced nothing less than the perpetual sever
ance of the State from the Union; that they ac-
eepted all the consequences OF revolution OF IT,
behon, whichever it might be- called or prove 10
be: that there would be nO step backward, even
from the extreme of meeting the Federal Gov
eminent in arms; and that the stIugge, in what
ever shape il might be developed, would not DC
relinqushed until the State trlumphed or was
subjugated. appeal to the eventiu history OF
the last two months whether i was not night.
Knowing the past We may judge of the future
The error of the Federal Government has been
in not believing, at least III not acting us though
il believed, that South Carolina was iully I'D ear
neat, whatever lateral questions there may nave
,f tba from the begin
ming has been the possession OF the iof's auu
Government property in and about Chsrleston' III
regard 10 that question, the RevolutionltS nave
had far less faith in persuasion than iorce'
Though they asked for the peaceable surrender
of the forts, they scarcely expected to be graft
fed and. therefore, the State adopted vigorous
measures TO accomplish her asking by force.
Tie prime movers have scarcely for moment
doubted that the forts would, in the end, have
10 be besieged. If in the early stages OF the keSo-
luton the Federal Government bad placed I'VE
hundred troops in the forts, with suitable m'truc-
tons. the designs Of the ReyOlutlonsts would
have been forestalled as impossiblitles. But
another policy prevailed; and if the Government
at that time was not actually in the hands OF
the Revolutionists, they had its sympathy. For
upward Of a month they have held forcibie pos
session of three OF the forts, aud are on the
eve of taking the only remaining one, at the
cost Of as many Of the lives Of their best men as
shal be required 10 accomplish the purpose.
But this one step remains TO be taken to com
plete the programme, and South Carolina IA
| Abont To take it, as she has taken the previous
! oues-n all hazards.
Still the Federal Government remains inert,
does not profit by the past is unable to eomp'e-
bend the naked truth, or Is Indifferent to II.
For the lake Of peace, after the boegle win the
Star Of the West, it promised to be- quiet aud do
nothing 10 disturb The existing Status vi things.
Il has observed that promise. Meanwhile, the
! ReVOlutonists have been making Herculenn efforts
in building fortresses the islands that form the lips
! OF the haIbOr, have strengthened Forts MOultre,
Johnson. and Pick sns, sui rounded Fort Sumter
with upward Of 200 guEs-lhe work Of not less
than 900 meb for more than month, secured
some Of the best engineering skill aud most
va liable military experience the country affords
10 direct their operations; gathered MUNITIONS aud
materials from the furthest extent OF our own
country, aud even from Europe; constructed
formidable floating batteries, AID with an energy
and patriotism which, if employed in good
cause, would be- ground for The highest praise,
have done almost everything to insure succe's in
the conflict which they have never doubted ulu,t
come.
! This is the way South Carolina has OBJ
served the agreement for preserving the ex-
! isting status Of things. Did the suspicion
obtain that the Federal Government medta-
ted reinforcing Fort Sumter, the howl Of bad
! faith and coercion filed the land, and the
purpose was abandoned. While the Government
has observed it's promise 10 leave alone the garri
son in Fort Sumter, that garrison has for upward
Of month, every day and eveV hour in the
day, been compelled ~ see transported withn
| pistol shot Of its battlements the huge engines
that we're 10 be used against them the moment
South Carolina could say she was ready. They
have been compelled for upward Of month TO
witness more than 5000 men--tbe chiyalry aud
the slaves mDgled-tciing for the erection OF
batter es that were to pour their iron hail ON their
heads, and bid defiance to the Federal Govern
meut should it attempt 10 afford succor. This,
say. is the way the arInlstice has been observed
by South Carolina.
These things have been well known to the
Federal Government, and yet it hos done nothing.
Ii has suffered itself 10 be actually cOerced ~
clsmOr TO observe q compact which South Caro-
Ina vas every hour violating. Even ii the acts
OF the State did not before relieve the Govern
ment from the compact, the demand recently
81 dor f Fort Slp-