The national Republican., 1861-04-15
SURRENDER OF FORT SUMTER-THE
PRESIDENTS ADDRESS TO THE VIR.
GINA COMMITTED.

used at considerable intervals, has disappointed
the general expectation as to the power of that
fortress to protract its fall. 1t has not improb.
ably produced some modification among the
South Csrolinians themselves, by throwing u
sort Of ridicule upon their enormous prepara.
tons 70 capture . position which has yielded so
easily. They must feel that they have expended
a great deal OF money, wasted great deal Of
time, and subjected themselves to most pro.
tracted and exhausting agitation, to effect what
has proved too facile an achievement, to reflect
any credit upon their arms, or to compensate
them for their sacrifices. This capture of Fort
Sumter has cost them, in money, not one far
thing short Of million of dollars, aud proba.
bly, much more than that, and has kept them in
high fever, of which the relapse must be dan
gcrous, for four months.
The defensive power Of fort depends, to
large extent Of course, upon its offensive power.
A fort defends ITSELF not merely by the strength
of its own walls, but by Gripping the attack,
and enfeebling or silencing the batteries at work
against it. In this case, the offensive power of
the assailed fortress was next to nothing. There
were guns enough, but not men to handle them.
Major Anderson did not return the FIRE Of his
enemies at all, for half the time during which
he was fired upon and when he did SO re-
spond, it must have been with only few guns.
1t was seventy men against seven thousand,
and the issue could not be doubtful although
it might be protracted by favorable circumstan.
ces, or FASTENED by accidents, such as explo-
sions and conaagrations.
1t is now evident that the fate Of Sumter was
sealed on the 4th of March, and that it has not
since been possible to avert the consequences
of the treachery of Mr.. Buchanan, in not man.
ming all the Charleston forts, as advised by Gen.
Scott, on the 29th Of last October, and subse-
quently, in not reinforcing Sumter, while it was
still possible, aud before the rebels had erected
the batteries which have enabled them TO re.
duce the fort and to osstruct the approach Of
relieving fleets. 1t is undoubtedly possible
to land an army in the vicinity Of Charleston,
but it is now evident that the rebels have had
the power always, since the 4th Of March, to
reduce Sumter within the time that they would
have, after getting notice Of the approach Of a
relieving squadron, and before it should actu
ally arrive and get itself into condition to op.
crate effectively. This fort, unable to hold out
more than thirty.ive hours, could not be saved,
although ii may be retaken.
We repeat, that Sumter, as is now demon
strated, was hopelessly lost when Mr.. Lincoln
came into power and by the completely of the
late Administration with the treason to which
it has succumbed. Mr.. Lincoln has had no
power over the result, except to prohibit the
evacuation Of the fort, and to send ships to sup.
ply the garrison with provisions. He had no
power to prevent the fall Of the fort, under the
fire Of the accumulated batteries Of the rebels,
before th.se ships could reach it. 1t is upon
Mr.. Buchanan that the responsibility rests, for
whatever degree of national disgraceis involved
in this transaction.
The relief Of Sumter, if that had been posi-
bic, as we now know it was not, might have
ended the rebellion but the respite which this
illgained victory will give TO it, will not be
long, and will ouly render its final overthrow
more signal. The attack upon Sumter is every.
where arousing the patriotism of the country,
and consolidating all its sound elements into
an invncible strength. The spectacle Of q
great nation moving as one man in support of
the noblest Government on earth, is what we
are now witnessing.
On the day of the surrender of Sumter, we
had the Presidents answer to the committee of
the Virginia Convention, and, short as it is, it
would compensate the fall of many fortresses.
These measured words of the Chief Magistrate
OF thirty millions of people, unfurl the stars and
stripes to the breeze, full high advanced, at the
very moment of the crisis, and when the waver.
ing opinions Of men demanded leader. While
the storm is raging, it is with the reassurng
sound Of the trumpet that the helmsman of the
ship Of State announces his mistaken purposes.
he will everywhere repel force by force and
since this last unprovoked assault upon the ma.
tional flag, he will retake such positions, essen.
tial to the national safety, as have been lost.
The President meets augmenting difficulties
with augmenting courage. Never was man
placed in circumstances of more tremendous
responsibility and never has man confronted
circumstances with fortitude more heroic.
The destines Of nations often hang upon the
qualities single men, and in this trying juno.
ture, it is Mr. Lincoln who has saved his coun.
try by the promptness and vigor Of his deter.
limitations. 1t is only by sure anticipation of
events that the nation may be said to be al
ready saved, when the ringing words of the
President are now echoing back from the hills
and valleys of country, invncble if it only
wills to be so.
This rebellion is to be put down. 1t has
achieved its last advantage from the troachery
of the late Administration. Fort Pickens is al.
ready reinforced, and while the arrogant and