Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-05-14
ENGLISH OPINIONS on THE FORT SUMTER AT
FAIR
lEtom Me MancLesIlr 0nardian J


"Wlsb,..D :" viii no doubt, be hereafter ques-
ton warmly discussed Joy Lieorans of the civil war;
which il now past praying against In the United States
THIS point is not by easy TO settle ~ It
o., 40 snnpsr 10 he II appears that messen-
re ,6, the Presiiau: of the United States conveyed to
General Beaur, grid and lr Pigeons, the Governor oil
south Carolina AN announcement that the Federal aG-
horitiea had determined to proceed Immediately TO eN-
tr,me measures for the purpose OF Introducing reinforce
meats of and supplies OF provisions into the Tort
ress. "
This was an overt step towards coercion which, sup
nos;pg the sec des TO be justified az all in throwing oil
the authority of Washington will, we think be held TO
yadcae them from the charg' OF Dloodguluness III their
determination to reduce Fort Sumter by force It's peace
able surrender h-yi.g Grs been formally refused 1t
would be very strained interpretation of the sentiment
Of humanity to suppose that nation or patty when
has b. EN- sryed with formal notice 0! atack, should
wait uat tbs threat e carried into eIecuton for fear OF
being clothed with lie responsibility OF aggression
There is reason for looking at this part OF the leaon
rather closely The only plausible explanation oi Presi-
dent Lincons s that ne has thought that po'
lca object was to be obtained by putting the South
erners in the wrong This reproach 1t was hoped that
they might be made subject TO, if they could be ma
ouvred into firing the first shot We, however, Only
INFER this to have been the calculation, because we do
not kno N; other hypothesis fitted to meet the strange
circumstances of tue as3. Great has been the mani
feat and unaffected beWildega.nt ~ the Cabinet at
Washington since its construction-and OF lie ,e2dng
men in the government before they actually entered
upon OF ce-we mus. decline to suppose them capable
of imaginipa h-t ibis affair of the Federal fort
res,es thin the territory NJ tie seeding States has
been dealt with TO the utmost advantage IRON
Ito plain and straightforward view OF theft dGty &C
rulers which they profess to take For weeks past II has
been rumoed with every appearance OF the rumors be-
ing true that Fort Sumter TO be quietly evacuated
To saw nothing of the authority which this statement
was circulated from time to time, people naturally sup
posed that hal tn re been any serious intention to man-
tain the fort it would havs been putin execution as soon
AZ the Lincoln administration came into power Inc ln'
terval since then having been seduousy employed by
the South Ca-onans n throwing up batteries and col
Iact,Ds e- and material it has been long known that
the Mace vas uste.sble it any potci end could
be gained BY successfully resisting at this pon preten-
son the real strength of which would have to be put to
the test els where If there were any doub; as to the
ssun1DCs OF this conclusion on srategcai GROUNDS, II
We nd be ragovod By the event.
From the eharacer yhjch Major Anderson holds, and
from the manner in wi ch his dGtes in the earlier part
of this unh ,ppy struggle were performed, there Is no
reason to question his being man OF resoluton and
the so ers of the American army as little addicted
"a anv troops in the world to surenderng posts
trus ed TO then except under the pressure OF nec sy
The battle of Charleston or by whatever name may be
called in history, narrowly escapes it does escape be-
ne ridiculous II the interchange OF shots went on as
il appea.s to have doLe for two days and an intermed
ate night it would hardly possible but that some
lives must have been lost but not told that such
was the case All the Information youchsafed is that
none of the officers of the Federal garrison we're wound
ed and that none Of the South Carolnans were killed.
Whatever Ia crou associations connected with the
of the Italian States of the middle ages, Of the Spn-
ish American Republics may be recalled by these par
ticulars it SHOULD be sui ct OF rejoicing TO every
that the useless horrors OF an assault on the
fort spared
As soo1 as it's walls had received certain amount Of
damage the effect of the firing of the wooden structures
within the work. Major Anderson struck his flag like
sensible soldier, and conveyed with lis men to
Chareston where they doubtless had the npst hes
pitable reception and the best treatment compatible
with their state prisoners OF war. IL ia worthy OF
special observation that the fleet oil the barbor took no
part in the conflict We must fairly presume i you'd
have done any serious into non OF resisting the attack
of the Secessioniss bad been entertained The whole
affair looks like nothing much refusal on the part
of the United States authorities to leave place in which
they did not desire t. remain without the application of
inst as much force would ene them to all the adj
vhntages 10 be derived from action for Iault and
| battery.
II may be premature say how far the calculations
which this course taken likely TO be justified by
the To our limited power OF judgment il appears,
We confess cCmI tie the character OF Mr.. LncJlns
policy as including veryknown Mind of blunder Having
first NEGLECTED fight until the chance of doing with
success had passed away, he has now undertaken and
provoked conflict under circumstances which ensured
his being Inundated and beaten without the possibility
of striking effective blow 10 return Morally he IL to
the full as responsible the govern of Montgomery
for ansferriug the matters III dispute between them
om the arbtrImen of 10 that of arms for his
formal intima,ion them that he about TO resort 10
force challenge that they could not b. expected TO
disreg ard II he what he said it virtually
mencement Of war If he did not, il still more cu'pa-
BILE as idle menace We say nOthi in justification Of
the revolt Of the seeding Slater: only remark that
Mr. Lincoln TO to have thrown away, with sing
ullr mpirtialiy, every advantage of argument al Of
material position which he possessed them At the
beginning. His position most arducus one, beyond
doubt but he need have Xerted himself TO make the
most Of the inconvebiences and dangers He has lost
Fort Sumter, which perhaps necessary but has he
succeeded in exciting In the waveripg communities Of
the Border States the disgust and apprehension which
were desired, In order permanently 70 ALLEVIATE them
from the secederss Nothing appears Ices probable.