New-York daily tribune., 1861-01-04
FROM GEORGIA.
WHAT is THOUGHT OF COERCION.


AUGUSTA, Ga, Dec. 90, 1860.
The rampant Fire-eaters here appear to be
somewhat dissatisfied with the position of affairs
in South Carolina, that is to say, in the harbor
of Charleston. The news that the dsmantled
and defenseless fortresses had been bravely
occupied by the rebels aroused certain degree
of enthusiasm, and " that heroic little State "
was metaphoricaly patted on the shoulders and
adiured TO "go in," and keep going in. But
now that day and more has passed without
bringing the news of the taking of Fort Sumter,
the aforementioned warriors and politicians OF
the bar-room grow impatient and wish they were
there. then something would be done, III promise
Won. I really believe these fellows think that if
q few boat-loads Of men with cockades would
row down to the Fort, braying before the grim
walls, the flag they insult would come down at
once. quicker, even, than old Jericho fell before
the rams horns of its invaders 1t would be
well enough for the South if some hundreds of
these raging noodles Would only volunteer for
the enterprise before imbecty and treason COM
bne to remove Major Anderson from bis post
What howng and gnashing of teeth We have
here on account of that plucky exhibition OF
generalship on the part Of the soldier who appears
70 be aboutthe only man connected with the United
States Government at this moment in the South.
There is, indeed, something ludicrous in the posi-
ton of the " heroic little State" The capture
of all these forts was one Of the easiest opera
tions in the world some morning, said the
leaders, patronizingy, to the camoring people,
some morning we will run down and take them,
all in good time; just now we have important
and difficult matters to attend to; We must see
how we can get our mail. carried, and various
other odd jobs done, which we are not now IN q
position to do for ourselves. But when one
morning came. and they got early out OF bed to
see that they had been beaten from the field, we
cannot wonder at their rage, nor be surprised az
the sulky disappointment felt here in Georgia at
the uDdionied collapse Of mighty plans.
/ repeat what / think | said in former let
ter. the Aoundering Of South Carolina since the
passage of her Secession Ordinance makes the
steady minded conservative people firmer than
ever in their determination TO oppose the rash
ness Of Howell Cobb and he party. while Il puts
new ideas into the brains 0. those who were ten
DAYS ago prepared TO follow the lead OF the Rat
tlesnake State. Ii is, however, most unfortunate
that the true public opinion 6nds comparatively
feeble expression, while the sentiments Of the
rabid few are roared aloud by the reckless, lazy,
pennless, drunken crew e.er infeStlng the rail
way station, GROCERY, and 'liage street.
You may naturally enough ask II the subject OF
coercing the South is ever discussed here, and if
80, what people say touching It. The subject is
talked of both loudly and quietly. The burden
of the loud talk may accurately be represented
| by the phase Let 'em try it Whole armies OF
"hireling soldiery"-a faycrte expression just
noy-are hacked to pieces whenever two IRE.
eaters meet together at the stove TO expectorate.
"Let but the first drop Of Southern blood be
"spiIed," &c. eve viii spend every cent and
every drop Of blooo before We will, &c. The
spending every cent wotld not bs ne" piece
of self.abnepatioD, ore would say, nor very
difficult feat. These brave squao,tere OF other
peoples money and blood appear to toihk tns'
armies grow spontaneously, and are fed mira, u
lously. Their bombastic utterances are not
this subject is very different in its tone.
1t is carried On by men who know that the
South would in the first place be pecuniariy
drained by the taxation necessary to pay the ear
lest expenses Of the valiant rebel army; who
know that upon their pcsterity would be entailed
a crushing debt; that the most valuable defend
ers of home and freside against that internal
enemy, the slave in bondage, would be taken
from the important post, leaving none to supply
their places that soon an empty treasury famine
stricken granaries desoateand untitled fields would
represent their possessions; that. raging with hun
ger and hate, the Slave would murder his way
out into the freedom bis neglected brain dreams
Of: that the yes Of the battle ground, the moans
of the hospital, the wailing Of the bereayed house
would be the only sounds borne across their sa-
yannas by the Southern winds; that the issue of
the strife would be. on one hand, victory over
which no heart would be left for rejoicing; on
the other. sullenness OF defeat through whose
heavy cloud the sun Of Joy coald not fOr q gen.
GRAFTON shine.
pause He does so; and, paueing, reflects deeply.
He is now in his busy nl.nd comparing the avail
able resources Of the North and the South the
probabilities of victory and defeat, Of the length
Of the struggle, Of the manner IN which other
nations will regard il, the attitude they will be
likely TO take. He is asking himself if there ia,
after all, anything 30 despcable as the loud
voiced orators would have him believe, in giving
bis influence to the support Of the Union under
which he and his State have lived. moved, and
had their being; whether il is indeed cowardly
10 thwart the ambitious purposes Of few men