Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-05-01

INEFFI5lENCl OF TIE FEDERAL AUTHORITIES.
Tie P.j-d. pLia Argus while it sustains the Federal
G5ye71msa, complains bitterly Of the total ignorance
and stupidity which all thinking persona perceive mark
It az every step These bllnders can result only in dis
Aster, and vail soon make the North blush for its folly,
ana create a fearful reaction among its people. We
make the following extracts from the article in the
Argus;
We are paieed and mortified at the depo-abo iHeii-
,i.lev s, srat cf i0r,-gl. which is marking the ac-
e1u o. ac Federal authorities In the present exgency.
Tue evacuation OF Fort sumter, long talked of as
military nee --ty, might have been accomplished at
any time vi-. ut,l-houot and would have the ac-
Qgcseeuce "a thc lecpc; oU, the administration, dis
cleig the tlac5iass oi military experience, adopted
t slEce- lions Ot atoC.aaIdy adveu ur., aud attempt
.G "a Uu..e purpose With melCs the mcs. lucnL4bly
a.i aus.c TIE rc,ll- failure the oss of tie fort
14 -re commencement Of ac ual civil g. But :" -he
contest preceding tha evacuation the cS c'ume0 'c.
neslv defended the National fAc, h.rsef n.c..rbirc
--us of ctr;..4dou, sAluug his Standl-J, relJ'--
under ! 0so-d acd protecting folds. Bus lC. so the
ly,eus.u OF Norfolk ami Ha'pars Ferry which, though
rcs of tar government Justly regarded nat OOa
humiliation Tserc had been empe time for the protec
lion of these important points. They the property
of e Government. The people had been Iromsed that
h,y should be protected and their burning aud eyacua
1 il order that ,hey might fall into the hands o
the enev cs o; gect and want OF saglcity on the
Di- Of the National authorities, and IS confession J
atakne,s 90 the last degree hymiarng.
The Government property at Norfolk amounted "a
aoas u value aud while vet the people OF .he Nortt
we're corgrs-ustue themselves upon the ASSURANCES
-t, ce. in command there, of their ability 70 deienC
g.. cones the startling intelligence that the whole ha
oeeu fired by the troops and nine or ten national YES
SIS burnt ard sunk. This is not protection" of tht
public property; aud is not what the people had
right TO expect ofS Government in defence Of which
tEey stand ready TO shed their last drop Of blood. The!
demand gallant energy the part Of the authorities
commensurate With their own not backwardness an'
ine6 eucy by which everything NAV be oS and ever
che honor OF ke most heroic tagnished. So too, witt
Rarper's Ferry.
Ii was an unpardouab,e bluuder to leave 1t defence
less in view Of the more than probable secession OF Yr
gnl az any hour after the Issuance OF the President
call tor troops and especially when the $4,000 stan,
of arm, there gwen 70 the flames were needed by th
patriotic volunteers OF Pennsylvania, who aread,
rllyiac I'm thousands 70 vindicate the honor Of tn
colutr7 Either Ct these humiliatons might have beer
vered by the exercise Of the least sagacity and pre-
caution. As they are they stand .o-iossiOn o
weakness and imbechty S-oly Inconsistent With th
character a. aru0r "a people unpleasant TO thDl
Oh ali to tbs last degree derogtory TO the governmen
var carried on Win greater foresight can only re
/ suit in successive disasters and diSgraces.