New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-03-16
The MILITARY OPINIONS.
Tia Subject Thoroughly Canvassed
YHg WITHDRAWAL CANNOT BIB AVOIDED
ss..J.l ssxts,,A W the N. Y. Tribune.

stedL pszps,eA W the N. Y. Tribune.
WASHINGTON, Friday, March rs, 1861,
I've President considered il due to that portion
Of the Cabinet which dissented from the poicy
Of withdrawing Maj Anaerson's command irein
Fort Swnter to have the opinions Of Gems. scoH
and Tosten, in connection with the Official data
upon which they were PEedicated, presented
orally before the final order was approved
These distinguished officers we're accordingly
soumoned to attend a special Cabinet CouEcn
this msrnIg, which was n session LOT ever
three kaurs, wrere AL the original reasons and
considerations that induced them to advise the
abandonment Of Port Sumter were submitted,
together VIII suck additional explanations and
answers as could not have bee0 communicated
In their Off ial report.
No enc doubts that military plan way be de-
vised COR reinforcing Fort Sumter, but the ques'
fssa aow before the Administration Is, whether
n can BE- done with the means at hhe command
vsf the y,resScrt, or, if pet, whether MAJ An
Sersop can held out until Congress could be called
sogetl,sr II lie positively known that the avail
able force 10 entirely insufficient, even by strip
,pnue all the forts yet held in the Southern states
which, OF course, would be the signal for their
imnsdiats, yeizure, as seOn as such purpose
became Known, and ii could not be ceneeaied'
gov. Pieksns wculd at once eTder the DAILY cup
av,ies which Mai. Anderson new receives cat OF.
His garrison could not hold out tall Congress as
seubisd supposing ii to meet at the earliest
uractrable time. The alternatives therefore,
are, withdrawal or starvation.
nv ii al
and importance Of this act, and, therefore, are
determined to protect themselves at every point
before taking the irrevccable step. They viii
xbou the country that it cannot be avoided, and
that The whole responsibility belongs to their
predecessors, who purpessly entsiIed this comPh-
eatieu upon them.
Another. and the fasl Cabinet meeting, will
BE- held Tomorrow at II O'Clock, and, before It
sJjoorns the last formslity will doubtless be
completed. Every beur of delay increases the
embarrassment and weakens the position OF the
Administration, by creating the belief thai There
10 serious division in its councils, OF that the
question really admits Of an alternative different
rum that first presented. Il he's now been one
week under consideration, aud been discussed az
no less than nine sittings of the Cabinet, with
an the information in possession OF the Govern
zent or in any way sttainabie.
The suggested operations by sea have eeen
eonsiderea with the fullest facts which the ehart'
and personal knowledge Of Prot. BaeSe and tss
highest naval authorities could furnish. Th'
best science in the engineer corps has been caile'
into requisition. superadded to all these, ant
other sources Of instruction, the skill and ga
sneity of Gen. Sodtt have been fully invoked
They al concur in advising the withdrawal 0
Major ABderson's command, and II would d.
yresumptsous to question this Judgment on thi'
strictly military matter.
Upon the data of Major Anderson's last stste-
sDeut to the War Department, his stock Of bread
h reduced to fourteen days, and rice to about
twenty.three. With the ether supplies on hand.
he might maintain himself q month.