Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-03-08
THE INAUGURAL AT CHARLESTON.

Tho inaugural address of President Lincoln was tclc-
raphed entire 10 the city OF Charleston Immediately upou
its delivery The Mercury Of the h criticses its lead
ing positions in terms of great severity. OF the determi
nation expressed hold and possess the forts &c, and
collect the revenues in the seeded States the Mercury
says:
the policy and principles here indicated are attempted
to be carried out in full there will be war-open, de-
clared positive war-with booming and blood,
and battle in less than days from this date For TO
carry ont his threats not only the forts now In the
possession of the United States Government to be held
but ortresses along the coast in possession OF the
CONFEDERATE STATES AMERICA, are TO be possessed
and held by the USIrED STATES Government.
Further on in its article, the Mercury says:
But still we would say to people, for the present.
keep cool and bde your time The honor of this State
is no further involved in this matter. Ii has been trans
fered the shoulders OF the Government OF the Con-
fsderate States of Ameried-whether wisely or not 1t
is now too late discuss Our one entirely
of policy and war strategy. We do not profess to be
accurately cogn zant of the plans Of President Davis II
there is to be war; there must be plan and policy for
the campaign. These must originate from the heads OF
the Government. We have nothing TO lose by time
everything to gain. War six weeks ago might have
placed Virginia now BY side. War would have been
in the me of South Carolina The glory, prestige and
fame would have been hers. 1t is no longer so. The
ODD will he hers but little of the profit That blood
however, her people still, as they have been willing
generously to she'd Nor will any foreign foe unmolest
ed cross her border by or land Be ond this poll
and Ill ,tegy mus rule the action of the General Govern
ment no Montgomery Their decis with regard to this
barber will he carried out by the troops OF Carolina
Tnat President Lucon will attempt 10 cQlec revenue
OF the Bar Is now beyond question what iheh?-
Here lies the question in which alone this State is dir Ct
~ concerned What is then to be pursu' by
the southern Government? There but fwo open -
The one immediate attack upon Fort SUMTER the other
TO bescge aud sarve out the fortress. To attack the
Fort will not remove the n-oi-wBr from oil our Bar
Whit, th H. will be gained? 1t IL question
70 declare martial law the whole harbor ineud-
ing roth shores and the of the city prohibt
ins all zach to Fort Sumter by night by day. ex
Gliding from il ali supplies OF any description, and all IN
formation communication to its Inmates, may be TIE
D lcy decided upon Salt meat and warm whether may
most ,fectuay do our work for To reinforce For,
Sumter only to hasten the period OF starvation
For no ship of enter our harbor and land sup
nlea Sould she succeed in running the tort she viii
he under the constant fire OF three four batteries with
in telling aud destructive distance. She must be quck
IL d stroyed In the time ships, or ships Ia
dened with our goods for foreign ports may continue
their coui s. as usual Even should blockade be de-
c red it in way interfere with the gress and IN
grcss of neutral bottoms in their ordinary avocations OF
trade duty may doubtless, for the present. be col
lec;ed on such Imports as arrive here Directly from
abroad OF this reckoning must be made in the cacu-
Luton OF costs pro and few months mnst :ttie
the whole question And the taking of Fort Sumter in
medatey canuot far can perceive, hasten that
period We will be little further when we have finished
than when we beeun-minus some valuable lives
The above calculations are of course based upon the
sunpostou that matters inside the harbor remain IN
Sta'u Quo beligerent attitude on the part oil Fort
Sumter must at once precpitae war, and the Fort must
be taken in seli.proecton.
The Courier Of the same date coaes its structures
follows
The Union i. was in 1856 cannot be preserved,
restored or reconstructed according TO the plan indi-
Gated IN this i-omeued inaugural and if any Union of
all the States once united could be established or pre-
served under such policy, would be to the deadly in
jury of both sections and to the utter determination Of
al vital principles and essential elements OF republican
limited government.
We have too much faith in our race and history and
in the lessons of fathers aud Of the founders of An
so American liberties to believe that this inaugural
be accepted the of the American people, North
or South If 1t anything deviAing from the la.
mentally anomalous and plbe condition which marked
tie expiring weeks Of the preceding administration, 1t
m ans wsr to the ex Of President Lincons powers
or rf1ence l. our wisest and best policy to accept
il as declaration Of wal, aud 10 avail. only for our own
opportunities Of meeting that issue which before heaven
and earth proclaim not Of our seeking. The
sors Of the South will read Judge and act for themselves
their sres and their postey, and they must act
The men who went to against preamble, and
those who went to war for the rights OF without
owning q ship, and the men who marked Blena Vista
and Coureras aud Chapulepec in the list Of great bat
ties are prepared t. do and suffer Tuch in defence or
search Of honor but they rot prepared for that most
vulgar irresponsible and odous of all goverrmentshe
absolutism OF all accidental msoiy-and that is there
suit of Mr. Liucons inaugural if acted on; in the sha
ping of political destiny. We believe that large por
to Of the North will suffer such resultwe know
that the South will not.
Let the argument proceed to the next logc, and ne
stan opDp4l We vel ready
any free people can ever be expected be found ia
adya of the actual onset and that argument APP
Piled will bring US forces and resources. We are
ready