The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1861-05-25
English Opinions ora the Fort
Sumter Affair.

Nature. or something that stands in its
stead, il still strong in the Americans. They
fight willingly bat with unwilling minds.
They lift the hand to strike, they wing the in
strnment of death, but o mysterious power
averts the stroke, or blunts the edge or d,adens
tile blow. Are they in earnest or are they play
ing ut war, or dreaming that they strike and
still strike not? It sounds more like a danger
Gus game, than a saa reality, Seyen batteries
preached and bomi,arhed Fort Sumter for forty
hours, burnt down its barracks, blew up sever
al magazines, threw shells into il inliurnerabie,
and did d vast show Of destruction. The fort
replied with like spirit. AT length it surren-
rendered, the garrison marched out prisoners
Of war, and it was then found that not a man
was killed or an officer wounded OIL either side.
Many a difficulty nj a bar had cost more
bloodshed. Was this q preeoncerted feat Of
conjuring? Were the rival presidents salutea
cue another in harmless fireworks to ainuse
The gfeuudlinas2 The whole affair is utterly
ineSplieable. 1t sounds like the battle. when
the coat Of mail had come to its perfection. and
when the only casualty, after a days hard
bruises. London Times,
The battle of Chasleston, or by whatever
name it. may be called i'll history. narrowly
escapes, if il does escape, being ridiculous. II
the interchange of shots went Oh. as il appears
to have done, for two days and an inter,nedi-
ate night, it would seem hardly possible but
that some lives must have been lost; but we
are not told that such was the case. All the
information youchsafed is that none of the Of
ieers Of the federal garrison were wounded,
aud that none Of the South Carolinians were
killed.
Whatever .ludicrous associations connected
IL with The wars of the Italian states Of the mid
die ages or Of the Spanish American repub-
lies, may be recalled by these particulars, it
should be q subject Of rejoicing to every ra-
tional man that The useless horrors of an as
sault on the fort we're spared. As soon as its
walls had received a certain amount Of dam
age, the effect Of the firing Of the wooden struc-
tnres within the work, Major Anderson struck
his flag, like a sensible soldier, and was con
Yeyed, with his men, TO Charleston, where
ithey bad, doubtless, the most hospitable recep-
Htinn, and the best treatment compatible with
Htileir state, as prisoners Of wnr. 1t is worthy
Of specialsebservation that the feet off the har-
Dor took no part in the conflict, as we must
fairly presume II wonld.have done il any seri.
Gus intention Of resisting the attack Of the
secessionists had been entertained. The whole
affair looks like nothing 50 much as q refusal
on the part Of the United States authorities "a
leave a place ID which they did not desire to
remain without the application of just as
much force as would eDtitle them to all the
advantages to be derived from an action for
assault and battery. Manchester Guardian.
Having Jared so badly ii South Carolina
President Lincoln will doubtless pause before
be proceeds further III the same direction,
Indeed. be is likely to have work on his hands
at home, for q belief prevailed TINT the sonth.
ern forces would make an attack upon Wash
ipgton; but their anger, in all probability, has
been appeascd BY the possession Of The fedora
fort III Charleston harbor, which has this beer
secured under circumstances more favorable
than could have been anticipated. Both tilt
opposing parties have done enough to redeem
their pledges Wilmer Il Smiths European
Times.