The Placer herald., 1861-04-27
The CAuture of Fort Sumter.

hearts of the people of California. 1t is
true that they had been in measure pre-
pared for the news of collision at Charles
ton, by previous news, but there was a fer
vent hope, that the solution Of the diffirul
ties would lie found in peaceful regotiation
instead of the dread arbitratement Of arms
But this hope has been disappointed, and
with hearts heavy with sadness, and with
gloomy forebodings Of the future, we are
compelled to receive the details Of the de.
structive work commenced in Char lesion
harbor.
The immediate cause Of tho attack was
the attempt on the part Of the Administra
tion to relieve the for, by supplying it with
reinforcemen,s Of troops. and provisions
The Confederate States had declared from
the first their determination to resist the
streng' henng of the forti6cations held by
the u. S. Government within their limits but
asked that their possession should be made
matter of negotiation. Many members
of Congress, from States that have not
joined in the secession movement, and who
have believed the difficulties of the country
admitted If remedy by the amendment, Of
the Constitution, which would bring back
the seeding States, insisted that pending
the efforts that should lie made to this end,
that Sumter and Pirkens should not be re-
inforced, or an attempt made to collect the
duties. The Legislatures and Conventions
Of the border Slave States, who came for
ward as meIitators to effect settlement be.
tween the sections took the same position
Such was also the desire of the Peace Con-
ference, toward which the country recently
looked with so much hope. With all these
influences brought to bear in favor Of
peace, and the assurance given out by Mr..
Lincoln and Mr.. Seward that the policy Of
the Administration would be shaped to that
end, the country was coming to the belief
that the troubles would he settled without a
resort to arms. But it seems that while the
Administration was declaring its peaceful
intent, it was actually engaged in con.
centrating vessels Of war and troops 10
s,ren4 then Sunper and Pickens, intending
thereby to place the onus of firing the first
guns upon the people Of the seeded States.
In this we believe the Administration has
deceived the country, and endangered the
existence of the Union-as in all probabili
ty the border States will rapidly follow in
the secession movement The news from
Virginia looks rs if that State will he the
first to pass an ordinance of secession, and
with her departure where will be the hope
of single Slave State remaining? The
fact that there is danger that these States
will pursue such course, is proof tha!
the policy Of the Government is one that is
destroying instead Of main aiming the Union.
The firing of the first gun on the par, of
the Confederate States, was fearful rcspon-
sbiiiiy, but not more so than the willfnIness
Of the Administra ion that precipitated the
by sending fleets, after promising
the country that Sumter should only not be
reinforced but evacuated.
Even many Of the Republican press APP
plauded The determination of the Presiden,
and his Cabine! TO eyacuate the for. AZ they
saw therein benrignant policy that would
more rapidly overthrow the secession cause
than fleets and armies. But they too have
been deceived by their leader, who never in.
tended to yield the fort, or else, for causes
that have since operated, has changed his or
iginal intention. And what are the causesa
The Washington correspondent Of the Sac
Union enumerates some of them He says
that persons who know anything about
politics and politicians will zee that the Ex-
ecu,ive counseis have latterly been influenced
by considerations as follows; lst. The result
OF the municipal elections in ST. Louis, Gin
cinnali and other parts Of he West and in
New York; and the loss cf two Congress
men in Come, ticut and two in Rhode Island.
Cd The efforts OF some of the Western pol
iticians to infuse back bone alo Lincoln. SO
as to satisfy the Northwest that the Govern.
ment is determined to secure to them for
ever the free navigation Of ,he Mississippi,
which they are afraid Of losing 3D. The
fear Of i'eng compelled to repeal the Nor
ril tariff in consequence Of the importation
Of foreign goods being made through the
South under the low tariff of the Southern
Confederacy, and the consequent loss to the
party of New England and Pennsylvania in
the .o:al cnnhiiaton Of the principle Of
protection
And these are the considerations that are
believed to have Influenced the administra-
ton, and prompted it to adop, measures
that may bring the couutry to ruin. The
The claims Of party made paramouu! to
those OF peace, fraternity, and national
greatness. The lives, and homes OF citizens
ieopardized, and all the terrible hazards of
war cour.ed for the purpose of binding fast
the ties of party. Is it possible that this
can be? And yet how strong is the evi
dence of its truth; for no sooner did New
York harbor become busy with the dispatch
Of men, munitions, and vessels of war, to
Charleston and Pensacola, that the radicals
of the Republican press, proclaimed with
Joy that "at last the Administration has a
policy" The JOY was that of partizsns,
not patriots. What signi6ed it if blood