Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1861-03-29
EDITORIAL coRaaspoNDEEcE.
MopRIs IshANp. Mark safsh

ano anderson stil1 holds Fort Sumptef, agd. in-
stead of onr own dear Palmetto Flag the
STARS snd Strips" still float. triumphantfy over
the walls Of the fortresi ''Hope deferred ma.
keith the heart sick," auds;some of our esger
and restless spirits'are becoming as incredulous
as ever as,to the promised evacuation, and Sare
beginning 70 doubt, whether anything short of
General Besuregard and his bomb shells, will
ever bring about the desired result. Saturday
last was the day ann ouncea in the newspapers
as that on which the surrendsy Of the fort was
to take place. and as you may imagine, Sumter
was an Object Of eager interest and constant
scrutiny during the day, and particularly as
the hour approached ior che sailing OF the New
| York Steamer Colus6ia which Il was alleged
seull probably transport the garrison. at
about O'clock some OF the outsiders announ.,
sed to the Camp, that white flag was to ,be
seen st9or very, near to Fort SUMTER. and We
Immediately made steps for the nearest sand.
hills. to watch the progress of events. Sure
enough. thefe was a steamer at the wharf OF
the fort, with white, flag floating %fr m the
mast mas, head and with spy.glass in hand we anx-
iousiys awaited the .e,nbarkatien .ofsthe troops
There was no movement of any lkind to be OBJ.
served for sometime. and we began to think
thst the troops we're busily engaged inside of
the fort preparing their baggage. In a. short
time the steam'r left the, fort aud the more
sanguine among US jumped Immediately to the
,eoneusion that the troops. had already been
stored away on board. At this moment New
York steam ship was seen approaching the
Tort and con lecture became almost certainty,
when as she passed, tho "Stars and Stripes"
were suddenly lowered. But on .sweut the
steamer and up again went the flag. aud we
were sadly disappointed Again our hopes re-,
slve as another steamship is seen to leave the
city wharf But that is not the Colombia.
snys one, the C1tanabSa is a side; wheel steamer,
and that is screw propeller She too passes
by without q sign of recognition from the fort.
Finally the Columbia herself heaves in sight.
approaches, passes, makes out ~ sea, and final.
ly is lost to view-and with her our hopes seem
lin the deep ocean buried" The solution Of
the Who'll matter which thus excited our hopes
was that steamer had been employer to
| transport to Fort Sumter some of Capt. Fos.
| ters effects from Fort Mo1ltrie and in the dis.
charge OF her mission exhibited the white fa g,
aFProachedth the fort, transac ted the business.
and then quietly left. But is the fort to be sur.
Nrenderedt and if so. wheni We think that
there can be no, Doubt that such must be the
result and in very short time. Gen. Scott
urges it as a military necessity, Lincoln and his
Cabinet adopt his conclusions, and the Black
| Republican journals are forced 10 admit th @
fact and justify its policy. But why the de-
layf President Davis and the Southern Com
mi'sioners perhaps know certainly--the rest
of US may conieeture. 1t would seem that the
surrender Of she fort is 80 important step and
80 much in the teeth of Lincoln's inaugural,
that he would again eons,1t his political
chart, the "latitude and departure" and shift
his course to suit the charge Of circumstances.
lie and his advisers want time to mature a
system of policy. and to prepare the public
sentiment Of the party, and to coneilate the
more radical aud intractsble of the freesoil
leaders. Let them have the desired DELAY, and
let time produce its natural results. The recos.
milton Of the Southern Confederacy, and the
Southern forts, mey be delayed for time. but
We think. that this result will rapidly succeed
the surrender Of Fort Sumter. There are but
two aiternatives ives--recognitio or civil war
The 9ribrRe itself admits. that it would be fu.
tile to, attempt the collection OF the revenue in
the seeded States. and to blockade Southern
ports. even if,practicable, would naturally
| provoke a conflict with the .Europeon powers
and necessarily. a civil war at home. No mid.
die ground or half way measures are left to
L'ncoins Administration. Insthe face of war,
Will an empty treasury, and decreasing rev.
enus'' the prompt recognition of the Southern
Con nfederaey would seem TO be measure of
vital policy and prime necessity. This or =
recognition Of the Union on. .the sbasis of ths
new Confedsracy. This last is to be depreca,
ted-wears at last free Of al connection with
tho North--let the slaveholding State. shun ali
"fhliatioh with the noh-slaysholding. 40
With the evacuation of Fort Sumter. will
follow, we suppose. the dischsrgs Of: our Reg
'ment. We were raised for special purpose,
and with the end accomplished, our mission
will DO euded- The .Regulafs WIN take our
places, orelse tweIye months Volunteers on
the pay.of Che fconfs sts States II. would
seem 70 Ss anssless ,aE upen the STATE, to con.
tsnue MS day longer thsn the .ezigenees Of. the
service demand. Our discharges is generally
'eoneededto depend upon, TIA @evacuation eva of
the fott, and TIE Con yention which win NEE,
,on 1a, Tomorrow ID probably take some soslon
10; the n,atSers5 : ,.,,s ~ 4 y ~ IN ts
Es stil kept sigitsnt coiH Gusrd, s.nd
oniy Jew nights since, q vessel 10 passing nh
the ohsnnsf failed TO & tss The proper s;enaIs.
hsns ssbs vsssi sa.s.sd sSi,th sssfrs Of nas.
ketry from the s.Stasso OF The West Batte,yy
which nnfck IL hro,,,,bt 49,