, 1861-03-15

We still cling to the hope that Fort
Sumter will not be evacuated Its present
condition is undoubtly critical in the ex-
treme. It must be victua1ed or evacuated
within few days, or the command Of Ma
jor Anderson will be compelled by starva-
ton to surrender But desperate rs the
case now seems to he, we shall believe with
great reluctance that wise aud patriotic
councils at Washington cannot devise
means for retaining possession Of that gym
bol Of Federal Sovereignty in the midst Of
rebellion.
The great and seemingly insurmount-
able difficulty consists in the fact that the
Preddent is without adequate means
for meeting the emergency. Through tie
imbecility, if not actual treason, Of the late
Administration, the opportunity 10 rein
force and re-proyision the fort was wicked
II thrown away; the army and navy were
so widely separated that sufficient force
cannot be concentrated for that purpose
now before starvation would have destroy
ed the garrison or compelled its surrender !;
and Congress adjourned without providing
for the emergencies through which tic
county is passing. The hands Of the
President are eifectua1ly tied. He can only
proceed By those steps pointed out in the
Constitution and through the laws Of Con-
gress. Had Congress clothed him with
the necessary power to call upon the coun-
try for assistance: instead Of holding
Cabinet councils: over the question Of
evacusting Fort SUMTER, BIr. Lincoln
would put his foot down firmly" and
every loyal citizen would rally to his sup
port.
We apprehend that no man who is 4
friend Of the Government, whatever may
have been his political antecedcnts, desires
the withdrawal Of Najor Anderson's COM
mand. Those who profess to favor that
policy On the ground that it would concili-
ute the secessionists, are not Union men at
heart. The reverse would be the fact.
The sccessionists Of the South would re-
cognize the evacuation as evidence of the
weakness Of the Government and Of their
own strength. It would inspire them with
renewed zeal in the prosecution Of their
reasonable projects; while it would pro-
duce a corresponding depression among
the people of the loyal Staies.
This journal has favored IN extra session
Of Congress with express reference 10 sucl
emergencies as that in which the Admins
tration is now placed. That body, howcv-
er, could not be called together in time to
meet the case Of Fort Sumter. Its fate
will have been determined within
the next ten days. We notice
a suggestion in one Of our exchanges to
send a ship with provisions, but mot with
reinfo1cemenfs, to the relief Of the Fort,
Government making no secret Of its under
taking. This would place upon Mr.: JEFF
Davis the responsibility Of firing upon
rrovisiou-ehip going tothe reliefo of A1neri-
can citizens, or suffering it 10 quietly &C.
complish the object Of its mission. In tho
event Of the former policy being adopted,
the effect upon Southern sentiment, it is
thought, would not he favorable to the new
Confederacy; while should the latter be
adopted the necessity for eyacuating the
Fort would he removed
Popular sentiment demands the holding
Of the Fort until competent military al
thority prpnounces all plans for its relief
absolutely impracticable. In this feeling
weknoW the President participates. 1t is
safe to asy, therefore, that if it i eyacua-
ted at all, it will not be for any purpose of
Cancellation, but ftop, sheer military ne
cessity. In the meanwhile, to guard
against any subsequent difficulty Of q like
character, an extra session Of Congress
seems to be an absolute necessity.