New-York daily tribune., 1861-03-05
FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.
THE CLIMAX AT FORT SUMTER.

COERCION HUMDUG-MORE sliANGb foMono
ABOUT MAJOR ANDERsOY-wILL lie RESIGN
From Oar Own Correspondents ~
CHARLESTON, 8. c., Feb. %, 1851
Within four DAYS from the date hereof, Abra.
ham Lpcoln will be naugurated President To
nobody is the event Of more interest than to the
Rebels, who, for many months, have occupied
position of armed hostility to the Federal Gov
ernment defying it's authority, and making ready
for trial Of strength. Notwithstanding all they
say, fancy that to them the present is much
like the last week Of culprit sentenced to the
ganows. Each day brings them nearer to some
thing defiDtive. Not only they but the country
and the world, are about to see the end OF tois
state Of things, which Mr.. Buchanan's Admins
traiion for no higher motives thau to throw
upon the incoming Administration the questions
involved have protracted so long. The whole
thing is in a nutshell, admitting neither OF err
cumocution nor delay. The Rebels demand the
evacuation of Fort Sumter. Mr.. LIncoln's
Administration must either surrender or
defend the Fort. This is the precise point,
for nothing 10 more certain than that II
not surrendered the Rebels will take it
if they can. Which ought Mr.. Lincoln to
dof Fort Sumter is Federal property as well as
Fort Moultrie, and much other similar property
ID the forcibe possession of the Rebels. This
was confessed by the Rebels when they offered
to pay for what they bad stolen, and to open
negotiations for tho purchase OF what MAJOR An
derson would not let them steal. If this prop
erty did not belong to the Federal Government,
why did they talk about paying Government for
it, or about negotiating at all with the Federal
Government in regard to it Fort Sumter, then,
being Federal property, why should not Mr..
Lincoln refuse 70 give it up, and defend H. and
why should he not proceed TO reclaim that which
has been ,toleni There are the questions which
the Rebels are putting to Themselves; that every
rational man is putting to himself; and 1t is be-
cause there can be but ono auswer that the
Rebels contemplate the passing Of each day with
peculiar interest
| know not what grave considerations of policy
| NAV influence the action Of Government in de-
| Gliding these questions, nor what may arise 10
postpone decision But judging from this stand
point, which, il may be said, is not favorable for
unbiased conclusions, there can be but ole course
| for the incoming Administration to pursue, and
| that is to defend Fort Sumter with the whole
strength Of the Government, and treat the other
Federal property in rebel hands just as men the
world over treats stolen property. Had tins
| question, as and illustration, suppOntitious
one, been placed before the country at any time
before the last six months, what would have
been the response Of every man not already
rebel at heart1 The universal response would
have been, tho Federal Government mutt at all
hazards protect it's own property, and eoiorce
the Federal laws. No sane mau ever before pre-
tended that such a coure would be coercion,
any more than it would be coercion to enforce
the laws against the highway robber. To under
| take to compel South Carolina TO maintain
representation in Congress, to keep UP Federal
| Courts, aud her citizens to Gn Federal oflicee,
would uDquestOnabiy be coercion. To that eI.
tent State may get out of the Union and keep
| out, and the Government could not co-
cree her 10. 1t would be matter
Of her own choosing, though opposed to the spirit Of
the FedeIaicompact; the consequencesw fall on
herself, and the other Stats would have little TO
complain Of if she was satisfied Not 30 as to
the revenue laws, on which all the States, ns
parts of tho Union, alike sabsist. lt 10 some
thing due from tho Government toward every
| State TO enforce them. While the head Of a
! family may not cOerce u member TO eat OF drink
against his or her win, he may exert his author
ity In all matters that relate TO the welfare md
protection Of the other members, aud all alike
must come under federal authority.
The question is, viii Mr.. Lincoln exercise
this authority. Rather, 10 there any such thing
as escape from bis sworn duty to protect the
public property and enforce the laws Who
sdys that when Fort Sumter is attacked be ought
not to defend itl Az to Fort Moultfe, and
other stolen property, postPonement OF the e1.
excise of authority to reclaim it would in no
measure ALLEVIATE that right, and would be mere
ly a question of policy. Mr. Buchanan laid
down the only true rule, though he did not live
no to it, as to the revenue laws, and that is, 40
long ss they remained the laws Of the land they
must be enforced, and that it maitered little
whether the Custom. House was on shore or at
the mouth Of the Harbor. As 10 this, Govern.
ment may, doubtless, consult ito convenience.
Will Mr.. Lincoln establish here q different in
terpretation of bis duty, and will he not be more
prompt in doing it
The logical conclusion is that collisicn is inev.
table, and that, too, soon, that Fort Sumter
will be defended by the Federal Government i
suppose 10 no more 10 be doubted than that It
win be attacked by tho Rebels.
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