Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-04-02


The conntry Is sick at heart ever the necessary
wlthdraWalo OF anderson from Fort Sumter. 1t had
better stop crying over what can't be helped and
spend its time in preventing similar humiliation
at Fort Pickens.
If not relieved in six weeks from this time Fort
Pickens will have to be abandoned just like Fort
Sumter, and for the same reason. Fort Pickens and
its approaches are being gradually commanded bv
sand batteries. If it be not forthwith garrisoned
and proyisioned for siege it cannot be done at an
It must be surrendered without q blow, for the
United States must suffer no defeats IL the Cow
eminent cannot maintain the position it ought To
yield it up withouta struggle If this be dom then
the Confederate States viii become enc of the
nations of the world, and the United States of
America viii cease to be first rate power
We know that the Administration does not con.
template this for in that it would as disgrace
fully betray the country as did Buchanan. As il
does not purpose this it must mean to maintain the
integrity of the Uaion, and TO this the holding Fort
Pickens seems to Us absolutely essential The only
question then is what Is necessary to accomplish
that purpose. The first step is to garrison the fort
and provision it forthwith to its utmost Capacity
But this is not all When garrisoned and provisoned
it will still be attacked by the revolutionary forces
under competent officers. No matter how fnll az
men the fort may be, a siege is mere question OF
time. After few weeks of battery in breach its
walls will be heap of ruinz, and the besieg;no
forces will mount to the assault, for garrisons and
provisions alone will nos secure the fort nor the
dignity of the United States.
The siege will be successful unless it be raised
1t can be raised only by superior land force dry
leg of the besieging force. Three or four thousand
men can take the fort by the regular process of a
siege in three or four weeks from the opening OF
the batteries, if undisturbed. But FIVE or seven
thousand men win at once arrest their proceedings
and drive them from the siege; all their works win
be destroyed and their battering trains taken bv
such force. The United States must therefore in.
stantly begin to organize this force to raise the
siege of Fort Pckens. tsr 4 80
If this work is begun at once, the revolutionary
authorities will be driven to adopt of two cour
ses. Either they must abandon al idea of siege and
leave the fort unassaed, they must hold in readi-
ness force of five six thousand men TO support
and cover the siege operations. To this the United
States must be ready to respond by ten thousand
men, which will still suffice to raise the siege.
Thus it will become, like the siege.of Sevastopo
real trial of strength between the two parties
The revolutionary States cannot possibly raise.
and arm, and support and concentrate at Pensacola
as many as $4,000 men; their whole population is
not sufficient; and at least one-half the population
is for the United States, and will refuse to bear
arms, and cannot be trusted to bear arms for the
purpose Of attacking the United States in its own
forts.
But no matter how many men the reyolutionists
can assemble it is certain the United States can as
semDie arm, support and pay, two to every one the
revolutionists can concentrate and maintain on the
spot The revolutionists will therefore either be
driven to withdraw their military force or to see i.
destroyed. If they withdraw, their prestige is for
ever gUne, and the people will rise on them ard ex
pei them from power, and the Union is maintained.
If they fight, their whole military strength will be
crushed on the sands of Pensacola without one act
OF violence or injury war against any but those
actually IN arms assaultiHg the United States troops
and the people of the Gulf States will at once nut
down the revolutionary usurpation, and the Union
is maintained.
How can troops be concentrated at Fort Pickena!
Under the laws of 1894 and 1907, the President can
embody and employ the whole militia for the pur-
pose. 1t is the law of the United States that the
United States authorities shall hold the United States
forts Resistance to hostile military force attack
ing them is the only mode Of enforcing that law; and
thus under the existing Ia the President can act
without calling Congress together.
Instant order should be gwen in the proper quar-
fars 70 the militia in sufficient bodies 10 hold inem-
selves in readiness to march ,r embarkation-yes>
GELS should be chartered to transport them-as many
OF the regular army must be concentrated at the
nearest points practicable-and the moment O gun
il fired at Fort PcKens the force in sufficient bodies
must be embarked and landeG, and march to raise
the siege. ~ - y
This course is demanded by the national honor
and the national safety If resoutely and promptly
acted on, will end the revolutionary outbreak lust
where 1t ought to he ended now that it cannot be
1eat with at Charleston. None of the disorders of
civil war will mar the peace of any of the Revou,
onary States, and they only will fall by the sword
who draw the sword.