New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-04-27
PATs1FsNDlNG.


ia the mathematical definition Of q straight line.
The ST aight line from the North to Washington IS
through Baltimore. 1t is the way to victory 1t
is the way TO liberty; it is the way to prove,
first, that there is an American Republic, and
second, that it has capital. To 60 round Bal
timOre is to attempt TO get round Secession; to
get round treason; to get round % the ire
pressibe conflict" We have had enough of cir
cumIocution and attempted crcumlOcutiOn, aud
know what comes of IT, Now let us 60 through
If we are to find the Federal Government at
Washington, we are to find it by going straight
at tor not at all.
We counsel no rasbness, propose no foolish
and unnecessary ioss of life and suggest the send
ing of no fOrlorn hope. But Baltimore stands IN
the path TO Washington, and the country must
know if there is o Government in our capital by
opening the path, and opening it wide Wleth'
er the President and his Cabinet want faith IN
the Northern people, or whether they want con.
Gdence only in their own courage, matters not.
The path must be opened, and opened through
Baltimore, that we may look after these gentle
men who are lost. The word that has created
an army in the Eerth has had its magic inau-
cree; the word that can lay them, they have for
gotten and can only 60, as they were bid,
straight to the capital by the nearest way.
By private letters received yesterday from
Baltimore, we are advised that every house on
the principal street is being prepared for street
fighting, and materials for barricades are already
TpIn tod "A
city in such o condition can make desperate
defense, and possibly successful one, at first,
if the attack is made without system and the
proper preparation. With these, however, it can
be carried at the first assault, If the men that
we shall send against it have their courage ana
indignation tempered with method and fortified
with precise knowledge of the work before
them.
If there are not already, there ought to be at
once, Trustworthy and intelligent men in Baltl-
more who shall acquaint themselves With The
character and extent Of the works for defense or
ofense. And these should be known, not to
avoid but 10 destroy them, when the time comes.
Accurate charts of the city should be prepared,
and every company assigned its place and it's
work when the asssult-if it shall be sn assault,
and not march merely-is made. To some
must be given the post of detachlng those
parts of the city not within the barricaded
section from the rest, to guard against possible
reinforcement or ambuscades. The field Of battle
will thus be isolated, aud the fighting be done
comfortably, without distraction by any surround-
ing circumstances The barricades can be carried
in order by men whose duty 1t VIII be, with
sword and bayonet. Every house from which
missile il thrown, or o shot fred, should be
marked and attacked, in flank or front, over
roofs through breaches in the walls, by door or
window. ns may seem best, by sappers and
miners with crowbars with sledg hammers, With
picks, with gunpow der in small bags, armed with
haud.nenades, reyolyors and cuIasses, or Sich
other weapon, as shall seem best adapted to a
stormiug party and handto.hand fight. Our
own experience iu assaulting cites s not large;
and indeed, for that matter, we do not know OF
any body in this country, except Col Asboth, the
gallant and distinguished Hungarian officer, who
has much better; but We believe that Wilson's
men and ElswOrths Zouayes-the former the
rouehs,' aud the latter the fremen Of this
ClI1-Dulu tiulEtut thOukl lpi uiu'iphb pul I's'of
to entering houses could, with force 10 attack
and carry barbados, make n path in this way,
through Baltimore, aud leave it open behind them
80 that even the campnurfes might follow unpro.
tected and without fear. Baltimore herself per-
hsps would rejoice at such work after she had
recovered from her fright, for she would ind her
self rid Of the worst part Of her population. IL
is not to be disguised, however, that certain
attendant disasters are possible Such, for in
stance, az the destruction Of the town.
There is another way Of opening the road to
Washington the certlinties Of which the Bati-
moreans would Ike even less than the chances
Of the other. The city can be bombarded from
Fort McIlenry. But the cOmmandant Of thst
place may have had no orders TO that effect from
Washington, and may hesitate to take the re-
spOnsibility Of such step. In that case there
il no alternative but to go through without bis
assistance, for the People need be trammeled by
10 such considerations. Let them prepare then
and 60 forward.