New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-03-23
PORT PICKENs.

The country is sick at heart over the neces-
sary withdrawal Of Anderson from Fort Sumter.
1t had better stop crying over what cant be
helped, and spend its time in preventing sim
liar humiliation at Fort Pickens.
If not relieved. in six weeks from this time,
Fort Pickens will have TO be abandoned just Ike
Fort Sumter and for the same reason. Fort
Pickens and its approaches are beng gradually
commanded by sand batteries. If it be not forth
with garrisoned and proyisioned for siege, it
cannot be done at all 1t must be surrendered
without blow; for the United States mus. suf-
er no defeats. If the Government camo, main
tain the position. it ought to yield II up without
a struggle. If this be done, then the Confede-
rate States will become one Of the nations of the
world; and the United States Of America vii
cease to be frst-ratc power.
We know that the Administration does not
contemplate this, for in that case it would as
disgraceluly betray the country as did Bu.
chanan As il does not purpose this, it must
mean to maintain the integrity of the Union
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 fret step is TO garrison the fort, aud pro-
vision it forthwith TO its utmost capacity. But
this is not all When garrisOned and proyisioned,
it will still be attacked by the revolutionary
forces under competent officers. No matter how
full Of men the fort may be, siege is a mere
question of time. After few weeks Of battery
in breach, it, walls will be a heap of ruins, and
the besieging forces will mount TO the assault.
For garrifons and provisions alone will not Sc
cure the fort nor the dignity of the United
States.
The siege will be successful unless it be raised.
II can be raised only by superior land force
driving off the besiegng force. Three or four
thousand men can take the fort BY the regular
process of siege in three or four weeks from
the opening Of the batteries, if undisturbed.
But FIVE or seven thousand men viii at once ar
rest their proceedings and drive them from the
battering trains taken by such a force. The
United States must therefore instantly begin to
organize this force 10 raise the siege of Fort
Pickens.
If this work is begun at once, the revolution
airy authorities will be driven to adopt one of
two courses. Either they must abandon all idea
OF a siege and leave the fort unassailed, or they
must hold in readiness force of five or 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 sevastopol, real trial
Of strength between the two parties.
The revolutionary States cannot possibly raise,
and arm. and support, and concentrate at Pen
sacola as many as $4,000 men; their whole pop.
ulation is not sufficient; and at least one-balf Of
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 revolution.
lists can assemble it is certain the United States
can assemble, 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 it destroyed. If they with
draw their prestige is forever gone, aud the peo-
pie will rise on them and expel 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 or war against any but
those actually in arms assaing the United States
troops; and the people of the Gulf States will at
once put down the revolutionary usurpation, and
the Union is maintained. a|H lH
How can troops be concentrated at Fort
Pickeus Under the laws Of l79i aud 1907.
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