The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1861-05-09

der OF our torces at Charleston to ask and l
receive fhe instructions OF this gos ernmcnt. |
Even then, under all the provocation Incl
Gent to the contemptuous refusal to listen
to our Commissioners, aud the toitaous
course of the Government of the United
States, was sincerely anxious to avoid the
cffusion OF blood, and directed proposal to
be uadc to the commander of Fort Sumter,
who had ayowed himself 10 be nearly out
OF provisions, that we would abstain from
directing our fise ON Fort Sumter if nc
would promise not to open fire OH our forces
unless first attacked This proposal was
refused, and the conclusion was reached
that the design of the United States was to
place the besicging force at Charleston, be-
tween the simultaneous FIRE Of the feet and
the fort There remained, thereiore, no
alternative bat to direct that the fort should
at once he reduced.
This order was executed by Gen. Beau
eg,rd with the SKI and success which were
naturally to be expect 4 from the character
Of that gallant officer; and, although the
bombardnent lasted but thirty-ihree hours,
our flag did not waive over its battered
walls until after the arrival of the hostile
fie OF Charleston. Fortunately TO. lifc
va lost on our side. aud VIC were gratilicd
in being spared the necessity of useless
effu.ion vi blood 10y the pru,cut caution
of the officers who commanded the feet, in
absta ming from the evidently futile effor:
to enter The harbor for the relief Of Major
Anderson. | refer to the report of the
Secretary Of WAR and the papers which
accompany il for further details Of this
brilliant affair.
In this connection cannot refrain from
well-deservcd tribute to the noble State.
TIE eminent soldier!y qualities ef whose
people were so consptcuou ~ displayed in
the port Of Charleston For months they.
had been irritated by the spectacle of a
fortress held within their principal harbor,
rs starding menace against their neace
and Independence. Built in part with
their own money, its custody comfided with
their own consent to an agent who held no
power over them other than such as they
had themselves delegated for their own
benefit, intended to be used by that agent
for their own protection against foreign at
tack, they saw it held with persistent ten.
a;ity Us means of offence against them
by the very Government which they had
esta lished for their protection
They had belcaguered it for months
felt entire confidence in their power to cap.
tnre it--yet yielded to the requirements Of
! discipline, curbcd their iinpatience, sub
Initted without complaint b the unaccus.
toi'4ed ha.ds..ips, i6oors aLd privaiions of
| a protracted siege; and hen at length
their patience was rewarded by the sippol
for attack, aud success had crowned their
| steady and gallant conduct-even i'm the
very moment of triumph-they eyinced
chivalrcus regard for the feelings of ti,c
brave but unfortunate oficer who had been
compelled TO lower his flag. AL inanifes-
,ations of exultation were checked in his
! presence.
Their commanding general, with their
cordial approval and the consent of his goy-
ernncne, rctrained from imposing any
tCrn.s that would wound the sensibiiities OF
the commander of the font. lie was per-
4 mitted 10 retire vita tie honors of war
to salute his flag, To derart freely with all
| his command, and WAS escorted to tho vcs-
sci in which he embarked, with the hi.l.-
est mark OF respect from those against
whom his guus had been so recently direc.
ted. Not only does every event connected
with the siege reflect the highest honor ON
South Carolina, bat the forbearance of her
people, and of this Government, from ina
king any harsh use of victory obtained
under circumstances of such peculiar PROV
ocatlon, atte.5t 10 the fullest extent the alb
sencc of any purpose beyond securing their
own tranquility, and the sincere desire to
avoid the calamitics of war.
Scarcely hadt President Of tue United
States received Intelligence Of the failure
4 of the scheme which he had devised for
the reinforcement of Fort Sumter, when
| he issued the declaration of war a saiust
this ,coutcdoracy which has prou,lted me
! to convoke you. In this extraordinary
production, that high functionary affects
total i9noracc Of the existence OF an indie
pcndcncc Government, which, possessing
the entire and enthusiastic devotion of its
| people, is exercising its functions withou,
| question over seven sovereign States-oyer
more than five millions Of people-and
over territory whose sTca exceeds halt q
million of square miles. He term sover
eiSn States combinations. too powerful
to be surprised blythe ordinary course VI
l y"'iSh'' VI W Ills pONcl, NCSt-
ed in the .nlarshals by law"
lie calls for an army of eyouty five
thousand men to act posse eomiat,fs in
aid of the process of the courts of justice
in States were no courts exist whose man.
dates and DEGREES are not cheerfully obey.
ed and respected by wiling people. He
avows that " the first service to be assign
cd to the forces called out" will be, not
to execute the process of courts, but to
capture forts and strougholds situated with
in the admitted limits a fhis Confedcracy,
aud garrisond by Its troops; aud declares
the q this effort is intended " to maintain
Tie perpetuity of popular government,
He concludes by commanding 1.-The per,
sons composing the combinations aforesaid. "
to wit: the five millions of inhabitants of
| these States, ''to retire peaceably to their