Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-03-24


CEhkeksTeS, March Is, 1861.--Militsry leaders
say that SINGS Major Andsrson's withdrawal is in
pursuance or military necessity, solely. is must be
conducted socording military usage. The fact ie
Msjtr Andersen can do nothing but remain in Fort
Sumter. except st the viii Of those by whom for
the last six months, he has been bssiegsd. II is
impossible for him to evscuete except they allow
BIN to do go. The question arises, on what basis
shall he have that privilsgc-for, after all, 1t is
but privilege privilege accorded to the Fade
raj Government by the Rebsls--to evacuate Fert
Sumter. Shall tbe garrison be permitted to en-
bark on board Of Government ship which shall be
permitted 10 approach near enough Or shall Ma
of Anderson be required to formally surrender the
fort, himself and garrison as prisoners Of war;
Cor. TFf5Ene
wAsHIsoroz, March left is reported here
to-day thst Information has been received to The eff
feet that Gen. Besuregard, commanding the forces
in Charleston harbor, will refuse to permit Major
anderson and his band to depart except rs prissn-
ers Of war. This is undoubtedly mistake. re
eeived it, however, from high officer Of the Ad-
ministration. The Government are expecting dis
Patches from Major Anderson this eve ing or to-
morrow.
Another protrscted meeting Of the Cabinet was
held to-day After passing upon number Of Ter
rtoral and ather appointments, the Southern ques-
ton, in its varicus bearings, was again taken up
and discussed for nearly two hours The insirus-
lions to Msjor Anderson, in reference to the ovscu-
alton Of Fort Sumter, formed the principal subject
under consideration Much diversity Of opinion is
known to have prevailed as to the manner Of with
drawing the garrison, and no ultimate conclusion
Is arrived at on that point.
The apparent unavoidable necessity Of treating
with the revolutionary authority Of The South ever
| TO effect peaeeable removal, owing to their con-
troll Of the inlet to the harhor Of Charleston, Is
found greatly perplexiAg. Some members Of the
Cabinet strenuously oppose all direct or indirect
MIA AZ tha Noha nj -.
one hand, while on the other hand, they are fully
aware Of the improbability Of the assent Of Gen.
Beaureguard 10 the entrance Of any Federal vss-
sell vessels into the harbor, and the withdrawal
Of Major Anderson's command. without Asving frst
expressly stipulated not only sgsiHss ell rsss but
also for the delivery of the fort and its armsments
in an intact condition
WASHINGTON, Marsh 1.-THE decision in regard
to the withdrawal Of Msjsr Anderson's command
rests exclusively With the President. He has had
the fullest oral and written opinions sf Gen. Scott
and tae most skilful oiAcers Of the army, and the
spoken and written counsel Of every member Of ais
Oabinet No discrimination was reached yesterday.
Mr.. lincoln 10 full sensible Of the important re-
spOnsbiity which rests upon him. and will decide
Gnally With the full knowledge that he is to bear Il
before the country.
It Is known that after a deliberate investigation
OF all the facts, the Cabinet, with one exception
approve the military judgment of Gen. Scott and
yield to it necessity which cannot be avoided
This almost unanimous concurrence on the part of
men who have been supposed to regard this subject
from opposite atand,polats, and 10 hold different
views Of nelcy for its irsatment, is sufficient to
show that there Ia to be the most sufficient reason
for this conclusion.
Various modes have been suggested for renferc-
ing Fort SUMTER but not one of them can stand the
scrutiny of scientific military authority, and all
others are unworthy of consideration. Some emanate
from civilians and others from naval officers of re-
They n apuf,s tim,
at night through the shallow pars Of the entrance
Charleston harbop aelding in the mea and supplies
by hoSt9 TheSe plans have been discussed for some
time ip pagal eireles hut with few exceptions
they have not been regarded as practicable though
there are many officers who would cheerfully com.
| Rand such an expedition.
Ii vessels Of light draft or gun boats could run
the gauntlet Of the extended coastguard and bat
teres which line the entrance to both channels it is
questioned if they would be able to land reinforce.
ments under the fire of Fort Moultrie, because they
could notescape the vigilance Of the lpokoNts every
where and ANY Suspicious fact would be immedi-
ateiy signallad to thst and ali other points,
L u stated upon the best military authority that
MAJOR Andersons present force could not hold out
forty eight hours id the event of collision with the
batteries now concentrated against him in full play.
The physical endurance required to work his heavy
gNls would 10 exhausted in that tine. He csuld,
doubtless. destroy Fort Mppltre and sacrifice many
hundred lives beside, but would be compelled to
surrender from causes Beyond human control. 1t
is easy for those who have responsibility to- pro-
pose plans and to blame others for not adopting
ihemi bRt if ap experiment shouh be tried against
the ADVICE 1f the most eyDerie3ced spldieEs and fRL
WHO would avert the e{ecFstion which would follow
it? Mr.: Lincoln win deliberate well before decid-
ing.
There are Republicans here, of high political
standing, who assert, both knowingly and positively
that the secret of the unexpected of Cover
nor Chase, and other radical members of the Cabi-
net, to the surrender of Fort Sumter, is their firm
believe in the inevtability of the ultimate division
of the country into two confederacies-one distinct
ly free labor the other slayehoding-and their de-
sire to bang about the separation without blood
shed. That this idea has been preached in Cabinet
council is certain.-COrT. r. T. Tribune.