The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-04-24
THE FEELING IN THE CITY.

THE FEELING IN THE CITY.
From the first announcement that hostilities
had actually commenced in Charleston Harbor
and that Major Anderson's garrison of sixty OF
seventy men we're sustaining and replying a.
best they could to fierce bombardnent from .
force more than one hundred times their mum
ber, down to the moment il was announced tha
he was compelled to strike his flag, the feeling
that stirred the people as one man, here, and sc
far az We can learn, esewh here also was too deep
too strong, and will be too enduring. to be char
acteriZed by the term excitement Never have
We seen anything like it. While the keen sagac.
ity of the public mind really detected the absur.
dty and downright IA school of many of the dis.
patches, vet those received on Friday night ere.
ated sharp relish for more; consequently, Sat.
urday morning, all the forenoon, and throughout
the whole day, business was fOrsaken or limited
to the briefest necessity. At the Stock Board
cheers were given for Major Anderson, and Gov
ernment stocks stiffened with renewed de.ermi.
nation to stand by the country. As dispatch
after dispatch came, like bombs from an enemy's
battery, the feeling was depressed or elated ac
cording to their character.
The announcement that Fort Sumter was on
fire sounded like knell as well as an impossible
ity. 1t was a silly, unnecessary falsehood, or
else some Calamity had happened within the walls
of Fort Sumter, on which it was based. 1t caus.
ed forebodings. Where is the feet:" was on
all lips That there had been some unlucky mis-.
carriage, "a the public mind had conceived its
objects, was quite plain Finally came the re-
port that the stars and stripes would soon come
down and, later, that they had actually given
place to the flag of Rebellion when, in spite of
doubts, and the strong inclination TO disbelief,
NJ faytr h. haf thsfap nd
ing the bombardment had continued nearly thir.
ty six hours, nobody was hurt" on either side,
the feeling reached its climax. 1t did not find
vent in extraordinary manifestations, but crystal
lized in a deep seated conviction that a contest
had been inaugurated, and an issue joined that
would not be suffered to go by default No CON-
promise now with Rebellion, is the universal
sentiment II there were differences before,
there cannot be said to be any now.
Yesterday the churches throughout the city
were crowded TO Overfowing, many persons at
tending in order to hear what might be dissent
mated from the pulpit in regard to the war which
had been inaugurated
While the discourse of some of the preachers
made direct and extended allusiOn to the great
event in their churches it was referred to in the
prayers and lessons Of the day. Others, doubt.
ful of the authenticity of the news, abstained
from any reference to the subject
During the progress of one of the Fourth
avenue cars down town, Capt. Miller. with a
friend, was quietly discussing the affairs of Gov
ernment, when their conversation was interrupted
by gentlemany looking person, who attributed
all the trouble to the I'D Black Republicans" :"
Captain Miller, who is member of the church,
but nevertheless fighting man, turned suddenly
upon the individual and said: "Now, look here,
Mr., you're stranger to me, but if you want to
join in conversation with me you must come in
the character of a gentleman" Stranger sud-
denly discovered that he had arrived at his des
tination.
On Saturday evening gentleman in the crowd
that gathered Oh Printing House Square was
disposed to rejoice over the news, and expressed
the opinion that it was the best way to bring
about a settlement. Settlement did you say,
my friend - responded six footer, whose pecu.
liarity Of speech indicated that he was raised
somewhere in the vicinity of the Green Noun
tains, g will tell you what, there is just one
way to get settlement, provided this news is
true, and that is by one side or the other getting
whipped" The cheers of the crowd showed
how heartily the settlement was responded to.
Three men, apparently laborers, who were
alone reading the dispatches as they came, when
information came that Anderson had hauled
down the American Flag, were so affected that
they wept.
As al evidence of the feeling among the rep
resentative men of our city, we will state that
Commodore Vanderbilt informed our reporter
last night that no application had been made to
him by the Government in reference to his
steamships; but he said, My steamships are at
the disposal of the Government.
Among the military there is a lively feeling,
and numerous plans are on foot BY individuals to
organize companies and regiments with the view
of offering their services to the Government
In this connection the movement headed by ex.
Alderman Wilson, noted in another column, will
attract attention.
Albany, has raised a company of one hundred
men in that city, and on Saturday last teegrapheC
to the authorities at Washington offering theiI
services to march at any moment.
The report in the evening papers of Saturday
that the officers of the Seventh Regiment wers
to have meeting on Saturday evening, with
special reference to the present crisis, was with
out foundation. 1t may be gratifying to the nu
merous friends OF the Seventh to know that the,
stand ready for action, as a matter of course
whenever they are called cut.
On the ferry boats between New York ant
Brooklyn, the expression of sentiment by tn,
thousands passing and repassirg, was sing galarl.
emphatic and unanimous. That the GoverDmen
should be supported and the Rebellion put down
without regard to its antecedents, was by com
mon consent, a fOregone conclusion. This feel
| ing is not boisterOus, but earnest. Men askinI
for the enforcement Of the laws in every da
affairs and for their own protection, should no
hesitate in times like these. Such is the univer
sal sentiment" the inexorable logic" of tn
events of the day.
Last evening a number of gentlemen wer
stand Ag in front of the Lafarge House, on Broad
way, discussing public affairs and the news fror
the seat of war, when stranger to the part
came up and joined in the conversation. Wit
violent Daths he denounced the North, and hear
ed most opprobrious epithets upon the Govern
mcnt, besides indulging in the hope that "Majc
Anderson and his men might be blown to h
and all the id Black Republicans with them.
Having concluded his harangue, a quiet ma
who had been quiet listener to the discussion
confronted the "rebel," and remarking in tt
calmest manner that such language could not
used hereabouts with impunity, drew back h
fist and gave the fellow deliberate blow on ii
jaw which suficed to lay him at length upo
the pavement. The Secessionist recovered in
moment, and springDg to bis feet, retreated in
cautious manner, meanwhile keeping bis ey
upon the man of muscle, and looking as if
expected a repetition of the dose.-N. Y. Tri
une, april is.
The DIFrERkScE.-At Union meeting in
dianapolis. on Monday, Mr.. Newcomb relat'
the following story, as illustrating the diferen
between the two sections of the country. Duril
, the past winter, said the speaker. Robinson,
fho q