New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-04-13
WAR BEGUN.

y" AR
The JEFF. Davis rebellion, claiming to be the
Confederate Government OF the seven State,
which profess to haze seeded from the Federal
Union commenced formal war upon the United
States by opening fire on Fort Sumter at a
o'clock yesterday morning. Practically, this war
was commenced months ago, when the handful
of Federal troops holding the forts in Charleston
harbor were beleaguered b. armed thousands and
compelled to eyacuate all but the largest and least
accessible of those forts to avoid capture or ex-
termination. The subsequent seizure Of the Fed
eral forts and arsenas, the mails and sub-treasu-
ries, in Georgia, Alabama Louisiana with oil those
in Florida but Fort Pickens, with the kindred rob-
berries Of the Federal munitions and treasure in
Texas, were all acts Of war, combining robbery
with treason. The blockade Of Fort Pckens, the
raising of battery after battery around and even
close TO Fort Sumter, were all acts whose only
possible justification must be sought in the ex-
istence Of q state Of war.
Under tho rule of BIr. Buchanan, submission
to these acts of high-handed aggression and spo-
the Cabinet in the interest and councils of the
traitors, we may well be thankful that anything
escaped. With traitor of such boundlcss ca
pscties for theft as Floyd in the War Depart
ment, it is hard TO guess why Forts Sumter and
Pickens were not turned over to the rebels with
the rest Their escape is owing rather to the
fidelity and iutrepdity of their respective com
manders than to any precaution or resolution on
the part of the then guardians of the National
. interests and honor.
Months before Mr. Buchanan's term expired
the unarmed steamship Star of the West, bear
ing provisions to Fort Sumter, was cannOnaded
out of Charleston harbor-a National disgrace
unparalleled since the Bladensburg Races. The
abject weakness wherewith the late Adminstra-
ton submitted to that insult and outrage, with
out even q remonstrance, was everywhere felt as
q National shame There was not loyal cit-
zen from Maine to Texas who did not hope that
President Lincoln would eiTace the memory Of
that shame.
The new Administration has exhausted con-
ce,sion while quietly preparing for action. Be
inr assured by ts military advisers that the re-
lief Of Sumter must be very difficult and costly
it has offered peacefully to withdraw all the
garrison but two or three men, and thus leave
the Fort until these troubles shall be oyerat
relieving Charleston and South Carolina Of all
fear, or pretense Of fear, that they would be in
any manner annoyed or imperied by that Fort.
But no-the reply was that Fort Sumter must
be surrendered and made over to its besegers,
or it would be taken by force. And thus no
honorable course was left open TO tho Govern
ment but to attempt 10 relieve its heroic garr-
son at all hazards.
The design was, it is understood, TO send in
an unarmed merchant yesse, laden with supplies,
and see whether the Rebels would fire on it: if
they did, then feet Of armed ships, lying of
the bar, was to repel force by force, and at
tempt to relieve the Fort at all hazards But
the storm Of Tuesday probably dispersed and
delayed the feet, and, before it had reached
Charleston, the attack on the Fort was com
menced yesterday morning, rs We have already
stated.
Thus the great Cotton Rebellion inaugurates
in blood its more direct and manly efforts to
aubyert the Federal Constitution and Govern
ment, aud build up Slayeholding Oligarchy on
their ruins Having chosen its ground and It's
time, il may Of course count with reason on
temporary advantage. But the end is not yet
Let none doubt the ultimate triumph of the
Right.