New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-04-05
LETTER from CLAIRE.


i
8 NEW ORLEANS, March 80, 1861.
M Eaifo.- Sir: The present position of the
States of North America is certainly anomalous.
No record in the history Of the past gives its par
ailel In the feverish state Of the public mind at
present existing, it is well to make diagnosis of
the disease. The States of the North, through I
their President, claim possession of Federal pro-
perty in the States of the South. The South not |
only resists the pretension, but has possessed it
self of many of the forts and arsenals contained
within its borders. Since the inauguration of the |
secession movement, the South has maintained q
positive, determined tone. On the contrary the
North has vacllated tor months between the adop-
ton of peace or policy. No conclusion has
been reached. 1t cannot long be that such state
of affairs should exist. At the North, gentlemen CT
approved merit demand a peaceful solution of our
national difficntess At the South, some of those
who truly loved the old Union, intact aud without
faint cry peace; the North will give us our rights
in time. Sir it seems to me that this conclusion
admits of minute analysis. How stands the case
The inaugural of President Lincoln expressly
declares the right of property in the FORTS arsenas
and other public property in the Confederate
States. This right is as expressly denied by the
Congress at Montgomery. It'll proclaimed by the
Administration at Washington that revenues ac-
eordnc to their tariff will be collected in the South
ern ports OF entry. The Montgomery Congress has
framed and enuncated its schedule of duties on
imported goods. The two tariffs are incompatible.
The Northern Confederacy has made overtures
to the South. The Southern Confederacy has
taken up the line of march. 1t would be more
than madness. it would be egregious imbecility to
retreat. But these antithesises momentous as they
are hide their beads in the presence of superior
Weeks, almost months, have been consumed in
consideration of the evacuation of Fort Sumter
No practical end has been reached. Fort Pickens
has not been within the scope of Cabinet counsel
farp nc 40 knows. these E 1rn
in every conceivable respect identified with the
Confederate States. The Confederacy must pos
sess them.
Again, Fort Jefferson on the Island of Tortugas,
is occupied by the troops of the Federal Govern
ment. 1t is when placed upon war footing the
most powerful of all the Notifications in the Gulf
Of Mexico, formerly belonging to the United
States All vessels clearing from Galveston, New
Orleans Pensacola, Mobile, other Gulf ports, of
| necessity must pass within the range of its 28S
guns. The commerce of the Gulf is thus exposed
! to its force should it be employed.
| | lay down these data. | believe them to be
| correct. By public account of the action of the
Administration at Washington, we of the South
| know oil its attempts to evade the real point at
| ISSUE The people of the North know only the
shadow of the progressive South. In the States
| of the Northern Confederacy buster, delay and
| mpotency appear the trinmvrate controlling an
issue vital to peace upon this continent.
So far as the Southern COntederacy is concerned
| word. Up to the present time military demon
stration has been made By the South. Whilst she
desires peace, she will accept the alternative of
war, if it needs must come. The whole question.
reduceds itself to plain, simple, bat most para
| mount issue The States of the South demand that
| they shall be recognized, and the Government
| which they form accordingly treated. Should the
North be willing to accede to this, the result will
| as we believe, be harmony. Should they refuse a
recognition, the result must be civil The ar
t guments on either hand involves matters of vast
| import let them be fairly weighed. The Admin
| stration at Washington foods the whole country
| will |, he rnen n he
| know the private conduct of the President
| Of the North, through the published praises of hia
| worshppers.
| A wise policy stood god-nother in the baptism
| Of the South. Northern Journals either complain
| of or commend the fact that they know nothing OF
the policy of President Davis. His actions are hin
| spokesman. What say they? Within space Of
| time so short that the historians pen would b0
cRamped to record it, frst-class power is intro
duced in person to the nations of the earth An
| army born in maturity exists. A treasury is lined
I with gold. The old life Of commerce has given new
| health to its child Confidence, the lever of Gov
ernments has found its iulcrum. IN this state of
affairs but alternative presents itself for the
preservation OF peace-but one avoidance Of bloody
| civil war. The United States of the Nerth must
| recognize the Southern Confederacy-must give US
all we askour just rghts-Inust forbear the execl-
| tion of the policy mapped out by their President.
VIII they do so? Upon this question hinges war Or
| pence.
| Suppose the Administration at Washington con
tinue their inert policy. Suppose that Fort Sumter
| be evacuated, and Fort Pckens-of which,
however, they have as yet made no sign-if the in
formation to be gathered from newspapers be cor
rect the retention Of both Fort Taylor at Key West
and Fort Jefferson at Tortugas will be attempted,
and the integrity of the Southern Confederacy is
not intact should such attempt succeed The
South has recorded her claims-she believes them
right and just. Forts Taylor and Jefferson she
must have She asks for them il amitP; should
friendship veil her face, then the South will boldly
| face the storm. But all these threatenngs of An
angry storm may be "sootled until they smile
again" Let the North give to the South her rights
Let the Southern Confederacy be recognized. Let
treaty, defensive. (though not offensive, because
our ideas and institutions are too dissimiar) be
made, and once more peace will have gained vic
tory and liberty spring with new life and yigor
from the bosom of political chaos.
But have already trespassed upon your time,
and will close my crude remarks. CLAIRE,