Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1861-03-14

In view of the present position of national at
fairs and with the means at present within our
reach for the formation of prudent Judgment
in the case we hardly feel competent to give
even an opinion to the policy or impolicy OF
the present proposed action of the new admins
tration IN regard to its course with reference TO
the surrender OF the southern forts still held by
the government
We therefore, under the circumstances, choose
to give the opinions of others rather than our
own in reference to this question.
'fhe New York Sun, a heretofore Demo cratic
paper, says:
1t appears to be generally conceded tina: Fort
Sumter is t. be abandoned by the United States
We gave the news twenty-four hours ago with
out comment Twenry-four hours reflection
have rot shown US any better course open to the
Government under existing creams 1t
is part of an ignominious but stern necessity in
to which the mingled treasoms and mbeciIities
of the late Administration coupled with the alb
sence OF any pu'ica will and force in the pto-
pile whom it perhaps too fairly represented, have
plunged The nation.
/ he Tribune says that if Fort Sumter is to be
evacuated, the humiliation will be great, and the
order for such a movement will be given by che
Government with regret quite equal 10 that
W tn which The people will receive the tidings.-
But it must be borne in mind that the humiIia-
ton comes if it must come at all, not from the
present Adm nstraton, hut from its predecessor,
and that the or er for the evacuation, If given,
will be any evidence of tinidity or ieebieness
on the part of the present AdministratIon, thu /
is one of the last bitter drops in the cup left in
our hand. by the G Nernment which has now
hardly passed at of our sight, TIE evil which
adminlstr atoms, as we'll as men, do, lives after
them. and must expect to feel the curse.
The Evening Post says
Every man who respects his cOuntry and its
gne rnnent feels that the evacuation Of the fort
at this time, would he the derpe-t humiliation
and disgrace Oar government is the wretch
eldest apology for government if it cannot pro
tect its own property and enforce the laws. Bat
If it should he found impractiCabe, in the de-
uoralzed CONDITION of the IN litary departments
and the fineuces 10 assert the ftde, I'll supremacy
the hInme or INC dEhOnOr must fall upon Mr.
Buchanan. He had it in his power, a few
mouths since, when the treachery Of the southern
politicians yet in its she'll 10 crush The viper
+, a single decisive step. He could have rein
fore, every southern tort within The space OF ii
mouth Hundreds OF mer stood ready ~ this
civ TO accomplish the work at a week notice
Bui his compiler with The traitors aud his i'm
betili.y d, teated all a ton
Whether. adds The Post it be vet possible 10
reinforce Fort Sumter, and save the honor OF
the nation, is a matter which the military advi~-
ers of MIR Lincoln's Cabinet will decide, bat let
il b. once understood that the Union can only
be saved by vacating the general government of
all its functions, and the question will arise
whether is worth saving at all
The Con merctql Advertiser also takes the
ground that the necessity which may compel the
evacuation of Fort Sumter, is the work of the
last Administration, but it holds that snch step
would virtually be an Acknowledgements that the
southern revolution is complete and tie SOnth
erd Confederacy is a rival sovereign republic on
this continent.
The sur enGcr is made on the presumption that
no blood must be shed TO retain il Fort Pick
ems must hr SURRENDERED also on the same prin
cple, and on the same principle ii gun can never
he fired or a sword drawn for the recovery OF
them or either of them, by the federal govern
ment. Say not rightly then t.at If Fort Sum
ter is to be given up. the whole question is viz
tuaIly sett ed and the American Union irrecov-
eraby destroyed for lack of power to maintain
il
The Washington National Iuteligercer, re-
plying to the warIike tone of the southern jour
nails which demand that Forts Sumter and
Pickens be taken, says;
II is apparent that in the present aspect o
the case. the retention of Forts Sumter and Pick
ems bv our Government. on the one hand, anC
also their ossessioH by the Government Of the Sc
ced,ng Stats nn the other, both question:
rather of so called honor than of t,tbtc snfetg But
when regard is had % the spirit Of apprehension
which prevails at the South, we are free to sfy
thar in our judgment the new Administration
might hy taking priority an The rng If cancellation
Il, ir6nitey more to consolidate power thar
b. passivey awaiting the progress of events with
a heart Tor any fate.