The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1861-03-13

when 9 conclusion was finally reached the
resolution Of the President was announced
in terms as emphatic as be probably ever
addressed to one Of bis Secretaries. "It il
now all over, and reinforcements must be
SENT" was his language ; and these words
were spoken in open council, the honorable
Secretary Of the Interior himself being pre.
sent. II was 10 strict accordance with the
command thus given that the Star of the
West was chartered and the reinforce N ents
sent forward. In ell Of these circumstan.
ces, the public will look in vain for any ira.
ces OF "trick" on the part OF General Scott
or the Secretary Of War. II is true that, 10
the hope OF avoidingG waste Of human life,
an endeavor was madeIo "conceal" the ex-
pedition from the hostile troops in charge of
the forts and batteries in Charleston hsrbor;
but this endeavor the vigilance and zeal Of
the Secretary defeated
The "countermand'' spoken Of was not
more cordially sanctioned by the President
than it was by Gen. Scott and myself. 1t
was given, not because of any dissent from
the order on the part OF the President, but
because of a letter received that day from
Major Anderson, stating, in effect, that he
regarded himself as secure in his position
and yet more because Of intelligence which
late on Saturday evening reached the de-
partment that heavy battery had been
erected among the sand hills at the entrance
to Charleston harbor, which would probably
destroy any unarmed vessel (and such was
the Star of the WssD which might attempt
to make its way up to Fort Sumter. This
important information satisfied the Govern
ment that there IVES no present necessity
for sending reinforcements, and that when
sent they should go, not in vessel OF CON-
merce, but OF war. Hence the'countermand
was despatched by telegraph to New York,
but the vessel had sailed short time before
it reached the officer to whom it was ad-
dressed.
This plain statement is submitted 10 the
belief that, before an intelligent aud candid
public it will afford complete vindicaton
OF my conduct, as we'll as of the conduct OF
that ilustrious patriot and soldier, Lieut..
Gen. Scott, whose stainless honor certainly
needs no defence at my hands against the
aspersions Of the present or of any other as
sallant.
1t is we'll known that persistent falsif
cation OF the policy and conduct Of the late
Administration, in its relations to the South,
has proved q potent instrumentality for in
flaming the popular mind OF that distracted
portion OF our country, and thus giving an
ever increasing impetus to the revolution ;
and the fact that the telegraph and the press
have been under the absolute direction Of
those controlling this movement has render.
ed resistance to this instrumentsity imprac
ticable. Whatever purposes, therefore, were
expected to be accomplished by the circula.
lon OF the paragraph which has been expos.
ed, will probably be attained, since the an
tidote now offered possibly pursue the poi
son into all its ramifications. II, however,
this explanation shall secure to me the con.
fidence of those true.hearted patriots who
still love our Union better than all the
spoils and power which revolution can pro.
mise, then shall little regard the condem
nation of men who, for the last two months,
have necessarily denounced ne throughout
the South, simply and solely because | have
refused to bIacken my soul with perjury, by
betraying the Government of my coun,ry,
while in its service. J. HOLT.