The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-01-18
The Progress OF the Revolution.

The Progress OF the Revolution.
AS We went to press last week, a telegraph
ic despatch was received giving brief alb
stract of the Presidents special message TO
Congress, in which he declared himself Who'll
ly incompetent to cope with this now fornd-
able rebellion, and attempted to throw the
whole responsibility upon Congress, alleging
that this legislative body, and they only
could restore peace to this now distracted
nation. Nevertheless Mr. Buchanan declared
his intention to protect the public property
and execute the laws and on the whole this
message was much more firm and satiStacto-
nv to the Union-loving and law-abiding men
than his regular one.
This patriotism or manliness, or whatever
it may be called, in our chief executive, was
too much for tie secessionists to bear, and
another traitor in the cabinet-Gov Thomas
of Maryland, called TO fill secretary Cobb's
place liz the treasury-seceded not, howev-
er, until he had ordered 100000 in gold to
be transferred from the sub-treasury at New
York to New Orleans. John \. Dix, the
New York postmaster, is now called to the
treasury department, and it is earnestly mop
ed that the cabinet is Row unanimous for the
Union, and that it will remain SO for six
weeks to come.
The whole country was startled and agita-
ted by a despatch on Friday tina, the Star of
the West, the little steamer that was de-
spatched by the war department with rein
forcemens for Major Anderson at Fort Sum-
ter, had been fired upon by the revolutonist>
in Charleston harbor, and forced to put back
and out to sea. Subsequent dispatches cor
roborated this, and it appeared evident that
the secessionists meant fight 1t seems that
when this steamer arrived off Morris Island
in Charleston harbor, a sho: was fired across
her bows from the battery erected there
The steamer then run up our national flag
still keeping on her course, when the firing
was repeated in good earnest, and the guns
directed at the vessel, not before it. Two
shots took effect upon the steamer, and the
batteries of Fort Moultrie opening upon her
also, she put about and stood out to sea. The
Star of the West returned to New York and
left the reinforcements intended for Major
Anderson at Governors Island in New York
harbor.
During the cannonadc on the Star of the
West, there was no demonstration at Fort
Sumter, although Major Anderson could
have opened his batteries directly upon the
revolutionists, and even upon the city itself
but shortly afterwards he despatched flag
of truce to the city of Charleston, with let
ter to Gov Pickens demanding tc know if
the firing upon this steamer was by his orders,
and characterizinS the act as without par
allel in the history of the country, CT of any
other civilized government ;" and declaring
if the act was ayowed no vessel should pass
within range of his guns. Gov Pickers not
only avowed bat attempted to justify the act;
when Major Anderson despatched messen-
gers to Washington for Instructions. So it
will be seen that in the first engagement the
rebels were victorious, which fact made them
quite exultant.
1t was understood that the war steamer
Brooklyn, which followed the Star of the
West, would take her men, and being well
armed and manned, would land these forces
at Fort Sumter and if moles,cd in Charles
ton harbor by Morris Island or Fort Moul-
trie batteries, would give back gun for gun.
Consequently the next days news was looked
for with great interest, every one expecting a
"brush' with the enemy. But such was not
the case. The next news was that the Brook
lyn was lying to outside the harbor, and that
hostile parties seemed to be waiting the re-
suit of the mission to Washington. Mean
while the South Carolina secretaries of war
and state visited Fort Sumter under flag OF
truce. The fac, caused considerable excite
ment, but it is generally believed that the Oh
ject of their visit was not hostile.
For a few days the interest in the revolu-
tionary movements has centered at Washing
ton. Although the course of the government
on the Fort Sumter affair is a profound Sc
cret, .,tter-writers are busy filing the coun-
try with dispatches more or less important,
and giving at an: rate al abundance o: phi
vate opinions as 70 wha. will next occur
"Perley" 'elcsrapi,d to TIE Boston Journal
that opinions differed in regard to Mr. Sew:
ards late speech that while some consider
ed it too late to prevent secession, conserva-
tives, and especially Crittenden men think it
the initial step towards compromise by
which the Gulf states will be retained in the
Union.
1t is said that the South Carolina commits.
sioners now at Washington propose to evac-