Shreveport daily news., 1861-07-16

throw III men, arms, or ammunition,
without further notice, or in case of
an attack upon the fort. This notice
was accordingly given, whereupon
the fort was attacked and bombarded
to it, fall, without even awaiting the
arrival Of tho provisioning expedi-
ton.
It is thus seen that the assault up
on and the reduction Of Fort Sum
ter was in no sense matter. of self
defense on the part of the part of the
assailants.- They we'll knew that the
garrison in the fort could by no posi-
bility commit aggression upon them.
They knew that they We're expressly
notified that the giving of bread to
the few brave and hungry men of
the garrison was all which could on
that occasion be attempted, unless
themselves, by resisting so much,
should provoke more.
They knew that this government
desired to keep the garrison in the
fort, not to assail them, but merely to
maintain visible position, and thus to
preserve the Union from active and
Immediate dissolution, trusting, as
hereinbefore stated, to time, discus
sion and the ballot box for final ad-
justment; and they assailed and re-
duced the fort for precisely the oppo-
site object-to drive out the visi BILE
authority of the federal Union, and to
force it to immediate dissolution
That this was their object the execu-
tive well understood
Having said to them in the inau-
gural address, 4you can have no con-
hict without being yourselves the ag-
gressors," he took pains not only to
keep this declaration good, but also
to keep the case so free from ingeni-
Gus sophistry, las that the world should
not be able to misunderstood it. By
the affair at For Sumter, with its sur
rounding circumstances, that point
was reached.
Then and thereby the assailants of
the government began the conflict of
arms, without gun in sight or in ex-
pectancy to return their tire, save on
~ the few in the fort, sent to that
harbor years before for:heir own pro-
lection, and still ready to yield that
protection in every thing that was
lawful.
In this act, discording all else, they
have forced upon the country the di-
rect issue-im1nediate dissolution or
blood. And this issue embraces II ore
than the fate Of these United States,
1t presents to the whole family of
man the question whether constitu-
tional republic or democracy-a gov
ernment Of the people by the same
people--can, or cannot maintain its
territorial sovereignty against its Own
domestic foes. 1t presents the ques-
ton whether discontented inGiyidu-
ais, too few in numbers 10 control ad-
ministration, according to organic c
law in any case, can always upon
the pretences made in this case, OF in
any other pretenses, or arbitrarily
without any pretence, break up their
government, and thus practically put
an end to free government on earth.
It forces US to ask, is there in all
Republics this inherent and fatal
weaknessl Must q Government of
necessity be too strong for the liber-
ties Of its own people, or too weak TO
maintain its own existencel SO view
ing the issue,no choice was left but to
call out the war power of the Govern
ment, and SO TO resist force employed
for its destruction by force for preser-
vation.
This call was made aud the res
ponse Of the country was most graft
flying, surprising in unaninity and
spirit and the most sanguine ex xpecta-
ton. Yet none of the States commonly
called slave-States, except Deleware
gave a regiment through regular
State organisation, some others Of these
States. by individual enterprise, and