Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1862-11-19

, New York, as General Scott in his state
ment admits, succor was sent to Fort
Taylor, Key West, and to Fort jefferson,
Tortugas Island, which reached these
points in time for their security He
nevertheless speculates on the consequent
ces which might have followed had the
relnforcements not reached their destina-
ton in due time; and even expresses the
extraordinary opinion that with the pos
session of these forts, :. the rebels might
have purchased an early recognition
1 shall next advert 10 tie statement
that the expedition under Capt. Ward.
- OF three or four small steamers belonging
to the Coast Survey was kept back by
something ike a truce or arInis:ice, made
here, embracing Charleston and Pensa-
cola harbor, agreed upon between the
late President and certain principal Sc
ceders OF South Carolina. Florida, Loui-
siana, &c. And this truce lasted TO the
end of the Administration. Things al
together distinct in their nature are often
so blended in this statement that ii is diff
cult TO seperate them. Such is eminently
the case in connecting the facts relative to
Charleston with Pensacola.
Havin" already treated of the chaTge
of having kept back the rcimtorcemcnts
from Pensacola, l shall now say some
thing OF the charge of having kept them
back from Charleston. Neither truce.
nor quasi truce, nor ANYTHING like il, was
ever concluded between the President and
any human authority concernin" Charles
ton. On the contrary, the South Carroll
M Commissioners. first and last. and MI
the time, were informed that the President
could never surrender Fort Sumter. nor
deprive himself of the most entire liberty
TO send reinforccmcnts 10 1t whenever 1t
was believed to be in danger, or requested
by Major Anderson. 1t is strange that
Gen. Scott was not appriscd of this we'll
known fact. 1t was then. with some
astonishmant, that | learned from tie
statement of the General that lac had. on
the 18th March. 1861, advised that Major
Anderson should be instructed to evacuate
the fort a. soon as suitable transportation
could be procured to carry himself and
his command to New York. \ military
necessity for capitula.ioh NAV have cx-
listed in case there should be an attack
upon the fort, o. a demand for lis .urren-
der; but surely none such could have cx-
listed for liz voluntary surrender and aban-
dOnment.
Probably that to- which the General
means to refer was not the quasi, but the
actual truce of arms concluded at Charles
town on tn llth OF January, 1861, be
tween Governor Iickcn> and Major An
derson, without; the knowledge of the
Prcsidcmt.-it WAS on the 9th Of January
that the Star OF the Ncs.. undar the
American tiag, was fired upon in the
harbor of Charleston. hy order of Gov
ernor Pickcns. Immediately after this
outrage, Major Anderson s,nt fiag TO
the Governor, stating that h. presumed
the act had been unauthorized. and for
that reason he had not opened fire from
Fort Sumter on the adjacent batteries :;
but demanding its disavowal. and. if this
were not sent in Il reasonable time he
would consider it war, and fire on any
vessel that attempted To leave the har-
bor.-Two days after this occurrence. on
the llth January. Governor Pickcns had
the audacity to demand OF MINOR Andcr-
son the surrender of the fort In his an
| swer of the same date, the Major made
! the following proposition: ''Should
your eXcellcncy deem lit. previous TO a
resort TO arms, to refer this matter TO
Washington, it would afford me the SIN
cerest pleasure 10 depute one of my oili-
GERS TO accompany amy messenger You
may deem proper to be the bearer of your
command" This proposition was promp-
| tly accepted by the Governor, and, in
pursuance thereof, he sent on his part,
/ Hon. j. W. Havnc, the Attorney Cen
, eral Of South Carolina. TO Washington.
whilst Major Anderson dcputed Licuten-
ant Hall, Of the United States army. TO
accompany him. These gentlemen az
/ rived together in Washington, and ON the
/ evening of the 18th of January. when the
/ President obtained the first knowledge OF
/ the transaction. But twill be rccoIlectcd
! that no time intervened between the return
of the Star of the West to New Y ork and
| the arrival of the messenger bearing Il
copy of the truce at Washington. within
( which it would have been possible TO send
achievements TO Fort Sumpter.-Both
/ events occurred about the same time
Thus trace. or suspension of arms,
was concluded between the parties, to
continue until the question of the surren-
der of the fort should be decided by the
President Until this de ision Major
Anderson had placed out Of his own pow
er TO ask fc- reinforcem"rts. AMI equally