The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-04-17
ras ANNIVERSARY OF SUMTER.

Thirty-two years ago last Wednesday
Gen. Besuregard opened fire with his Con-
fedcrate batteries on Fort Sumter. The
surrender was demanded at midnight Of
the nth of April. The proposal was
promptly rejected and at daylight on shs
i2th the rebel guns opened on the fort
Mai. Anderson endured the Ere on the
18th and 18th and surrendered ON the 14th.
The bitter memory Of the c,vil war has 30
entirely subsidized that We can today
appreciate the wonderful vigor and
audacity Of the Confedsrates who
plotted secession, precipitatsd rebel
lion and framed tho Confedcracy.
South Carolina seeded In December, 1850.
and her action was quickly followed by
Mississippi, Florida. Alabama, Georgia,
Louisiana and Texas. In mono Of these
states was the question Of secession sub
mitted to vote Of the people: the convcn-
tions In ell these cases assumed superior
authority in the premises without further
reference 10 the people. In Georgia. owing
70 the able and eloquent opposition of
Alexander II. Stephens and Ben HILL to
secession ~ without cause. on the preiim-
mary test vote the secession majority was
but thirty-fve. A motion was made to
submit the ordinance TO the people. but
was lost, and tho final vote on the passage
Of the ordinance was 20s to 50. Stephens
and his associates signed under protest,
but declared they would resist coercion.
On our side at this time the courage. de-
cision and energy Of the secession con-
spirators was met by miserable weakness.
hesitation and timidity. As early ~
November "a. 1850. and all through De-
cember. President Buchanan was warned
by Maj Anderson of the necessity of
strengthening the garrison Of the defenses
of Charleston, but in vain. The Star of
the West. sent TO provision Fort Sumter,
was fired upon January &, 1851. Buchanan
neither ordered the Star of the West back
nor the Brooklyn and Harriet Lane, YES
sells of war. 90 Charleston, nor would he
authorize Maj. Anderson to execute his
threat TO shell the batteries and Fort
Moultrie, and five days after the Star of
tho West was fred upon Tom Corwin. the
famous Republican statesman of Ohio,
proposed \ compromise more abiect than
that OF 1850. and Charles Francis Adams,
who denounced Webster in 1850, wa,
fmong number of radical anti-siayerv
Republicans who voted for It. All the
vigor. courage and statesmanship was
with the South and secession until Lin
coin succeeded Buchanan and answered
the shot q, Sumter by beating the long
roll and waving the signal for rescue with
the stars and stripes from the Windows Of
shs capitol.
great people Wild with the fine enthu.
siasm that marked the great uprising after
Sumter. WAS something never seen before
in this country. aud il is likely may no, he
seen again for centuries. IL WAS o th.iil-
Ing. exaiting, inspiring sight then: 1t is q
thrilling memory 10 not . few of Us today.
The shot al Sumter WAS . IN aster political
rather than military stroke on the part
Of the secession conspirstorA There had
come . dangerous halt in the secession
movement; it had swept like tidal wave
over ali of the Gulf states. but In the
great states Of North Carolina and yir.
Einia there WAS . strong opposition TO
secessson-so strong that Il Was necessary
to close the debate by . cannon shot
that would Ere the Southern hear. Sum-
Ter had been at the mercy of Beauregard's
guns At any time since the middle Of Feb.
rrary; he had bot three days provisions
isss when summoned to surrender, April
~. and offered to surrender on the ts:h il
no, relieved.
Why did Reauresard IRE on Sumter
when by waiting fossy-eight hours the fort
would have been has without burning .