Year: 1861

esday evening by Pony, will be seen in full
portant and exciting character. The mad
caps of the Cotton Confederacy have opened
the ball by the taking of Fort Sumter, and
on them rests the responsibility of civil
war which is bound to desolate many
hearths and absorb millions of money. We
know little of the horrors in store Tor the
country, but whatever they may be the cri-
sis demands the cooperation Of all patriots
in a common cause. The issue is Union or
DisunioD, government or anarchy. 1t is one
of those crises that are repeated in history,
when the ebulitions of anger and discomfort
have to be met by force, when criminal con =
duct has to be punished for the example it
will furnish as a terror to evil doers. There
is no resource left the Government but 20
maintain its credit and character. Self re =
spect and self defense alike demand of the
government an enforcement of the laws
Unwelcome as the duty may be, there is no
escape but through dishonor, TO which free
men never submit. Vigorous and prompt
action is required, and it is proud sight to
see the loyal States of the Union ready with
their men and money to defend the Republic
in its extremity. Ohio has thirty thousand
men ready for the field, Pennsylvania can
muster hundred thousand, New York n
hundred and fifty thousand, and if need be
the Union States can bring to the conflict a
half million of men in thirty days. The
blow upon Fort Sumter must decide the
fate of old parties for the time being The
question as to the rights Of slavery in Ter
ritories is gone. The question is whether
those Territories belong to the government
that purchased them or to traitors. Sla.
very cannot go there and be profitable un-
der existing circumstances but whether
those Territories are to be kept for the
abode of white freemen or negroes is to be
determined. 1t is a trial of national rights
and it seems to be determined by the seces-
sionists that it is to be arbitrated by the
sword. Let the sword then, if it must be,
be the tribunal and the argument the din
of arms. Couciliation has been tried with
out effect. Guarantees to slavery where it
exists have been offered in vain. The rights
of the South have been offered any and
every protection, but to no purpose. No
valid complaint has been made against the
General Government by the malcontents.-
Their list of grievances is to be classed
ton but the baseless fabric of vision
They have thrown out their imaginary
wrongs to be regarded by the civilized
world as the mad fulminations of maniac,
or the wild extravaganzas of a hasheesh
eater


The last news from the seat of war comes
through Southern channels and is liable to
some modification when the full particulars
arrive. What seems strange about the re-
ported attack on Fort Sumter is, the short
time the fortress held out, and the want Of
loss of life. Fort Sumter cost millions of
money and was reputed strong place. 1t
is remarkable that it was not able to stand
a cannonade of but few hours, Not long
since Major Anderson reported himself able
to repel any force that the secessionists
could bring against him. The result ac-
cording to the accounts before us, does not
seem TO justify his expectations, We shall
await with anxiety the particulars.