Year: 1861

Tho Democrats are beginning to think
the Administration was not changed any
too soon. Buchanan and South Carolina to-
gether are more than they can stand. They
have adhered to their party until that ad-
herence has become sacrifice of patriot
ism. The Albany Atlds & argus of Dec.
2eth, in an able article on the weakness of
Mr. Bucbanan's policy, speaks their seDti-
ments. 1t says:


"Why was Fort Moultrie abandoned as
il TO an advancing armyl 1t was easy to
have held il; and it seems to us the nation
might have been spared the humiliation of
such a surrender. Tioo hundred men could
have prevented any attack, and it would
have been easy to have sent two thousand
moro, to say nothing of ships of war to
sustain them. Major Anderson has scted
nobly in saving his little garrison from mas
sacre, but sohy aOere they thus erposedF


1--WE repeat what we said yesterday, and
what we proclaimed long ago, that the duty
of the Federal Erecative in regard TO the
public property and defenses as clear and
simple one. II is to hold and defend them
as long as the United States eriSt as a
Government. We repeat what we said when
this danger appeared only small and dis
tant, that our government cannot afford to
! live under such disgrace as the capture Of
its forts by the sacrifice of their garrisons
and still less afford to die under it.


"It is one thing to consent to a peaceable
separation and division of the States-the
surrender of its fortresses and the equitable
partition of public property-and it is an
other TO have them wrested from our weak
ness and made part of our humiliation.
The Federal administration can only pre-
serve peace and keep this issue from being
bloody one, By Jfrnaness. A few such
manifestations Of weakness as in the case
OF Fort Moultrie, and successful coup de
main against some unprotected defence of
the Government, and the next thing to be
apprehended would be an attempt to seize
Washington. To prevent this, to deter the
attempt even-which would arouse sec
tional passions to madness-aOe look aOih
some hope to the presence Of Lieutenant
General Scott at the national capital, and
at the right hand of the President, more
than to the forethought or fidelity of the
Secretary of War. 1t shows upon what
evil times we have fallen, and how nearly
we have approached TO the condition of
Mexican repubicanism, that the eyes of the
people are turned to military chieftains to
save us from political anarchy.


"But if our government is to perish, let
it at least fall with dignity. Let it preserve
its consciousness and its equipose to the
last. Let it be an instrumentaIity ofpcace
between the States. Let its last days be
such that the discovered States may look
back to it with respectful and regretful rec
elections and its memory serve to recall
conflicting and misgoverned communities
to the blessings of Union. Let it not stag
ger helpleSsly to ats fall, and die under the
spurning feet of a reckless mob"


1t is in this tone that many Democrats
are beginning to talk; Buchapan's folly has
disgusted them; and when the question
arises between the stars and stripes and any
new-fangled banner, they will cling to the
glorious ensign of the Republic.