March 22, 1861; The Charleston Mercury
The arrival of a special messenger to Major ANDERSON, last evening, produced some comment and curiosity in the city. The gentleman who was the envoy of the Administration in Washington, is Mr. G.V. FOX, of Massachusetts, formerly of the United States Navy. He was accompanied to Fort Sumter by Capt. HENRY J. HARTSTENE at 8 o’clock p.m. Mr. Fox only remained at Fort Sumter for half an hour, and left for Washington in the 11 p.m. train.
He announced that the object of this mission was simply to hear from Major ANDERSON the exact condition of the garrison. From the shortness of the stay of his Envoy Extraordinary, we presume that it did not take the gallant Major long to give him an inventory of his provisions, &c.
Now as the communication between Fort Sumter and Washington is open to the garrison of the former, are we to believe the object of Mr. FOX’s excursion was simply to ascertain whether Major ANDERSON was in a temper to have his military prestige sacrificed upon the altar of Black Republicanism? By this we would enquire whether it is the intention of LINCOLN and his pack to leave him to eat his last ounce of bread, and then to let loose the Northern howl, which has already commenced, against him for retiring? So far as South Carolina is concerned, we believe that Major ANDERSON will be permitted to salute his flag on hauling it down, and to march out of the fort with his side arms, leaving the property intact. When we remember the disgraceful manner in which the late Administration sneaked out of the San Juan del Norte affair, and turned Commodore PAULDING over to the denunciation of the country for obedience to orders, which he could only construe as he did, and then coolly, a year afterwards, in a State paper, appropriated the whole honor of the affair, we have a right to ask what we have. They can do as they please.