March 12, 1861; The New York Herald
WASHINGTON, March 11, 1861.
An official letter from Major Anderson, received on Saturday, says he had only fifteen days subsistence and wood. The question has therefore risen with the administration whether a reinforcement shall be attempted or the fort abandoned. The latter course, it is thought, will be adopted from inevitable necessity, by advice of Lieut. General Scott.
The city has been in a state of intense excitement all day by the rumor that Fort Sumter is to be evacuated. The radical republicans, upon hearing the report, fly into cursing before ascertaining what the facts are. Some declare the party ruined; others denounce the administration, saying it is demoralized and disgraced. One says ‘Reinforce Anderson.’ He is told that it cannot be done; that before the troops could reach him with provisions he would be compelled, under the army regulations, and by the dictates of humanity to salute his flag and march his men out of the fort to save them from starvation. Another says, ‘Notify the people of Charleston that the government will send a supply vessel there, and if she is fired into Major Anderson will shell the city.’ The answer of the statesman to that is, ‘Then you take up a quarrel you did not begin, and irritate a people to resist the federal government and initiate civil war.’
So the discussion has been going all day, in almost every knot of people that have assembled anywhere.
The Cabinet had a meeting this afternoon, when the subject of Fort Sumter was renewed. The turning point was, that it is now out of the power of the government to reinforce the place in reason to save Major Anderson before he will be compelled to surrender to general starvation. The question is not now, as it was weeks ago, a civil or political one, but is narrowed down to a scientific and military question.
The Cabinet was in session four hours, but came to no decision about Fort Sumter, preferring to postpone final action until tomorrow or next day, but that Major Anderson’s command will be ordered to abandon Fort Sumter there is no doubt. It is not yet settled how this will be done, but it is likely that the Brooklyn will be ordered to Charleston to convey the troops away.
When the Cabinet settles upon this course they will undoubtedly decide also to blockade the harbor of Charleston and other ports, and collect the revenue. If this policy is determined upon an extra session of Congress will be immediately called. At present, if troops were needed for immediate service, the President would have no power to call upon the States for aid, because Congress passed no law authorizing him to do so.
The administration are yet undecided as to the policy to be pursued in regard to Fort Sumter and Fort Pickens. The radical republicans have entered their solemn protest against abandoning the forts, and Mr. Lincoln is afraid to take the responsibility. They are endeavoring to shirk the matter and throw it upon the last administration. This will not answer. They should come boldly forward, assume the responsibility and share the credit of restoring peace to the country.
The republican Senators, immediately after the adjournment, held a caucus and remained in session for upwards of two hours. It is understood that the question of evacuating Fort Sumter was one of the questions under consideration. There are a large majority of Senators opposed to that policy. They say that it would be regarded as a back down from their position. Other Senators say they had better back down a thousand times than plunge the country into civil war.