March 11, 1861; The New York Herald
WASHINGTON, March 10, 1861.
Political circles were feverishly excited today by a report that the evacuation of Forts Sumter and Pickens had been determined upon in the Cabinet meeting last night. Although nobody could give any positive authority for this exciting fever of news it yet obtained general currency and was eagerly discussed at all the hotels. At the Washington House a sort of informal indignation meeting of Western politicians was held this afternoon, and the presumed backing down of the republican administration commented upon in anything but complimentary terms. I am able, however, to state positively that no such conclusion has been arrived at by the new regime. It is certain that the subject of reinforcing the forts has largely occupied the attention of the President and his constitutional advisers, and that in the face of the opinion of General Scott and other authorities that, in the present status of the military forces of the government a reinforcement is impracticable, the question of abandonment has been raised; but the President and the Cabinet know that in the eyes of their party they are in honor and duty bound to hold the posts, and that any other line of policy would raise an overwhelming storm of indignation among their supporters – hence, even if they favored an evacuation, which the President and the majority of the Cabinet do not at present, they could not act accordingly, owing to the desires and expectations of their party.