February 2, 1861; The Charleston Mercury
WASHINGTON, January 30, 1861.
It was a matter of suprise this morning to every one to learn that Col. HAYNE had received no instructions in regard to demanding the surrender of Fort Sumter. The unanimous declination of Virginia’s mediation could only have looked to immediate action on the part of South Carolina. It is to be believed that she will rest content with the simple assertion of her final withdrawal from the Union? Such a declaration of independence, unsustained by some prompt and practical step, would amount to nothing more than a studied affront of Virginia for the benefit of the Federal power, coupled with real imbecility or a species of prudence inconsistent with the true spirit of liberty.
Public men here, who, a month ago, shrunk from the horrors of a conflict at arms, have been forced to reconcile themselves to such an event, as one which the insane course of the Administration renders inevitable. This much is plain. BUCHANAN ought either to reinforce ANDERSON or to recall him. He has not yet reinforced him, and he won’t recall him. Does any one suppose he means to charge himself with the crime of sacrificing seventy men – to say nothing of the lives of those who will fall in the assault – merely on a point of honor. You Carolinians are deceiving yourselves. Mr. BUCHANAN is a Northern man – a Union man at all hazards. He intends to hand over Fort Sumter and Fort Pickens to his successor, cost what it may. He wants time – desires no collision. But those who expect him to give up these fortifications, do not know the man or his feelings. By postponing the capture of these posts, you are only accumulating the chances of failure and compounding interest of your best blood. By delay you afford time for the amplest preparations within the fort, and you stand continually exposed to the dangers of a successful reinforcement from a hostile and treacherous Government. Many military and naval men think that it can be readily affected in boats, despite all your precautions. And depend upon it, SCOTT is no trifler, and will not fail when the next effort is made. South Carolina is drifting into a position where a bloody battle will be inevitable or a disgraceful backing down and reconstruction of the Union. Were the South in possession of these fortifications, there would long since have been an end of all the war talk at the North. By delay you keep up the irritation and excitement, and may end by getting up a civil war; for, this exhibition of apparent weakness, irresolution or unpreparedness to take a fort held by but seventy men, encourages your enemies, while it astonishes and depresses your friends by throwing doubt upon either the earnestness of the secession movement, or upon your capacity for achieving the independence you profess.
Politicians are not wanting here to settle the question of who shall be the Provisional President of the Southern Confederacy. The claims and capabilities of STEPHENS, YANCEY and BARNWELL RHETT are canvassed. JEFFERSON DAVIS is objected to on the ground that he must be the Commander in Chief. Anxiety is expressed to appease the Union sentiment of North Alabama, and part of Georgia. It is proposed to organize the Provisional Government at once, arm and equip men enough to protect it against any assault, adopt the Constitution and treaties of the United States, leave the door open for other States to join, and sometime hereafter to form a permanent Constitution and to issue writs of election in all the States then in for permanent President, &c. Beware of all these expedients for delay. They are insidious attempts to break the impetus of the move towards a Southern Confederacy. True policy urges the formation of a permanent Government at the earliest possible day.
No serious difficulty is apprehended in regard to recognition by Foreign Powers, as LORD LYONS has distinctly stated that the tariff bill now pending in the Senate will drive England at once from the Northern to the Southern ports. What is particularly needed at the beginning is some man at the head of affairs, who possesses the confidence of the people in the several seceding States and who combines sound judgment and good sense with decision of character.
With regard to town topics and local tittle tattle, I have nothing of special interest to give you.
SEVEN.