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ANDERSON DENOUNCED.

ramparts as a complete defence against an escalading party. New embrasures have been cut in the walls so as to command the faces of the bastion and ditch. These new defences are all incomplete, and are evidence of the haste with which they were erected. Considering the inferior force, in point of numbers, under his command, Major Anderson had paid particular attention to strengthening only a small part of the fort.

A greater portion of the labor expended was spent upon the citadel, or centre of the west point of the position. This he had caused to be strengthened in every way; loop-holes were cut, and everything was so arranged that in case a well-concerted attack was made, he would have retired from the outer bastions to the citadel, and afterward blow up the other portions of the fort. For this purpose mines had already been sprung, and trains had been laid ready for the application of the match. The barrack-rooms and every other part of the fort that was indefensible would have gone at a touch.

"On the ramparts of the fort fronting Fort Sumter were nine eight-inch columbiads, mounted on wooden carriages. As soon as the evacuation of the fort was complete, the carriages of these guns were fired, and at the time of visiting the fort yesterday, were nearly consumed, and the guns thereby dismounted. These guns, as well as those constituting the entire armament of the fortress, were spiked before it was abandoned. This is the only damage done the fortification, further than cutting

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down the flagstaff, and the breaking up of ammunition-wagons to form ramparts on the walls of the fort."

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The seizure of the Federal forts was followed by that of the arsenal, the custom-house, and the post-office, upon each of which was raised the Palmetto flag. The South Carolinians were pleased to consider the simple movement of a Federal officer from one Federal fort to another an act of war. Major Robert Anderson, United States army," wrote a journalist, "has achieved the unenviable distinction of opening civil war between American citizens by an act of gross breach of faith. He has, under counsels of a panic, deserted his post at Fort Moultrie, and under false pretexts has transferred his garrison and military stores and supplies to Fort Sumter."

Another writert declared: "It is due to South Carolina and to good faith that the act of this officer (Major Anderson) should be repudiated by the Government, and that the troops be removed forthwith from Fort Sumter."

The governor of South Carolina demanded of Anderson by what authority he had acted, and what was the object of his movement. Anderson replied, that it was merely a military measure for the purpose only of defence, which he had executed on his own responsi

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itary force and a complete system of coast defence. The buoys from the channels were removed, the lights in the light-houses extinguished, fortifications built, an army was enlisted, and a most formidable show of defiance to the Federal authorities exhibited everywhere throughout the State. Most of the officers of the United States army and navy who were natives of South Carolina had, on the announcement of its act of secession, resigned from the Federal service and offered their allegiance to the seceded State. South Carolina was thus at once provided with officers capable of organizing its military force and directing the works necessary for its defence.

Throughout the cotton States the movement of Major Anderson was considered an aggressive act, and they showed their disposition to make common cause with South Carolina by liberal offerings of aid. Georgia, Alabama, and even North Carolina, tendered the services of troops.

At the North, public attention had been diverted for a time from South Carolina by exciting events occurring nearer home, which, however, from their supposed relation to the Southern movement, served to increase the general inquietude, and prepare the public for Dec. further developments of treason. 25. A great defalcation had been discovered in the Indian trust fund, by which the Government had been defrauded of eight hundred and thirty thousand dollars. Thompson, the secretary of the interior, who had been ab

sent from his Federal post, striving as a secession commissioner from Mississippi to stir up the people of North Carolina to rebellion, was summoned to Washington. His disbursing clerk was absent, and the key of the safe missing. The former was discovered, but the latter was lost. The safe was broken open; no property, however, was found. It was difficult to trace the degree of criminality which belonged to those to whom the trust had been confided. The superiors asserted their innocence, and to the inferior was imputed the crime; but public opinion did not hesitate to charge the secretary of war, Floyd, and the secretary of the interior, Thompson, as accomplices in the fraud, which had been committed, if not for personal advantage, at any rate for the advancement of Southern interests.

Another event, no less exciting, occurred at the same moment. An order had been received from Washing- Dec. ton at Pittsburg to send imme- 25. diately from the Alleghany arsenal there 78 large cannon to Fort Newport, near Galveston, and 48 to Ship Island, near Biloxi, off the coast of Mississippi.

As the government of Buchanan was still guided by those whose fidelity to the Union was suspected, the purpose of this order was naturally supposed to further Southern secession. This aroused the indignation of the citizens of Pittsburg, who expressed a determination not to allow the arms to leave the arsenal. Finally, the excitement of Pittsburg found relief in a "mass meeting," at which resolutions were adopted "de

FEELING AT THE NORTH.

claring loyalty to the Union, and ability to defend themselves against all enemies of the Union; deprecating any interference with the shipment of arms under government orders, however inopportune or impolitic the order might appear; deploring the existing state of things in connection with the adminis tration of important departments of the public service so as to have shaken confidence in the people of the free States; declaring that while Pennsylvania is on guard at the Federal capital, it is her special duty to look to the fidelity of her sons, and in that view call on the President, as a citizen of this Commonwealth, to see that the public receive no detriment at his hands, and to purge his cabinet of every man known to give aid and comfort to, or in any way countenancing the revolt of, any State against the authority of the Constitution and the laws of the Union."

These events, the robbery of the public treasury and arsenals, seemed to reveal more clearly to the public mind of the North the extent and danger of the Southern conspiracy. Alarm and distrust now became more general, and the people began to fear for the safety of that Union which they had fondly believed to be too greatly endeared to the universal American heart to be in peril from any sectional disaffection. While thus depressed, the news came of the movement of Major Anderson, and that simple act of military duty was hailed as a deed of heroism, and its author as an heroic defender of the Union.

The feeling of patriotic exultation

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found vent through the press in a burst of ardent rhetoric:

"We must own," exclaimed a writer in the Boston Courier, "that the news of the transaction in Charleston harbor was learned by us yesterday with a prouder beating of the heart. We could not but feel once more that we had a country-a fact which had been to a certain degree in suspense for some weeks past. What is given up for the moment is of no consequence, provided the one point stands out clear, that the United States means to maintain its position, where its rights exist, and that its officers, civil and military, intend to discharge their duty. The concentration of the disposable force in Charleston harbor in a defensible post is thus a bond of union. It is a decisive act, calculated to rally the national heart.

We are not disposed to allow the Union to be broken up for grievances of South Carolina, which might be settled within the Union; and if there is to be any fighting, we prefer it within, rather than without. The abandonment of Fort Moultrie was obviously a necessary act, in order to carry into effect the purpose contemplated with such an inferior force as that under the command of Major Anderson.

"If anybody ever doubted Major Anderson's eminent military capacity, that doubt must be dispelled by the news that we publish in another column," wrote the editor of the Boston Atlas. "Of his own accord, without orders from Washington, but acting on the discretion which an officer in an independent command always possesses,

Major Anderson, commander of the defences of Charleston harbor, transports his troops to the key of his position, Fort Sumter, against which no gun can be laid which is not itself commanded by a 10-inch columbiad in the embrasures of that octagon citadel. This rapid, unexpected manoeuvre has disconcerted treason, and received the highest military commendation in the country.

action of the commander of Fort Moultrie, that the solemn pledges of the Government have been violated by Major Anderson. In my judgment, but one remedy is now left us by which to vindicate our honor and prevent civil war. It is in vain now to hope for confidence on the part of the people of South Carolina in any further pledges as to the action of the military. One remedy is left, and that is to withdraw the gar

"Brave major of artillery, true serv-rison from the harbor of Charleston. I ant of your country, soldier of pene- hope the President will allow me to trating and far-seeing genius, when the make that order at once. This order, right is endangered by fraud or force, in my judgment, can alone prevent at the proper time the needed man is bloodshed and civil war. always provided. The spirit of the age provides him, and he always regards the emergency. WASHINGTON, GARIBALDI, ANDERSON "

Washington, in the mean time, had been no less stirred by the great event. Floyd, the secretary of war, who had been so long pretending to serve two masters, while he had given himself up totally to the demon of rebellion, resigned, and was succeeded by Holt, of Kentucky, a patriot of unquestioned loyalty to the Union. The correspondence between Floyd and the President is a curious memorial of the times when an obvious duty of government was construed into a justifiable cause for disaffection and hostile defiance.

“WAR DEPARTMENT, Dec. 29, 1860. "SIR: On the morning of the 27th inst. I read the following paper to you in the presence of the cabinet :

"COUNCIL CHAMBER, EXECUTIVE MANSION.

"SIR: It is evident now, from the

"JOHN B. FLOYD,

"Secretary of War. "I then considered the honor of the administration pledged to maintain the troops in the position they occupied, for such had been the assurances given to the gentlemen of South Carolina who had a right to speak for her. South Carolina, on the other hand, gave reciprocal pledges that no force should be brought by them against the troops or against the property of the United States. The sole object of both parties in these reciprocal pledges was to prevent a collision and the effusion of blood, in the hope that some means might be found for a peaceful accommodation of the existing troubles, the two Houses of Congress having both raised committees looking to that object. Thus affairs stood until the action of Major Anderson, taken unfortunately while the commissioners were on their way to this capital on a peaceful mission looking to

DEMAND OF SOUTH CAROLINA COMMISSIONERS.

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the avoidance of bloodshed, has compli- ington, after an insolent demand for cated matters in the existing manner. satisfaction from the Federal authority, Our refusal or even delay to place af- followed by an audacious defiance of its fairs back as they stood under our agree- power, and a threat of resistance. The ment invites a collision, and must in- correspondence between the commisevitably inaugurate civil war. I cannot sioners of South Carolina and the Presiconsent to be the agent of such calam- dent, is another strange memorial of ity. I deeply regret that I feel myself that period of humiliation for the Union. under the necessity of tendering to you when its chief magistrate was called to my resignation as secretary of war, be- account in the capital of the United cause I can no longer hold it under my States by confessed rebels, for not reconvictions of patriotism, nor with hon-pudiating a simple act of national deor, subjected as I am to a violation of fence, performed by an officer in the solemn pledges and plighted faith.

"With the highest personal regard, "I am most truly yours,

"JOHN B. FLOYD.

"To His Excellency the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

THE PRESIDENT'S REPLY.

"WASHINGTON, Dec. 21, 1860. "MY DEAR SIR: I have received and accepted your resignation of the office of secretary of war; and not wishing to impose upon you the task of perforining its mere routine duties, which you have so kindly offered to do, I have authorized Postmaster-General Holt to administer the affairs of the department until your successor shall be appointed. "Yours, very respectfully,

"JAMES BUCHANAN.

"Hon. JOHN B. FLOYD."

The commissioners appointed by the convention of South Carolina to treat with the President in regard to the delivery of the forts and other Federal property, made the event of Anderson's performance of his duty the occasion for their abrupt departure from Wash

course of his military duties.

THE CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE SOUTH
CAROLINA COMMISSIONERS AND THE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES.

"WASHINGTON, Dec. 29, 1860.
"SIR: We have the honor to transmit
to you a copy of the full powers from
the convention of the people of South
Carolina, under which we are 'authorized
and empowered to treat with the Gov-
ernment of the United States for the
delivery of the forts, magazines, light-
houses, and other real estate, with their
appurtenances, in the limits of South
Carolina; and also for an apportionment
of the public debt, and for a division of
all other property held by the Govern-
ment of the United States, as agent of
the confederated States, of which South
Carolina was recently a member, and
generally to negotiate as to all other
measures and arrangements proper to
be made and adopted in the existing
relation of the parties, and for the con-
tinuance of peace and amity between
this Commonwealth and the Government
at Washington.'

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