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the writings-5-第55章

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used against the government。  Accumulations of the public revenue

lying within them had been seized for the same object。  The navy was

scattered in distant seas; leaving but a very small part of it within

the immediate reach of the government。  Officers of the Federal army

and navy had resigned in great numbers; and of those resigning a

large proportion had taken up arms against the government。

Simultaneously; and in connection with all this; the purpose to sever

the Federal Union was openly avowed。  In accordance with this

purpose; an ordinance had been adopted in each of these States;

declaring the States respectively to be separated from the national

Union。  A formula for instituting a combined government of these

States had been promulgated; and this illegal organization; in the

character of confederate States; was already invoking recognition;

aid; and intervention from foreign powers。



Finding this condition of things; and believing it to be an

imperative duty upon the incoming executive to prevent; if possible;

the consummation of such attempt to destroy the Federal Union; a

choice of means to that end became indispensable。  This choice was

made and was declared in the inaugural address。  The policy chosen

looked to the exhaustion of all peaceful measures before a resort to

any stronger ones。  It sought only to hold the public places and

property not already wrested from the government; and to collect the

revenue; relying for the rest on time; discussion; and the

ballot…box。  It promised a continuance of the mails; at government

expense; to the very people who were resisting the government; and it

gave repeated pledges against any disturbance to any of the people;

or any of their rights。  Of all that which a President might

constitutionally and justifiably do in such a case; everything was

forborne without which it was believed possible to keep the

government on foot。



On the 5th of March (the present incumbent's first full day in

office); a letter of Major Anderson; commanding at Fort Sumter;

written on the 28th of February and received at the War Department on

the 4th of March; was by that department placed in his hands。  This

letter expressed the professional opinion of the writer that

reinforcements could not be thrown into that fort within the time for

his relief; rendered necessary by the limited supply of provisions;

and with a view of holding possession of the same; with a force of

less than twenty thousand good and well…disciplined men。  This

opinion was concurred in by all the officers of his command; and

their memoranda on the subject were made inclosures of Major

Anderson's letter。  The whole was immediately laid before

Lieutenant…General Scott; who at once concurred with Major Anderson

in opinion。  On reflection; however; he took full time; consulting

with other officers; both of the army and the navy; and at the end of

four days came reluctantly but decidedly to the same conclusion as

before。  He also stated at the same time that no such sufficient

force was then at the control of the government; or could be raised

and brought to the ground within the time when the provisions in the

fort would be exhausted。  In a purely military point of view; this

reduced the duty of the administration in the case to the mere matter

of getting the garrison safely out of the fort。



It was believed; however; that to so abandon that position; under the

circumstances; would be utterly ruinous; that the necessity under

which it was to be done would not be fully understood; that by many

it would be construed as a part of a voluntary policy; that at home

it would discourage the friends of the Union; embolden its

adversaries; and go far to insure to the latter a recognition abroad;

that in fact; it would be our national destruction consummated。  This

could not be allowed。  Starvation was not yet upon the garrison; and

ere it would be reached Fort Pickens might be reinforced。  This last

would be a clear indication of policy; and would better enable the

country to accept the evacuation of Fort Sumter as a military

necessity。  An order was at once directed to be sent for the landing

of the troops from the steamship Brooklyn into Fort Pickens。  This

order could not go by land; but must take the longer and slower route

by sea。  The first return news from the order was received just one

week before the fall of Fort Sumter。  The news itself was that the

officer commanding the Sabine; to which vessel the troops had been

transferred from the Brooklyn; acting upon some quasi armistice of

the late administration (and of the existence of which the present

administration; up to the time the order was despatched; had only too

vague and uncertain rumors to fix attention); had refused to land the

troops。  To now reinforce Fort Pickens before a crisis would be

reached at Fort Sumter was impossiblerendered so by the near

exhaustion of provisions in the latter…named fort。  In precaution

against such a conjuncture; the government had; a few days before;

commenced preparing an expedition as well adapted as might be to

relieve Fort Sumter; which expedition was intended to be ultimately

used; or not; according to circumstances。  The strongest anticipated

case for using it was now presented; and it was resolved to send it

forward。  As had been intended in this contingency; it was also

resolved to notify the governor of South Carolina that he might

expect an attempt would be made to provision the fort; and that; if

the attempt should not be resisted; there would be no effort to throw

in men; arms; or ammunition; without further notice; or in case of an

attack upon the fort。  This notice was accordingly given; whereupon

the fort was attacked and bombarded to its fall; without even

awaiting the arrival of the provisioning expedition。



It is thus seen that the assault upon and reduction of Fort Sumter

was in no sense a matter of self…defense on the part of the

assailants。  They well knew that the garrison in the fort could by no

possibility commit aggression upon them。  They knewthey were

expressly notifiedthat the giving of bread to the few brave and

hungry men of the garrison was all which would on that occasion be

attempted; unless themselves; by resisting so much; should provoke

more。  They knew that this government desired to keep the garrison in

the fort; not to assail them; but merely to maintain visible

possession; and thus to preserve the Union from actual and immediate

dissolutiontrusting; as hereinbefore stated; to time; discussion;

and the ballot…box for final adjustment; and they assailed and

reduced the fort for precisely the reverse objectto drive out the

visible authority of the Federal Union; and thus force it to

immediate dissolution。  That this was their object the executive well

understood; and having said to them in the inaugural address; 〃You

can have no conflict without being yourselves the aggressors;〃 he

took pains not only to keep this declaration good; but also to keep

the case so free from the power of ingenious sophistry that the world

should not be able to misunderstand it。  By the affair at Fort

Sumter; with its surrounding circumstances; that point was reached。

Then and thereby the assailants of the government began the conflict

of arms; without a gun in sight or in expectancy to return their

fire; save only the few in the fort sent to that harbor years before

for their own protection; and still ready to give that protection in

whatever was lawful。  In this act; discarding all else; they have

forced upon the country the distinct issue; 〃immediate dissolution or

blood。〃



And this issue embraces more than the fate of these United States。

It presents to the whole family of man the question whether a

constitutional republic or democracya government of the people by

the same peoplecan or cannot maintain its territorial integrity

against its own domestic foes。  It presents the question whether

discontented individuals; too few in numbers to control

administration according to organic law in any case; can always; upon

the pretenses made in this case; or on any other pretenses; or

arbitrarily without any pretense; break up their government; and thus

practically put an end to free government upon the earth。  It forces

us to ask: Is there in all republics this inherent and fatal

weakness?  Must a government; of necessity; be too strong for the

liberties of its own people; or too weak to maintain its own

existence?



So viewing the issue; no choice was left but to call out the war

power of the government; and so to resist force employed for its

destruction by force for its preservation。



The call was made; and the response of the country was most

gratifying; surpassing in unanimity and spirit the most sanguine

expectation。  Yet none of the States commonly called slave States;

except Delaware; gave a regiment through regular
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