THE CRISIS APPROACHING: A Policy Decided Upon by the Administration; IMPORTANT FROM CHARLESTON: A SCHOONER FIRED INTO FROM MORRIS ISLAND (4/5/1861)

New York Times archives – Times Machine ^ | 4/5/1861

[Homer_J_Simpson]

WASHINGTON, Thursday, April 4.

It is evident here that the policy of the Administration is rapidly crystalizing. The power of the Government is to be tested, or rather the will of the people to sustain the laws and enforce unity. The President has come slowly up to realize the necessity of decisive and vigorous action, and the Revenue laws are to be enforced in Louisiana, as in New-York, if the Army and Navy at the command of the Government can do it.

I am confident that in less than a week every port of importance, south of Charleston, which has inland communication, will be blockaded. It is for this purpose that vessels of war are being fitted for sea, and not for transport, as was supposed. Merchant vessels will be chartered for transport service. Suddenly, all our army officers that were quartered in this vicinity are missing, and the fact is ascertained that they have left under sealed orders, to be opened at sea. The distracted wives leak out this latter fact.

Capt. MEIGS was detailed from the Capitol buildings Wednesday night, and ordered away with only twelve hours' notice. About thirty artificers were sent with him on secret service, not knowing their destination beyond New-York. No visitors were admitted at the War Department to-day, except those connected with the service.

The article in the TIMES on Wednesday, on the necessity of developing the policy of the Government, has attracted profound attention in political and military circles. The only dissent which I have heard expressed, was a remark made by an official that "perhaps the charges it contained of inaction were unjust; that the Government would be found to have considered the subject, and already acted in the direction indicated."

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1855-1860: Seminar and Discussion Forum
Bleeding Kansas, Dred Scott, Lincoln-Douglas, Harper’s Ferry, the election of 1860, secession – all the events leading up to the Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: Sometime in the future.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

https://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:homerjsimpson/index?tab=articles

To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.

Link to previous New York Times thread

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3947754/posts

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

The Crisis Approaching: A Policy Decided Upon by the Administration – 2
General Washington News – 2-4
Our Washington Correspondence – 4-5
Important from Charleston: A Schooner Fired Into from Morris Island – 5
A Flag of Truce from Fort Sumpter – 5
Dispatches from Charleston – 5
Reported Letter from Fort Sumpter – 5
Our Charleston Correspondence – 5-6
The Note of Preparation: Important Military and Naval News – 6
The Harriet Lane Going to Sea – 6
Southern Treasury Notes Issued – 6
The New Federal Loan – 6
Reports from New-Orleans – 6
Federal Officer in New-Orleans – 6-7
Important from Virginia: Proceedings of the State Convention – 7
Reported Disturbance at Fortress Monroe – 7
California Gossip: Golden Circle at Work-California Strong for the Union – 7
Editorial: The Administration Policy – 7
Editorial: The Rumored Mexican Invasion – 7-8
Morality and Mathematics among the Confederates – 8
Naval Contracts and Navy-Yards – 8
Robbing the Government: Frauds in the Navy Department – 8-9
More Robbery of the Government: Attempt to Carry off a Large Quantity of Copper from the Navy-Yard – 9
District-Attorney – 9

[allendale]

When you reflect on these threads a few things are apparent. Virtually no one at the time visualized just how terrible and bloddy the coming civil war was to be. Also there lacked leadership in the Congress among long serving politicians,no insights or will to advance reasonable solutions to the core sources of the divisions. Much as it is today.