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Exactly. I've also seen statements from Northern editorial staff that they should use the guns of Ft. Sumter to destroy the port of Charleston so as to prevent the establishment of European trade at the greatly reduced tariff.

Something to the effect of the guns having sufficient reach to do that.

And Northern Apologists wonder why the South didn't like the idea of a Federal fort overlooking the entrance to their port city. The idea of using it to destroy their city and their commerce was already voiced!

DiogenesLamp: "I've also seen statements from Northern editorial staff that they should use the guns of Ft. Sumter to destroy the port of Charleston so as to prevent the establishment of European trade at the greatly reduced tariff."

I think we've now established beyond reasonable doubt that all such quotes are deeply suspect and should not be accepted at face value, until strong confirmations received.

DiogenesLamp: "...Northern Apologists wonder why the South didn't like the idea of a Federal fort overlooking the entrance to their port city."

No, of course they didn't like it, just as the Commie Cubans don't like our base at Guantanamo Bay, and the old Soviets didn't like our outposts in West Berlin.

Tough.

But if they assault those troops then they start a war, just as Confederates did at Fort Sumter.
Why are you so, so confused about that?