--The Baltimore Exchange, of Saturday, publishes the following telegram, from one of the officers now in
Fort Sumter:
‘
Fort Sumter, March 18, 1861.--We are now making active preparations to leave, and there is, consequently, much bustle and confusion; some of the officers being busily engaged in making up the accounts, and others in getting everything ready.
We shall certainly leave here on Saturday. Major Anderson is ordered to Newport Barracks, Ky., and
Capt. Foster is directed to report himself to the Department in
Washington.
’
The Charleston Courier, of Friday last, has the following:
‘
Surgeon John L. Fox, United States Navy, a citizen of
Massachusetts, arrived on Thursday, with orders from
Washington to visit and report on the condition of
Fort Sumter.
’
On presenting his credentials to the proper officers commanding intercourse with
Fort Sumter, permission to visit was granted, on condition of being accompanied by an officer.
Capt. H. J. Hartstein was requested to discharge this duty, and the two visitors were accordingly furnished with transport.
Whether this mission of
Dr. Fox implies distrust of the reports of
Major Anderson and his medical man, or is connected with some paltry subterfuge and pretext for delay, we shall not at present inquire.
There is no need, however, for a long investigation as to the condition of
Fort Sumter, as it has been decided on sufficient evidence that it cannot be longer a healthy and suitable residence for those who are now occupying it.
The same paper, commenting on the doubts existing about the evacuation, says:
‘
It is time this game of procrastination and vacillation, and double-dealing jugglery, were stopped.
Fort Sumter must and will be very soon devoted to its original and proper, and lawful objects and purposes, in and for the defence of the harbor of
Charleston.
The mode of effecting that necessary change has been, so far, left to the discretion of others; it is now time that we should quicken and stimulate that discretion.
If the rulers that afflict the country subject to the away of
Lincoln, cannot appreciate the necessity and meet the responsibility of evacuation, we can and should give them, or their representatives usurping places in
Fort Sumter, the alternative opportunity of capitulation.
If soft words and grass will not effect our purpose, we can easily try stones.
But, by some means or other, and very speedily,
Fort Sumter must be ours.
’