The President of the United States has required my opinion in writing,
upon the following question:
“Assuming it to be possible to now provision Fort Sumter, under all the
circumstances, is it wise to attempt it?”
This is not a question of lawful right nor physical power, but of
prudence & patriotism only. The right is, in my mind unquestionable, and I
have no doubt at all that the Government has the power and the means, not only
to provision the Fort, but also, if the exigency required, to man it, with its
war complement of 650 men, so as to make it impregnable to any local force that
could be brought against it. Assuming all this, we come back to the question – “Under
all the circumstances, is it wise,” now to provision the fort?
The wisdom of the act must be tested by the value of the object to be
gained, & by the hazards to be encountered in the enterprise. The object to
be gained, by the supply of provisions, is not to strengthen the fortress, so
as to command the harbor and enforce the laws, but only to prolong the labors
& privations of the brave little garrison that have so long held it, with
patient courage.
The possession of the fort, as we now hold it, does not enable us to
collect the revenue or enforce the laws of commercial navigation. It may indeed
involve a point of honor or a point of pride, but I do not see any great
national interest involved in the bare fact of holding the fort, as we now hold
it – and to hold it at all, we must supply it with provisions. And it seems to
me that we may, in humanity & patriotism, safely waive the point of pride,
in the consciousness that we have the power, and lack nothing but the will, to
hold Fort Sumter in such condition as to command the harbor of Charleston, cut
off all its commerce, and even lay the city in ashes.
The hazards to be met are many and obvious. If the attempt be made in
rapid boats light enough to pass the bar in safety, still they must pass under
the fire of Fort Moultrie and the batteries on Morris' Island. They might
possibly escape that danger, but they cannot hope to escape the armed guard
boats which ply all night, from the Fort to the outer edge of the bar- These
armed guard boats would be sure to take or destroy our unarmed tugs, unless
repelled by force, either from our ships outside the bar, or from Fort Sumter
within – and that is war. True, war already exists by the act of South Carolina
– but this Government has, thus far, magnanimously forborne to retort the
outrage. And I am willing to forbear yet longer, in the hope of a peaceful
solution of our present difficulties. I am most unwilling to strike – I will
not say the first blow, for South Carolina has already struck that – but I am
unwilling, “under all the circumstances,” at this moment to do any act, which
may have the semblance, before the world, of beginning a civil war, the
terrible consequences of which would, I think, find no parallel in modern
times. For I am convinced that flagrant civil war in the Southern states, would
soon become a social war, and that could hardly fail to bring on a servile war,
the horrors of which need not be dwelt upon.
To avoid these evils, I would make great sacrifices, – and Fort Sumter
is one; but if war be forced upon us by causeless & pertinacious rebellion,
I am for resisting it, with all the might of the nation.
I am persuaded, moreover, that in several of the misguided states of
the South, a large proportion of the people are really lovers of the Union, and
anxious to be safely back, under the protection of its flag. A reaction has
already begun, and, if encouraged by wise, moderate, and firm measures on the
part of this Government, I persuade myself that the nation will be restored to
its integrity, without the effusion of blood.
For these reasons, I am willing to evacuate Fort Sumter, rather than be
an active party in the beginning of civil war. The port of Charleston, is,
comparatively, a small thing. If the present difficulties should continue &
grow, I am convinced, that the real struggle will be at the mouth of the
Mississippi, for it is not politically possible for any foreign power,
to hold the mouth of that river, against the people of the middle & upper
valley.
If Fort Sumter must be evacuated, then it is my decided opinion,
that the more Southern forts, – Pickens, Key West &c – should, without
delay, be put in condition of easy defence against all assailants; and that the
whole coast from South Carolina to Texas, should be as well guarded as the
power of the Navy will enable us.
Upon the whole, I do not think it wise now to attempt to
provision Fort Sumter.
Most respectfully
submitted
Edwd. Bates
Atty. Genl
SOURCE: Abraham Lincoln Papers
at the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
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