Department of the Interior
March 16, 1861,
President United States
Sir.
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of yesterday,
requesting my opinion in writing upon the question whether assuming it to be
possible to now provision Fort Sumpter, under all the circumstances is it wise
to attempt it."
After a careful consideration of the opinions of Gens Scott and Totten,
and also those of Commodore Stringam and Mr Fox, as presented to the President
and his Cabinet on yesterday. I have arrived at the conclusion that the probabilities
are in favor of the success of the proposed enterprise, so far as to secure the
landing of the vessels at the Fort, but there would be great danger of their
destruction, and of the loss of many lives, before their cargoes could be
secured within the Fort.
It would be impossible in my judgement to fit out and conduct the
expedition with such secrecy as to keep those who have control of the harbor of
Charlestown in ignorance of their object, and of the mode and time of their
approach. I do not therefore attach any importance to the proposition to
approach the fort under the cover of night, but I should expect the expedition
to meet with all the ressistance which the authorities of South Carolina may be
able to command.
The landing supplies at Fort Sumpter, if successfully accomplished,
would of itself be of no practical value, as it is quite clear, that Maj
Anderson with his present inadequate force, could not long maintain the fort
against the means of attack now concentrated there.
As the attempt to supply the fort with provisions without the consent
of the authorities of South Carolina, would doubtless induce an attack by them,
the effect of such an attempt, whether successful or not, would be the early
loss of the Fort, and the destruction, or capture of Maj Andersons command. It
would therefore in my judgment be unwise to attempt to supply the fort with
provisions, unless they were sent with such a force, as would place beyond all
doubt or contingency the success of the enterprise, and also with such
re-inforcements of men as would insure a successful defence of the fort against
any attack, which can be made upon it.
The occupation of Fort Sumpter is not essential to the performance of
any of the duties imposed upon the government. It cannot be used as a means of
enforcing the laws, or of compelling the people of South Carolina to perform
the duties they owe to the Federal Government. Viewing the question only as a
military one, I cannot doubt that it would be expedient to abandon a position
which can only be held at a great expense of life, and money, and which while
held cannot be used as a means of aiding the government in the performance of
its duties.
But the most important question connected with this subject is one of a
political character. The State of South Carolina, is in open rebellion against
the government. Her authorities have seized the public property, have wholly
disregarded the laws of the United States, and have openly defied the
government. If the evacuation of Fort Sumpter could be justly regarded as a
measure which would even by implication, sanction the lawless acts of the
authorities of that State, or indicate an intention on the part of the
government to surrender its constitutional authority over them, or if it could
be regarded as an acknowlegement by the government of its inability to enforce
the laws, I should without hesitation advise that it should be held without
regard to the sacrifices which its retention might impose. I do not believe however,
that the abandonment of the Fort would imply such an acknowledgment on the part
of the government. There are other means by which the power and the honor of
the Government may be vindicated, and which would in my judgment be much more
effective to compel the people of South Carolina to render obedience to the
laws, and which would at the same time avoid the sacrifice of life which must
result from a conflict under the walls of the Fort.
The commencement of a civil war would be a calamity greatly to be deplored,
and should be avoided, if the just authority of the government may be
maintained without it. If such a conflict should become inevitable, it is much
better that it should commence by the resistance of the authorities, or the
people of South Carolina, to the legal action of the government, in enforcing
the laws of the United States.
The public sentiment of the North would then be united in the support
of the government, and the whole power of the country would be brought to its
aid. If a conflict should be provoked by the attempt to re-inforce Fort
Sumpter, a divided sentiment in the North would paralize the arm of the
Government, while treason in the Southern States would be openly encouraged in
the North. It is well known that this question has already been much discussed
throughout the Country, and that even among the friends of the Administration
many of those who demand that the laws shall be enforced, urge the propriety of
the withdrawal of our troops from Fort Sumpter, believing that the retention of
that Fort is not essential to the honor of the of the Government, or its power
to enforce the laws.
While the abandonment of the Fort would doubtless to some extent create
surprise and complaint, I believe that public sentiment would fully justify the
action of the Government, when the reasons which prompt it shall be explained
and understood.
I therefore respectfully answer the enquiry of the President by saying,
that in my opinion, it would not be wise under all the circumstances to attempt
to provision Fort Sumpter
I am with respect
Your Obt Servt
Caleb B Smith
SOURCE: Abraham Lincoln Papers
at the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
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