NEWS: Items from The Alleghanian, 28 Mar 1861, Cambria County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Patty Millich Copyright August 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ ____________________________________________ The Alleghanian Ebensburg, Pa. Thursday, 28 Mar 1861 Volume 2, Number 32 Fort Pickens The country is sick at heart over the necessary withdrawal of Anderson from Fort Sumter. It had better stop crying over what can't be helped, and spend its time in preventing a similar humiliation at Fort Pickens. Says the New York TRIBUNE: If not relieved in six weeks from this time, Fort Pickens will have to be abandoned just like Fort Sumter, and for the same reason. Fort Pickens and its approaches are being gradually commanded by sand batteries. If it be not forthwith garrisoned and provisioned for a siege, it cannot be done at all. It must be surrendered without a blow; for the United States must suffer no defeat. If the Government cannot maintain the position, it ought to yield it up without a struggle. If this be done, the Confederate States will become one of the nations of the world and the United States of America will cease to be a first-rate power. We know that the Administration does not contemplate this, for in that case, it would as disgracefully betray the country as did Buchanan. As it does not propose this, it must mean to maintain the integrity of the Union; and to this the holding of Fort Pickens seems to us absolutely essential. The only question, then, is what is necessary to accomplish that purpose. The first step is to garrison the fort, and provision it, forthwith to its utmost capacity. But this is not all. When garrisoned and provisioned, it will still be attacked by the revolutionary forces under competent officers. No matter how full of men the fort may be, a siege is a mere question of time. After a few weeks of battery in breach, its walls will be a heap of ruins and the besieging forces will mount to the assault. For garrisons and provisions alone will not secure the fort nor the dignity of the United States. The siege will be successful unless it is raised. It can be raised only by a superior land force driving off the besieging force. Three or four thousand men can take the fort by the regular process of a siege in three or four weeks from the opening of the batteries, if undisturbed. But five or seven thousand men will at once arrest their proceedings, and drive them from the siege; all their works will be destroyed and their battering trains taken by such a force. The United States must therefore instantly begin to organize this force to raise the siege of Fort Pickens. If this work is begun at once, the revolutionary authorities will be driven to adopt one of two courses. Either they must abandon all idea of a siege and leave the fort unassailed or they must hold in readiness a force of five or six thousand men to support and cover the siege operations. To this the United States must be ready to respond by ten thousand men, which will still suffice to raise the siege. Thus it will become, like the siege of Sevastopol, a real trial of strength between the two parties. The revolutionary States cannot possibly raise and arm and support and concentrate at Pensacola as many as 50,000 men; their whole population is not sufficient; and at least one half of the population is for the Untied States and will refuse to bear arms and cannot be trusted to bear arms for the purpose of attacking the United States in its own fort. But no matter how many men the revolutionists can assemble, it is certain the United States can assemble, arm, support and pay, two to every one the revolutionists can concentrate and maintain on the spot. The revolutionists will therefore either be driven to withdraw their military force or to see it destroyed. If they withdraw, their prestige is forever gone and the people will rise on them and expel them from power, and the Union is maintained. If they fight their whole military strength will be crushed on the sands of Pensacola, without one act of violence or injury or war against any but those actually in arms assailing the United States troops, and the people of the Gulf States will at once put down the revolutionary usurpation and the union is maintained. . . . The Home Squadron of the United States It would appear that the Home Squadron is in a much more efficient state and more nearly ready for service than has been generally supposed, considering the success attending the efforts of Mr. Buchanan's traitorous secretaries to disorganize the naval and military defenses of the country in almost every department of the service. The list comprises 26 vessels, carrying 190 guns, and 2,757 men, almost all ready for instant service and all but three or four in the port of New York. This is the largest naval force ever concentrated in one squadron since the organization of the United States Navy. It consists of more ships than the Channel fleet of England. It is obvious that important naval movements are in contemplation by the Government. Editorial Notings A horrible murder was committed in Juniata county a couple of weeks since, by two men, who entered a house and shot an old man named Henry Akers, for the purpose of robbing him. They obtained only a few dollars for their pains, however. The murderers were arrested and lodged in jail. Local and Personal The TRIBUNE says that it is generally believed that Isaac E. Chandler has the inside track for the Post-Officeship of Johnstown. The steam grist mill in Blairsville, belonging to Mr. Adam Shurick, together with its contents was destroyed by fire on last Wednesday. Loss about five thousand dollars, insured for three thousand dollars. At the annual election for officers of the Cambria Co. Ag. Society held on last Thursday, the following result was had: President: John Evans (Smith) Vice Presidents: Jacob Luther and William Murray Managers: E. Glass, Alex. McVicker, Wm. James, John E. Roberts - A. A. Barker and E. J. Mills, a tie vote. Treasurer: Geo. C. K. Zahm Secretary: David J. Jones. A little son of Mr. Francis Crooks, residing in Indiana county, was instantly killed some days since by a tree falling upon and crushing him. Dr. T. J. Cantwell and Gen. Joseph M'Masters, two prominent citizens of Indiana county, died at their respective residences recently. Our Common Schools From Col. James M. Swank, our efficient County Superintendent, we have received an advanced copy of the result thus far of his official labors. The document being too lengthy for publication entirely in our columns, we give an abstract: During the six weeks in which he has been acting in his present capacity, Mr. Swank has visited twenty-one of the twenty-six school districts in the county; (the schools in the remaining five districts had been closed before he could visit them). Of the twenty-one districts visited, two had closed their schools before his visit. In the remaining nineteen districts the schools visited numbered about forty. He believes that but four or five unvisited schools are now in session and these are scattered throughout the county. The visitations having closed for the winter, Mr. S. will now engage his attention on the subject of the organization of permanent Teachers' Institutes in every section of the county. The suggestions of teachers upon this subject are solicited. A monthly report of the operations of the County Superintendency is required by the State Superintendent for the information of the department. Besides this, Mr. S. purposes, from time to time, to inform the citizens of our county, through the public press of the local operation of the office. Mr. Swank is proving himself to be eminently fitted for his present post and we are rejoiced to know that in his hands the great cause of Education will be safe. License Notice The following Petitions have been filed in the office to be presented to the next argument Court: Tavern Licenses: Peter Masterson, Thomas Short, Peter Adams, Jr., Andrew Beck, Henry Harber. Quart License: Wm. Bott & Co. J. McDonald, Clerk, Clerk's Office, Ebensburg, March 7, 1861