dition. It seems to me that you will have a little
respite. The opening fire upon the Star of the
West changes materially the aspect of things to the
Federal government, and they will hardly think to
send supplies to Sumter except under cover of
armed vessels, which is the inauguration of open
war upon the State, which the President and cabinet
will hardly attempt unless under authority of Con-
gress. Congress alone, I believe, has the power
to declare war. There is no telling, however, what
may be done when the power is under the hands of
a weak administration, counseled and governed, in
fact, by a person whose whole training has en-
dowed [him] with military ideas as paramount to
all. ¹ We must, of course, prepare for two dangers,
treachery and assault. But it strikes me that the
unexpected fire of Fort Morris will compel a
pause in the Federal councils, for the better matur-
ing of plans, and some respite for preparation will
be allowed you. Not an hour should be lost in
preparation. To have numerous guns, to bear
equally upon an assailing squadron and Fort Sum-
ter, seems to be the necessity. Looking at the map,
I note that Mount Pleasant is distant from Fort
Sumter some two miles, while I estimate Moultrie
to be some one and a quarter. A battery at
Mount Pleasant, cutting the western angle of Sulli-
van's Island, seems to be in direct range with Sum-

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