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MONDAY. MARCH 20, 1961
MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE. MEDFORD, ORE
CI7ILWAR
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'"" linn ,n M M'
FACED BIGGEST PROBLEM Abraham
Lincoln, prairie lawyer, minority president
of a nation cracked by secession, and a man
with no administrative experience, faced the
biggest problem of the time in early March,
1861 what to do about Fort Sumter. Lin
coln was beginning to douht the loyalty of
Maj. Robert Anderson, commander of the
fort, and, after a consultation with Gen.
Winfield Scott, decided the problem was a
matter "of getting the garrison safely out
of the fort." This made Lincoln's problem
even greater, because he was on record for
a strong stand in holding southern forts
and government property.
(UPI Telephoto)
Lincoln Studies Sumter Crisis
By MERTON T. AKERS
UPI Correspondent
A man of 52, with no ad
ministrative experience,
whose national career consis
ted of two years as a back
bench congressman, went to
work the morning of March
5, 1861, on a new job and
ran head-on into the bigest
problem of the time -1 what
to do about t. Sumter.
The man was Abraham Lin
coln, prairie lawyer, minority
President of a nation already
cracked by secession. His pre
decessor, James Buchanan,
had grappled with the prob
lem of Sumter most ineffec
tually, then tossed it into the
lap of the newcomer from
Illinois and turned with ob
vious relief to the quietude
of his own Pennsylvania es
tate. The cabinet was new, too,
and almost as inexperienced
in national affairs as the
President.
On top of the pile of papers
before the President that
March morning was a message
from Maj. Robert Anderson,
holdine out at Ft. Sumter with
a handful of men against the
ever-constricting lines of
South Carolina mllltla.
Anderson reported he had
bread for 28 days, and plenty
of salt pork; but coffee, beans,
rice and sugar were dwlndl
lug uuu wuuiu luaK iiuill uiigiit
to 40 days.
The major, standing alone
against the gathering forces
of secession, went further in
this report then he had pre
viously. He wrote: "I confess
that I would not be willing to
risk my reputation on an at
tempt to throw reinforcements
into this harbor within the
time for our relief rendered
necessary by the limited sup
ply of our provisions, and
with a view of holding pos
session of same, with a force
of less than 20,000 good and
disciplined men."
He enclosed estimates of his
officers backing this up.
The report shocked the new
President. Earlier he had re
ceived from Ulysses Double
day, brother of Capt Abncr
Doubleday, second In com
mand at Ft. Sumter, Informa
tion which did not square with
this.
Lincoln was beginning to
doubt the loyalty of Ander
son. Perhaps the commander
was exaggerating the force
needed and the strength of the
, South Carolina troops so that
the fort could be handed over
to the secessionists. Ho asked
Joseph Holt, who was carry
ing over as secrotary of war
until Simon Cameron arrived,
If there was any question of
Anderson's loyalty. Holt said
no, admitting later that ho
was not as sure as his answer
Indicated.
The President turned to Lt.
Gen. Winfield Scott, commander-in-chief
of the Army.
"Evacuation seems almost in
evitable," the old warrior re
plied. Lincoln told him to give
the question more thought.
In Lincoln's words this
seemed to reduce the question
"to a mere matter of getting
the garrison safely out of the
fort."
The President was on rec
ord, privately and In his in
augural address, as taking a
firm stand in holding the
southern forts and govern
ment property. Ft. Sumter al
ready was taking on in the
North the shape of a symbol
of government strength or
weakness and would become
even greater one.
To start off an administra
tion by giving up the last
vestige of the government's
prestige was unthinkable to
Lincoln. As he would do so
many times later, he played
for a break.
Calling the cabinet into a
meeting March 9, Lincoln
posed this question and asked
for written answers:
"Assuming It to be possible
to now provision Ft. Sumter,
under all circumstances, is It
wise to attempt It?"
By March 10 all the cabinet
had answered five against
Drovisioning the fort, on in
favor and one "maybe."
The only cabinet member in
favor was Montgomery Blair,
postmaster general, who had
been reared in the tradition
of Andrew Jackson, the
president who strangled null-
fication at birth.
The "maybe" answer came
from the secretary of treasury,
Salmon P. Chase. He voted
"yes" if it could be done
peaceably and "no" if it
meant war. Simon Cameron,
secretory of war; Gideon
Welles, secretary of navy;
Caleb Smith, secretary of in
terior; and Edward Bates, at
torney general, voted "no."
Seward voted "no" because he
believed the South was bluff
ing.
Lincoln at this point, facing
a dissident cabinet, seems to
have been undecided and
groping for an answer. Ac
cording to one account, Mont
gomery Blair walked across
the street. to Blair House and
told his father, F. P. Blair Sr.,
a Kentucklan who had worked
with Jackson, of the cabinet
vote.
Tho elder Blair went to'see
Lincoln, asked him directly
if Sumter was to be evacu
ated. Lincoln was quoted as
saying "he thought that would
be tho result." Blair, always
candid, told the President, the
account continues, that the
American people would not
stand for such a decision, that
it would ruin the Republican
Party and perhaps even result
in the impeachment of the
President.
Welles thought Blair's visit
"aroused and electrified" Lincoln.
Whatever aroused Lincoln-
If indeed he needed any arous
ing - he began checking into
the problem himself, a char
acteristic that would grow
with the years.
Shortly thereafter Mrs. Ab
ncr Doubleday, living in
Washington since she was
made unwelcome in Charles
ton in an earlier Sumter crisis,
was astonished when she
answered her doorbell and
saw President Lincoln stand
ing there. He wanted to read
her husband's latest letter and
see for himself about the re
sources of the fort.
Then he sent, one by one,
three personal representatives
to Charleston. All were back
before the end of March.
Ward. H. Lamon, a close
friend, ostensibly was check
ing on post offices. He stayed
one day in hostile Charleston
and learned from Gov. Fran
cis Pickens that "nothing can
prevent war except the ac
quiesence of the President of
the United States in secession
." Lamon also talked with
Anderson and learned his food
supply would last until April
15.
Only Unionist Left
Stephen A. Hurlburt of Chi
cago, another friend who was
a native of Charleston, went
there presumably to visit his
sister but he also saw Judge
James L. Petigru, who termed
himself the only unionist left
in the state. There was no
union sentiment anywhere,
Hurlbert reported.
Gustavus V. Fox, assistant
secretary of navy, 30, a Yan
kee from Massachusetts and
an Annapolis graduate, also
saw Anderson with a Con
federate officer listening in.
He reported no time was to be
lost if tho fort was to be pro
visioned. And he felt plans he
had drawn up for the relief
still would work.
Now Lincoln, working inde
pendently of his official fami
ly, had his facts and in his
secretive way began to make
the plans which would force
the South to fire the first shot
of the Civil War - a point
evidently embedded in the
President's mind well ahead
of the event;
f ! T"i TUMI 'V,
K-sL 'A I A- ft.
;uLiL-tegbi
Gary Cooper' nays: "No partner, this isn't where I work
. .-. It's where my money works for me. I know my sav
ings are safe here, because they are protected by an
agency of the U. S. Government."
Your own savings with us arc insured by that same Gov
ernment agency, the Federal Savings anil Loan Insur
ance Corporation, whose symbol we proudly display.
CURRENT DIVIDEND RATE 4 PER ANNUM
FIRST FEDERAL
Savings & Loan Assn. of Medford
29 North Ivy Street Robert F. Kyle, Manager
Better Hunting, Fishing Seen in New Forest Plan
rortiana - bportsmen can
look forward to better hunt
ing and fishing in the na
tional forests during the next
10 to 15 years because of a
new wildlife habitat 'manage
ment program, according to
J. Herbert Stone, regional for
ester, U.S. forest service,
Portland.
The plan, called, National
Forest Wildlife, is part II of
Operation Outdoors, a pro
gram to provide new areas
and facilities and renovate ex
isting ones to relieve over
crowding by outdoor recrea
tionists. Operation Outdoors is a
more detailed presentation of
the wildlife phase of the pro
gram for the national forests
already approved by Con
gress and commonly known
as Operation Multiple Use,
Moroccans Charged
With Disguising Raid
. Madrid-flJPD-Spain charged
Saturday that the kidnapers
of three American and seven
other oil technicians were
Moroccan Army troops who
staged a Spanish Sahara bord
er raid disguised to look like
the work of Nomad rebel
bands.
A communique from the
foreign ministry accused Mo
rocco of "a flagrant violation
of all .international law, and
of peace and good neighborli-ness."i
Stone explained.
It is designed to improve
fish and game conditions and
meet the grow i n g public
needs. Planning of improve
ments for each area will be
carried out in cooperation
with the Oregon and Wash
ington fish and game depart
ments. Highlights of the program
include planting shrubs, grass
es and herbaceous plants on
1.5 million acres of game
range; clearing openings, food
patches, and game ways for
wildlife in dense vegetation
on 400,000 acres; and im
provement of 7,000 miles of
fishing streams and 56,000
acres of lakes by stabilizing
banks, planting streamside
cover, and constructing cnan
nel improvements. The cost of
improvements nationwide is
estimated at $25.6 million
over a 10-to-15-year period.
The forest service also
plans to improve hunting end
fishing by more carefully co
ordinating wildlife manage
ment with the development
of other resources, the reg
ional forester said.
Selective cutting of timber,
for instance, or cutting in
small blocks will open up
dense stands and provide food
for wildlife. Leaving small
clumps of conifers will pro
vide protection for wildlife.
Roads will be located to
provide access to hunting and
fishing. Livestock watering
places will be constructed and
located so they will also bene
fit deer, turkey,- grouse, and
quail. Range seeding will in
clude browse and other plants
for wildlife food and cover.
HANDSOSVIE
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BATTERIES - ACCESSORIES - REPAIRS
For All Type Aids
3(0 jliEI o
p " " Many of our customers have asked for a frozen food sale in order to replenish -- f"l "I Jri
ri'-J-4f fjfTVI near-empty freezers at Safeway savings! Your wish is our command . . . Li'i 9fh
ftJ 'JJljkJLftHJn ' nere is tne event' 0ur fine meat department also joins in with exciting Jef ,w . tL&
BSim ' freezer specials. Take advantage of these money-saving bargains right now rfSxf 1 JCK'il $Siil
WE GIVE VALUABLE ... well worth a special trip! kf1F4fW tl K 1$kMI -
GOLD BOND STAMPS WWl
E"E7I7PI1 rgMpipV."d jfo;1uu WlmJwtmi
errses
Bel-air
frozen
10-oz.
$1 00
pkgs.
Lucerne Triple Treat 49c
1.95
25c
Diet Dessert vami.a
Zee Napkins
Four
colors
qt.
pkgs.
of 80
n...l N....IMI Van ISroile
ucicdi Haauiiiiicm
Ten-Pak
Whole Kernel Corn
Mixed Vegetables
French Fries
Crinkle Fries
Bel-air
frozen
Bel-air
frozen
59c
59c
Bel-air
cut or sliced
Bel-air
frozen
Bel-air
fl:MLlo CI. Bel-air
viniMt; rues
c 9-oz c-t nn
16-oz. pkg. l pkgs.jI.UU
33c
ci nn
pkgs.?I.IW
Bel-air
frozen
16-oz.
pkg.
C 9-oz.
Heat 'n servcw
Green Beans
Peas & Carrots
Vegetables Vet" rnixed
I fllf CttmoAli or Chopped
Grape Juice
C 9-oz.
pkgs.
5 X" $1.00
Del
Monte
Market
Day
Busy Baker
"oven-fresh"
5 10-oz.
pkgs.
Bel-air
Bel-air frozen
concentrate
5S$1.00.
2 tn1, 39c
Fruit Cocktail
Seedless Raisins
Sugar Wafers
Peanut Butter
Skylark Bread
Diamond Matches
Real Roast
creamy
Book
type
29c
1.00
89c
29c
39c
29c
'.p,1o229c
pkg.
303 !
cans
4-lb.
Pkg.
6-oz.
Pkg.
12-oz.
jar
15-oe.
loaf
Rosarila Tortillas 1: 29c
Restock your freezer with these grand frozen foods flavorful economical, and so convenient!
Trainload Sale . . . Sunkist Navel
Empress Jam-Jelly
Grape, Mixed Fruit '
MS 39c
Seedless, easy-to-peel . . . sweet and oh
so juicy! Get a bagful of goodness and
California sunshine, today.
Pink Grapefruit
Emperor Grapes
No.l Russets
Pascal Celery
Fresh Cauliflower
Plump
flavorful
"Premium" hand
graded potatoes
Thick moated;
long, straight stalks
Compact
heads
IK6
lb. IJ3
7...$100
3.49 case ot 3
t: 98c
u 10e
Large size
Indian River
Lb.
15
From Finest Eastern Porkers
Medium size ribs . . . generous with
flavorful meat. Serve 'em your favor
ite way for a grand, economical meal.
Large Dinner Franks
Flavorful . . . fine with beans.
Frosen Tuna Pies
MANOR HOUSE. Heat 'n Serve.
JIOlc
Lb.
. Each a
Reprint of Game No. 9 of "Cross-Out for Cash."
1 2 5 6 10 17
18 2' 22 26 29 p5?5
30 38 41 45 46 M"
50 57 58 61 J
66 70 78 81 -t j.--,
DC - mm L u It tivr i, i f
fcr vi
at ay oa v I .. i
a .... . . i
t -tmut co. mc
$75,250 in Prit 7,450 Winners
20-oz. Size
Dishwasher All
Handy Andy Cleaner
7c OFF
Blue Bell Potato Chips
6'j-oz. Pkg.
9?
Safeway Meats . . . Guaranteed to Please!
Boiling Beef "0iCl" ,b 19c
Bacon Squares our"syeassmo0nfn1: ,b. 33c
Fish Sticks Q 8 oi. C1 ftn
Manor House frozen, pre-cooked U pkgs. ylaVW
Prices effective Monday through Wednesday,
March 22, at Safeway in Medford. We reserve
the right to limit.
K i