The government of Charleston and the state, were not paranoid of the Fort Moultrie garrison prior to December 26, 1860, although they may should have been. The people of South Carolina acted in great restraint towards the Fort Moultrie garrison and later during the Fort Sumter standoff. The only paranoia I believe was in the minds of those delusional officers of the garrison of Fort Moultrie, who saw non-existent mobs attacking their post, and non-existent armed boats attacking their fortifications. The act of firing on Fort Sumter was not an act in response to delusions; it was in response to a real physical threat.

So no, the people of Charleston were not paranoid of Fort Sumter and the garrison there in; it was a real fear of Fort Sumter being reenforced, combined with a hostile fleet and amphibious forces, and used to coerce them back into the Union.

David