The Sun.
London, England, 1861-01-23 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON WEDNESDAY EvENING; JANUARY 23, 1861.

these men, headed by officers of rank and cha-
racter, such as Lieut.-General Scott and Major-
General Wool, would be able to give a good account
of any rowdy army that could be got together.
Goveinment might assemble 800 regulars at Wash-
ington, including marines, and perhaps half as
many seamen, by stripping the Northern forts and
navy-yards of nearly all their men of all arms. No
men could be taken from any Southern fort or

yard which have garrisons, or are not in possession
of the secessionists. There may be 1,500 men of
every description in posts of the South, and in-
cluding the garrison of Fort Sumter. There are
10 companies of regulars in Fort Monroe, which
is the nearest great military point to the capital of
any importance; but they could not be moved, as
that is one of the national posts which Mr. Wise
and his crew of Catilinarians purpose stealing.
We feel the want of a regular army very much
indeed. Were there 5,000 available men within
the reach of Government I fancy Mr. Buchanan
would act in a manner to satisfy all reasonable
men. With half that number at Washington, and
the rest employed in garrisoning the principal
Southern forts, the secessionists would be effec-
tually bridled. They could do nothing, and would
be glad to have things restored to the state they
were in three months ago. It is because nothing,
or next to nothing, has been done adversely to
them and their designs that the secessionists have
been so very bold. They struck out because they
did not believe they could encounter a courageous
foe. It is a fortunate thing for the country that
the Governor of Maryland, Mr. Hicks, is not only
a firm friend of the Union, but also a man of
energy and courage. He resolutely refuses to call
the Maryland Legislature together, as from the
eharacter of that body it is inferred that its action
would be most prejudicial to the cause of the
Union. Being so near to the national capital,
Maryland's action is of the extremest importance.
If she and Virginia should remain faithful, we may
not only weather the storm, in spite of the timidity
and ignorance of the pilot, but do so without expe-
riencing any essential injury.
The Legislature of New York met on the 2d of
January. and on that day, and as if anxious not to
lose a moment of precious time, Mr. Spinola, a
member of the Senate, and one of the stoutest
Democrats in the nation, introduced resolutions
authorising the State Government to raise
10,000,000 dole. and 100,000 men, if needed, to sup-
press rebellion and to maintain the integrity of the
American Union. The proposition was favourably
received, and it expresses the sense of the North.
Men of all parties appear to be getting over the
stupefaction that so long prevailed, and to be
preparing to do their duty. This nation is. like
England, a somewhat heavy and ponderous body,
not easily moved, but, when once roused, capable of
performing great deeds.
Letters from the South confirm what I wrote
you weeks ago, namely, that the power of the
secessionists is in their control of the mob, the
wealthy classes being opposed to them, but unable
to act because of the system of terror that prevails.
Bold action on the part of Government would help
them, and enable the Union men to organise ; and
not the least of the evils that have flowed from the
President's cowardice is, that the men of property
at the South, believing that they had nothing to
hope from Washington, have given way before the
blast got up by the rabble under the lead of dema-
gogues. We have stories from the South to the
effect that a want of food is felt there ; but as the
same sort of stories are sent South about the North,
and as I know the latter to be lies, I am not in-
clined to place much faith in the former.

LIVERPOOL, MONDAY EVENING,

The Royal Mail steamship Canada, Capt. Ander-
son, which left Boston on the 9th instant, and
touched at Hylifax on the 10th inst., arrived in the
Mersey at 4.15 tnis afternoon.
A telegraphic summary of the Canada's news
has already been published.
We take the following telegrams from the
Boston journals of the 9th instant, as showing the
latest phase of the secession movement, when the
Canada left Boston.

A Washington telegram of the Bth inst.-says :-
4. Mr. Thom peon, the Secretary of the Interior, re-
signed to-day, on the ground that troops had been
went to Charleston by the steamer, Star of the
West, when, as he alleges, there was a distinct
understanding on the 31st December that none
were to be ordered south without the decision of
th• Cabinet.

" Rumours of an attack upon the steamer, Star
of the West, are rife, creating intense excitement.
Nobody can give any authority for them."
(The late telegram via Halifax, already pub-
lished, states that the Star of the West was fired
upon by the Carolinians, and that she conse-
quently did not land her reinforcements.)
" The reports that orders have been issued by
the British Government to consuls at the ports of
seceding States to refuse certificates of clearance to
English vessels is denied. It is said that Mr.
Bunch, the British consul at Charleston, recognises
the de facto Government by granting such certi-
ficates.

"Agents of southern States continue to arrive for
the purpose of purchasing arms. The government
for the present refuses to sell to any State or private
parties. An agent from Mississippi starts for the
north to-morrow to procure arms, although it is
said the supply there is not abundant.
" A number of the leading Secessionists here are
urging upon Governors Hicks, of Maryland, and
Letcher, of Virginia, the necessity of demanding of
the President an immediate removal of the United
States troops from Fort Washington.
" The armament of Fort Washington is in excel-
lent condition, and preparations have been made for
firing red-hot balls that will burn any vessel which
may attempt to pass the forts for hostile purposes.
"The Naval Department has received information
this morning, that the revenue cutter Dobbin, lying
in Mobile harbour, has the United States flag flying
with the Union down, and the Palmetto flag flying
at the mainmast. This act, on the part of those
having the vessel in charge, is considered open
revolution before the secession of the State of
Alabama."

The Bth of January being the anniversary of the
battle of New Orleans, was devoted to a great con-
sumption of gunpowder all over the Union in honour
of General Jackson's victory; and in most of the
Northern States in honour also of Major Anderson's
course at Charleston. The occasion was also seized
in the New York State Senate to pass a resolution
to present a sword to Major Anderson. General
Jackson's proclamation against nullification was
also read on the motion of Mr. Spinola.
A Washington despatch of the Bth states upon
reliable information that- Senator Cameron has
declined a seat in Mr. Lincoln's Cabinet.

Two hundred men, with 130 horses, left For
Leavenworth for Baltimore on the 7th.

THE EXECUTIVE.

The correspondence between the South Carolina Com-
missioners and President Buchanan appears in the Charles-
ton papers,. having been submitted to the Convention in
secret session.
It consists of three letters, +he first dated Dec. 29, from
the Commissioners to the President, in which thy demand
AS a preliminary to all negotiations a disapproval by the
President of the act of Major Anderson in seizing Fort
Sumter; the second, dated Dec. 30, from the President, in
which, while admitting that Major Anderson acted without
express orders, he yet refuses to repudiate the act (we give
this document in full in another column) ; and the third,
dated Jan. 1, in which the Commissioners attempt to refute
the allegations of the President's letter in which he justifies
Major Anderson's conduct. Tbis last letter the President
returned to the Commissioners widi the following endorse-
ment on its back :—" This paper just presented to the Pre-
sident is of such a character that he declines to receive it."

IMPORTANT ARMY MOVEMENTS.
THE REINFORCEMENTS FOR FORT SUMTER.
(From the .New York Times, Jan. 8.).

Farther investgation respecting the expedition for the
relief of Major Anderson, has elicited the fact that Colonel
Thomas, the Aide-de-Camp of Lieut.-General Scott, came
on from Washington and peraonally superintended tho
embarkation of the troops which were destined for the re-
inforcement of Fort Sumter. They consisted of 250 artil-
lerists and marines, with ample supplies of provisions and
arms, and were put cn board of the &ar of the West, in
the lower bay on Saturday night, so as not to attract atten-
tion.

It is stated that a movement had, last week, contained
the sanction and support of several wealthy merchants of
this city for sending relief to the gallant Anderson, and
that a large amount of money and materials wore contri-
buted, and a steamer selected for the purpose. On Satur-
day the parties who were at the head of the movement were
informed that the United States Government had under-
taken to send stipples and men to that post, and that con•
sequently their patriotic services would not be required.
- -

FURTHER MOVEMENTS OF TROOPS.
BAIMMORE, Monday, Jan. 7.
The soldiers which arrived to-day from Carlisle were
cavalry, and not infantry, and in number were 60. They
were on their way to Harper's Ferry to protect the arsenal.

a petition of citizens of that State, which was referred to
the Judiciary Committee, requesting Congress to authorise
a National Convention to meet at Philadelphia on the 4th
of March. Thirty-three memorials asking for the submis-
sion of the Crittenden resolution to a vote of the people
were presented by Mr. Bigler, Pennsylvania. Mr. Crit-
tenden then spoke at some length in favour of his proposi-
tion, and was followed by Mr. Toombs of Georgia, who
made a characteristic speech, full of " fire and fury," gene-
ral dissolution, and the "tramp of armed men"—conclud-
ing with a declaration that if the South was denied her
rights " she would invoke the God of battles, and trust to
Him for security and peace." The Senate then went into
Executive session, and subsequently adjourned until Wed-

nesday.
In the House, Mr. COBB, of Alabama, in correcting a state- !
ment to the effect that ho was present at a conference of the
Alabama and Mississippi delegations on Saturday, and had
sent home a telegraphic despatch advising immediate seces-
sion, declared that he hoped something would be done to
save the Union, and called upon men of all par ties to make
efforts to do so. Mr. Etheredge, of Tennessee, asked
leave to submit a proposition substantially the same as that
agreed upon by the Committee of the Border States on
Saturday, but he did not succeed in obtain'ng a suspension
of the rules. [We give this proposition below.] Mr.
Adrain, of New Jersey, asked leave to offer a resolu-
tion approving of the bold and patriotic act of Major An-
derson in evacuating Fort Moultrie and occupying Fort
Sumter, and pledging the house to sustain the President in
all constitutional measures to enforce the laws and preserve
the Union. After an ineffectual appeal to Mr. Adrain from
Mr. Barrett, of Kentucky, for a withdrawal of the resolu-
tion, a vote was ordered on a motion to suspend the rules
for its reception, and resulted 134 for and 53 against sus- ,
pension. The resolution was then put upon its passage,
and received 124 votes, while only 53 were cast against it.
The scene in the house during the calling of the roll was a
very exciting one—almost every member as he cast his
vote, for or against the resolution, giving his reasons for
so doing.
The motion was almost exclusively supported by Northern
members ' • nearly all the Southern members present voting
against it.
The Washington correspondent of the New York Herald
says—" The vote upon the resolution approving the course
of Major Anderson, and sustaining the President in not re-
calling him, is regarded by the Southern men as indicating
a majority favourable to the passage of a force bill. They
are intensely excited this evening, and threaten vengeance
if a force bill is attempted to be passed. The Republicans
also regard it as showing a majority in favour of such a
measure."

THE NEW COMPROMISE PROPOSED.
BORDER STATE CAUCUS.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5, 1861.
The Committee of the Border States, including
Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri,
and North Carolina, from the South, and New Jer-
sey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, &c., from
the North, to-day agreed upon propositions for an
adjustment of pending difficulties, by amending the
Constitution as follows :-
1. Recommending a repeal of all the Personal Liberty
bills.
2. That the Fugitive Slave law be amended for the pre-
venting of kidnapping, and so as to provide for the equali-
sation of Cie Commissioners' fee, &c.
3. That the Constitution be so amended as to prohibit
any interference with Slavery in any of the States where it
now exists.
4. That Congress ehall not abolish Slavery in the South-
ern dockyards, arsenals, &c., nor in the district of Colum-
ba without the consent of Maryland and the consent of
the inhabitants of the District, nor without compensation.
5. That Congress shall not interfere with the inter-State
slave trade.
6. That there shall be a perpetual prohibition of the
African slave trade.
7. That the line of 36 deg. 30 min. shall be run through
all the existing territory of the United States; that in all
north sf that line slavery shall be prohibited, and that
south of that line neither Congress nor the Territorial
Legislatures shall hereafter pass any law abolishing, pro-
hibiting, or in any manner interfering with African sla-
very ; and that when any territory containing a sufficient
population for one member of Congress in any area of
60,000 square miles shall apply for admission as a State, it
shall be admitted, with or without slavery, as its constitu-
tion may determine.
We read in a Washington letter :
The compromise proposel by the Committee of Border
States is not accepted by the South. The South will not
consent to leaving the Territories south of 36 deg. 30 rain.
to be free or slave as the people may elect, believing that, by
leaving the question open, the scenes of Kansas will be re-
vived, and the country overrun with anti-slavery people,
through the agency of the Northern emigrant aid societies.
They demand the unequivocal recognition by the North
that slavery shall exist in territory South of the proposed
line, until it shall be divided into States, when, in their sove-
reign capacity as States, they may alter or confirm their
status in regard to Slavery, In other words, all territory
North shall be considered free, and all South slave, unless
the people shall choose to change the condition after their
government shall be clothed with State authority. Nothing
else will be accepted by the South; and, as false impres-
sions may be formed from the favour in which the proposi-
tion of the Border Committee are received in some quarters,
it is proper that this explanation should go before the coun-
try as soon as possible.
A REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.

The Republican members of the House caucused in the
Post-office Committee-room again on Jan. 5 upon the pre-
sent state of affairs—Speaker Pennington in the chair.
There was a full attendance.
The unfinished business of the day before was resumed,
being the report of Mr. Hale of Pennsylvania, from the
sub-committee of the border States, who said that he
believed the members of his committee representing the
border slave States would agree to his jproposition. that all
the t,rrttocy of the United Otates norm of 36 deg. 30 mm.
should be free, and all south of that line to remain as it is
with liberty to the people to organise into States whenever
they please, with or without slavery. He was of opinion
that it might be better for the north to take this proposi-
tion than to precipitate the country into war.
Mr. HOWARD, of Michigan, said he objected to any com-
promise.
Mr. LOVEJOY, of Illinois, speaking of the malcontents of
the slave States, and the proposed compromise of dividing
the territory between freedom and slavery to the Pacific,
said—" There never was a more causeless revolt since
Lucifer led his cohorts of apostate angels against the throne
of God ; but I never heard that the Almighty proposed to
compromise the matter by allowing the rebels to kindle the
fires of hell south of the celestial meridian of thirty-six
thirty."
This outburst of the eccentric member from Illinois
created a deal of sensation and some movement.
Mr. DAWES, of Massachusetts, moved that no vote be
taken on any of the propositions, and that the caucus ad-
journ sine die, which was carried.
The caucus was fully attended, and was harmonious at
the close against all compromise.
SOUTHERN CAUCUS.

The Senators of those Southern States which had called
Convention met at Washington and adopted the following
resolutions :—First—We recommend to our States imme-
diate secession. Second—We recommend holding a Con-
vention at Montgomery, Alabams, on a day not, later than
the 15th of February, and establishing a Southern Con-
federacy. Another resolution was passed, considered confi-
dential, but understood to pledge the Senators to remain at
Washington, and defeat army and navy appropriations, and
other bills, if proposed.

of the United States, to "retake tkem, without regard to
the blood or treasure that may be expended."

PRESIDENT BUCHANAN.
The following is President Buchanan's reply to the

Commissioners from South Carolina :
Washington City, Dec. 30, 1860.
Gentlemen,—l have had the honour to receive your corn
munication of 28th inst., together with a copy of your
full powers from the Convention of the people of South
Carolina, authorising you to treat with the government of
the United States on various important subjects therein
mentioned ; and also a copy of the Ordinance, bearing date
on the 20th inst., declaring that " the Union now subsisting
between South Carolina and other States, under the name
of the United States of America, is hereby dissolved."
In answer to this communication, I have to say that my
position as President of the United States was clearly de-
fined in the Message to Congress on the 3d inst. In that I
stated that, " apart from the execution of the laws, so far
as this may be practicable, the Executive has no authority
to decide what shall be the relations between the Federal
Government and South Carolina. He has been invested
with no such discretion. He possesses no power to change
the relations hitherto existing between them, much less to
acknowledge the independence of that State. This would
be to invest a mere Executive officer with the power of
recognising the dissolution of the Confederacy among our
thirty-three sovereign States. It bears no resemblance to
the recognition of a foreign de facto government—involv-
ing no such responsibility. Any attempt to do this would,
on his part, be a naked act of usurpation. It is, therefore,
my duty to submit to Congress the whole question in all
its bearings."
Such is my opinion still. I could; therefore, meet you
only as private gentlemen of the highest character, and
was entirely willing to communicate to Congress any pro-
position you might have to make to that body upon the
subject. Of this you were well aware. It was my earnest
desire that such a disposition might be made of the whole
subject by Congress, who alone possess the power, as to
prevent the inauguration of a cis :1 war between the parties
in regard to the possession of the Federal forts in the har-
bour of Charleston, and I, therefore, deeply regret that, in
your opinion, "the events of the last twenty-four hours
render this impossible." In conclusion, you urge upon me
"the immediate withdrawal of the troops from the harbour
of Charleston," stating that "under present circumstances
they are a stending menace, which renders negotiation
impossible, and, as our recent experience shows, threaten
speedily to bring to a bloody issue questions which ought
to be settled with temperance and judgment."
The reason for this change in your position is, that since
your arrival in Washington, "an officer of the United
States, acting as we (you) are assured, not only without,
but against your (my) orders, has dismantled one fort and
occupied another—thus altering to a most important extent
the condition of affairs under which we (you) came." You
also allege that you came here " the representatives of an
authority which could, at any time within the past sixty
days, have taken possession of the forts in Charleston har-
bour, but which, upon pledges given in a manner that we
(you) cannot doubt, determined to trust to your (my)
honour rather than to its power."
This brings me to a consideration of the nature of those
alleged pledges, and in what manner they have been ob-
served. In my message of the 3d of December last, I;stated
in regard to the property of the United States in South
Carolina,tthat it " has been purchased for a fair equivalent,
by the consent of the Legislature of the State, for the erec-
tion of forts, magazines, arsenals, &c., and over these the
authority ' to exercise exclusive legislation' has been ex-
pressly granted by the Constitution to Congress. It is not
believed that any attempt w!ll be made to expel the United
States from this property by tbrce ; but if in this I should
prove to be mistaken, the officer in command of the forts
has received orders to act strictly on the defensive. In such
a contingency, the responsibility for cont,equerces would
rightfully rest upon the heads of the assonants." This
being the condition of the parties, on Saturday, Bth De-
cember, four of the representatives from South Carolina
called upon me, and requested an interview. We had an
earnest conversation on the subject of these forts, and the
best means of preventing a collision between the parties, for
the purpose of sparing the effusion of blood. I suggested,
for prudential reasons, that it would be best to put in writ-
ing what they said to me verbally. They did so, accord-
ingly, and on Monday morning, the 10th inst., three of
them presented to me a paper signed by all the represen-
tatives from South Carolina, with a single exception, of
which the following is a copy :
To his Excellency James Buchanan, President of the
United States.

In compliance with our statement to you yesterday, we
now express to you our strong convictions that neither the
constituted authorities, nor any body of the people of the
State of South Carolina, will either attack or molest the
United States forts in the harbour of Charleston, previously
to the act of the Convention, and we hope and believe not
until an offer has been made through an accredited repre-
sentative, to negotiate for an amicable arrangement of all
matters between the State and the Federal Government,
provided that no reinforcements shall be sent into those
forts, and their relative military status shall remain as at
present. JOHN MCQUEEN.
M. L. BONHAM.
W. W. BOYCE.
LAWRENCE M. KEITT.

Washington, Dec . 9, 1860.
And here I must, in justice to myself, remark that at the
time the paper was presented to me I objected to the word
" provided, as it might be construed into an agreement on
my part, which I never would make. They said that no-
thing was further from their intention—they did not so un-
derstand it, and I should not so consider it. It is evident
they could enter into no reciprocal agreement with me on
the subject. They did not profess to have authority to do
this, and were acting in their individual character. I consi-
dered it as nothing more, in effect, than the promise of highly
honourable gentlemen to exert their influence for the pur-
pose expressed. The event has proven that they have faith-
fully kept this promise, although I have never since received
a 14ne from any one of them, or from any member of the
v. n Lao euL. t, w Itsuu w 14 IN 1/3
determination' and this I freely expressed, not to reinforce the
forts in the harbour, and thus produce a collision, until they
k had been actually attacked, or until I had certain evidence
that they were about to be attacked. This paper I received
meat cordially, and considered it as a happy omen that
peace might be still preserved, and that time might be thus
given for reflection. This is the whole foundation for the
alleged pledge.
But I acted in the same manner as I would have done
had I entered into a positive and formal agreement with
parties capable of contracting, although such an agreement
would have been, on my part, from the nature of my official
duties, impossible. The world knows that I have never
sent any reinforcements to the forts in Charieston harbour,
and I have certainly never authorised any change to be
made "in their relative military status. Bearing upon
this subject, I refer you to an order issued by the Secretary
of War, on the 11th inst., to Major Anderson, but not
brought to my notice until the 21st inst. It is as follows

MEMORANDUM OF VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO MAJOR
ANDERSON, FIRST ARTILLERY, COAIMANDING FORT

MOULTRIE, S. C.
You are aware of the great anxiety of the Secretary of
War that a collision of the troops with the people of this
State shall be avoided, and of his studied determination ,to
pursue a course with reference to the military force and
forts in this harbour, which shall guard rgainst such a col-
lision. He has, therefore, carefully abstr!ued from increas-
ing the force at this point, or ta-ing any measures which
mi jht add to the present encised state of the public mind,
or which would throw any (Imbt on the confidence he feels
tha'.-, South Carolina will not attempt by violence to obtain
possession of the public works, or interfere with their occu-
pancy.
But as the counsel and acts of rash and impulsive persons
may possibly disappoint these expectations of the Govern-
ment, be deems i., proper that you should be prepared with
instructions to meet so unhappy a contingency. He has,
therefore, directed me, verbally, to give you such instruc-
tions.

You are carefully to avoid every act which would need-
lessly tend to provoke aggression, and for that reason you
are not, without necessity, to take up any position which
could be construed into the assumption of a hostile attitude;
but you are to hold possession of the forts in this harbour,
and if attacked you are to defend yourself to the last extre-
mity. The smallness of your force will not permit you,
perhaps, to occupy more than one of the three forts, but an
attack on, or attempt to take possession of either of them,
will be regarded as an act of hostility, and you may then
put your command into either of them which you may
deem most proper to increase its power of resistance. You
are also authorised to take similar stops whenever you have
tangible evidence of a design to proceed to a hostile act.
D. P. BUTLER, Assistant Adjutant-General.
Fort Moultrie, S.C., Dec. 11, 1860.
This is in conformity to my instructions to Major Buell.
JOHN B. FLOYD, Secretary of War.

These were the last instructions transmitted to Major
Anderson before his removal to Fort Sumter, with a single
exception, in regard to a particular which does not in any
degree affect the present question. Under these circum-
stances it is clear that Major Anderson acted upon his own
responsibility, and without authority, unless, indeed, he
had " tangible evidence of a design to proceed to a hostile
act" on the part of South Carolina, which has not yet been
alleged. Still, he is a brave and honourable officer, and
justice requires that he should not be condemned without a
fair hearing.
Be this as it may, when I learned that Major Anderson
had left Fort Moultrie and proceeded to Fort. Sumter, my
first promptings were to command him to return to his for-
mer position, and there to await the contingencies pre-
sented in his instructions. This would only have been
done with any degree of safety to the command by the con-
currence of the South Carolina authorities. But before
any step could possibly have been taken in thiti direction,
we received information that the " Palmetto flag floated out
to the breeze at Castle Pinckney, and a large military force
went over last night (the 27th) to Fort Moultrie." Thus
the authorities of South Carolina, without wailing or ask-
ing for any explanations, and, doubtless, believing, as you
have expressed it, that the officer had acted not only with-
out, but against my orders, on the very next day after the
night when the removal was made, seized by a military
force two of the Federal forts in the harbour of Charleston,
and have covered them under their own 114 g instead of that
of the United States.

At this gloomy period of our history startling events
succeed each other rapidly. On the very day, the 27th
instant, that possession of these two forts was taken, the
Palmetto flag was raised over the Federal Custom-house
and Post-office in Charleston; and on the same day every
officer of the Customs—collector, naval officer, surveyor,
and appraiser—resigned their offices; and this, although it
was we'l known from the language of my Message that,
as an Executive officer, I felt myself bound to eollect the
revenue at the port of Charleston under the existing laws.
In the harbour of Charleston we now find three forts con-
fronting each other, over all of which the Federal flag floated
only four days ago ; but now, over two of them this flag has
been supplanted, and tie Palmetto flag has been substituted
in its stead. It is under all these circumstances that lam
urged immediately to withdraw the troops from the harbour
of Charleston, and am informed that without this negotia-
tion is impossible. This I cannot do—this I will not do.
Such an idea was never thought of by me in any possible
contingency. No such allusion had been made in any com-
munication between myself and any human being. But
the inference is that I am bound to withdraw the troops
from the only fort remaining- in the possession of the
United States in the harbour: of Charleston, because the
officer there in command of all of the forts thought proper,
without instructions, to change his position from one of
them to another.
At this point of writing I have received information by
telegraph from Captain Humphreys, in command of the
Arsenal at Charleston, that "it has to-day (Sunday, the
30th), been taken by force of amps." It is estimated that
the munitions of war belonging to this arsenal are worth

half a million of dollars.
Comment is needless. After this information, I have only
to add that whilst it is my duty to defend Fort Sumter, as
a portion of the public property of theUnit,ed States, against
y
hostile attacks, from whatever quarter the way come, by
such means as I possess for this purpose, I do not perceive
LIQW 049124 a defence eau be owitrued uac melocc NNW