The Sun.
London, England, 1861-01-17 00:00:00

TIE E ITED STATES.

(From the N ew York Correspondent of the Times.)
NEW YORK, JAN. 1, 1861.

The op-port unities for a peaceful solution of the
difficulties be tween the North and the South are
rapidly passit g away. The attitude of South Caro-
lina, unfortunately sustained by other planting
States, leaves no ground that Northern statesmen
can, with any respect for themselves, or any regard
for sound principles of government, stand upon.
Not only have they left the Union without waiting
for a discussion of the terms upon which the separa-
tion may take place, which to say the least would
have been civil to the other States, but they have
by an armed force taken possession of all the Fede-
ral forts in Charleston harbour, except the one in
actual possession of Federal troops, of the Post-
office and Custom-house, and of an arsenal contain-
ing 70,000 stand of arms. The channel of this har-
bour is defended bythree forts—Fort Moultrie at the
north ; another fort, the name of which I do not now
remember, at the south ; and Fort Sumter, midway
between the two in the water. To the south of this
latter fort are flats—to the north of it and between
it and Fort Moultrie is the channel. Until Wed-
nesday last the whole of the little force in charge
of Major Anderson was in Fort Moultrie. During
the night he transported his whole force, ammuni-
tion and provisions to Fort Sumter, spiked the guns
of Fort Moultrie, and burnt their carriages. The
move as a strategy was masterly, fer the new posi-
tion is accessible only by water, is mounted with
the heaviest and most approved modern guns, com-
mands both of the other forts, so as to make them
untenable, can be held by the little force under
Major Anderson's command, and, what may become
important if war breaks out, commands the city of
Charleston.
About the time that these things were taking
place the Commissioners from South Carolina ap-
pointed to negotiate with the general Government,
among other things for the surrender of these forts
to the new nation, arrived at Washington. They
sought an interview with the President, they laid
before him their credentials, they opened their ne-
gotiations, and in the midst of it all they received a
despatch from home stating what Major Anderson
had done. They immediately cried out, "Bad faith.
You have pledged us," they said, " that no change
should be made in the troops pending the negotia-
tions. We will not go on unless you withdraw all the
troops." The President, instead of saying to them,
Gentlemen,—Your state is in armed rebellion and
I can hold no official intercourse with you," laid
their representations before the Cabinet, and after a
long discussion,the country was saved from the recall
of Major Anderson and his little force only by a
tie vote. Mr. Floyd, the Secretary of War, then
resigned, and has since made public the following
correspondence :
"SECRETARY FLOYD TO THE PRESIDENT.

" War Department, Deli 29, 1860.
"Sir,—On the morning of the 27th inst. I read
the following paper to you in the presence of the
Cabinet :
" Council-chamber, Executive Mansion.
" Sir,—lt is evident new from the action of the
Commander of Fort Moultrie, that the solemn
pledges of the Government have been violated by
Major Anderson. In my judgment but one remedy
is now left us by which to vindicate our honour
and prevent civil war. It is in vain now to hope
for confidence on the part of the people of South
Carolina in any further pledges as to the action of
the military. One remedy is left, and that is to
withdraw the garrison from the harbour of Charles..
ton altogether. I hope the President will allow
me to make that order at once. This order, in my
judgment, can alone prevent bloodshed and civil
war.

"JOHN B. FLOYD, Secretary of War.'
" I then considered the honour of the Admi-
nistration pledged to maintain the troops in
the position they occupied, for such had been
the assurances given to the gentlemen of
South Carolina who had a right to speak for her.
South Carolina, on the other hand, gave reciprocal
pledges that no force should be brought by them
against the troops or against the property of the
United States. The sole object of both parties
in these reciprocal pledges was to prevent a collision.
and the effusion of blood, in the hope that some
means might be found for a peaceful accommodation
of the existing troubles, the two houses of Congress
having both raised committees looking to that
object. Thus affairs stood until the action of
Major Anderson, taken unfortunately while the
Commissioners were on their way to this capital
on a peaceful mission, looking to the avoidance of
bloodshed, has complicated matters in the existing
manner. Our refusal or even delay to place affairs
back as they stood, under our agreement invites a
collision, and must inevitably inaugurate civil war.
I cannot consent to be the agent of such cala-
mity. I deeply regret that I feel myself under
the necessity of tendering to you my resig-
nation as Secretary of War, because 1 can no
Longer hold it under my convictions of patriotism,
nor with honour, subjected as I am to a violation
of solemn pledges and plighted faith.
" With the highest personal regard, I am most
truly yours,

" Joux B. FLOTD.
" To his Excellency the President of the

United States.
" THE PRESIDENT'S REPLY.

" Washington, Dec. 31, 1860.

"My dear have received and accepted
your resignation of the office of Secretary of War,
and. not wishing to impose upon you the task of
performing its mere routine duties, which you have
so kindly offered to do, I have authorised Postmas-
ter-General Holt to administer the affairs of the
department until your successor shall be appointed.
" Yours very respectfully,
" JAMES BUCHANAN.
" Hon. John B. Floyd."

The South Carolina Commissioners have not yet,
,however, withdrawn from Washington. The
Charleston mob, however, have forced the Govern-
ment of South Carolina to seize upon the unoccu-
pied forts and ether property of the United States,
and hoist over them the Palmetto flag ; and there
they remain at the mercy of Major Anderson, whose
guns command every point they occupy.
These important proceedings have put a stop for
the moment to attempts at conciliation and con-
cession. The cotton States are all preparing to go
out, several of them during the coming week; Some
Northern gentlemen hope that Georgia will stem
the tide. My advises do not give me any grounds
for entertaining such a hope. The whole planting
interest will, in my opinion, side with South Caro-
lina, and go to its protection in case of a collision.
There is already a cause of quarrel—the armed
occupation of the forts—but that may be overlooked
if no attempt is made upon the other forts. I
apprehend that a collision will come, if at all, from
the enforcement of the revenue laws. The col-
lector of Charleston claims make
to ntries,
collect
duties, and give clearances in the name of the State
of South Carolina. It would have been easy for
South Carolina had there been any wish for a
peaceful separation to postpone these questions
until the united South could settle with the
North the terms of the separation. Instead of
doing so they have precipitated this question, and
I cannot see how a collision can be long postponed.
This country is now on the verge of a civil war,
and there does not appear to be statesmanship
enough to avoid it. Nothing was easier than to
prevent it. But the time for prevention is fast
slipping away. The South is armed from one end to
the other. The messages, which at least two of the
Republican Governors will read to-morrow to the
Legislature of their respective States, will counsel
the North 'to do the same thing. Where there is so
snitch inflammable material around, and so many
sparks flying about, how long will it take the two
to come together?

How is the South to raise money enough to main-
tain a controversy with the Federal Government ?
They answer this question by saying that there will
be no Federal Government to contend with—that,
distracted by internal divisions, the remainder of
the Union will, when the South has separated from
it, fall asunder. In this they count without their
host. The North is more united to-day than it was
a month since, and will be, in my opinion, united
to a man if the dreadful contest is precipitated by
the madness of the South. The North wishes to
avoid it, if possible. The North (and when I speak
of Northern public sentiment I speak not only of
what I see, but of what I hear from all parts of the
interior), the North is attached to the Union, which
it venerates as its nationality. It wishes to
preserve the Union, and it will make any
concession short of an abandonment of principle to
secure its preservation. And, above all, there is a