The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-04-24
HISTORY OF THE NEGOTIATION IN
THE NATTER OF FORT SUMTER
PEACEABLE OvERTCRES REFUSED.
Dispatch to the Baltimore American.

HISTORY Of THE NEGOTIATlON IN
The MATTER OF FORT UMTER-
Dispatch to the Baltimore American.
Washington, April 10.
The difficulty that has arisen with regard tC
the proposed evacuation of Fort Sumter, ant
the present position Of affairs are, as nearly a:
can be ascertained, as follows:
Nearly four weeks since the President and
Cabinet, on the representation of Gen. Scott
decided to evacuate Fort Sumter as military
Necessity - that is TO saw the reinforcing and
provisioning of il was not deemed essential, in
view OF the cost OF blood and treasure il would
require to accomplish the purpose. This decis
ion of the President was communicated TO Major
Anderson by special messenger. with instruc
tons TO open negotiations with the military au-
thorites at Charleston to carry the project into
execution.
These negotiations have been progressing ever
since, and the numerous messengers that have
been passing between Charleston and Washing
ton have communicated TO Major Anderson the
instructions of the Government and TO the Pres
ident the demands of the Southern Confederacy
Ii Is understood that Major Anderson refused.
under Instructions an unconditional surrender of
the fortress TO the Confederacy, bmt proposed 70
abandon At with has garrison, iedping tie fort
IA possession of a corporal and t,co prirates, TO
protect the property OF the gorernmens, and leave
IL thus to dlrai' further erents. He is also un.
derstood To have demanded of Gen. Beaurega
that pledge should be given him, that 10 at.
tempt should be made to take possession of it
after the evacuation OF the garrison, and that
the officers left in charge should not be moested,
or his possession as a nominal representative OF
the Government interfered with
This proposition did not meet the views of
Gen. Beauregard, who demanded that the flag of
the United States should be saluted aud lowered,
as was done at the Pensacola Navy Yard, and
that formal surrender of the Fort should be
made by the Government to the Southern Con-
federacy, and the Confederacy flag Of seven stars
raised and sauted
This demand, which would be virtual recog.
milton by the President and Msjor Anderson of
the existence of the Southern Confederacy, ,cas
firmly refused, and the decision of Major Ander-
son was subsequently sustained by the Presiden,
aud his Cabinet. Thus matters stood up to the
commencement of last week. when Gen. Beaure-
gard intimated to Major Anderson that if the de-
mand of the COnfederacy was not complied with,
an order would be Immediately issued to cut off
all further communication between the fort aud
Charleston, and that his regulor supplies of mar
keting would be stopped. This fact was brought
to Washington by Col. LamOn. as the ultimatum
of the COnfederacy. A Cabinet meeting was
then called, and it is said that the refusal to
make a formal surrender of the fort and the
lowering of the flag was unanimously reafirmed.
Immediately after this decision, orders were
given for the military and naval preparations that
have since occasiOned so mnch excitement, the
object being to use them, if necessary, in reliev-
ing the garrison of Major Anderson from threat
ened starvation, and maintaining the dignity of
the Government and the honor of the flag in
Charleston Harbor. or if not required there, to
dispatch the expedition 70 Texas, 10 maintain the
treaty stipulatiOns of the Government on the
frontier. and drive back the Indians and Mexicans
who are threatening TO invade the State.
In the meantime Lieut. Talbot was dispatched
by Major Anderson to Washington, with further
information to the condition of affairs, in which
rumOr says that Major Anderson urged the gov
ernment to allow not the flag which he had So
long maintained in the face of his besiegers, to
be humbled as they required, and to compel the
gallant men who stood so nobly by him, includ.
ing the mechanics who could have left him if
they desired, to witness the humiliating sight of
any but that of their country floating from its
battlements.
This dispatch, the last from Major Anderson,
was received on Friday, when orders were sent
to New York to hurry off the expedition at the
earliest possible moment, and its destination fix.
ed for Su nter. In the meantime information was
received at Washington that Gen. Beauregard
had notified Major Anderson that he would be
allowed to receive no further supplies, nor hold
any further communication with Charleston. On
receiving this information the President dispatch
ed Lieut.. Talbot to Charleston with instruction:
to Major Anderson 80 notify the COnfederated au
thOrities that the Government proposed immed
atey to dispatch an unarmed vessel with foot
for the garrison at Fort Sumter, and that he wa.
instructed, if the vessel should be fred upon, tG
return the fire from Fort Sumter. Mr.. Chew, o
the State Department, was also cent on the eve
ming of the same day to Charleston, to informal
ly communicate with the authorities, and inform
them what was the decision and purpose of Gov
ernment, in case Lieut.. Talbot was refused &C
cess to Major Anderson. They we're both denie,
the opportunity of communicating with For
Sumter.