Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1861-02-16
Secretary of Wal
WASmINGTnN. .Jnnunrv

that no r2lnIOrcemcntS VIII be sent to Fort
Sumter, nor will the public peace be disturb
ed within the period requisite for full commu-
nlcation between yourself and your Govern
ment; and we trust, therefore, that YOU will
feel justified in applying for further instruc-
tons before delivering to the President any
message with which you may have been
charged.
We take this occasion to renew the express
sion OF an earnest hope that South Carolina
VIII not deem it Incompatible with her safety,
dignity or honor, to refrain from initiating any
hostllItlcs against any power whatsoever, OF
from taking any steps tending to produce col
llslon, until our States, which are to share her
fortunes, shall have an opportunity of joining
their counscls with hers.
We are with great respect
Your obedient servants.
LOUIS T. WIGFALL,
ID, Il. YULEE,
j. p BENJAMIN,
A. IvERsON,
JOHN llEMpHILL,
JOHN SLIDELL,
c. G.. CLAY, Jr,
Il. ). Some of the signatures to the former
letter addressed to you are not affixed to the
foregoing communication, in consequence OF
the departure of several Senators, now on
their way to their respective States
WASHINGTON, January "a, 1861.
To Me Hon, Louis T. UutaU, d. IT, Yulec,
d. L. Bc9omin, A. IOcrSon, Johm HcmphW,
John Sl"'cN, dnd G. c. Clay, jr.-
Gentlemen | have received your letter of
the 23d inst, enclosing a communication Ia
ted the 22d inst, addressed to Mcssrs. Fitz.
patrick, Mallory and Slidell from the Socrc
tary of War 01 intcriai. This communica-
ton from the Secretary is far from being sat
Istactory to me- But inasmuch ms YOU state
that eve Nou) have no hesitation in express.
ing an entire confidence that no reinforcement
will be sent to Fort Sumter, nor will the pub
lie peace be disturbed within the period rcoui
site for full communication between Yourself
(myself) and your (my) Government" in
compliance with our previous UNDERSTANDING
L withhold the communication with which |
am at present charged, and refer the whole
matter TO the authorities of South Carolina,
and will await their reply.
Mr.. Gourdin, of South Carolina, now in
this city, will leave here by the evening S
train, and will lay before the Governor of
South Carolina and his Council the whole
correspondence between yourselves and my
self, and between you and the Government of
the United States; with a communication
from me, asking further Instructions.
| cannot, in closing, but express my deep
regret that the President should deem il nee
cssHry TO keep garrison of troops at Fort
Sumter for the protection of the " "j}ropcyiy &"
of the United States South Carolina scorns
the idea of approprating to herself the
Pr"Pc|W OF another, whether of Govern
mont or an individual, without accounting, to
the last dollar, for everything which, for the
protection of her citizcns, and in vindication
OF her own honor and dignity, she may deem
1T necessary to take into her own possession.
AS 1'rop~ty, Fort Sumter is in far greater
jeopardy occupied by garrison of United
States troops, than it would b. if delivered
over to the State authorities, with the pledge
that in regard to that and all o;her pronerty
claimed by the United States within the im
rISd'ction of South Carolina, they would fully
account, upon a fair adjustment.
Upon the other point Of the preservation
of the peace, and the avoidance of blood.
shed: Is it supposed that the occupation of
a fort in the midst of harbor, with guns
bearing upon every portion of it, by a Gov
ernmcnt no longer acknowledged, can be 9th.
or than the occasion of constant irritation.
excitement and indignation Hcreatcsa con-
dition of things Which fear is but little cal
cuIatcd to advance the observance of the
" high Christian and moral duty to keep the
peace, and to avoid all causes of mutual irri
tntinn," recommended 10y tho Secretary of
Wai in his communication.
In my judgment, to continue to hold Fort
Sumter by United States troops; is the worst
possible means Of protecting it as property;
and the worst possible means for effccting
peaceful solution of present difficulties
beg leave, in conclusion, to say that it is
in Difference to the unanimous opirion ex-
pressed by tie Senators present in Washing
ton, representing States which have already
seeded from the United States, or will have
done 40 before the 1st of February next"
that | comply with your suggestions And
j feel assured that suggestions from such a.
quarter will be considered with profound re-,
spect by the authorities OF South Carolina,
and will have great weight in determining
tlreiraetion,