Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-02-12

clsred Is neither menarng DOR deEant DOR unft,,a.
Il Is acting under orders 70 stEud strictly on the ds
sive and the government and people Of South Carols.
well know that they receive aae1t hr,
shelter from s guns unless In the absetce Of al
cation they should assault and seek liz destruction
The intent with which this fortress Is held by the P
dent il truthfuy stated By Senator Davis and o,bs,
in their letter yourself Of the 18th January in vbeb
they say il is not held with any hostile or nnfriend
purpose towards your STATE but merely az property ~
the United States which the president deems h. du,
TO protect and preserve
of the announcement so repeatedly made CT the
Presidents pacific purpose continuing the Occupation
of Fort Sumter until the question shall have been settled
by competent authority has failed impress the gov
eminent Of South Carolina the forbearing conduct of
his administration for the last few months should be
ceved conclusive evidence OF bis sincerity And II
this forbesrance, 10 Of The circumstances which
have severely tried IL be not accepted as q ssti.aeto-
~ pledge Of the peaceful policy Of this administrator
towards South Carolina, then IL may be safely affirmed
that neither language conduct can possibly furnish
one
IT. with all the multiplied proofs which exist Of Il
Presidents xiety for peace and Of the earnestness vii.
which be has pursued IT, the authorities Of that Stc,,
shaH assault Fort Snatr, and pc IL the lives Of the
handful Of brave and loyal mer shut up within its walls
and thus plunge common country into the horror,
of civil war; then npoa them and Mose hey repy,,.nt
must rest the responsibihty.
"Very respectfully, your obedient servant
~ HoLr, Secretary Of War.
col. HarSE's REJoIxDER.
Under date Of February 7th, Colonel Hayne rsjoned
This document was transmitted TO Congress by II
President as It was received in time The President
has returned it to Col Hayne, through the mail address
ed to Charleston. Col. H. in this reoinder, reviewing
the Presidents reply, says
"You next attempt ridcule the proposal presented
a. simply an offer the part Of South Carolina to buy
Fort Sumter and contents as property Of the United
States sustained by declaration in effect that II she
Is not permitted make the purchase she will seize the
fort by force of arms II Is difficult consider this as
other than an intentional misconstrueon. You were
told that South Carolina, ss separate Independent
ere gnty would tolerate the occupation BY foreign
troops Of military post within her limits; but that mas
much you in repeated messages aud 10 your cores
pondence had laid much upon the character Of
your duties arising from considering forts as property
South Carolina far as this matter OF property sug
gested by yourself concerned would make compen.
saon for all injury done the property in the exercise of
her sovereign right OF eminent domain; and this your
Secretary calls proposal to purchase
The idea Of purchase is entirely inconsistent with the
assertion Of paramount right In the purchaser. had
supposed that interest in property, SUCH could be
other than purely proprietary; and II confined my.
self to the view OF your relations to Fort Sumter
you at least should consider il the subject Of criticism
Until in your letter Of yesterday, you chose to
slider your relations in everything which you have writ
under your direction. IL precisely because you
had yourself chosen to place your action the ground
OF purely proprietary right that the proposal Of compen
sation was made, and you now admit that 10 this Fod
SUMTER would PROBABLY be subjected TO the exercise Of
the right of eminent domain. In your letter of yeser
day, through your secretary, you shift your position.
You claim that your government bears TO Fort Sumter
political relations OF a much higher and more imposing
character.
at part OF my mission to discuss the political
laons fthe IT, s. government anything within the ter
rtoria limits OF South Carolina South Carolina claims TO
have dissolved all political connection with your govern
ment and have destroyed all political relations Of
your government with everything within her borders
She is unquestonably at this moment lie fdcto separate
and independent government, exercising complete
regnty every foot Of her soil except Fort Sumter
Now that the intention is avoSed TO hold this place
military post with claim Of exclusive jurisdiction
the part Of government foreign 10 South Carolina il
will be for the authorities to determine What is the
proper be pursued IL is then to ignore the fact that
South Carolina is to yours a foreign government And
how with this patent fact before you you consider
the continued occupation OF the fort in her habor pa
cc measure and parcel of peaceful policy passes
tanly my comprehension You say that the fort is gar
rsoned for protection and is held for the pur
pose for which has been ever held since its consrue
ton.
"Are you not aware that to bold 10 the territory Of
foreign power fortress against her will ayowedly for
the purpose Of protecting her citizens perhaps the
highest insult which government offer 10 anOih
or? But Fort Sumter was never garrsoned until South
Carolina had dissolved her connection with your govern
ment This garrison entered in the night, with every
circumstance of ecy, after spking the guns aud
gun carriages, and cutting down the flagstaff of sd
acent fort, which then abandoned. South Carolina
has taken Fort Sumter into her possession only
because of her misplaced confidence in government
which deceived her. fortres, occupied under the cir
cumstances above stated is considered not only 10
OF irritation but you represent held for
protection Your Exellencys Secretary has INDUCED in
irony a very grave subject As to the responsibility
Of consequences, If indeed it does on us
sure your Exceency are happily unconscious Of the
fact.
With consideration Of high regard
l am, very respectfully,
j. W. HAYNE
Special Envoy"