The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-09
THE SOUTH CAROLINA COMMISSIONERS.
The Correspondence Between the Com.
InissiOners and tho President OF the
United States.


United States.
Tho following the official correspondence between the
Commissioners and the President of tho Untod States
abstract OF which has already appcrred in the
HIRAD:-
WASHINGTON Dec. %, $780,
SIRWe have the honor 70 transmit TO you copy q
the full powers from the Convention Of the people az
south Carolina, uDdor which " authorized and
empower % TO treat with tho government Of the United
States for the delivery Of the forts, magazines, light
houses and other iea estate with their appurtenancs
the limits South Carolina; and also for apportion
ment OF the public debt and for division OF all other
property ned by the Of the United States
the confederated States Of which South Carolina
was recently member and generally negotiate to
all other and arrangements proper TO be made
and adopted In the existing relation OF the parties, and
for the continuance Of peace and amity between this
Commonwealth and the government at Washington
In the execution of tins trust it Ia duty furnish
you, now 40, with an Official copy Of the ordinance
secession by which the State South Carolina has
suned the powers she delegated TO the government Of
the United states and has declared her perfect sovereign
" and independence.
Il would also been duty to have informed you
that ready TO negotiate with you upon all such
questions necessarily raised by tho adoption OF
this ordnance and that prepared enter upon
this negotiation with the earnest desire avoid all
necessary and hoste collision, and 50 TO inagurate
relations TO mutual respect, general ad
vantage and future OF good will and harmony beneh
cial " all the parties concerned.
But the of the last twenty four hours render
such assurance impossible We cams here the repre-
sentatives of an authority which could, at any time
within the past sixty days have taken possession of tia
forts in Charleston haTbor but which, upon pledges given
In that cauDot doubt, determined to trust
to your honor rather than TO it's power Since
arrival here officer Of the United States acting
assured, not only without but against orders
has dsmsntled fort and occupied anosher-thus al
terpg TO most important extent the condition of affairs
under which came.
Until these circumstances explained in o
which relieves us OF all doubt as 70 tho spirit in which
these negotiations shall be conducted, forced
suspend all discussion TO any arrangements by which
our mutual interests might be amicably adjusted.
And, in conclusion we would urge upon you the imne
date withdrawal OF the troops from tho harbor OF
Charleston. Under present circumstances they
standing menace which renders negotiation impossible
TO bring To bloody issue questions which ought to be
We have the honor to be, very respectfully, your Obs
'''n' So wants. !. II. A H"'1A commissioners
JAS L. ORR,
10 the PRECEDENT THE UNITED STATES.
THE PRESIDENTS REPLY.
WAHnSTor CRY, Dec. 90, 1869.
GEunss-I have had the honor to receive your
muncalon Of 18th inst together with copy Of "your
full from the Convention OF the people Of south
Carolina authorizing you to treat with the government
Of tho United States various important subjects there
date on hr Goth inst elarns that tho WnS now suS
sisting between Sout Carolina and other StAtea under
the name Of tho United States Of America hereby dis
solved"
In 70 this munication, have TO say that
my position President Of tho United States clearly
ssa stated i ha s r. rs sxeouon q tSs laws
far thus may bo practicable, the Executive has
authority decide wnt shall relations between
the federal and South Carolina He has been
invested with such discretion He possesses power
change the relations heretofore existing between them
much less acknowledge the independence OF that State
This would invest executive officer with the
power Of recognizing the dissolution OF the concderacy
among our Thirty three sovereign States 1t bears re-
semblance 10 the recognition OF foreign de lo govern
men-nvolviug such responsibility Any attempt TO
do this would his part bea naked act Of usurpason 1t
therefore, duty ~ submit 10 Congress the whole
question In all It's bearings"
such is my opinion stll. could therefore, meet you
only a. private gentlemen OF the hshos. character, and
entirely willing to communicate 10 Congress any pro
position you might have 10 make to that body upoa the
subject Of this you were well aware. II was my
desire that such disposition might be- made OF the
whole subject by Congress- who alone the power
prevent the inauguration Of civil between She
parties in regard possession Of federal forts in
the OF Charleston aud therefore deeply regret
that your opinion the events OF the Last twenty four
hours render this impossible" In conclusion, you urge
upon "the immediate withdrawal OF tho troops from
the harbor Of Charleston, stating that nnder present
circumstances they standing menace which renders
negotiation impossible and as our recent experience
shows threaten speedily bring bloody issue ques
tons which ought to be settled with temperance and
Judgment"
The reason for this change In your position s that sacs
your arrival in Washington ian officer Of the Unitod
States acting as we (you arc assured, not only thou
and Occupied sno,he.Sas s,erins to mos. important
oxent tho condition OF affairs under which (you)
came" You also allcge that came here tho repre-
sentatves of authority which could Mt tmo with
N the past sixty days, have taken possession ~ tho
forts in Charleston harbor, but which, upon pledges
gwen manner tna we .youD cannot DOUBT, deter
mined to trust to your (my honor rather than TO It's
power
This brings me to consideration Of the nature OF those
alleged pledges and IN what manner they have been oh
served. In my Message OF tho Sd Of December last I
stated In regard 10 the property Of the United States la
South Carolina, that it has been purchased for fair
state for the erection Of forts magazines arsenas
&C., and over thcse the authority to exercise exclusive
legislation" has been expressly granted by the constitu
ton TO Congress. II IL not believed that any attempt
VIII be made V expel the United States from this
property by force, but If in this | should prove
10 BIO mistaken the oGicer in command OF tho forts
has received orders 10 act strictly the de
fensve In such contingency the responsibility for
scues would rghfuy rest upon the hoads OF the
saants." This bcng the condition of the parties on
Saturday tho sh OF December four OF the representa-
from south Carolina called upon me and requested
interview. We had an earnest conversation the
subject OF these forts and the best OF prevonti
collision between the PARTIES for the purpose Of sparng
the snusion Of blood suggested, for prudential
sons that IL would bo best to put la writing what they
pad TO mo verbally They did so accordingly, and on
Monday morning the 1oth inst three OF them presented
10 mo papet signed by al the representatives non
Sou Carolina, with single exception Of which the fol
To Hs Bxc,Ilxscr JANIS BucHas,x Pnssipssr or rus
express Z you our strong V "onveons bs nsSe M en
S NJ, S9 s & 81 IN :: uas.s
fos In the hsrbor q Charleston previously 10 IN. action OF
has been made through an sccrrdd reprssenar MT
Sos,s for an s,rnsemen, o. AZ matter. Se,wsn
shall be sent into ,soss ios and their relae
JOHN MCQUEEN
n. r. BOHHAM
w. w. rOYOE
WARRINGTON Dec. q 1870 LAWRENCE ~ KNIT
And here must In Justice 70 myself, remark that nj
the time the paper presented 10 me objected 70 the
word provided" AZ II might be construed into agree
ment on my part which never would mako. They sAd
that nothing further from their intcntionshey dd
not so understand II, and should not consider It. II
n evident they could enter into reciprocal agreement
with the subject They did not prefess TO have
authority TO do this ara were acting In then individual
character. considered ~ nothing more, In effect,
than the promise Of highly honorable eeotiemen 70
exert their influence for the purpose expressed The
event has proven thnt they have faithfully kept this
promse, although have never since received a lins
from any ooe o. ths or from any member Of tho Con.
vent on on ths suAtsct II we'll known that my
deerminAtcn, and I'm freely expressed, 10 70
lnforce the fosss p the harbcv and thur produce ooI
lbiop until they ha1 ben ACTUALLY attacked until
bad oertala svee sns shsv wsve about 70 be attack
ed nh paper freoslved mnst cordially, and considered
u A. happy oee uns DDAce might be sti preserved,
and that time mie4> Be ss given for reelection This
the whole foundattos for the alleged pledge.
Bat aotei In tho ~ would have dons
had entered into posiive and formal agreement with
parties capable Of contracting although such sgres
"A hcap m my from the n