The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-01-16

"O"'' u'dhe. lucy Saiu luat nOthlhR was
further from their Iutention-they did not
SO understaad It, and should not so con
slider H. 1t is evident they could enter
into no reciprocal agreement with me on
the subject. They did not profess to have
au hority 80 do this, and were acting in
their Individual character. | considered
It AS nothing more in effect than the
promise OF highly honorable gentlemen TO
exert their Influence for the purpose ex.
pressed.
The event has proven that they have
faithfully kept Lherr promise, although !
have never since received line from any
one Of them, or from any member Of the
Convention, on the subject. |. is well
Known 1t was my determination, nnd this
l iree expressed, not TO reinfc rec the
forts IN the hatbor aud thus produce a
collision. uutii they had been actually at
tackled. or until | had certain evidence
that they were about TO be attacked -
lbs paper | received mos, cordially, and
considered 1t as happy omen that peace
might still I've preserved, and that time
might he thus given for reflection. This
Is the whole foundation for the ALLEGED
pledge. But acted in the same man.
her as would have doue had entered
INTO positive aud formal agreement
with parties capable Of contracting, al
though such an agreement would have
'ren on my part, from the nature Of my
oil"laI duties, impossible. The world
knows that have never sent auy REIN
'orcements TO the forts in Charleston har.
tor, ard have certainly never author
l2cd ANY change to be made in their 70
iauve military status. Bearing upon this
subject, refer YOU 10 an order issued by
the Secretary of War, ll'h inst, to Ma
J"r Anderson, but not brought to my no
uce until 2lot inst. 1t is as follows:
"Dcmoromdum Of Verbal Instructions to
Nyor Indersom, Isl Artiiicry, Com
ma"dj"y Fort Mouihie, South Caro-.
Lrd:
lyon are aware Of the great Anxiety
OF the Secretary Of War that collision
OF the troops with the people Of this
State shall be avoided, aud OF his studied
determination 10 puisue course with
reference TO the military force and forts
IN thus hnrhor which shall guard agains,
such collision. lie has, therefore, care
tally ahsta'med from Increasing The force
at This point, or taking any measures
warch might add TO the present excited
state OF tue public mind, or which would
throw any doubt on the confidence he
feels HAT South Carolina will not attemp,
by violence TO Obtain possession OF the
pubic works or interfere with their occu.
pancy.
"8ut as Ihe counsel ard acts of rash
and impuIsive persons may possibly dis
appoint these expectations Of the Govern.
men', he deems it proper that you should
be prepared, with Instructions, to NEE, SO
unhappy contingency. lie has, there
fore, directed mo verbally 10 give YOU
such Instructions.
"luu are carefully to avoid every act
which would ueedIrssly tend to provoke
aggression, and ior that reason YOU are
not. without necessity, to take up any po
siIIon which could he construed into the
assumption of II hostile attitude but
YOU are to ho.d possession Of the forts 10
this hafOor, and # attacked, you are to
defend yourself TO tie las, extremity.
"The sGiaIness Of your force will not
permit you, perhaps, to occupy more than
one Of the three forts, out an attack on,
or attempt 10 take possession OF, either
OF them, will be regarded as an act Of
hostility, and YOU may then put your
command INTO either Of them which You
may deem most proper, to increase its
power of resistance. Yoo are also au.
horned to take similar steps whenever
You have tangible evidence Of design to
proceed TO hostile act.
d. p. BUTLER,
"Assislant Adjutant General"
Fort MouIlrie, ). g., Dec. IL. 1860"
This Is IN conformity TO my instructions
TO Major Buell.. JOHN b. FLOYD,
"Secretary OF War"
These we're the last instructions trans
nitted To Major Anderson before his re.
movaI to Fort Sumter, with single ex.
cep,ion, in regard to a particular which
does not III any degree affect the rresent
question. Under these circumstances. it
is clear tina: Major Anderson acted upon
his own responsibility aud without author
i,y, unless. indeed, he had "tangibe evi
dence of a design To proceed to q hostile
act" Oh the part Of the authorities OF
South Caroline, which has been alleged.
Sill he IL n brave and honorable officer,
and justice requires that he should not be
condemned without p fair hearing.
BE this as 1t may, when learned that
Major Anderson bad left For, Moultrie
and proceeded TO Fort Sumter, ruy Fl st
promplings we're to command him to re
turn TO hrs former position, aud there to
await the contingencies presented in his
instructions This would only have been
done, with any degree Of safety TO the
command, by the concurrence OF the South
Carolina authorities. But before any
steps could possibly have been taken in
this direction, we received q. information
that the Palmetto flag noaied out 20 the
breeze at Css,e Pinckney, aud large
military force went over last night (the
27tb) 10 Fort MouItrie."