The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-09

but not Brought TO ny notice until the 2lst Inst II Is
follows
vIEsr AsriLLxsr, oonnAHDIrG voer nouLrK1, o.
q As s Of the y
Be sroidsd his .sadisd ssidrninssioa parsas
which sS.i Sss.a s,a:t such se,:ss IL
q {. Ts TSS
attempt violence 70 obtain possession Of che public
bn r Re s;a rash and
may possibly dissppein these %
as oS as' %s s o unhappy Rs
directed verbally % give yss s1 such Oh. ".a
y tend 10 provoke and for that you
s o. III 0s
you 2 @ q Ss % ' and
10 s ei as
q es sS oS MAY ssa ps your 10 nd
q resistance You are also authorized to
Sasir s,' 70 proceed 10 hostile act 'AAs''
.. BUTLER, Assistant Aajutant General
This is in conformity e ny nI sI1I 70 nsSr sus
These were the last instructions T. ansmitts 70 Myor
Anderson before his removal to Fort sumter, with o
single exception in regard 70 particular which docs act
ia any degree Affect the present question Under TIL
circumstances II is clear that Major Anderson acted upon
his responsibility, and without authority, unlcss
indeed he had staDgblo evidence of design proceed
10 hostile act the part Of the authorizes Of south
Carolina. whsch has not yet been alleged Still be
brave aud honorable officer and justice requires litt he
should be condemned without u fair hearing
Be this as ii may, when learned that Mayor Anderson
bad left Fort Moutrie and proceeded 70 Fort sumter my
first promptings command him 70 return to hs
former POSITION, and there await the contingencies
presented in HIS former instructions TINS would only
have been done with any degree Of safety to the com
mand by the of the South Carolina lthor
ties But before any step could possibly have oeon IA
ken in this direction we received Information that the
"Pametto flag oated out to the breeze at Cste Pinck
ney and large military force went last night (tue
z7th) Fort Moutrie Thus the authorities or South
Carolina, without waiting asking Tor any EXPLANATIONS,
doubtless believing have expressed IT, that
officer had acted not only without but against my orders
the very next day after the night when the removal
WAS ade. seized by military force two OF the three
fedeal foria in the harbor OF Charleston, ana have
them under their own flag instead Of that of the
United states.
Al this gloomy period of our history startling events
each other rapidly On the very day, the eth
inst that possession Of these two forts was tkcn the
Palmetto flag raised the federal Custom House
ana Post oce in Charleston and on the same day every
officer OF the customsColecor Naval OHIO r. Surveyor
and Apprascr-resgneo theii offices And this, although
IL well known from the Language Of my MessGg
that executive officer / fels myself bound 70
collect the revenue at the port of Charleston, IN
der the existing laws In the harbor Of Charleston
We now find three forts confronting each other,
all Of which the federal flag foated only four days
but two of them this flag has beea suppant
cd, and the Palmetto flag has been substituted N its
stead. II under all these circumstances that am
urged immediately ts withdraw the troops from the har
Dor Of Charleston and informed that without thus
COLLATION. is impossible. This cannot do-ths will not
Such an idea was never thought OF by mo in any
possible contingency. No such ausion had been made
Ia any communion Ion between myself and any human
being But the Inference is that am bound to withdraw
tho troops from the only fort remaining in the
OF the United States the harbor OF Charleston because
tie officer there in command OF all the forts though pro-
per without Instructions to change his position from one
OF them to another.
by telegraph from Captain Humphreys in command Of
the at Charleston, that dit has day SUNDAY,
tia, the of belonging the States
in arsenal worth half million OF dollars.
only 70 add that whilst it is my duty 70 defend For,
portion Of the public property of the Unte
States against hostile attacks from whatever quarter
they may come by such means may possess for tn
purpose do not perceive such defence DO
strued into q against the city of Charleston
With great personal regard, rsmaa yours r ys,y re-
10 Honorable RobERr W. BARNwnL JAMES II. ADAMS,
JAhKS l. OR.
sIDENT.
wAxlINeros, d. c., Jan 1, 1851.
sR-we have tho honor TO acknowledge the receipt Of
your letter Of the Both December in reply to note ad
dressed by YOU the 18th of the Same month "a
Commissioners from South Carolina
In reference TO tho declaration with which your reply
commences, that your "poetion as President OF the
United States already defined In the message to Con
gess Of the I'D Instant that you possess ono power
ca DINA and the United states much less 70 acknow-
iGc the independents OF that State" ana that
qg.ntiy you could meet US only .. private gentamen
q tho highest character, with entire willingness 10
communicate u Congress- any proposition We
might have TO make-we deem Il only nocessa
70 sGy that the State Of South Carolina, having,
In the exercise OF that great right Of SELF covers.
mcnt which rnderiics all political org zAtions,
declared herself sovereign and Independent her
representatives, felt special toicude to the cha
ra,ter III which you might recognise Satisfied
the state had simply csed her unquestonable right
prepared In order to reach substantial good
waive the formal considerations which your constitu
tona sc,upee might have prevented you from oxtend
ing We came here, therefore, expecting 10 be received
you did receive us, and perfectly content with that
entire willingness OF which you assured u.s. 70 submit
any proposition To Congress which might have to
make upon the subject OF the independence OF the
That willingness WAS ample recognition OF the condition
OF pubic Affairs which rendered our presence necessary
In this position, however II IL our duty both to tho
State which represent and to ourselves TO correct
several important misconceptions OF our letter into
which you have fallen
You say SO 1t my earnest desire that such q dis
position might be made OF the whole subject by Congress
who alone possess the power TO prevent the nsug
ton a civil betweon tho parties in reg rd ths
possession OF the federal forts IN the harbo of Charles
ton and therefore deeply regret that in your opinion
the events OF tbs last twenty four hours render this
poesiblc.p We expressed such opinion; and tho
language which you quote ours, altered in its
by the omission OF most important part OF the nenc,
What we did say was" But the events OF the last
twenty -four hours render such mpoas bs
PLACE that assurance contained in letter, in th
sentence, and We are prepared 10 repeat II.
Again, protesting to quote our language, ron say
asking tor any explanation, and doubtless believing,
you have expressed IT, that tho officer hal
onl without but against my orders &c. We express,
opinion IN reference the belief OF the pcos
OF south Carolina The language which yoi have quoted
was applied solely and entirely TO our assurances Oh
tAnsd here, and baaed you well know, upon your
dclaraop-a declaration which, at that time,
possible for the authorities OF South Carolina TO have
known But without following this otter into all lite do
tale propose only TO meet the chief points OF the
gumcnt.
some weeks ago. the State Of South Carolina declared
her intcntion la tho existing condition OF pubic affairs
b, seccde from tn, United States She oaed
tion Of her people TO put her declaration in force rhe
convention and passed tho ordinance Of
All this you Anticipated and your OF action
thoroughly considered In your annual message. You de-
caroa you had right and would not attempt 70 ce
seeding state, but that you bound by your con.
stitutiona OATH and would defend tho property Of the
United States within the borders OF South Carolina
attempt msdo to take by foroe. Seeing very early
that this question Of property difficult and delicate
one, you manifested desire 10 settle IL without cai
sa You did DOT reinforce the garrison in the harbor II
Charleston Yen removed q distinguished and veto
Officer fr IN the command " Fort Moutric
because he attempted 70 increase his supply Of ammun
ton You refused 10 send additional troops " tho
gsrrisoo when applied for by tho ctcer appo,n I'd "
succeed him You accepted the resignation OF the oldest
and mos. eminent member " your Cabinet, rather than
allow TIE garrison 70 DO strengthened. You compelled
on1cer stationed st Fort sumter, to return Immediately
Ia the Arsenal m,akets which he vi taken