Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1861-02-13

tinued. The reply of the President, there
fore, contains his refusal, not only of the gen.
eral proposition to abstain from doing until
the 18th day Of February, the day named by
the Senators in their letter, that which, when.
ever he attempts, he knows will be regarded
by the State Of South Carolina as an act Of
war, but he refuses also to abstain from at.
tempting this act, even during the period ne.
cessary to enable you to Communicate to the
Governor the proposition Of these Senators.
All that the State of South Carolina was
desired, in the letter Of these Senators, 10 do
in relation to Major Anderson and his garri.
son, it had done not in its acknowledgment
of any right on the part of the United States,
but in the discharge of the suggestions Of
cou teSy, and with desire not to sisltupon Ma.
jur Anderson and his garrison thee nscqueuces
OF the irritation which the conduct of his Gov
erulnent was so well calculated to produce. Nor
would the acquiescence OF the Government Of
the United States, in the forbearance required
frcmit, have done more than 10 lave secured the
status, in which all matters within the harbor
OF Charleston were at this time, by putting
upon the State all obligation not to attack
Fort Sumter, and upon the Government of
the United States an obligation not tu rein.
force it with fresh troops. With the supplies
which Major Anderson and his garrison we're
receiving, with the facilities which he and his
garrison enjoyed in regard to the mails, no
pretext for interference with the harbor Of
Charleston could be found except in cunnec.
ton with the right cluimed to reinforce the
troops at Fort Sumter; Alright which, claimed
by the President rs involved i'll q duty, would
farther involve necessity that be should de-
termne when his duty was to be discharged
BY his exercise of this right.
1t is true that the President, in his letter,
intimates that no reiniorcements will be sent,
because Mnjor Anderson has made no such
request and feels quite secure in his position.
1t is not, however, to be forgotten: thut, upon
a recent occasion, which tits understood that
Major Anderson did not call for reinforce.
ments, and may be presumed To have felt then
as secure in his position as he does now, rein.
torcements we're sent to him; nor wac it the
fault Of the Government Ut the United States
that they did not reach him.
The proposition thus made to the President.
Of the United States, was the cot Of Southern
Senators, unsolicited aud unexpected. It was
the evidence of generous impulse, which,
having animated them in the coutIuuaucs' Of
their connection with tue United States, aa
ons as that connection could be maintained
with regard to the rights Of the States they
represented, was exhibited, even in the mo-
nent of their final separation, in an anxious
desire to avoid collision and strife with those.
whom thcy could not recognize longer as
their brethren in that political Union which
had been terminated. The moderation of the
terms in which they asked the acquicecence
D: the President Of the United States will be
long remembered. Their request was simply
that he would n!.st";" e..