Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1861-01-16
taken but for the efforts of those who put their

taken but for the efforts of those who put their
trust in your honor.
Believing that they were threatened by
Fort Sumter especially, the people were With
difficulty restrained from securing, without
bio. ID, the possession of this important for
tress. After many and reiterated assurances
given on your behalf, which We. cannot be-
lieye unauthorized, they determined TO forbear,
and in good faith sent on their Commissioners
tonegotiate with you. They meant yonno harm;
wished you no i'll. They thought OF you klnily;
believed sou true; and were willing, as Tar as
was consistent with duty, TO spare you unneces.
sary and hostile collision. Scarcely had their
Commissioners left, than Major Anderson was-
ell war. No other words will describe his
action.
1t was not peaceful change from one fo-t
to another; 1t was hostile act in the pres.
ence of superior enemy and in imminent
peril He abandoned his position, spiked his
guns, burned his gun.carriages made prepara.
tions for the destruction Of his post, and with
drew under cover of the night to safer posi-
tion. This was war. No man could have be-
lieved without your assuraace) that any Off
Ger could have taken such step, not only
u,
the State did was in simple sslfdcfence; for
this act, with all its attending circumstances.
vas as much war as firing a volley; and, war
being thus begun, until those commencing it
explained their action and disayowed their
intention, there was no .room for delay, and
even at this moment, while we are writing, 1t
is more than probable from the tenor II your
letter. that re.inforcements are hurrying into
the conflict, so that when the first qua shall
be fired, there will have been on your part
one continuous consistent Series OF actions
commencing in a demonstration essentially
war-like, supported b. regular rentorcements,
and terminating in defeat or victory. And
all this without the hesligh,est sroroca,ion; for,
among the many things which you have said,
there is one thing you cannot saY-you have
waited anxiously for news from the seat ol
war, in hopes that delay would furnish some
excuse for this precipitation.
But this tnngibe evidence Of R design to
proceed to hostile act on the fa"t of the
authorities Of Sout!, Carolina which is the
ouly justification of Major Anderson, You are
forced TO admit has not get been alleged"
But you have dcided. You have resolved to
hold by force what you have obtained thr 1ugh
ouc misplaced ccnfdrnce, and by refusing to
disavow the action Of Major Anderson, have
converted his vioIs!ion of orders into lcgiti.
mate act Of your Executive authority.
BE the issue what it may, OF this we are
assured, that if Fort Moutr;e has been re-
corded i'll history as !. memorial OF Carolina
g.llantry, Fort Sumter W Il live upon the sue
ceeding page as an imperishable testimony OF
Carolina faith.
BY your course you have probably rendered
civil war inevitable. De so. II you choose
to force this issue upon us the State OF Son'l
Carolina will accept it, and relying upon Him
who is the God ut Justice rs well as the God
e II.'-'S Ill '.n'leavor to perform the great