The constitutional union., 1861-01-18

CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN SOUTH
 CAROLLNA CONNIsSIONERS AND THE
 PRESIDENT.
 The first letter of this correspondence is from the Commissioners, who inform the President of their arrived at Washington They tell him of Major Anderson's move ment, and state that South Carolina could have taken the forts, but relied upon his honor Under the circumstances, they urge the i'm mediate withdrawal of the federal troops from the Charleston forts.
 Mr. Buchanan replies, referring to his mes sage for the doctrine. that he could not nego- tiate with a seeding State He could, there fore, only receive the Commissioners as private gentlemen. The Commissioners mentioned Mr. Buchanans's "pledges" not to allow any military movement in Charleston. Mr. Bu- chanan denies having made such pledges, and produces the following:
 |" To lis Ercelency James Buchanan,
 President of the United States:
 ''In compliance with our statement to you yes tcrday, express to you our strong convic- tion that neither the constituted authorities nor arr body of the people of the State of South Caro- lima, will either attack modest the United States forts in the harbOr of Charleston prcvious y to the action of the Convention and we hope and believe not until an offer has been made through an accredited representative to negotiate for an amcable arrangement of all matters between the State and the Federal Government, provided that achievements shall be sent into the forts, and their relative military status shall remain at present. JOHN MCQUEEN,
 NJ. L. BOWMAN, W. W. BOYCE, LAWRENCE NJ. KEITT.
 "WAsHINGTON, Dec. 9, 1SG0."
 Mr Buchanan says he objected to the use of the term provided" as it might seem to commit him to an agreement which he could not make. He says 1t was not his intention to reinforce the forts until they had been at tackled. But he reproduces memorandum of orders given Major Anderson, of which the following is the important paragraph:
 'The smallness of your force will not permit you, perhaps, to occupy more than one of the three forts but attack, or attempt to take pos session of either of them, will be regarded an | act of hostility, and you may then put your com mand into either of them which you may deem proper, to incrcae its power of resistance. You are also authorized to take similar steps whenever you have tangible evidence of design to proceed to a hostile act"
 It thus appears that Major Anderson acted on his own responsibility, having the "tang- blc evidence" Mir Buchanan's first prompt ings" were to order Major Anderson back to Fort Moultrc As the South Carolinians took that fort, however, Mr. Buchanan could not give that order as peace measure. Here Mr Buchanan comes to the point:
 ''It is under all these circumstances that I am urged immediately to withdraw the troops from the harbor of Charleston, and am informed that without this, negotiation is impossible This cannot do this 1 will not Such an idea was never thought of by me in any possible contin- gency. No alluSon had been made in aay com munication between myself and any human being
 At this point of writing, I have received in formation, by telegraph, from Capt. Humphreys, in command of the Arsenal at Charleston, that he las to-day Sunday, the 30th.) been taken by force of arms Itis estimated that the munitions of war belonging to the United States in this Arsenal are worth half million dollars.
 ''COmmcnt is needless. After this information have only to add that while it is my duty to de- fend Fort Sumter, portion of the public pro- perty of the United States, against hostile attacks from whatever quarter they may come, by such means as may possess for this purpose, do not perceive how such defense can be construed into menace against the city of Charleston"
 The reply of the Commissioners to this let ter is long, and in its tone severe. MT Buchanan is accused of perverting language, of violating his contract with South Carolina They recount tauntingly all his acts of con- ccsson to the seccdcrs, They say to him:
 You did not reinforce the garrison in the har- Dor of Charleston. You removed distinguished and veteran officer from the command of Fort NIoultric because he attcmptel to increase his supply of ammunition. You refused to send ad- ditional troops to the same garrison, when applied for by the officer appointed to succeed him. You accepted the resignation of the oldest and most eminent member of your Cabinet, rather than allow the garrison 10 be strengthened. You com pelled officer stationed at Fort Sumpter to re turn immediately to the Arsenal forty muskcts which hc had taken to arm his men
 They also charge him with want of prompt ness with seeking delays, &c. They tell him, in conclusion, that he can make war if he wants to, and they will appeal to the God of battles; and they name the hour when they will leave town. TCncinnati Gazette.