Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1861-02-09
WHEELING, VA, December "a, 1860.

WHEELING, VA, December "a, 1860
Hon. A. Lincoln-Dear Sir / hope you
will not deem it presumptuous in me, in thus
demanding from you plain reply to the fol-
lowing interrogatives, and moreover that YOU
will give me the permission to give publicity
to your answer, should desire to do So
1st Had the jurisdiction of the crime
committed by John Brown and ais. been sur
rendered to the Federal Government, and
Judgment delayed until the Fourth of March
next would you nave exercised the pardon
ing power? ~
ID DO you regard the Dred Scott decision,
as binding on the people of the North?
Hoping to hear from you soon, remain,
Truly yours, &c j. A. SPENCER.
SPRINGFIELD, January 2, 1861
j. \. Spencer, Es1.-Sir:-I had resolved
in my mind to reply to 10 letters addressed
me from any one, concerning the manifold
questions that have of late gained footing in
our distracted country. But as l have frc-
quently had the same interrogatories propouu-
ded to me by others, and as your letter seems
to be dictated in a spirit of kindness, seeking
information only, | have concluded for the
present to waive my resolve and reply, giving
you permission to dispose of my answer as
you see fit.
You ask; F." Had the jurisdiction of the
crime committed by Brown and others been
surrendered to the Federal Government, and
Judgment thereon delayed until the 4th of
March next, would you (I) have exercised the
pardoning powerW | answer | have care
fully reviewed the testimony in said case, and
in my opinion Brown committed no offence
against the Federal Government meriting such
punishment as he received The most he
oil ,eI t1,o Nj
was gross misdcmcanor. Had have been
the Governor of your State might have pur-
sued the course he did. Yet even then there
were strong mitigating circumstances. Brown
was no doubt monomaniac on the sub
ject of negro slavery; and as such, close con-
finement would have been more in accordance
with the dictates of justice.
To your second, / reply in the negative, for
this reason said decision is hostile to the adj
vancement of Republican principles, and
therefore attended with danger in govern
mcnt like ours.
Hoping the above will prove satisfactory,
am, sir, your obtserv't,
A, LINCOLN.
SEIZURE OF GooDs by PoLIcE.-The fol-
lowing dispatches have passed between Senator
Toombs, of Georgia. and his Honor Mayor
Wood, relative to tho seizure of goods by the
police last week:
MIrLEDGEVILLE, Jan. "a, 1861.
To His Hoaor Mayor Wood:
Is it true that any arms intended for and
consigned to the State of Georgia have been
seized by public authorities in New York p
Your answer is important to us and to New
York. Answer at once. r. TooMBs
TO which the Mayor returned the following
Hon. Robert T0om6S
In reply to your dispatch, / regret to say
that arms intended for and consigned to the
State of Georgia have been seized by the po-
lice of this State-but that the City of New
York should in no way be made responsible
for the outrage.
AS Mayer, i have no authority over the po-
lice. If had the power, should summarily
punish the authors of this Illegal and uniusti-
fable seizure Of private property. -
FERNANDO WooD.
AN ORDNANCE CONCERNING PowERs
LATELY VESTED IN THE CONGRESS- OF THE
UNITED STATEs.-Wc, the people of the
State of South Carolina, in Convention as
scmblcd, do declare and ordain, and it is
hereby declared and ordained.
That all powers which, by this State, were
heretofore delegated to the Congress of the
United States, shall be vested in the General
Assembly, except that during the existence
of this Convention, the powers of the Gcncr-
al Assembly shall not extend, without the di
rcction of this Convention, to any of these
subjects, viz: D6tios and Inposts, The Pest
Office, the Declaration Of War Treaties, Con-
tedcraoy with other States. Citizenship and
Treason.
The. following is a list of the officers in
the navy now. in the United States appointed
from South Carolina who have not resigned
--Coptain w, b. Shubrick, Captain j. H.
Simonds, Commander Ii. K Hof, Command
erI j. S. Missroon, Commander Percival
Drayton, Commodore Charles Stecdman,
Commander E. Middleton, LioutenantC NJ.
Morris Lieutenant II, c. glagg, lieutenant
Maurice Simons, Paymastcr John Scott Gun.
nihghon,, Chaplain Chester Howell.
!. - ~ y HecroM
MISSISSIPPI TAKES HER Folf.---Thc fort
at Ship Island, Mississippi, some twelve miles
from Biloxi, was taken possession of, on Sun
daysthe 10th instant, by Capt Howard and
about fifty mon from Biloxi There were at
the, fort several United States officers and
.about fifty laborcrs, who offered no resstanee.
This is'the only fort in Mississippi. aud was
designed to be ono Of the strongest on tho
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