The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1861-05-10


Justice nor to do any act 10 iniure their
late confederates.
To this communication no formal reply
was received until the Sth Of April. Dur
ing the interval the Commis sioners had
consented 70 waive al questions Of form.
with the, firm resolve 70 avoid war If pos
sihle: they went 20 fr even a. to hold,
during that long period. unofficial inter
course through an intermediary, whose
high position and character inspired the
hope Of succcss. and through whom con-
slant assurances we're received from the
Government % the United States. Of
peaceful intentions. az its determination 4
70 evacuatc Fort sumter; and. further /
that no measure changing the existing /
status preiudicially to the Confederate
States was contemplated that in event /
OF any change in regard to Fort Pickens, /
notice would be given to the Commits
sioners.
The crooked paths Of diplomacy can
scarcely furnish an example so wanting in l
courtesy. in candor, and directness, a. /
was the course of the United States Gov |
eminent towards our COMMISSIONERS in |
Washington. For proof Of this I refer 10 |
the annexed documents marked -,
taken in connection with further facts, |
which now proceed to relate.
Early in April the attention OF the |
whole country, as well as that Of our Com
misiOners, was attracted to extraordinary
preparations for an extensive military and
/ naval expedition Ia New York and other
Northern ports. These preparations, com
menced in secrecy, for an expedition
whose destination was concealed, only be
/ came known when nearly completed. and
| on the 5th, 9th ana eth April, transports
and vessels Of War, with troops, mum
tons and military supplies, sailed from
Northern ports bound SOuthward.-
Alarmed by so extraordinary demonstra-
ton the Commissioners requested the de-
/ livery Of an answer 10 their official
1 communication OF the 18th Of March, and
thereupon received, on the sth April. a
reply dated on the 18th of the previous
month, from which it appears that during
the whole interval, which the Commis-
sioners receiving assurances, calculated to
inspire hope Of the success Of their mi
sion, the Secretary Of State and the Presi-
dent Of the United States had already de-
termined tohold no intercourse with them
whatever to refuse even to listen to any
proposals they bad to make, and had
prohted by the delay created by their own
assurances, in order to prepare secretly
the means effective hostile operations.
That these assurances were given has
been virauallv confessed by the Govern
ment of the United States, by its sending
a messenger to Charleston, 70 give notice
Of its purpose to use force, if opposed in
its intention Of supplying Fort sumter
No more striking proof Of the absence OF
good faith in the conduct of the Govern
ment OF the United States towards this
Confectionery can be required, than Is con
tanned in the circumstances which accom-
, panied this notice According to the
usual course Of navigation, the vessels
composing the expedition designed tor the
, relief Of Fort Sumter, might be expected
! TO reach Charleston haFbOr on the 9th Of
: April vet with our Commissioners &C
tually 10 Washington, detained under
( assurances that notice shouldbe given OF
! any military movement, the notice was not
{ addressed to them. but q messenger wa
sent to Charleston to give the notice to
! the Government Of South Carolina, and
D the notice was 80 given at a late hour on
= the Sth Of April the eve OF the very day
on which the feet might be expected {"
: arrive. That this manUvere failed in IT.
a purpose was not the fault Of those who
o contrived it. A heavy tempest delayed
y ]
j. time to the commander Of our forces a.
= Charleston to ak and receive the instruc
J. lions Of the Government. Even then.
= under all the provocation incident TO the
I contempiuous refusal 10 listeh q our
Commissioners. and the torfurous cours.
e Of the Government Of the United State
was sincerely anxious 20 avoid the efiu
n sion Of blood, and directed a proposal g.
d be made 10 the commander Of Fort Sum
n ter. who had avowed himself 10 be nearly
,i out of provisions that we would abstain
from directing our lire on Fort sumter, ]
n he would promise not 10 opeA fire on oul
II forces unless first attacked. The pro
4 rosal was refused and the conclusion wa
q reached. that the design Of the UniteC
e States was 10 place The beseiging force a
4 I Charleston between the simultaneous FIR
.e Of the feet and the fort. There remain
ed. therefore. no Alternative out to direc
IL that the fort should at once be reduced
n This order was executed by Gen. Beaura
e gard. with the skill and success whicl
Of were naturally to be expected from th
n well known character OF that gillan
Is officer and although the bombardnen
Il lasted but thirtv.t three hours, our flag al,
q not wave over it, battered walls until afte
10 the appearance Of the hostile heet OF
10 lost on our side, and we were gratiied il
v. being spared the necessity Of a useles
1t eifusion Of blood by the prudent caution
a of the officers who commanded the fleet
n in abstaiping from the evidently fulfil
Ie effort to enter the harbor FOR the relief o
h Major Anderson. ! refer to the repor
10 Of the Secretary Of War aud the paper
.e which accompany Il. for further details o
II this brilliant affair.
!. In this connection cannot refrain from
10 a well deserved tribute 10 the noble state
., the eminent sOldiery qualities Of who's
n people we're 80 conspiciously displayed il
h the port Of Charleston. For months the
had been irritated by the spectacle Of
d fortress held within their principal hmboi
IS as q standing menace against their peac
a. and Independence Built in part wit
"a their own money. its custody conide
j. with their own consent 10 an agent VIII
r. held no power over them other than sue
Il az they themselves delegated for theirow
" protection against foreign attack, theysa'
IL il held with persistent tenacity as a mean
of offence against them by the very GOV
n eminent which thew had established e
n their protection. They had beleagured
70 for mOfths-felt entire confidence in the
Of power to capture it-yet yielded to "a
e8 ! requirements OF NlaNAflA ANAA~N AA1
II impatience. submitted without complain
le to the unaccustomed hardships, labo
in and privations of a protraoted siege an
Ir. when at length their patience was rewar
y. ed by the signal for attack, and succe
70 had crowded their steady and gallant CO
Tor duct-even in the very moment OF &
IN umph they evinced a ohiyalrous regard {
le- | the feelings Of the brave but unfcrtuna
ad officer who had been compelled to low
ey his flag All manifestations Of exultati,
I'D were checked in his presence. The
he commanding general with their cord
iii approval and the consent Of his Cover
lev ment, RETAINED from imposing any teri
ng that could wound the sensibilities Of q
On commander Of the fort. He was perm
ec- ted TO retire with the honors o. war
Pm. salute his flag 10 depart freely with all
RIM command. and was escorted to the Tess
BY in which he embarked. with the highe
I'VE marks Of respect from those against who
he his guns had been 20 recently directed
nj Not only does every event connected wi
en- the siege reflect the highest honor
Of South Carolina. but the forbearance Of h
ew people and Of this government fro
he making any harsh use Of a victory obtai
I've ed under circumstances o. such pecuh
ng provocation, attest 10 the fullest exte
le the absence OF any purpose beyond {
ac- curing their own tranquility, and the 81
ip- cere desire b avoid the calamities Of va
ed Scarcely had the President Of tho U
er- ted States received intelligence Of q
ed failure Of tho scheme which he had d
Z q vised for the reinforcement Of Fort SUI
an ter. when he issued the declaration
war against this Confederaey, which h
NY prompted me 70 convoze you. In II
he extraordinary production that high fun
len tionary affects total Ignorance Of the e
ap- istence OF an Independent GOyernmer
he which, possessing the entire and enthu
ee- astic devotion Of lie people, is exercisii
~, is functions without question over sew,
ity sovereign States-over more than n
millions Of people-and over q terrific
ATTY whose area exceeds half million
Of square miles. II terms sovereign Stat
on combinations, too powerful 10 be su
re- pressed BY the ordinary course Of iudic
Of proceedings, or BY the powers vested
ne the marshals BY law. He calls for an arm
led Of seventy five thousand men 20 act as
ce- "poasc comitafas" in aid Of the process
he the courts Of justice in States, where
lhe courts exist whose mandates and deere
We are not cheerfully obeyed and respect,
Of By a willing people. He avows that I'll
ea- first service Be- assigned 10 the forces ca
i - ill -. g.s.f a., n,.r..sfa H.