Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-01-18
Glre gree pteas
LINGTON:
FRIDAY MORNING, JANUARY IS, 1861.
PRESIDENT BUCHANAN AND THE
sc. COMMISSIONERS.
b U LING TON:

PRESIDENT BUCHANAN AND THE
sc. COMMISSIONERS
The communications which passed between
the South Carolina Commissioners and the
! President are published, and strange docu-
ments they are too. The Commissioners,
Messrs. r. W Barnwell j. II. Adams, and
Jas. L. Orr, begin by announcing that they
came on to treat with him, on the part of the
Commonwealth of South Carolina for the
delivery over to that government of the forts,
magazines, lighthouses, and other real es-
tate heretofore held by the U. s. Govern
ment within the boundaries of the State
aforesaid, and to make whatever arrange
ments may be necessary for the future con-
venience Of the two governments, &c.
But to their surprise, theyilearn that Maj.
Anderson has left Fort Moultrie and gone to
Fort Sumter They give the President to
understand very distinctly, that the forts of
the harbor could have been taken easily any
time within the last sixty days, and would
have been if it had not been supposed that
they, (the S. c. authorities) had his pledges
that nothingof the sort would be done. But
that act-Major Anderson's removal TO Fort
Sumpter-has put such a new aspect on af-
fairs, that they must have a satisfactory
explanation before they can 90 on with the
contemplated negotiation, and they conclude
their first missive by urging the President to
withdraw without delay the T. ). troops
from Charleston Harbor, to prevent bloody
consequences.
A modest document, truly, to be presented
to the President Of the United States The
gentlemen aforesaid may thank their stars
that Andrew jackson or Zachary Taylor was
not occupying the Presidential Chair at the
time. Either Of them would have ordered
the instant arrest Of Messrs. Barnwell, Adams
and Orr, as engaged in reasonable practices
against the L S. Government.
The President in his reply rccounts what
he said on the subject of secession in his |
Message to Congress, and tells them that in
accordance Herewith, he can recognize
them only as citizens of South Carolina
In reference to the pledges on his part, said |
or implied by them to have been made, that
there should be no change in the [. S,torces
IN Charleston harbor, he denies that he made |
any.
lie says be had long talk with four S
Carolina representatives, Dec. 8 and that on
the 10th Of December, at his request they
gave a written declaration, (Which he |
quotes) the purport of which is that they
were very sure there would be no attack on
the forts. previous to the meeting of the Con-
venton, and they believed not TIL an offer
for negotiation and arrangement had been
made, provided that no reinlorcements
shall be sent into those forts, and their mill
tary status shall remain cs at present. He
says he objected to the word "proyided''
because it might be construed into an agree
ment on his part, which he did not
intend to make, and "never would make
They said they did not SO understand it. lie
found out on the 2lst, that an order had
been issued to Maj Anderson by the Sec. of
War on the llth, (Which he quotes) from
which he says it is plain that maj. Ander-
son acted on his own responsibility, unless,
indeed he had tangible evidence of a design
to proceed to a hostile act on the part of
the authorities of South Carolina" and as
he was an honorable officer, he ought to be
heard before he was judged.
The President admits that his d" first
were TO command him to return
to his former position :" but the seizing of
Forts Moultrie and Pinckney, the Custom
House and Post Office, the Arsenal, contain
ing munitions of war belonging to the United
States, 4" worth half million Of dollars
&c, had put matters in such case that he
had no line of duty left him but to defend
Fort Sumter against all attacks.
1t seems to us that this elaborate discussion
is in many points very discreditable to the
President of the United States; but as he
says he inlR not lCithdrd,o the troops, and ,ciH
defend the Fort, he shall have credit for SO
much, at any rate.
The reply of the s. c. Commissioners is
long, and highly impudent in both matter
and manner. If the O. P. F. was follow
er of ''the CODE as duelists term it, he
might find reason enough for challenging
them for it. On one or two points they push
him bard however-eSpecially when they
charge home upon him his persevering re-
fusal to allow anything to be done to make
the position of Fort Moultrie more secure,
although the officer there in command ap-
piled for help-his accepting the resignation
Of Sec. Cass rather than reinforce that
place, and his compelling "an officer (Col.
Gardiner, we suppose,) stationed at Fort
Sumter, to return Immediately to the arsenal
forty muskets which he had taken to arm
his men, all showing, they say, that he
understood clearly that the status of the forts
was not to be changed, &c. They tell him
that probably he has made civil war lnevlta-
BILE and he must bear the responsibility and
20 they bid him good bye.
This impudent paper. endorsed as follows
EXECUTIVE MANSION, 3 O'Clock.
"This paper, just presented to the Presi-
lent, is of such a character that he declines J