The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-01-16
,en, having made this request for expla.

hen, having made this request for expla-
nation, we added, "And, in conclusion,
We would urge upon you the immediate
Of the troops from the bar.
Dor Of Charleston. Under present cir
they are a standing menace
which reuders negotiation impossible"
&c. "Undsr present circumstances !"
What circumstsnces3 Why, CLEARLY,
the occupation of Fort Sumter and the dis.
manting Of Fort Moultrie by Major An.
dsrson, in tho face of your pledges, and
without explanation or practical disavowal.
And there is nothing in the letter which
would or could have prevented you from
declining 10 withdraw the troops aud Offer
ing the restoration Of the status TO which
you were pledged, If such had beon your
desire. 1t would have been wiser and bet
ter, in our opinion, TO have Withdrawn the
troops and this opinion we urged upon
you, but we demanded nothing but such an
explanation of the eAents Of the last twen-
ty-four hours as would restore our conf.
dencs in the spirit with which the negotis,
tions should be conducted.
In relation 10 this withdra vel Of tho
troops from the harbor, we are compelled,
however, to notice one passage OF our let.
ter. Referring TO il you say, This can
not do. This will not do. Such an idea
was never thought of by me in any possi.
BILE contingency. No alluson to it had ever
bsen made IN any communication between
myself and any human being"
In reply to this statement We are com
PEELED to say it, that your conversation with
Us left upon our minds :hs distinct impres.
sion that you did seriously contemplate the
withdrawal of tho troops from Charleston
hafbor. And in support of this impression
we would add, that we have the positive
assurance OF gentlemen OF the b ighest pos.
sibls public reputation and the most unsul-
lied intsgrity-men whose name aud fame,
secured by long service and patriotic IL
chievemsnt, place their testimony beyond
cavil-that s!ich suggestions had been made
70 and urged npoo you by them, and had
formed the subject of more than one ear.
nest discussion with you. And it was this
knowledge that induced us to urge upon
you policy whic h had to recommend it it's
own wisdom and the weight of such au.
thorty.
AS to tho second point, that the uuthori.
ties Of South Carolina, instead of nsking
explanations and giving you the opportuni-
ty to vindicate yourself, took possession of
other property Of the United Stntes, we
would observe, first, that even if this were
so, it does not avail you for defence, for the
opportunity for decision was afforded you
before these facts occurred. We arrived
in Washington on Wednesday. The news
from Mnjor Anderson reached here early
on Thursday, and was Immediately comnu-
nicated TO you. All that day men of the
highest consideration-men who had stri.
ven successfully to lift you 10 your great
offce-who had been ysur tried and true
friends through the troubles Of your Ad-
ministration, sought you, and ,ntrsated you
to act, to act at once.
They told you that every hour compIica.
ted your position. Th6y only asked you
to give the assurance that if the facts were
so-that if the Commander had acted with.
out and against your orders, and in viola
tion Of your pledges-thnt you would re.
store tho status yoa had pledged your hon.
or to maintain. You refused to decide
Your Secretary of War-your immediate
and proper adviser in this whole matter
waited nnxiousiy for your decision until hs
felt that delay was becoming 1ishonor.
More than Twelve hours passed, and two
Cabinet meetings had adjourned, before
you knoY what the authorities Of South
CaroliIa had dope, aud your prompt dccs-
ion at any moment of that time would have
avoided the subsequent complications. But
If you had known The acts of the authori-
ties of South Carolinn, should that have
prevented your keeping your faith What
was the condition of thingsa For the last
six:y days you have had in Charleston har.
Dor not force enough 10 hold the. forts
against AN equal enemy. Two Of them
were empty; one of those, too, the most
important in the harbor. 1t could have
been taken at any time. You ought to
know better than any man that it would
have been taken but foi the efforts of tho,s
who put th j. trust in your honor.
Believing that they were threatened by
Fort Sumter especially, the people were
with difficulty restrained from securing.
without blood, the possession Of this i'm
portant fortreIs. After many and reitera-
ted assurances given on your behalf, which
we cannot believe unauthorized, they de-
termined TO forbear, and in good faith sent
on their Commissioners to negotiate with
you. They meant you no harm wished
you no i'll. They thought Of you kindly
believed you true /; and were willing. no
far as was consistent with dut :. to spare
you unnecessary and hostile collision
SoCufc0Iy ndu tutlr SOunl66lOnerb Iott, Than
Major Anderson wagcd war. No other
words will describe his action.
1t was not peaceful change ffom ono
fort TO another; it was hostile act in the
highest sense, and only justified in the pres
snce of a superior enemy and in imminent
peril. He abandoned his position, spiked
bis guns, burned his gun.carrisges, made
for the destruction of his post
and Withdrew under cover Of the night 10
safer position. This was war. No man
could hnye belived (wi:hout your assnrancs)
that any officer could have taken such a
step, "not only without orders, but against
orders" What the State did was In simple
self defence; for this act, with oil its alton
ding circumstances, was a. much war ss
firing 'voiiey and, war being thus begun,
until those commencing it explained their
action and disavowod 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 Of your let.
ter, that Teinforcements arc hurrying int
the conflict, 10 that when the first gun
shall be fired, there will have been on your