The Van Buren press., 1861-01-25
Correspondence between the Presi-
dent and the South Carolina Com
missioners.

missioners.
The South Carolina Commissioners have
gone home. and through their government
given publicity to the correspondence be-
tween themselves and the President. The
first lctte-, dated on the 29th of December
is from the Commissioners to the President,
in which they transmit q copy of their pow
ers, together with tho ordinance of seces-
sion passed by their state. They say that
it would have been their duty to have no :,
titled the President that they were ready to
negotiate. but the events of the last TWEEN
ty-fOur hours rneder such an assurance i'm
possible. They continue:
We came here representatives Of an
authority which could at any time within
the past sixty days, have taken possession
Of the forts in Charleston harbor. but which,
upon til, pledges given in manner that
we cannot doubt. determined to trust to
your honor rather than to its own power
Since our arrival here, an officer Of the
United States. acting, we are assured,
not only without. but against your order.
has dismantled one fort and occupied an :
other, thus altering. to a most important
extent. the condition of affairs under which
we came.
until these circumstances are explained
which relieves US of all donbt as to the
spirit in which these negotiations shall be
conducted, we are forced to suspend all dis
cussion as to any arrangement by which
our mutual interests might be amicably al J..
jast d and in conclusion we would urge
upon you the immediate withdrawal OF
troops from the harbor of Charleston, un.
der present circumstances. They are stand
ing menace which renders negotiation i'm
possible, and, as our recent experience
shows. threaten speedily to bring to a bloody
! issue questions which ought to be settled
with temperance and judgment"
The Presi lent replies ON the Both that he
cannot determine the relations between the
Government and South Carolina, nor rec
could therefore only treat with them as pri-
vate gentlemen. In referancs to the pledge
spoken Of he thus recapitulates the facts
''On Saturday. the 9th Of December, four
of the representatives. from South Carolina
called upon me and requested an interview.
We had an earnest conversation ON the
subject of these forts, and the best means
of preventing . collision between the par
ties. for the purpose of sparing an effusion
Of blood. suggested. for prudential rea-
sons. that it would be best to put in wiring
what they said to me verbally. They did
SO. Accordingly on Monday morning. the
10th inst. three of them presented to me a
paper signed by all the representatives from
South Carolina. with a single exception, ol
which the following is a copy:
" To HIS Erelleny James Buahanan
Prestdentof tie United States:
"In compliance with our statement to
You yesterday. we now express to you GU,
strong conv nvictions that, neither the consti-
tuted authorities. nor any body OF the peo-
pie of South Carolina, will attack Or mo-
lest the United States forts in the harbor oil
Charleston previously to the action of the
Convention. and. wa hope and believe. no,
until an offer has been ma !e, through ar
accredited representative. to negotiate for ar
amicable arrangement Of all matters be.
tween the State and the Federal Govern
ment, provided that no reinforcenents shall
be sent into those forts. and their relative
military status shall remain as at present
[Signed] LAWRENCE NJ. KErrT.
NJ L. BONHAM,
w. w. BOYCE,
JOHN MCQUEEN.
"WAsHNaroN. Dec, 9. 1860.
"And here mus:. in jnstire to myself
remark. that at the time the paper was pre-
sented TO me. i objected to the word pro
videi.' as i: might be construct into al
agreement on my part which never wouil
make. They said that nothing was further
| thn,. IN, rNb,,,
derstand it. and should not SO consider it
1t is evident that they could enter into nc
reciprocal agreement with me On the sub.
ject. They did not profess to have the au
thority to do this. and were acting in thcil
individual character. l considered it moth.
ing more in effect than the promise of highly
honorable gentlemen to exert their inhu
ence for the purpose expressed. Events
have proven that they have faithfully KEEP,
their promise. although have never since
received line from any one of them. OF
from any member of the Convention or
the snbject. 1t is we'll known that it wa.
my determination. and this l freely ex
pressed, not to reinforce the forts in tht
harbor. and thus prevent collision, until
had certain evidence that they were about
to be attacked. This paper received mos,
cordially. and considered it q happy omen
that peace might still be preserved, and tha
time might thus be given for reflection
This is the whole foundation for the alleged
pledge ON my part. but acted in the sam,
manner as would have done had entered
into positive and formrl agreement will
parties capable of contracting. although
such an agreement would have been on my
part. from the nature Of my official duties
impossible.
''rhe world knows that never sent any
reinforcement to Charleston harbor, and
have certainly never authorized any change
to be made in their relative military status.
The President then gives an order nan. +;
Secretary Floyd. on the l1th of December
to Major Anderson. in which the Secretary
Of War says. that to avoid difficulty. b
will send no reiaforcsmeat that Aajo
Anderson must be careful to do nothing u
provoke aggression. bat must hold the fort
tn tns last extremity it attacked. He fui
Ither remarks "rhe smailness Of you
force will not permit you. psrhAps. 70 oc
Icupy more than one of tho three forts. bu
an attack on, or attempt to take possessio
Iof either of them. will Be regarisd - an ae
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