Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1861-01-18

| Of honor must consider breacl, of faith,
| The very fact that we (he representatives
| fro South Carolina) were not authorized to
| commit or ''pl,.ge" the State. were not trena.
! ing with the President accredited ministers
with full powers, but ao gentlemen assuming
10 q certain extent the helicnte task Of under.
! taking t" i"rcshaaow the course and policy of
the state. should have made the President the
more ready 10 strengthen our hands to .,rinp
| about and larry out that course and policy
! wh:rh he prot*.$cl 10 have l;Iuc', at hea rt
| as We had. While were rot authorized to
say that the Convent ion would not order the
Occupation Of the forts Immediately after seces.
si'n, anl prior to the sending on of the Com.
missi"nrrs. the President, as Commander. III
Chief Of The Army and Navy of the United
| States, could most positively say that. so long
~ South Carolina abstancl from nttackin,,
and sc'zing he f"rts, he would not send rein
i"rc"mcn's to them, or allow their relative mill.
tnry status to be changed. We were acting in,
The -I:a pacuy of gentlemen holding certain pro-
minent positions, and anxious to exert such in.
tluence "a, we E,ight possess to effect IL peaceful
solution oi reE'llng political difficulties and,
pi"ve'.t ii IrrssIhle, the horrors Of war.
The President was acting in double capaci-
!v; not only ~ Il gentlemen, whose influenza.
| in carrying out his share Of the understand
ing ar ngrce,nrnt was potential. but ns the
/ head of ;hc army. nnd therefore, ing tho
| absolute control of The whole matter of rein.
/ ioIciHG or me EnfriSON ut Char
lesion. But we have dwc:tl"ng enough upun
! this point. Suffice il to say, that considering
the President rs bound in honor if not by
! treaty stipulation, not to make any change in
| the forts, 10 send reinfercememts to them
| nnl-s. they we've ntta"ked we Of the delega-
ton who c,eclel to the Convention felt
| equally honnl in honor 10 DO everything on,
oar part TO Irevcn: any premature collisions.
This Convention cnn bear us witness as To-
whether or no. we endeavored honorably to-
, carry ont "i!r share "l the agresIeBa.
The publish ed debates at The very commence
mrnt-"t the session contain the evidence vf our
good faith. We trusted the President We
believed his wishes concurrcd with ais policv
! Il: d that both were ,iir,r { ii to avoid any in
au. urn'i ION of h"siiiitrs. We We're confirmed
III onr cn::tileacr, and rc assn, cd in oxr belief
hy 81 significant event which tock place subse-
EqGr:' 70 oar interview. He allowed his pre-
nirr C;.i,nc, oaicrrrnn old nnl tried friend, to-
r"s:-n rather lhun yi.id to his solicitations fog
the reinforcement Of the garrison II. Charleston.
W: urged this as convincing roof of.!:is firm-
ness and sincerity, But how have We been de-
ccycd! II
The news Of Mujor Anderson's coup pro-
tlucei sudden and 'unexpecle ed change in the
Presidents policy. While declaring that bis
| withdra wal from Fort MuultrIe to Fort Sumter
was "without orders, and contrary to ORDERS"
he yet refused, for twelve hours, 10 Take any
action in the matter For twelve hours, there.
fore, without any excuse. lie refused to redeem
his plightrd word. No subsequent acts on the
part OF our State--no after reasons-can wipe
away the stain which he suffered to rest upon
h is "honor as q gentlsman," while those hours,
big With portrntous events. rolled slowly by.
Ills Secretary of War, impatient of delay
every, m.mcnt Of which he felt touched his
own ronor, resigned. He did so solely on the
ground thai the faith Of the Government
solemnly plclgci-was broken. if it failed
promptly to undo what had been done contrary
to its wises-agDinst its settled pOlicy-and
in violation of.its DISTINCT agreement. The
President accepted his resignation without com.
ment. He did not attempt to disabuse tha
mind Of his Secretary as to what was the true
position Of the Government. What a srec--
taclc. does the Presidents vaciluting and dis
ingenious course PRESENT. He allows ouS
Secretary t" resign rather than aband0Aya
policy which he has agreed upon s
Scarcely haye few short weeks elapsed,
and he accepts the resignation Of another.
rather than adhere t6'that ve,y policy. He;
,makes an agreement with gentl.men, which,
while he admits that they have faithfully keptit
on their part he himself evades and repudiates
And this lie does rather than redress a v roup
correct an error-what he himself considers
an error-cumn,itted by n subordinate, without
has orders. and deontrafy to his wishesi
1t was at least due to Mr. Floyd, who. as
one OF his Cabidet, had officially and person
any stood hy his Administration form it's very.
O. m'nencemebt through good report and
through evil reporss,o have explained to him
that he was, in the -President's opinion, labor:
ing under misapprehension. At least, 10
have said to him, you are mistaken Ab out this
nofsenvc me on a false issue" But
no; lie co]dIY, ungraeiously, Yet proraptly.re-
ceivcs the 'fesiaaatisn wi,lront . syiis6ls cf
and thus tactily. bat unequiyo-
calfy accepts without shame the issue pre;eny
ted. He doesnpt deny that the fifth Of tiS
government is pledged, but he deliberately rs:s
fuses to redeem it. S+ - itae.s,SS
" -. .s. VIM. PORCuER MILEssas
LAURENCE M. KEf1Es.,s.