Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1861-01-09
THE MULTIPLICATION OF 1882.

The Philadelphia Inquirer gives the
following brief history of South COrolina
Notification in 1882, which will be Of in
terest and service to many at this time,
who are not familiar with the facts
In the fall Of 1882, Convention Of the
people of South Corolina was called. to
consider a proposition to nullify certain
revenue laws of the general government,
then in force. This Convention met in
November, and on or about the twenty
second of that month, passed an ordinance
of notification, which menanced disunion
in the event of an attempt being made to
enforce the Objectionable laws. In the
maantime the State militia was organized
for active service, and rumOrs were rife
that the national fcrti6catiOns in the har-
Dor would be attacked. 1t was to meet
this condition of affairs, but at once dis
charging duty and taking the most effect
zee means of preventing collision, that
General Jaekson's Administration adopted
the precautionary measures which we now
recitc.
On the 29th of October, 1882, nearly
one month before the meeting of the South
Carolina Convention. Major Helleman was
warned to guard against surprise, to make
personal visits to the commanding officers
of all the forts, and to repel an attack at
every hazard. On the 9th of November
he was strengthened BY dispatching CON-
pany B. of the Fourth ARTILLERY. to his
assistance. Twelve days after this, but
still before the ordinance of notification
was past, Gen. Scott was ordered to Charles
ton, to examine the fOrtifcations, strength
en- the defences, and reiRforce tie garrisons.
according to his judgment. In his In
structions to General Scott, the Secretary
of War General Cass) informed him that
it was apprehended that rash attempt
might be made by individuals to take the
forts in the harbOr of Charleston and that
"the probability IF such a measure fi,r-
niShed sufficient reason for guarding
against It, !"
Such was the opinion Of General CassI
in 1882. and the attempt by correspondents
at Washington to make it appear that his
present course is different from what it
was then, is, of course. EELl.cSiniy untrue
On the 4th Of December. Just g;,er the
Con:r.enti had nullifed the law. and
placed the State of South Carolina in a
state of quasi hostility te the General Gov
srnment. four additional companies Of artil-
lery, from the Third and Fourth Regiments,
were ordered to Fort Moultrie Three
days after this, on the 7th of December,
another company of artillery from the First
Regiment, was sent to reinforce the garri-
son Of the same fort From this it will
be seen that, in addition to the usual force
in charge Of the fortiGcations at Charleston,
six full companies of artillery were added,
and they took with them cannon equip
ments and fifty rounds of ammunition for
each gun.
Such was the style in which the Presi-
dent of that day enabled his soldiers to
obey his orders to defend the public prop
erty. On the 18th of December, the ships
of-war Experiment and Natchez with Com.
Elliott, were ordered to Charleston.
The first day of FEBRUARY, 1888. being
the day fixed in the ordinance for resisting
the execution Of the laws of the United
States, General Scott was ordered, on the
24th of January, to be in Charleston on
the 3lst On the 26th. orders were issued
requiring every officer of the garrisOns at
Charleston to sign the articles of war; and
to take oath to support the authorities of
of the United States. General Cass. on
the same day. renewed his instructions to
General Scott, and approved the plan of
proceeding suggested by the latter in case
of an attack. General Scott had instruct
ed Colonel Bankhead. who was now in
command at Fort Moultrie. that if any
party of men approached the fort he should
warn them to retire, and advise them of
the consequences if they did not. If the
party still persisted in advancing. he was
then to resist. (Which means to fire. and
he would be justified.
These masterly and comprehensive meas
ures of defence not only placed the officers
in command of the fortresses at Charleston
in position 10 repel an attack on them.
but the. were such as to repel all purpose
to attack them.