Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-01-09

IUE AuuefSJu. III TIE iGSe vi your ptSQRtSs
and without explanation or practical disa-
vowal. And there is nothing in the letter
which would or could have prevented you
from declining to withdraw the troops and
Offering the restoration of the status to which
you were pledged, if such had been your de-
sire. It would have been wiser and better,
in our opinion, to have Withdrawn the
troops; and this opinion we urged upon you,
but we demanded nothing but such an expla-
nation of the events OF the last twenty-four
hours as would restore our confidence in the
spirit with which the negotiations should be
conducted.
In relation ts this withdrawal of the troops
from the harbor, We are compelled, however,
to notice one passage of your letter. Refer
ring to it you say, "This cannot do. This
/ will not do. Such an idea was never thought
of by me in any possible contingency. No
allusion to it had ever been made in any
communication between myself aud any hu-
man being"
In reply to this statement we are ccm-
PEELED to say it, that your conversation with
us left upon our minds the distinct impress
sion that you did seriously contemplate the
withdrawal Of the troops from Charleston
harbor. And in support of this impression
we would add, that we have the positive as
surance of gentlemen of the highest possible
public reputation and the most nnsullied in
tegrity-men whose name and fame. secured
by long service and patriotic achievement.
place their testimony beyond cavil.-that
such suggestions had been made to and urged
upon You by them, and had formed the sub
| ject gilmore than one earnest discussion with
| you. And it was this knowledge that in
duced US to urge upon you policy which
| had, to recommend it, its own wisdom and
| the weight of such authority.
As to the second point, that the authorities
| of South Carolina, instead of asking expla-
| nations and giving you the opportunity to
vindicate yourself, took possession OF other
property of the United States we would OBJ
serve, first that even if this were so, it does
not avail you for def-uce, for the opportuni-
| ~ for decision was afforded you before these
| facts occurred. We arrived in Washington
| on Wednesday. The news from Major An
derson reached here early on Thur sday, and
was Immediately communicated TO you. ALI
| that day men of the highest considerat ion
men who had striven successfully to lift you
to your great office-whO had been your
tried and true friends through the troubles
of your Administration, sought you, and en-
treated you to act, to act at once.
They told you that every hour complica-
ted you position. They only asked you to
give the assurance that if the facts were So
that if the Commander had acted without aud
against your orders, aud in violation of your
pIedges-that you would restore the status
you had pledged your honor to maintain
You refused to decide. Your Secretary of
war-your immediate and proper adviser in
this whole matter waited anxiousiy for your
decision until he felt that delay was becom-
ing dishonor.
More than twelve hours passed, and two
Cabinet meetings had adjourned, before you
knew what the authorities of South Carolina
had done, and your prompt decision at any
moment of that time Ia ha dad RI,
subsequent complications. But if you had
known the acts of the authorities of South
Carolina, should that have prevented your
keeping your faith? What was the condition
OF things? For the last sixty days you have
had in Charleston harbor not force enough
TO 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 for the efforts of those
who put their 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 important for
tress. After many and reiterated assurance
es given on your behalf, which we cannot be-
leve unauthorized, they determined to for
bear, and in good faith sent on their Commits
you no harm wished you no ill. They
thought Of you kindly; believed you true:
and were willing, as far as was consistent
with duty, to spare you unnecessary and hos
tile collision. Scarcely had their Commits
sioners left, than Major Anderson waged
war. No other words will describe his ac-
ton.
II was not a peaceful change from one fort
to another; it was hostile act in the highest
sense, and only justified in the presence of a
superior enemy and in imminent peril. He
abandoned his position, spiked his guns, burn
ed his gun-carriages, made preparations for
the destruction of his post, and withdrew un-
der cover of the night to a safer position.
This was war. No man could have believed
(without your asSurauce) that any officer
could have taken such step, mot only with
out orders, but against orders" What the
State did was in simple self-defence; for this
act, with all its attending circumstances, was
as much war as firing a volley; and war be-
ing thus begun, until those commencing il
explained their action and disavowed their
intention, there was no room for delay, and
even at this moment, while we are writing
it is more than probable, from the tenor of
yodr letter, that re-intorcements are hurry
ing into the conflict, so that when the first gun
shall be fired, there will have been on your
part one continuous consistent series of ac-
TALLY warlike, supported By regular rein
forcements, aud terminating in defeat or vic
tory. And all this without the slightest pro-
vocation; for, among the many things which
you have said, there is one thing you cannot
say-you have waited anxiously for news
from the seat of war, in hopes that delay
would furnish some excuse for this precpi-
taton.
But this 'tangibIe evidence of a design to
hoe h. IL
authorities of South Carolina - which is the
only justification of Major Anderson. you are
forced to admit "has not yet been alleged"
But you have decided. You have resolved to
hold by force what you have obtained through
our misplaced confidence. and. by refusing to
disavOw the action of Major Anderson, have
converted his violation of orders into legit-
innate act of your Executive authority.
Be the issue what it may, of this we are
assured. that if Fort Moultrie has been re-
corded in history as memorial of Carolina
gallantry, Fort Sumter will live upon the
succeeding page as an imperishable testimo
ny of CarOliLa faith.
By your course you have probably render
ed civil war inevitable. Be it so. Ii you
choose to force this issue upon us the State
of South Caroliua will accept it, and relyin-
upon Him who is the God of Justice as well
as the God of Hosts, will endeavor to per-
form the great duty which lies before her.
hopefully, bravely and thoroughly.
Our mission being one for negotiation and
peace, and your note leaving US without
hope of withdrawal of the troops from
Fort Sumter, or of the restoration of the
status quo existing at the time of our arrival,
and intimating, as we think, your determine
tion to reinforce the garrison in the harbor
of Charleston, We respectfully inform you
that we purpose returning to Charleston to-
morrow afternoon.
We have the honor to be. sir. very respeet-