Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1861-01-11
WAs,!yGrox Cry, December Splh, IS,

Gcnt'entrn II have had the han.,r TO rrc.;v.
your communication ni 2Slh instant, together
with c"pT of 'y"nr full powers uc ,hn Cnnvcn
ton o! the people of South Carolina" auiho,;z-
ing 3"u To LIrat with the Gov vcrn;ncmt Of the
United States on various important subjects
therein mentioned, aud also copy uf the Ord,
nance. bearing date on the 2Utu instant Leciur.
irg ;haI sihc Union uo.v S,.!sis,iuu bct.cr;,
South Carolina Cnd oiher States, un,ler The name
Of ae Cn't d States of Ameriya,' is hereby
dissolved.
In nhsws. TO This communication, lhavo to
sny ihnt my position, President Of the u;ted
States, was clcallv d-tin in :hc Messare to
Congress, On the 81 iisttsn,. In ihatI stated
that, "apaI, from The execution. Of the lnws 80
far this .r.y be practicable. Tie Exe.u,iy.
has 10 power 10 d"c''!" what shall be the rel.
tious between the Federal Government and
Somth Carolina. lie has been invested with 10
such DISCRETION lie possesses power t., c..un-c
the rrlut:"s EG:"lu.:ie c::..tinr bet ~ cen them
much less Ia ;cHn"wi.'ir- The i!ticnendvncc Of
,iat State. Tl'!S wonI! be to invest !, mere FIX.
ecWtivc officer with tie I'uw"r or recognizing
the dissu'u:i,.n Of the Confcturr.y ;mo.,. our
thirty three sovereign Stal.s I:h:nls ma rrsrm-
Glance 10 the recognition Of 1t foreign lie J;:cfu
(iuvrTn,u.ri. iuv,'!' IEa such rcSI":,ii,:,
Any stlen,J'. io ~ this would, on his part be 8,
naked act o! usurp",i,'r 1t is, therefore, my
duty 10 submit 10 Congress the whole question il
oil its bearings"
cuCu IS NY oIplNlOn Sil!. 1 could therefore
meet You only us private gentlemen ufs the
highest charnctep, and w rs entirnlr willing to
communicate to compreas any pru;,osi,ion YOU
might have to make TO dat body upon the sub
Ject or this YOU were well aware. II was nv
earn est desire that such disposition might be
made Of tho whole subject by Congress, who
alone possess the power us TO prevent the inau
gurat:on of ii civil war between the parties in
regard 10 the possession Of the Federal forts in
the harbor of Charleston; and therefore deeply
regret that, III your opinion, " the events of the
last twenty four hours render this impossible"
lu' conclusion you urge upon me '.the imme-
diate withdrawal of the troops from the harbor
Fof Charleston," stating that under preseitscir-
cumstaaTces they nre standing menace which
renders hegotiation impossible, and as our recent
experience shows, threatens speedily to bring to
bloody issue questions which ought to be SET
tied with temperance and judgment" ,.a
The reason for this change in your position is,
that since Your nrrivalin Wusl'inglon, Gun off,
fer Of the United States, acting as we (you) are
assured, not only without, but sgainst, YOUR
Fmy) orders has disu,antled- one fort aud occu-
pied another, thus altering TO most i'm poriapt
extent the condition. ct affairs under which We
(you) came" You also allege that you came
here the representatives of nj authority which
could ut any time within the past sixty days
have taken possession ofthe forts in Charleston
harbor, but, upon pledges given in n manner thar
we (you; cannotdonbt, determined 10 trust to
your (my honor rather than than to its power. -
: This brlngs met consideration Of The nature
OF uss!sallesed pledges and IN what manner
they liass been observed. InImy Message Of tue
SO OF December last stated in regard to.the
prey rty of the Uuited States in Sonlh Cato'ina,
that it '' hus been purchased for a fair equvalent
hy The co,rsent of lbe Legislature Of the State
for the.ereciioD Of forts, magazines, arsclfnls
&C., and over these the authority to exercise ex-
elusive legislation has been expressly granted by
the Constitution TO Congress. 1t is not believed
that. any attenp will be made 10 sxpel life Uni
ted states fioma this property by force but If
lin this slnuld4 should prove toBd mstaEen,
the officer in command Of tbs forts lias fscaive6
orders TO act Strictly on the defensive. In n,,ch
contingency, tle responsibility for ar conssss
quenceh ouldIightfuily resi- upon the heads OF
The essailaats. "{,1 ..;.tt =, .;.a
This being tkseondilien OF lkspar.ies, OH Sat-
nrday. 9th Btcember, foun;of the Representa-
tiyeAjrom SonA Garolisa called on ME, ai,dsr
yersation; oh thsi Ijes, Of these foris, nnd The
Iestmeans Of preventing a collision bsiweer tf,e
parties, fofthe purpose of spsring the effuson of
Hood suggested, fo. pfa iaI sasoits, thai
=. wonld be best to put 10 wsitipg What 9tbsy
ss.d to ne verbally. They did 80 saeebr brdingly,
ead on Nonday ;norTfng :tHs 10Th instant, tfifee
the Reprsssh shtaiiyAs pf Sepths Oaroli1s, with q
siegis xceplion. Sc which ibs following d 3
iist. gFa R5 ~, s al gFssss
g ~ flis lanes aBselaaas, IS, x
If 81 ssi,i s. q rssidsas H,alSd Stass ~
ID eon9plisgcs Will our sta ttnfsstt to YOU Yes.
teggsyi We n6ss Akrfsts tfo on strong don.
sictioh simeillses tsis eo1sts setsd aathenties
ssoss ssssa snedy ~ alse Reopls ol the State
Gnissd 1G M sssk s, g
We llSta - ~ !Snia ~ s5S