Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1861-02-13
coLHaxne,s Missions

The Charleston !Nerc1uy has the following
srecial dispatch from Washington, by which
it will be seen that cot only has the mission
of Col. Haync failed il itsprimary object, but
ut he moreover considers the Presidents
r,ply insulting in it1 tone:'
WasulSGros, February The Preslcen',
through Secretary Holt, replied Yesterday 10
HAYNES demand for the surrender OF Fort
Sumter.
The Secretary says that the proposal OF
South Carolina, as now presented, was Simply
an offer to buy Fort Sumter. Ihls posi'i"h'
he thinks, is sustained by the declaration, OH
the part of South Carolina, that 1t not per
,nitted to purchase, she will seize the tort 10y
!orce of arms. As an initiation OF ncSotia'
tions for the transfer of the property between
friendly governments, the proposal impresses
itself on the President rs having assumed
most unusual form He has, however, inveS'
tira,ed the claims, apart from the contingent
hostile declarations which accompany 1t. IL
may, says Mr.. Holt, be remarked that much
stress has been lai,! npan the employment OF
the words property" and "pulIic rrop.r:y
in his several messages. Thee are the most
,mprrhens;ve terms which can lie used lii
such 4 connection, and surely. whe', referring
to a fort OF other public establishment, they
embrace the entire and undivided interest o;
tie Government therein. The title Of the
United States TO Fort Sumte:is complete and
inconteSiible Were its interests purely pro
prietarv,' il. the ordinary accrptatlon oi the
term, it might probably be subjected to tue
exercise Of the right ui eminent domains but
!, las also political relations towards the tort
Of a much higher and more imposing cl.arac
ter than mere prupr:ctprsh:p. It thus absolute
Jurisdiction over the fort, and the suil on VI icl
i, stands. This Jurisdiction consists IN eX
elusive authority over the property referred to
aud is therefore clearly Incompatible with tn,
claims of eminent domain insisted on by Soutl
Carolina. This authority Was not derived
from any questionable or revolutionary source
bat from the peaceful cessiou Of South Caro-
linz. herself And she can no more assert tux
rirh; of eminent domain over Fort Sumte
now than Maryland can assert the same rish
over the Districto Of Columbia. The Prcsijen
can no more sell Fort Sumter 10 South Caro-
lima than he could sell and convey the CAPITA
OF the United States 10 Maryland.
The right to send forward reinforcement
when in tie judgment OF the freNlucnt, IN
80 etv OF the garrison requires tl1cnl, rests OF
The :a,ue unuuestiunable foundation as tn
right to occupy the forts.
In another part of his answer, Mr.. hoI
slys that Furt Sumter is now held by tn
Government Of the United States Tor the sam
objects Tor winch ut IT. has peeh neiu ever :ine
is completion These objects are natlona
and defensive, and were pnphc enemies NOV
to attempt The capture Oh onatle>s Ill., or s III III
asstruct.oa y! heI T. Stsn sn om,d Ia ha a,
OF t9e o".ie'.cs ,.,d.,;on y, @ Hnu, ,hs nrssen
e'leI iot lne. pos,va po,,,oa rr sncb shirt ri q
Sina'l garrison, a.:u"Iu ;I,' \ - ~ hp",
ta'S' ca" coni M Cn-,I;xs - hacnn,.
sns o'aio as ;.D;,s,;nM ~ T., b.r n.onle the pres
dont % !, -, a lnss to understand. The attitud
Of PRS