Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1861-01-16
CORRESPONDENCE!
BETWEEN THE
President Of the United States,
AND THE
commissioners Of South Carolina,

The following correspondence was read in
secret session, and from which the injunction
OF secresy was removed.
WASHINGTON, December %, 1859.
Su:-We have the honor to transmit to
you copy of the full powers from the Con-
yention of the people Of South Carolina, uu-
der which we arc authorized and empow-
cred to treat with the Government Of the
United States for the delivery Of the forts
magazines, lighthouses, ana other real estate
with their appurtenancas, within she limits OF
South Carolina, and also for an apportionment
of the public debt and fur division Of all the
property held BY the Government Of the Uni
ted States, as agent Of the Contederated States,
Cf which South Carolina was recently men,
Der, and generally to negotiate as to all other
measures and arrangements proper to be made
and adopted in the existing relation OF the
parties, and for the continuance Of peace and
amity between this Commonwealth and the
Government at Washington"
In the execution of this trust, it is our duty
to furnish you, as We now do, with an official
copy Of the Ordinance OF Secession, by which
the State Of South Carolina has resumed the
powers she delegated to the Government Of
the United States, and Las declared her per-
feet sovereignty and independence
1t would also have been our duty to hare
informed you that we were ready to negoc;-
ate with you upon all such questions as are
necessarily raised by the adoption Of this
Ordinance, and that we were prepared to cn-
ter upon this negotiation with the earne>t
desire to avoid all unnecessary and hostile
collisions, and 80 TO i,Iaugurate our new rcla-
tions as TO secure mutual respect, general ad-
vantage, and a future Of guol will and har-
mony, beneficial to all the parties concerned.
But the events of the last twenty four hours
render such an assurance impossible. We
came here the representatives of an authority,
which could at any time within the past sixty
days have taken possession of the forts in
Charleston harbor, but upon pledges given in
6 manner that VIC cannot doubt, determined
to trust to your honor rather than to its own
power. Since our arrival an officer Of tic
United States acting, as We are assured, not
only without, bu. against your orders, has
diSmantled one fort and occupied another,
thus altering to most important extent the
condition Of affairs under which, VIC csme.
UnLlI tHc>c circumstance" arc cStllallcu III
y manner which relieves us Of all doubt lis to
,Ile.spirt in which these negotiations shall
bc conducted, we are forced to suspend all
discussion as to any arrangement, by which
cur mutual interests might be amicably al
jistea.
And, in conclusions, we would urge upon
YOU the Immediate withdrawal Of the troops
from the harbor Of Charleston. UnI"r pre-
sent circumstances they are standing me.
mace which renders negotiation impossible,
aml: 30 our recent experience Sl,ows: ..!::ca..
rn. speedily to bring to bloody issue qucs-
tions which ought TO DE settled with temper
ance and judgment.
We have the honor to be,
Very respectfully,
Your ohedicut servants,
r. w. BARNWELL, }
j. II. ADAMS, Commissioners.
JAMES l.. ORR,
10 the President of the United States.