The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-01-11

lature in favor Of the prompt secession Of Vir.
giuia. II Is reported that the Governor, i'm
his message, win favor Central Confederacy.
RICHMOND. Va, Jan. Lex. Governor Wis,
publishes long letter advocating State Con-
yention, the resumption by the State OF All the
powers delegated 10 the Federal Government.
possession OF the forts, &C., and not 10 deciaye
herself out ofthe Union, but suspend relations
with all offending States.
NoRroLK, Va, Jan. Ia meeting VA. h,,a
In this city Saturday evening which hyorsd
secession, the arming Of the state, and denounc-
Ing coercion
Ball Cartridges ordered by .Missi,uppi,
JACKSON, Miss, Jan. THE Governor Ia.
ordered the artillery TO prepare ball cartridge
The delegates to the convention are unanimous
for secession.
A caucus Of the delegates 10 the convention
adopted resolution requesting the Pr.sdent
Of the convention to dram q secession ordinance.
The .hi.issippt Secession Conreaiion,
JACKSON, Miss, Jan. T. The Convention Or
CANNED to-day. A resolution was adopted
that the President appoint q committee to draw
mp an ordinance Of secession. The committee
will be announced Tomorrow. Adjourned.
alabama Secession Conrtniion.
MONTGOMERY, Ala, Jan. The Convention
met Mt noon. Delegates from all the counties
were present VIM. H.. Brooks was slscied
President.
The Result In Georgia.
AuousrA, Ga, Jan. 7.-Seyenty counties
are for imm siiate secession, twenty nine for
co operation, and five are divided.
Correspondence bdiryn the South Carplina
Com nissioasrs and the President.
NEW York, Jan. THE correspondence
between the South Carolina Commissioners
and the President is printed in the Charles
ton papers Of tho 5th, and received here by
steamer Columbia tonight.
The Commissioner first letter sets forth
that they have full powers to treat for tho
delivery Of the forts and other public prop
erty, and also for the apportionment Of tho
public debt, and division Of the public prop
erty, and for the continuance Of peace.
They are furnished with nm Official copy Of
the secession ordinance, and were prepared
to negotiate OF the bass Of that ordinance,
but the action Of Major Anderson altered tho
condition Of affairs under which they came,
and they urged the President to immediate
ly withdraw the troops from the harbor ut
Charleston, rs such u standing menace rem
dered negotiation impossible. Tho letter 10
signed By Barnwell, Adams, and Orr.
In reply the President reitemtes what hn.
aid in his message, and says that he can
meet them only rs private gentlemen, but 10
willing to communicate to Congress any
proposition they might make.
In reply to the assertion Of the Commit
sioners that he was pledged not to alter tho
status Of the forces at Charleston, the Presi-
dent transmits 30 them q copy OF noto
from the representatives Of South Carolina,
expressing u belief thai neither the State nor
the people ofSouth Carolina would modest
the forts until offers were made 10 amica5ly
arrange tho difficulties, provided the military
status remained unchanged.
The President says he objected 10 the word
provided, rs II might b. construed into an
agreement which no never would make, but
was assured that such construction would
not DO put upon il. II was his determine
ton not to reinforce the forts until they
were actually attacked, or he had certain In
formation they would bc. lie had never
sent re-iniorccments, and certainly never au-
thorizcd any change in their relative militia
~ status. lie refers tho Commissioners to
the order OF the Secretary Of War Of the llth
TO avoid acts that would necdlecsly tend To
provoke aggression, and not TO take any posi-
ton that could b. construed into hostile
attitude, bat to hold possession OF the forts in
the harbor, and, if attacked, to defend them
to the last extremity. The smallness OF Ma
jor AndefOn's force not permitting him to
occupy more than one fort In case Of attack.
he was permitted TO take possession ofeither.
The President further says, II is clear that
Major Anderson acted without authority,
unless he had evidence OF hostilitics, aud
justice requires that that bravo officer should
not be condemned witf.,.t hearing. His
1.-THE President's) first mpting was 10 or
der Major Anderson bac( 10 Fort Moultrie,
but information that the h mctto flag noatcd
over forts Moultrie and Pii .kney, preeluded
his taking that step. lie reoounts the sciz-
ure Of the forts, the hosting Of the PALM
etto flag over the Post Office and Customs
House, where the Americas flag should be,
and the resignation of the Federal officers,
and says that under such circumstances no
was asked to withdraw tho troops from
Charleston. This he could not do, and would
not do. Such an hca could never DO enter
tanned in any possible contingency.
lie states he had Just received q dispatch
stating that the arsenal ut Charleston had
been seized, containing over half n million OF
property belonging to the Government. Com
ment he says, Is needless, and bo will only
add, that while II is his duty to defend Fort
Sumter against hostile attempts from what
ever quarter, no cannot perceive how such
defence can b. construed into q menace
against Charleston.
The commissioners In reply ay that they
are perfectly content with their reception,
and enter into animadvcrsions rs 10 quota
tons made by the President from their let
ter. They state that his action in removing
4 veteran officer from the command Of Fort
Moultric, because he wished for an addition
nj supply Of ammunition, his accepting Of
tho resignation OF cabinet officer. and other
acts, led tho people Of South Carolina to be-
licvc that he would keep the pledse implied
in tho note ofthe representatives from that
State. They say that tho President
socks to escape from his obligations, and that
his prompt decision on the day after their
arrival, would have avoided subsequent CON-
plications. They contend that the proce-
1urc Of Major Anderson was an act OF war,
and that the subsequent action OF the state
was to secure its defence. They soy ~ tho
you have decided, you have re-
'olycd TO hold by force what was obtained
through misplaced confidence, and convert
d Major Andcrson's violation Of orders into
! legitimate executive order yoa have rem
Tered civil war inevitable. 30 Il ~, If
Iou choose the issue upon South Carolina.
Tho will accept IL, relying upon Him who 10
he God OF justice rs well as the God OF hosts
md she will endeayor to do her duty bnvely
md hopefully.
The following is the reply of the Prcsi-
lent.
ExrcrrwE MAssioS.-This paper, just
resented to the president, Is Of such char
'cter that he declines to receive it,