Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-05-26

eChutu VI EOEt 0umbcIS NY OtUeE O
the Administration, we give the following let
ters Of Judge Campo l-recently one OF tht
Judges of the Supreme Court Of the United
States-they having been communicated bJ
Jefferson Davis to the Southern Congress, ant
are now published: r...
WAsHINoros, Saturday, April 13, 1861.
SR:--On the 18th March ult., left with
Judge Crawford, one, of the Commissioners o
the Confederate States, note in writing to The
effect following: T.. r,.I0 0ie.r
III feel entire confidence that Fort Sumter viii
be evacuated In the next ten days. And thi!
measure isifelt asimposDg great responsibilities
on the Administration r.a 1--ii., 40
feel entire confidence that no measure chang
ing tho present status, prejudiicAlly to Ii,
Southern Confederate States, is at present con-
templated
feel an entire confidence that an immediate
demand for an answer to the communication ol
the Commissioners will be productive Of evil
and not OF good. lido not believe that IL ought
at this time to be pressed"
The substance of this statement comunica-
ted to you the same evening by letter Five
days elapsed, and called with telegram from
General Beauregard, to the effect that Sumter
was not evacuated, but that Major Anderson was
at work making repairs.
f The next day, after conversing with you,
communicated to Judge Crawford, in writing,
that the failure to evacuate Sumter was not the
result OF bad faith, but was attributed to causes
consistent with the intention to fulfil the en-.
gagement, and that as regarded Pickens, /
should have notice of any design to alter the
existing status there. Mr.. Justice Nelson was
present at these conversations, three in number,
and submitted to him each of my written com
munications to Judge Crawford, and informed
Judge G. that they had his (Judge Nelson,s)
sanction. gave you, on the 22d of March, q
substantial copy Of the statement had made
on the 18th.
The 30th Of March arrived, and at that time
a telegram came from Gov. Pickens, iDquiring
concerning Col. Lamon, whose visit to Charles.
ton he supposed had connection with the pro-
posed evacuation of Fort Sumter. g'8
left that with you, and was to have an an
swer the following Monday (lst April On the
lst of April received from you the statement
in writing, 81 am satisfied the Government
will not undertake to supply Fort Sumter with
out giving notice to Gov. Plckens." The words
al am satisfied" were for me TO use as EXPRESS
i've of confidence in the remainder of the de-
claration.
The proposition, as originally prepared, was,
"The President may desire to supply Sumter,
but will not do so," &C., and your verbal ex-
planation was that you did not believe any such
attempt would be made, and there was no de-
sign to reinforce Sumter. ~ f 3a1tI E
There was departure here from the pledges
of the previous month, but, wi th the verbal ex.
PLANTATION, did not consider it matter then 10
complain OIL simply stated to you that had
that assurance previously. 1 ufI..t !"
On the 7th Of April, addressed you a letter
on the subject Of the alarm that the prepara-
tions by the Government had created, and ask ed
you IL the assurances had given were well or
ill-founded. In respect to Sumter, your reply
was-"Faith as to Sumter, fully kept--wait
and see." In the mornings paper read, can
authorized messenger from President Lincoln
Gov. Pickens and Gen Beauregard that
provisions will be sent to Fort Sumter, peacea
bly,, or otherwise by force" b.. u a.t.1
This was the 9Th Of April, at Charleston, the
day following your last assurance, and ia the
evidence of the full faith was invited to wait
for and see. In the same paper, I read that
intercepted dispatches disclose the fact that Mr.,
Fox, who had been allowed to visit Major An.
1erson, on the pledge that his purpose was pa
ciic, employed his opportunity to devise plan
or supplying the fort by force, and that his plan
had been adopted by the Washington Govern
ment, and was In process of execution. NV re.
collection of the date of Mr.. Fox's visit carries
L to a day in March. learn no Is near con-
lection of member of the Cabinet NV con |
lection with the Commissioners and yourselfI
vas superinduced by conversation with Justice |
Wilson. He informed me of your strong dispo-
Iition in favor Of peace, and that you were OF
pressed with demand Of the Commissioners of
he Confederate States for reply to their first
etter, and that you desired to avoid, If possible
Il that time. told him might, perhaps, be
If some service In arranging the difficulty. II
,ame TO your Office entirely at bis request, and
without the knowledge Of either of the Com
nissioners. Your depression was obvious to
10Th Judge Nelson and myself. Twas gratiAed
It the character Of the counsels you were desi-
ous of pursuing, and much impressed with your
that civil war might be prevented
" the success Of my mediation. You read a
etter Of Mr.. Weed, to show how iIksome and
esponsible the withdrawal of troops from Fort
sumter was. A portion of my communication |
o Judge Crawford, on the 18th of March, was
ounded upon these remarks, and the pledge to
,vacuate Fort Sumter Is less forcible than the
vords you employed. Those words were: "Be. |
ore this letter reaches you, "a proposed letter by
ne to President DAvis,) Sumter will have been
.e.-i't .' .t--- .etJ |
The Commissioners who received those COM
nunications conclude that they have been abused
md ovetreaohed. The Montgomery Govern
nent hold the same opinion. The Commits
toner's have supposed that my communications
we're with you, and upon the hypothesis prepared
o arraign you before the country In connection
nth the President. l placed peremptory pro- |
libiton upon this, as being contrary to the terms
# my communications with them. pledged
myself to them TO communicate information
lpon what considered as the best authority, |
md they were to confde in the ability of my
elf, aided by Judge Nelson, to determine upon |
be credibility of my informant. 25-
think no candid man who will read over what
have written, and consider for moment what
8 going on at Sumter, but will agree that the
advocating conduct of the Administration, as |
measured and interpreted In connection with /
hese promises, Is the proximate cause of the
,reat calamity. "A .s.ss
/ have profound conviction that the tele-
rams of the 9th Of April, of Gen. Beauregard,
md Of the 10th of April, Of Gen. Walker, the
Secretary of War, can be referred to moth
ng else than their belief that there has been
ystematic duplicity practiced upon them
1t is under On oppressive sense Of
he weight of this responsibility, that / submit
o you these things for your explanation.
Very respectfully, JoHNiA CAMpBELL,
Associate Justice Of Supreme Court.
Ion. WIN. HsSEwARD, Secretary of State. I
DISPATCHES. t-.isa
To L. p. WALKER, Secretary Of War;
"An authorized messenger from President |
lincoln just informed Gov. Pickens and myself
hat provisions will be sent 10 Fort Sumter
or otherwise by force."
70 Gen. P. T.,BEAURReARp;r |
"If you have no doubt of the authorized char.
cter Of the agent who communicated TO you