Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1861-02-14
Warrington Dispatches.

One hundred guns were fred on Capitol Hill
this afternoon.
| Warrington Dispatches.
WASHINGTON, February 5.-The Convention
organized this morning by electing ex-Presiden'
Tyler as President.
4 Mr.. Tyler addressed the Convention in 9
speech of half an hours length. 1t is to be pub
lished. The Convention then sat with closed
doors. ......
The Convention has adopted the rules of the
Continental Congress. Among those who con
graduated Tyler after his address, was Chase
Of Ohio, who said that Ohio would adopt Vir.
gina's platform when it is presented.
1t is evident that the Northern Commissioners
to the Border State Convention are anxious for
delay, but the Southern members declare their
purpose to press action and require all to show
their hands
Virginia and Kentucky are a unit in demand
ing equality in the Territories hereafter acquired.
They say that there is no hope Of any settlement
other than peaceable dissolution, and to this
end all efforts will be made.
A number of delegates arrived this afternoon.
The Missourans declare for full settleme ent
forever, or dissolution. The delegations are
caucusing to night.
The Abolition caucus now sitting at the Capt.
tai is opposed to any compromise. The atten-
dance is slim. They are getting alarmed. Pot
ter called the caucus together.
The Pennsylvania Commissioners appeared in
the Convention, but seemed to take little inter.
est in the proceedings.
Delaware is fully represented, and stands by
the South. The Maryland Commissioners held
an informal meeting to day, and the sentiment
generally expressed among them was that the
State must follow Virginia.
The Federal Government anticipates the se-
cession of the State Of Maryland, and are pro-
viding means for the protection of the Naval
School. Six months supplies and abundance
of shot and shell have just been placed on board
of the practice ship Constitution. If Virginia
secedes, her Commissioners say that q large
force will be concentrated at Alexandra, Va.
The President will hand in reply to Colonel
Hayne to morrow, stating that be will enter into
no negotiations as to the disposal Of property Of
the Government, such as forts, or any other.
General Scott has been in conference all day
with his officers and Lieut. Hall. Nothing is
known of the result Of the conference beyond
inference. Lieut.. Hall hopes to leave for Char.
lesion to morrow.
The War Department approves the conduct o:
Major Hawkins in surrendering the Baton Rouge
Arsenal while Court of Inquiry has been or.
dsred in the case Of Commodore Armstrong fol
having surrendered the Pensacola Navy Yard
Twenty army officers have so far resigned since
the secession of South Carolina.
The rumor that troops have been landed al
Fort Sumter is dscredited here. The Govern
ment positively denies it. .-...... ....
WASHINGTON, February 6.-Col. Richie, al
Aid-de- Camp of Governor Andrews, Of Massa
chusetts, has arrived here, and called to-day or
Gen. Scott, to offer to the Federal Governmen
the services" of the volunteers Of his State.
Scott replied that, since the Virginia election
he entertained no fears of an attack on Washing
ton, and that there would, therefore, be no call
for volunteers; adding that, even if a necessity
hardly he called on.
The Virginia Commissioners say that they are
perfectly satisfied that the State will secede i'm.
mediately on the failure Of the Peace Conference
here to agree. To-day's work has upset all
hopes of any adjustment
Seddon, of Virginia, made an effort to get up
the Crttenden propositions for the consideration
of the Convention The Ohio delegation insist.
ed on postponement This led to an excited de.
bate, in which Seddon and Rives, of Virginia.
and Chase, of Ohio, took part. q,
In consideration Of the absence Of several of
the Delegations, the postponement was finally
agreed to, but it will be resisted hereafter.
Gen. Butler assures me that Kentucky will 90
with Virginia. The Tennessee delegation ar
rived this afternoon They declare that nothing
but speedy settlement will keep their State
from seeding.
| Maynard, of Tennessee declared in his speech
on the floor of the House to-day, that the State
was unit against coercion, and only awaited the
action of her Convention to secede from the
Union.
At four o'clock to-day Hayne received the
Presidents reply. 1t was fat refusal to take
his hirelings from your harbor. Look out
WASHINGTON, February THE President
through Secretary Holt, replied yesterday to
HAYNES demand for the surrender of Fort Sum
| ter.
The Secretary says that the proposal of South
Carolina. as now presented, was simply an offer
to buy Fort Sumter. This position, he thinks,
is sustained by the declaration, on the part of s.
Carolina, that if not permitted to purchase, she
will seize the fort by force Of arms. As on ini-
tiation of negotiations for the transfer Of the
property between friendly governments, the pro-
posal impresses itself on the President as hay
ing assumed q most unusual FORM He has,
however, investigated the claims, apart from tn e
contingent hostile declarations which accompany
it. 1t may, says Mr.. Holt, be remarked that
much stress has been laid upon the employment
of the words property" and ''public property
in his several messages. These are the most
comprehensive terms which can be used in such
connection, and surely when referring to fort
or other public establishment, they embrace the
entire and undivided interest of the Government
. therein. The title of the United States to Fort
Sumter is complete and incontestible. We're its
interests purely proprietary" in the ordinary
acceptation of the term, it might probably be
subjected to the exercise of the right Of eminent
domain; but it has also political relations TO-
wards the fort, of a much higher and more i'm
posing character than mere proprietorship. Il
has absolute jurisdiction over the fort, and the
soil on which it stands. This jurisdiction con-
sists in exclusive authority over the property re.
ferred to, and is, therefore, clearly incompatible
with the claims of eminent domain insisted on
by South Carolina. This authority was not de.
rived from any questionable or revolutionary
source, but from the peaceful cession Of South
Carolina herself. And she can no more assert
the right of eminent domain over Fort Sumter
now than Maryland can assert the same right
| over the District of Columbia. The Presiden,
can no more sell Fort Sumter to South Carolina
than he could sell and convey the Capital Of the
United States to Maryland.
The right to send forward reinforcements,
when, in the judgment of the President, the
safety of the garrison requires them, rests on
the same unquestionable foundation as the right
to occupy the forts.
In another part of his answer, Mr.. Holt says
that Fort Sumter is now held by the Government
i of the United States for the same objects for
which it has been held ever since its completion.
These objects are national aud defensive, and
were public enemies now to attempt the capture
of Charleston, or the destruction Of her COM
merce, the whole force of the batteries cf Fort
Sumter would be exertet for their protection
How the present small garrison, actuated by such
spirit as this, can compromise the dignity or
honor of the State of South Carolina, or become
source of irritation to her people, the Presi.
dant IL or q lnss IN understand The attitude of