The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1861-01-17
CORRESPONDENCE
BETWEEN THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
AND THE
COMMISSIONERS FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.

The following correspondence was read
in secret session, and from which the in
junction of secresy was removed.
WASHINGTON, December %, 1860
SIR We have the honor to transmit
to you copy of the full powers from the
Convention of the people of South Caro-
lima, under which we are authorised and
empowered to treat with the Government
of the United States for the delivery of
the forts, magazines, lighthouses, and other
real estate, with their appurtenances, with
in the limits of South Carolina, and also
Tor an opportionment of the public debt
and for division of all the property held
by the Government Of the United States,
as agent of the Confederated States, OF
which South Carolina was recently men,
Der, End generally to negotiate as to all
other measures and arrangements proper
to be made and adopted in the existing re-
lation of the parties, and for the continu-
ance of peace and amit7 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 Scces-
sion, by which the State of South Caro-
lima has resumed the powers she delegated
to the Government of the United States,
and has declared her perfect sovereignty
and independence.
It would also have been our duty to
have informed you that we were ready to
negotiate with you upon all such questions
as are necessarily raised by the adoption
of this Ordinance, ard that we were pre-
pared to enter upon this negotiation with
the earnest desire to avoid all unnecessary
and hostile collision, and so to inaugurate
our new relations as to secure mutual re-
spect, general advantage, and future good
will and harmony, beneficial to all the par
ties concerned.
But the events of the last twenty-four
hours render such an assurance impossible.
We came here the representatives OF al
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 manner that we cannot
doubt, determined to trust to your honor
rather than to its own power. Since our
arrival an officer of the United States act
ing, as we are assured, not only without,
bat against your orders, has dlsmantled
one fort and occupied another, thus alter
ing to most important extent the con--
dition of affairs under which we came.
Until these circumstances are explained
in manner which relieves us of all doubt
as to the spirit in which these negotiations
shall be conducted, we are forced to sus-
pend all discussion as to any arrangements
by which our mutual interests might be
amicably adjusted.
And, in conclusion, we would urge upon
you the immediate withdrawal of the
troops from the harbor of Charleston.
Under present circumstances, they are a
standing menace which renders negotia-
ton impossible, and, as our recent expe-
rience shows, threatens speedily to bring
to bloody issue questions which ought to
be settled with temperance and judg-
ment.
We have the honor to be,
-. Very respectfully,
Your obedient servants,
R. w. BARNWELL,
;. II. ADAMS, Commissioners.