Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-01-11
CORRESPONDENTS
BETWEEN TIE
President OF tho United STATES and n,
Commissioners OF Sout,, c.roI,,,

President OF tho United States and tho
commissioners OF South Carolina.
The following highly interesting cOrrespon-
dcnce between the President Of the United
States and the Commissioners Of South Caro-
lima was laid before the Sovereign" Conven.
ton o! that State in secret session. on Friday
night last:
LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT.
WASHINGTON, Dec 2S 1860
Sir-We have the honor to transmit TO YOU
copy OF the full powers from the Convention
OF the people of South Carolina, under which
we are authorized and empowered TO treat
with the Government Of the United States for
the delivery Of the forts, magazines, light.
houses and other real estate, with their ap.
purtcnances, within the limits Of South Caro-
lima, and also for an apportonment Of the
public debt and for a division Of all the pro-
perty held by the Government Of the United
States as un agent Of the Curfr(cratcl States OF
which South Carolina Was recently member,
and generally to negotiate rs to all other inca
sures and arrangements proper 10 be made and
adopted in the existing relation Of the parties,
and for tho continuance of peace and amiiy
between this Commonwealth and the Govern.
ment at Washington.
to furnish you, as we now do with al official
copy Of the ordinance Of secession, by which
the State Of South Carolina has resumed the
powers she delegated to the government Of tho
United States, and has declared her pciic
sovereignty and independence.
1t would also have been our duty to have
informed you that we were ready to negotiate
with YOU upon all such questions us are ne.
cessarily raised by the adoption of this ordi-
nance, and that We were prepared 70 enter
upon this negotiation with the earnest desire
to avoid all unnecessary and hostile collision,
| and so to inauguratc our new relations aS Ia
secure mutual respect, general advantage, anI
n future Of good will and harmony. beneficial
| to all the parties concerned.
But the events Of the last twcnty.fnur hnnrs
render Slich III 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 frrtS in
Charleston hal Dor, but upon pledges given in
Il manner that We Cannot doubt, determined
to trust to your honor rather than to It's OWL
power Since onr arrival, an officer o; the
| United States, acting as We are assured, not
| only without, but against your orders, has
diSmantlcd one fort and occupied another, thus
altering 10 most Important extent the cc'"ii'
ton of affairs under which We ca,nc.
Until these circumstances arc explained in 4
manner which relieves rs OF all doubt as 10 the
spirit in which these negotiations shall be con'
ductcd we arc forced TO suspend all discussion
as TO any arrangements by which ou" 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 cir
cun,Stuuces they are a standing menace, which
renders negotiation impossible, and, rs our re.
cent experience shows, threatens speedily 10
bring to Il bloody issue questions which ought
to he settled with temperance and Judgment
We have the honor To he, very respectfully
! your cbciirnt servants
Z. W. BARSwELL
j. II. ADAMS, Comnis soIcrS.
JAMES L. OKR,
Tu tie President Of tie United States