The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-02-07
r,I,-gy 4aterS"H to TIE G"rs,'aor.
,t-.pTlrS Fox. SrNTER = G.

vour charge 1V"i 0' ~ :,
fssnedl
r,t,.,, taderson to TIE Gore,.aor.
ut,psr,RrfEs FoRE SUMTER, =. c.,
January II. 1851
- n, Escfusacs =. II. Piekeas, f'oeernor ef
~ S,rtA trr9liHa:
..I have tie honor To acknowledge the
j,, oi vour demand for the surrender of
'' , f,rl t0 the authorities Of South Carolina,
5 70 say, in reply, that til" demand Is one
III ,,-t'th / cannot comply. four I4Ncel-
~ Knows taat have rcceutly seat Dles-
""' "I', 40 Nashiu.tO and that II will be- I'M
q, for me 10 receive an ans wer TO my
t..,,rt.l.S forwarded by him, nt an earlier
so. Than next Monday. What tlc charac-
~ n, nav ius trIic tons may be, canitO; fore
St,na your Excellency deem 1T, prior to =
.Irttoa arlls. 10 refer this matter TO Wash
.,'oU 10 would afford Inc the sincereSt plea
.",s 10 Grpute one oI my officers To accompany
,gy messenger you may deem proper 10 Oe The
5,-yr Of yOur demand.
Hop!n. 10 God that III this, and all other
,.q,,'rS IN which the honor, welfare and lives
~, ,gr fellow -Couutrylnen are concerned, we
1I 80 act as 10 meet Ills approval, ana
fs.,ly rr.rvttng that you have made a de-
,,4ad Of me with which j cannot comply,
have the honor 10 be,
With the highest regard,
Your obedient servant,
ROBERT ANDERSON,
Major L. =. Army, Commanding.
m, f,,rernor 10 the President Of The United
states.
STATE uF SoCTH CARoaISA,
FxEcurTyE OFFICE, HEADqrARTERs,
CHARLESTON, Jan. IL, 1861.
Sfg.-5At ;he time OF the separation of The
S,,i4 OF South Carolina from the United
states, Fort sumter was, and still is, III the
..,s...sion OF troops Of the United States, un-
e,tLr command OF Major Anderson. l re-
>lSfp h
,.. dignity or safety of the State of South
p,ro!,ua and | have this day addressed to
Manor Anderson Il communication TO obtain
from lun thr possession OF that Fort by
The authorities of This State. The reply of
M4}or Anderson informs me that he has no
authority 10 do what l required, but he de
.!.4s q reference OF the demand to the Presi-
aeat Of The [ tnited States.
udel the circumstances now existing, and
which need no comment by me, have de ter
mined 10 ,end 10 Won the Hon. l. ". Hayne,
The Attorney General OF the State OF South
Carolina, and have instructed him 10 demand
t!!e delivery OF Fort Sumter, i'll The harbor OF
Charleston, 10 the constituted authorities OF
tie Stat. of South Carolina.
The demand have made of Major AndcT-
son, and which / now make OF you, is sng
srsled because OF my earnest desire 10 avoid
The bloodshed which persistence i'll your at
I-mpt 10 retain the possession OF that fort
VII cause and which Will be nnayailing TO
secure You that possession, but induce ca
lauty most deeply TO be deplored
II consequences so unhappy shall cnsue, l
viii secure for this State, in the demand
which now make, the sa tS fac ton OF having
exhausted every attempt TO avoid it.
In relation TO the public property of the
United States, within Fort Sumter, the Hon.
l. ". Hayne, who VIII hand you this comInu-
Eicailon, IL authorized 10 give you the pledge
Ol the State, upon the adjustment of its re-
iatons with the United States, of which it
vas part. ISignedl +. w. PiCKESs.
To the President OF the United States.
,las'ractions from the State Department Of the
kr,cH;ice Office 10 the Hon. /. ". Hdyae.l
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, STATE DEPARTMENT, (
CHARLESTON, Jan. l., 1861.
Sir The Governor has considered ii prop
er. IN view of the grave questions which now
affect the State of South Carolina and the
United Stutes, to make a demand upon the
Pge>dfnt OF the United States, for the deliy-
cry 10 the State OF South Carolina OF Fort
sumter, now within the territorial limits of
lli state, and occupied by troops of the
United States.
The Convention of the people OF South
carolina authorized and empowered It's Com
mIssVners 10 enter into negotiations with the
Government OF the United States for the de
livery of forts, magazines, lighthouses, and
oher real estate within the limits OF south
Carolina
Tho cirCnms tances which caused the inter
fuptIoh OF that negotiation are known to you:
"lih The formal notification of its cessation,
was the urgent expression of the necessity for
''it withdrawal OF the, troops OF the United
States from the harbor of Charleston.
Ihe Interruption OF these negotiations left
All matters connected with Fort Sumter and
troops Of The United States within the limits
o this State, affected by the fact, that the
continued possession of the fort was not con-
sisent with the dignity or safety of the State,
4hd tlat an attempt to reinforce the troops al
.'~l lori would not be allowed. This, there
ioft' became state OF hostility, i'll conse-
qaence Of which the State OF South Carolina
"1s placed III condition OF defence. During
INC Preparations for this purpose, an attempt
"as hiad. 10 reinforce Fort Sumter, and re-
PEELED.
4Ou ara now instructed TO proceed to Wash
L'tion, and there, III the name OF the Govern
hea' ul the State of South Carolina, inq uire
" Tue President of the United States wheth-
~ II was by lis order that troops of the u.
e'a'ts were sent into the harbor of Charles ton
" ie'hiofte Fort Sumter; il he aYows that
ss'i You VIII then inquire whether he as
Its fight to introduce troops of the United
'4,tS within the limits of this State to occu-
4! orr Sumter; and you will, in case OF his
a'o"ai, inform him that neither viii be per-
M"'rd and either will be regarded as his
'r0lina
me Governor, TO save life, and determined
ri,t.- o'.'II no course OF proceeding usual among
-, Ae' 'hationseprevious 10 that condition
sr"efai h0stiiites which belongs to war !;
s,1t my AAo"lng under what order or by what
'H"9llF, Fort Sumter is now held, demand
~ ON Aalor Robert Anderson, now in COM
II,oi I|H u mat fort, its delivery to the State -
s-raT, ola'eT, IN his reply, has referred the Gov
a, n. 70 the Government of the United States
r. ssh!Egtoa. You will, therefore, demand
"a "a Tue PRESIDENT of the United States the
tro,n ,tal ih"al OF the troops of the L. States
S I'm 'hai Tort, and its delivery 10 the State of
south Carolina
Linn "u W. are Inc tructed not 10 allow any qnes-
In W Va property claimed by the United States
tehoaFrass the assertion OF the political
,'sA' OF the State Of south Carolina 10 the
III Ieoh ot Fort Sumter. The possession
win ioFl by the State is alone consistent
Sonth 'as ne dignity and safety OF the State OF
me- carolina but such possession Is not
monas 'ehl with right TO compensation III
aysIn IA another government, il 1t has
cI,,r' the State Of South Carolina any just
,4.ia e'ahected with that fort. But the pos
Sls,o ~ me fort cannot, iii regard to the
any con.tuih tsSouih Carolina, be compensated by
'hsidfration Of any kind from the Gov
s'''hfh' OF the United States, when the pos
Of M VI II by the Government il invasive
Sta,a ,uishity and affects the safety Of the
NAT, inal possession cannot become now "A
vii :, VI discnssion or negotiation AQu
he tft.hioft, require from the Pre3ident of
swes 1" t" States positive and distinct an.
for your deInand for the delivery OF the
u,e,ih haa you are further authorized TO give
wb,ch ph''uge OF the State 10 adjust all matters
ren.St, Sh may he, and are la their nature, sus-
Aer ,Dss ,na OF valuation in money. in the mai
c",ii't niost usual, and upon the principles of
pspdsy,a aha Justice always recognized by inde-
ibs,snt nations, for The ascer tainment ot
masters. ati'AN'' rights and obligations IN sueA
pre,idafe pd are farther instructed TO say TO the
rassluehs OF the United states. that the Gov
lba =. regards the attempt OF the President Of
posss,i.oea fa States, II ayowed, to continue the
inr ,n ~ of Fort Sumter as inevitably head
ludg,'as ~ bloody issue, a question which, Ia The
eonsIna1ao eI.nt oi the Governor, can have but one
oIhsr ~ ~ OF South Carolina, the welfare OF the
StrI. ates winch nov constitute the United
aug mat humanity which teaches all