Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-01-12

from all appearances, has been purely ag-
gressiya, and not in resistance 10 any attempt
10 coerce a State or States TO remain in the
Union. At the beginning Of these unhappy
troubles ! determined that no act Of mine
should increase the excitement in either sec
ton Of the country. II the political conflict
were to end in civil war, it was my deter
mined purpose not TO commence Il, nor 70
furnish an excuse for it by any act of the
government. My opinion remains unchanged,
that Justice as well as sound policy requires
us still to seek peaceful solution Of the
questions at issue between the North and the
South. Entertaining this conviction, re-
Trained even from sending reinforcements 10
Major Anderson, who commanded the forts
OF Charleston harbor, until an absolute neces-
sity for doing SO should make itself apparent,
lest il might be regarded as as menace of
military coercion, and thus furnish a provo
c,dion or at least, a pretext for an outbreak
on the Fnrt Of South Carolina. No necessity
for these reiniorcements seemed 10 exist |
was assured by distinguished upright gentle
men of South Carolina that no attack on Ma
jor Anderson was intended, but that, on the
contrary, il was the desire of the State au-
thorties as much as it was my own, to avoid
the fatal consequences which must eVentu-
ally follow a military collision. And here l
deem il proper TO submit for information cop
| les of a communication dated December g.
1860, addressed to me by R. W. Barnwel, j..
Il. Adams and James L. Orr, Commissioners
/ of Sonth Carolina, with the accompanying
/ documents, and copies OF my answer thereto,
dated December 81. In further explanation
Of Major Anderson's removal from Fort Moul-
trie to Fort Sumter, It is proper TO state that
after my answer to the South Carolina Com
missioners the War Department received a
letter from that gallant officer, dated Decem-
Der q, 1860, the day after his movement
from which the following is an extract:
81 will add as my opinion that many things
| convinced me that the authorities Of the State
designed to proceed to a hostile act evident
ly referring to the orders dated December IL,
Of the late Secretary of War. Under this
| impression I could not hesitate that it was
my solemn duty to move my command from
a fort which we could not probably have
held longer than foTty-eight or sixty hours
to this one, where my power Of resissauce is
increasing to a very great degree
Il will be recollected that the concluding
/
"The smallness of your force, will not per
NIT you, perhaps, to occupy more than one
of the three forts, but an attack on, or attempt
10 take possession of either one Of them, will
be regarded as an act of hostility, and you
may then put your command into either o.
them which you may deem most proper tc
increase its power of resistance, You art
also authorized to take similar defensive
steps whenever you have tangible evidenc'
of design to proceed to an hostile act"
Il is said hat serious apprehensiOns are tc
some extent entertained, in which | do no
share, that the peace of this District may b
disturbed before the 4th OF March next. II
any event it will be my duty topreserve il
and this duty shall be performed.
In conclusion, it may be permitted to mt
to remark that have ofen warned my coun
trymen of the dangers which now surround
US. This may be the last time shall Fefe
TO the subject officially feel that my duty
has been faithfully, though it may be i'm
perfectly, reformed and whatever the re
suit may be l shall carry to my grave thl
consciousness that at least meant well fo
my country. JAMES BUCHANAN.
Washington City, Jan. s, 1861.