New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-02-07


Secretary Of Mar, al Interim, TO the Sc''@e0'SD
WAr DrpARq aEgr Jan. q, 1861.
To Hon BF.JAsy RITzpArRcK I. r. MItoEY and JoHS
SnDEr
GENTLEuEg: The President has received your con-
muucaon Of The 18th inst. with the copy OF corre-
gpondepcc between yours,lyts and others "Iepresen-
hg States which have already seeded from sIe ohSu
Sates or viii have done before The icy " reofIy
next and Col Isaac W. Hayne Of South Carolina, In
behalf of the Government of that state IN reat0n 10
Fort Sumter and Won ask the President TO take into
Consideration tie subject OF that correspondence
With this request be has complied, ana has directed
me 70 communicate hrs answer 80 $780,. -
In your letter 10 Col Hayne of the 10th inst You
propose TO him 20 defer the delivery Of message from
he Governor OF South Carolina 70 the President with
which be has been inrusted for few Gays, OF uitii
the President and Col Ilayre shall have considered
the lpgesions which YOU submit. IL ID unnecessary
TO refer specially TO these sug esons, because the let
ter addressed TO you by Col Havne, o the lh INST,
presents clear and specific answer to them In inns
he save: % am not clothed with power 10 make lie
ARRANGEMENT you suggest but provided you can get
assurances with wien You are entirely satisfied that
no achievements viii he sent 10 Fort Snmler, III t.e
interval and that the public peace VIII rot DC uis
turbed by amy act OF hostility toward ooutn
[ will leier your communication 10 the authonties oil
South Carolina and Withholding the communication
with which am at present charged VIII await iuI'hei
instructions" III,
the President has endeavorcd to perform ms executive
duties In sucl manner 10 preserve NE peace VI ~
county, and to prevent blocdshed. lhis Is sun MS
fixed purpose. YOu therefore, DO nm ITO mo4e th1n
u,ice in stating that YOU have assurances IRON MS
public messages / presUne), that NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
The circumstances under which Mayor Anderson leit
Fort Moulie and entered Font Sumter with The l0rcSs
under Bis command 1t was not taken, m hoI heIu
with any hostile or unlIiendly purpose toward your
State but merely property al Tie ohteu otaleai
which the President deems il bis duty TO piqteSt ana
preserve you have correctly sttd "ha tnc leei
dent deems TO be lis duty. HE epe OBJECT now IS bu
has been TO act strictly the defensive and to author
ize no movement against the people OF Sou'h .arohua,
unless clearly justified by hostile movement on ther
part. He could not have given better PROOF o. lis
desire to prevent the eiusion Of blood, than by LOT
bearing 10 resort 10 the Of force, under the strong
provocaiion of an attack happily without fatal
RESULT on an unaTmed vessel bearing the nag OF me
United States. .... ,.... ~,
am happy to observe that, in your letter TO Col
Hayne, You express the opinion, that ii Is especially
due from South Carolina to our States, 10 gay nothing
Of other Saveholding Sates, that he should ar ia "s
she eau consistently with her honor, avoid initiating
hostities between her and the United States, or any
other power" To inlte such hostiltles against Fort
sumter would beyond quesii u, be an act OF war
against tie United States.
reGnforements win be sent to Fort sumter, IN the III
terya ard that the public peace will not De disturbed
by any act of hostility toward South Carolina IS
impossible for me TO give yon any Suoh assuIdIVes.
The President has authority TO enter mo snSn an
agreement or Understandings 10 an executive oil'eI,
he is simply bound TO protect the pnbic pi3peHy'so
far as this may be practicable; aud 1t would De man
iest violation Of his duty TO place bmset under en-
gagements that he would not perform this duty either
ior an indefinite or q limited period, at the ent
moment, it is not deemed necessary 70 reinforce Mai
Anderson because he makes no such request ana iees
quite secure in his position. Should his safety, how
ever require reGniOIcements, every eort VIII DC MADE
to supply them. ,,n..
In regard to an assurance from tho President that
the public peace will not be disturbed by any act OF
hostility toward South Carolina" the answer VIII
readily occur TO yourselves To Congress- and to Con-
oress alone, belongs the power to make war; and 1t
Would be an act Of usurpation for the ExecutSeto
give any assurance that Congress would not exerCise
ibis power however strongly he may be convinced mat
no such intention exists.
/ am clad 10 be assured, from the letter OF Col
Uayne that " Major Anderson and his command do
now obtain all necessary supplies including fresh meat
and vegetables, and believe fuel and water, from
the CITY of Charleston and do enjoy communica
on by post and special messenger with the Predent,
and will continue 10 do So certainly unit; the door TO
negotiation closed" TRUST that these facilities may
sti be aordrd Major Anderson. This as 1t should
be- Major Anderson is not menacing Charleston; and
am convinced that the happest result which can be
attained L. that both be and the authorities Of South
Carolina shall remain their present amicable footing,
neither party being bound by any obligations what
ever except the high Christian and moral duty TO keep
the PEACE aud TO avoid all OF mutual irritation.
. Very respectfully your obedient servant
J. HOLT, Secretary OF War, I'd Interim