Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-05-16


sage sent BY President Lincoln to the Governor OF South
Cirolian, the Sth April. As the proclamation o.
President Lincoln, of the 10Th April, repeated the same
hostile intention in more sptcih; terms and much
more ext nsiye SCALE it created stronger impressj1
on my mind and led TO the above alluded to, ana
which, however unmportant, desire 10 correct
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
MONTGOMERY, Nay s, 1851.
WASHINGTON CRY, April lS 1861.
Sin: On the 18th March ut lefs with Judge Craw-
ford one of the Commissioners of the Confederate States
a note in writing 10 the effect following:
al feel entire confidence that Fort Sumter will be
evacuated in the five days. And this measure is
felt imposing great responsibility on the Administra-
| ton
g" feel entire confidence that no measure char gng the
exsrg status, preju ica!y 10 the Southern Conied-
crate States, is at present contemplate
g. feel entire confidence that an immediate de-
mand for an answer TO the communication OF the Com
missioners will he productive ct evil and not Of
good. do not believe that i. ought at this tins TO be
| pressed"
The substance Of this statement / communicated to
YOU the same evening by letter. Five days elapsed,
and called with telegram from General Baauregard,
to the effect that Sumter not evacuated, but that
| Major Anderson was at work making repairs.
The NJ xt day, alter converting with you, communi.
Gated to Judge Craal0rd in writing, that the failure 10
eyacuate Sumter not the result o. bad faith, but
attributable TO consistent with the intention 10
fulfill the engagement, and that, regarded Pckens,
should lave notice of any design alter the existing
status there. Mr.. Justice Nelson present at these
| conversations three in nunbsr-and | submitted to
him each of my written communications to Judge Craw
ford AID Informed Judge O. that they had his tJudge
Nekons sanction. gave you, on the I'D OF March,
Substantial copy oil the statement had made on the
| 10Th.
The 30th Of March arrived ard at that time tee-
gram came from Gov. Pickens, inquiring concerning
| Col Lamou whose visit to Charleston he supposed had
connection with the proposed evacuation OF Fort SaG
| ter.
left that with you, and was to have an answer the
folio ing Monday list APRIL On the lst OF April !
received from you the statement in writing 'l sat
sed the Government will not undertake TO supply Fort
Sumter without giving nouco to Gov T." Ths words
| 81 am sat,fed" were for to expressive OF
| confidence in the remainder Of the declaration.
| The proposition, originally prepared was: "Tho
President may desire TO supply Sumter, but will Lot do
so" &C.. and 70 verbal explanation was, that you did
not believe all such attempt would be made, and that
| there was no design to reinforce Sumter.
There departure here from the pledges oil the
previous month, but with the verbal explanation did
| not consider it a matter then to complain Ol simply
stated to you that hld that ASSURANCE previously.
On the 9Th April addressed you letter on the sub
ec Of the alarm that the preparations by the Govern
ment had created aud asked If the had
civ n were well, or iloundcd In respect Sumter,
your reply was Faith to Sumter, fully kep-wa aud
| see" In the mornings paper | read: AN authorized
me senger from President LINCOLN informed Gov. PICK
ENs and Gen BEAUREGARD tha' provisions will be sent
TO Fort Sumter peaceaoly, otherwise, by Jorce. This
was the Sth Of April at Charleston the day following
your last assurance and il the evidence CT the full faith
was invited 10 wait for and In the paper,
read that intercepted dispatches disclosed the fact that
Mr.. Fox who had been allowed to visit jDr ANDER-
SON. on the pledge that his purpose was pacific, employ
ed his opportunity TO devise pau for supplying the fort
by force and that this plan had been adopted by the
Washington Government and in process of eXecu-
| ton. Nv recollection of the date of Mr.. FoXs
visit carries it TO dav in March. learn lie is
| a near connection Of member of the Cabinet
Nv connection with the Commissioners and your
self was supernduccd by conversation with JUsTlcs
NELSON lie informed me OF your strong dispositiOns in
favor of peace, and that you oppressed with de-
mand of the Commissioners of the Confederate States for
reply their first letter and HAT you deeired to avoid
it. il possible that time. told him might perhaps,
| be OF some service in arranging the difficulty came
10 your oiice entirely bis request and without the
| knowledge Of either of the Commissioners. Your de-
preston obvious to both Judge NELSON and myself.
was gra ed the character Of the cognsels you
desitous of pursuing and much impressed with your Oo
seryaion that civil might be prevented by the
Gees OF my mediation. You read letter OF Mr.. WEED,
TO show how irksome and responsible the Withdrawal OF
t:oops from Sumter portion oil my commnnica-
ton to Judge CRAWFORD on the 9th Of March found
ed upon these remarks and the pledge evacuate Fort
Sumter il ess iorcible than the wcrdS s"'P'~rs IT,
T,- vurce Werei "Deiore this letter reaches you Ia
proposed letter by me to President DAVIS Sumter will
| have been evacuated"
The Commissioners who received those communica.
tons conclude they have been abused and overresched
The Montgomery Government hold the same Of lnion-
The Commissioners have supposed that my ccmmunica-
tous were with you and upon the hypothesis prt par
TO araign you before the country in connection with the
President placed peremtory prohibition upon this
as being contrary to the terms OF my COMMUNICATIONS
| with them pledged myself to th2,4 10 communicate
| hat tha host ant hnf.
ty aud they we're TO confde in the ability Of myself aid
ed by Judge Nelson to determine upon the credibty Of
my informant
l think no candid man will read over what have
written, aEd censdeT for moment what is going on al
Sumter but will agree that the eq1vocal conduct OF the
Administration measured aud interpreted in connec
tion with these promises is the p;o1mae cause OF the
great calamity.
have profound conviction that the kilograms OF the
Sth of April of General Beauregad, aud Of the 10th q
April Of General Walker the Secretary of War, can bt
referred to nothing else than their belief that there ha
been systematic dupcity pTacsaed on them through me
1t is uader oppressive sense OF the weight OF the res
popsbiy that submit to you these things for your ez
plauaton Very respectfully,
lSigned) JOHN A. CAMPBELL.
| Associate Justice Of the Supreme Court U. s.
| Hon. WM II. SEWARD, Secretary OF State.
DISPATCHES TO L 2. WALKER, sECRxsART OF WAR
An authorize m ssagc fIon President Lincoln just in
formed GOyctnOr fcGenS ana tuat plo'lsioi
will he sent 10 Fort Sumter peaceably or other"'se b.
| force.
Gen. y. g. r Re0rsgafd'
II You have TO doubt tie authorized character Q
the agent who communicated to you the intention oil IT,
Washington Government to supply Fort Sumter by -
YOU will at once demand s evacuation and IL t(s Is re
fused proceed in such manner as you may dete>c,-e
reduce it.
| WASHINGTON Cry April 20, 1861.
SrR: enclose you letter corresponding very nearl
with one addressed you week ago, lS.h April
TO which have not had any reply. The letter ID simpl
one of enouy in reference TO facts concerning which
think am entitled to explanation. haze not adop
ed any opinion in reference to them which my rot
modified by explanation, nor have affirmed n thst e
ter, nor do in this any conclusion o Iy oSa unfaVo
able to your int gritty in the whole transaction.
All that have cid. and mean 10 say, is that an e'
p'anatop Is due from you to myself ! will not 50
what shall do in case this request is not complied will
but am justified in saying that shall feel ss liberty