Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-01-08

Correspondence between the President Of the
United states and the Commissioners Of
South Carolina.
The following highly Interesting correspond
ence between the President Of the United States
and the Commissioners Of South Carolina was laid
before the " Sovereign" Convention Of that State,
in secret session, on Friday night last
LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT.
WASHING TON, Dec -, 1850
Strive have the honor to transmit to Won a
copy OF the full powers from the Convention os
the people Of South Carolina, under which we are
Government of the United States for the deliyerv
Of the forts, magazines, light houses and other
real estate, with their appurtenances within the
limits OF South Carolina, and also for an appor.
tonment OF the public debt and for division Of
all the property held by the Government Of the
United States, agent Of the Confederated States
Of which South Carolina was recently member
and generally to negotiate to all other measures
and arrangements proper to be made and adopted
In the existing relation Of the parties and for the
continuance OF peace and amity between this
Commonwealth and the Government at Washing
ton.
In the execution Of this trust it 10 our duty to
furnish you, we now do, with an official cow
OF the ordinance Of secession, by which the State
delegated to the Government of the United S,ates
and has declared her perfect sovereignty and in.
dependence.
1t would also have been our duty to- have in.
formed you that we were ready to negotiate with
you upon all such questions as are necessarily
raised by the adoption of this ordinance, and that
we Were prepared to enter upon this neg citation
with the earnest desire to avoid all unnece ssary
| and HUSTLE collision, and so to inaugu,ate our
new relations as to secure mutual respect general
advantage and future Of good will and harmony,
beneficial to all the parties concerned
But the events Of the last twenty-four hours
iehoef such an assurance impossible. We came
here the representatives Of an authority which
could at any time within the past sixty DAYS have
taken posse Of the forts In Charleston barbor
but upon pledges given In manner that we cam
| not doabt, determined TO trust TO your honor
| rather than to Its own power. Since our arrival
an officer Of the United States, acting as we ate
assured, not only without but against your orders
has dismantled one fort and occupied another
thus altering to most important extent the con-
dition OF affairs under which we came
Until these circumstances are explained in a
manner which relieves US of all doubt as to the
spirit in which these negotiations shall be con-
Quoted, we are forced to suspend all discussion
as to any arrangements by which our mutual in
| tefests might be amcably adjusted
And, in conclusion we would urge upon YOU
the immediate withdrawal of the troops from the
harbor of Charleston. Under present circum-
stances they are standing menace which rem
ders negotiation impossible, and, as our recent
experience shows, threatens speedily to bring 10
bloody issue questions which ought to be set
| tied with temperance aud Judgment
We have the honor to be, very respectfully.
your obedient servants
X. w. BARNwELL,)
| j. III. ADAMS, Commissioners
JAMES l.. ORR,
To the President Of the United States