Weekly Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-01-11
The President and the South Carolina
consnta afonnRa

rhe ffeaidentA reply II uate0 december ~ ne gives
lte full history fhis proceedings in reference to the y.
nth Carolina movement up to that time and of the
es by which he has been governed y, y
lie then proceeds consider the alleged pedgs about
iich much has bseu sa that change would be made
the military arrangements at Charleston. He says; :,
"On Saturday, 9Th December, four OF the Representa-
yes from South Carolina called on me and requested au
erFew, We had earnest conversation the subject
these forts and the best Of preventing collision
etween the parties for the purpose Of spang the esion
best to put In writing what they said to verbally
hey did accordingly aud Monday morning. the 10th
nstant three Of them presented paper signed by
III the Representatives from South Carolina with single
Exception, of which The following iss copy;
To ms Erctiienoy james Buchanan, President tnisd
States;
express TO you strong convictions that neither the
constituted authorities any body of the people Of the
United States forts in the hnrbor OF Charleston previously
10 the action OF the Convention and hope and believe
to negotiate for amicabe Arrangement
Of all matters between the State and the Federal Govern
ment provided that einforcements shall be seu into
those forts and their relative military status remain
as al present ..
NJ. L. B0NHAM,
W. W. BOYCK,
LAURENCE NJ. KE1Tf
WARRINGTON, 9th December, 1850.
aAnd here must In Justice to myself remark that, at
the time tho paper was presented to me- obcted to the
ment oa my part which never would make. They said
that nothing was further from their inieniion-they did
not So understand It. and should not as consider IL
,ghis paper received most cordially and considered II |
happy that peace might still be preserved, and
mat time might be thus given for reelection hs i the
whole foundation for the alleged pledge But acted in
the would have done had entered into
positive and formed agreement with parties capable of
contracting although such an agreement would have been
my part from the nature Of my official duties, mpns
sible. The world knows that have sent any rein
forcements to the forts In Charleston harbor and have
certainly authorized any change to be made in their
relative military Bearing upon this subject
18th instant Major Anderson hut not brought my
notice until the 2lst instant, 1t Is as fOllows'
Memoranda Of Verbal Instructions % Major anderson, la
Artillery, LoiamdHdng Fort Moutire, South Caroline:
You are aware the great anxiety OF the Secretary Of
War that collision Of the troops with the people Of the
State shall be avoided and of his studied determination to
pursue with reference the military force aud
fors In this harbOr which shall guard against such col
ision. He has therefore, carefully abstaned from in
ceasng the force at this point Or taking any measures
mind, or which would throw any doubt the confidence
he feels that South Carolina will not attempt by violence
obtain possession of the public works or Interfere with
their occupancy.
But as the counsel aud acts of rash and impusiye per-
may possibly disappoiut these expectations Of the
Government he deems proper that you should be pre-
pared with instructions to meet unhappy contingency
lie has therefore, directed me verbally to give You such
instructions
You carefully to avoid every act which would need
ot without necessity to take up any position which
could lie construed into TIT assumption Of hostile attitude;
but you are to hold possession Of the forts in this haibor
and If attacked you are to defend yourself to the last ok
tremlty.
The smalness of your force will not permit you perhaps
to oecupy than OF the three forts but attack
attempt take possession of either Of them, will b.
regarded al an act Of hostility and you may then put YOU
command into either Of them which you may deem mos
proper 10 increase its power OF resistance. lou ala
d evidence # Il design 10 proceed 70 hostile act,
D. +. BUTLER,
10 Assistant Adjutant General
/, Fort Moultfie, S. c., Dec. IL, 1860.
This lain conformity to my Instructions to Major Bue
10 JOHN b. FLOYD,
Secretary Of War,
II is certainly questionable whether the last sentence
these instructions did not fully authorize Major Anderso
IS to change his position for by all the accounts froi
Charleston which have reached US there seems little doul
e that he had abundance of angble evidence of
sigu capture Fort sumpter attack Fort Moultre N
. Preadent concludes as follows;
IL at Is under all these circumstances that am urge
s. immediately withdraw the troops from the hafIor
Charleston; and am informed that negotiation Is inpos
IN Bile. This IelRHot do; this igR not do Such i'd,
thought Of by me In any possible contiugenc
No such allusien had been in any communication betwe
myself and any human being But the inference Is that
bound to withdraw the troops from the only fort
manning in possession Of the United States in the arb
ed the thought proper, without instructions, chan
Ia. his position from one Of them to another.
~ "At this point Of writing have received nformaiin
tn by telegraph from Captain Humphreys, in command
,m the Afsensai at Charleston that it has to-day (sund
no aOh) been taken by force Of arms It is estimated tn
NO the munitions of war belonging the United States
this arsenal, are worth half million Of dollars.
F'lOlnment
only to add that whilst it is my duty to defend +,
sumper portion of the public property Of the Unit
or states against hostile atacss from whatever quarter h
M may come, by such means may possess for this
A pose do not perceive how such defence can be q
srued into menace ag INST the city OF Charleston
nd with great personal regard, remain your very
We | speetfully. JAMIE BUCHANAN
9 @ sTo Honorable Robert w Barnwsll james IL Adar
20 James L. Orr"
M The Commissioners replied TO this letter. under date
Januarv l. 1861, and they bitterly uplrAd him for
.ue,ed eha an0a in 10 course
ma al weeks ago, they say;
vim Seeing very clearly that this question opropery wa
difficult and delicate one you manifested desire set
1t without collision. You did not reinforce the garri
"a and veteran officer from the command Of Fort Moult
II bscause he ATTEMPTED to increase his supply of Ammu
son. when applied for by the ocer appointed to
coed HIM Yei accepted Mefesignation Of ihe oldest
mos, eminent member Of your Cabinet, rdler than al
he garrison BE- sreHgihsnsd You compelled OIL
stationed at Fort sumper 10 return Immediately to
Arsenal forty muskes which he had taken to arm his
You expressed, not 10 one but to many Of the most
nguished Of our public characters whose testimony
neil placed upon the record, whenever is necessary
anxiety for peaeeul termination Of this eontrove
rost aud your Willingness not to disturb the military atu
the forts, II Commissioners should be sent to the Cove
OUT ment whose communications you promised to submi
ol.- Congress
be- After continuing in this strain for time they
wise refer to his refusal to withdraw the troops from the CT
and lesion harbOr;
"In relation this Withdrawal Of tile troops from
now harbor compelled, however to notice pas
Of your letter. Referring to II you say; sTls cannoi
m This will not do. Such an idea was never thought
ae me- in any possible contingency. No aluson TO 1t
who ever been made in any communication between IN,
,nsr and any hnman being
RI I'm reply to this statement We are compelled to sa
pi that your conversation with US left upon minds
distinct impression that did seriously contemplate
treet withdrawal the troops om Charleston hArbor An
support this impression would add, thatwe have
anee pve Of gentlemen Of the highest poss
Iron public reputation and the most unsulled integrity
,ood whose aud fame secured by long service and
tic achievement place their testimony beyond eavii-
WI such suggestions mad been made to and urged upon
ther by them aud bad formed the subject more than
ihe earnest discussion with YOU And 1t this knowlt
that induced us TO urge upon you policy which ha
u. recommend IL It's own wisdom and the weight Of !
authority
"As 10 the second point, that the authorities OF So
Carolina, instead of asking explanations, and giving
aph the RPouGs Of bs United sSe ws sVs 5d
1ig first that 1t this II does not avail you
tile Ssone % th"ss os scs pcsurred We arrived n WssS,
ON wednesday. The news from Major Anderson reac
as here early on Ih9day ana was iTamesia,ey comm
tOn-men who had striyen successfully to lf you 10 J
great oNicswho had been your tried and true iit
lions and eutreated you to aet-to act at once.
NAV "They told you that every hour complicated your
ey finn Ihey only aaked you to give the TIL
to he facts were sothat If the commander had acted
H. out aud against your orders and in violation Of
II pledges-you would restore the status you had pel
wish gouT honor 10 maintain You refused to decide
oud Secretary Of wayOur immediate and proper advise
nion this whole matterwaited anxiouHy for your deci
,n,as until he felt that delay was becoming dshonor"
. the They conclude their letter as fOllOws
they "By your you have probably rendered civil
ea of inevitable Be Ifyou choose to force the Issue
u.s. the state Of South Carolina will accept H. and rel
u on upon him the God OF Justice we'll the Go
ne Hosts will endeavor to perform the great duty which
hem before her. hopefully prAvelyi ane .noLougniSy.
your note leaving without hope Of withdrawal Of
troops from Fort sumpter, Of the restoration Of
liter fs qao existing at the time of our arrival aud n
ork ing a. We think your 70
Dec @ ~ bst nv wa Durpose eturnIn 70 ohsresio5
ates morrow afternoon"
That This letter which Is one of the most mpersinsnt
'es insulting spse sent to the ruler Of great eoun
ling was not replied to at all by the President further
nm -, -. ,,,...,,a,t.