Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1861-05-17
THE TREAcHERY OF THE LINCOLN GOV.
ERWEMT

6hMc
Prssidsnt Davis has recently communicated
to tho Congress al Montgomery sral impor-
tant documents, which set forth a striking
point OF view the bad faith Of the Liucoln Gov.
ernment, in tho negotiations relating to the
surrsnder of Fort Sumter.
These documents contain two letters from
the Hun. John a. Campbell, a Judge Of the
Supreme Court. addressed to VIM. II. Seward,
Secretary ofs5tate, aud present in detai the
assurances. vssbal and written, which were
given by Seward. that Fort Sumter would not
be supplied or reinforced. but utter short de
lay, would be surrendered.
Judge Campbell acted as a mediator between
Seward aud our Commissioners. and al the So
licitation Of Judge Nelson who informed him
Of Stewards strong disposition in favor Of
peace. and his desire to avoid an immediate re-
ply to the demand Of the commissioners In
connection with Judge Nelson, he had an inter.
view with the Secretary at his office. and was
assured by him. that his intervention might
prevent civil war. With the knowledge OF
Seward, he then wrote to Judge Crawford. QUE
Of the Commissioners, assuring him. that Sum.
ter would be evacuated in five days-ttat the
Government had no intention Of changing the
present status of affairs to the prejudice Of the
Southland asking that an immediate answer
to their demand should not be pressed.
Fort Sumter was not evacuated as promised,
within the five days, but Seward in repeated
conversations in the presence of Judge Nelsan;
assured Judge Campbell, that this failure was
not the result of bad faith. but was attributa-
bic to causes consistent with the intention to
fulall the engagement
Next follown telegram from Governor
Pickens. making enquiry as to Lannon's mission
10 Charleston, and Seward'a verbal assurance
to<Judge Campbell, that no attempt would
be made to supply the tort. and that there was
no intention TO reinforce. And then as late rs
the 7th of April. in reply to letter of Jud. e
Campbell making enquiry ns to the prepara-
tions of the Government and the validity of
the assurances, Seward replies-"Faith as TO
Sumter fully kept--wait and see."
Yet on the very next day the morning pa
per announced that an authorized messenger
from Lincoln. hnd informed the South Curo-
lima authorities, that provisions would be sent
to Fort Sumter at all hazurda. Aud the same
paper stated that intercepted dispatches dis
closed the fact thai Mr. Fox who had been al
lowed to visit the fort, under the pledge that
his miesion wns pacific, had used the opportu-
nifty 10 deviae plan TO supply the Fort by
force, which scheme the Government was
then carrying into execution.
We believe that the annals of Diplomacy
could scarcely exhibit similar instance of du-
plicity and treachery as that which has been
exposed. The ietters of Judge Campbell have
ELECTED no reply from Seward. Their state.
ments conld not be gain ayed-t bad faith
of the Government admitted Of, neither expla-
tlon, nor extenuaiioa.
From such Government, we have nothing
to expect, except what we may extort from
their iears. If we obtain peace we mustacpp:
quer it, and can only hope TO secure our rigkia
by showing our ability to maintain them: IL !: