The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1861-05-09


crate States of America, and for the settle
ment of all question Of disagreement be-
tween the two Government upon principles
Of right, justice, equity aud good faith
1t was my pleasure as well as my duty,
to cooperate with you in this work ofI
peace. Indeed, in my address to you on
taking the oath of Office, md before re.
ceiving from you the communication. of
this resolution, / had said, "as q necessity,
not choice, we have resorted to the RENE.
dy OF scperation, and henceforth our ener-
gies must be directed to the conduct OF our
own affairs and the pcrpetuity OF the Con-
fcderacy which we have formed. II al
just perception of mutual interest shall
permit us peaccably to pursue our separ.
ate political career, my most earnest desire
will have been filed.
1t was in furtherance of this accordsnt
views of the Congress and the Executive,
that made choice of three discreet, able
and distinguished citizens, who repaired TO
Washington. Aided by their cordial CO.
operation, and that of the Secretary ofI
State, every effort compatible with self:
respect and the dignity of the Confederacy
was exhausted before i allowed myself to
yield to the conviction that the government
OF the United States was determined To-
attempt the conquest Of this people, and
that our cherished hopes OF peace were
unattainable. 4
Cn the arrival of our Commissioners
IN Washington, on the 9th March, they
| proposed, Mt the instigation of a friendly
intermediary, doing more than giving in
formal notice of their arrival. This was
done with view TO afford time to the
President, who had just been inaugurated.
for the discharge # other pressing official
duties in the organization OF his Adminis-
tration, before engaging his attention in
the object of their mission. 1t was no,
until the 18th Of the month that they of
ticially addressed the Sceretory of State,
informing him of the purpose OF their arri-
val, and stating in the lnnguage of their
Instructions their wish "to make to the
government of the United States overtures
for the opening of negotiations, assurin.
the government OF the United States, that
the President, Congress and people of the
! Confederate States earnestly desire peace.
tsl solution of these great questions; );
that it is neither their interest nor their
wish to make any demand which is not
founded on strictest justice, nor do any act
to injure their late coniederates."
| To this communication no formal reply
was received until the Sth April During
the interval the Commissioners had con.
sented to waive all questions of form
SiNtA che i,I.; .'cSSlse to owed war # pos
siblc, they went SO far, even, as to hold
during that long period, unofficial inter
course, through nn intermediary, whose
high position aud character inspired the
hope of success, and through whom CON-
slant assurances were received from the
Government of The United States of peace
ful intentions of the determination to
evacuate Fort Sumter; and further, that
no measure charging TIE existing status
prejpdlciully To the Confederate States, es-
peclally at Fort Pickens, was in contcno.
plation, but that In the event of any change
OF Intention on the subject, notice would
be given to the Commissioners. The
crooked paths OF diplomacy can scarcely
furnish an example 50 wanting in courtesy,
intairnees in candor, and drectaes., sa
was the course of the United States Gov.
ernmcnt towards our Commissioners ot
Washin2top. For proof OF this refer TO
the annexed documents, marked, taken
\ Il
now proceed to relate:
Early in April the attention Of the whole
country, us well as that of our Commissions
ers, was attracted to extraordinary prepa-
rations Tor an extensive military and naval
expedition in New York and Nothern ports
These preparations commenced in secrecy,
for an expedition whose destination was
concealed, only became known when nearly
completed, aud on the 9th, Oil, and 1th
April, transports and vessels of war, with
troops, munitions aud military supplies,
sailed irom Northern ports bound South.
wards. Alarmed by so extraordinary a
demonstration, the Commissioners request
ed the delivery OF an answer to their otfic-
Ill communication of the 18th March, AMI
thereupon received, on the Sth April, n
reply dated on the 18th of the previous
month, from which it appears that, during
the whole interval, whist the Commission
ers were receiving assurances calculated to
inspire hope of the success of their mission,
the Secretary OF State aud the President
of the United States had determined to
hold no intercourse with them whatever: !:
TO refuse even to listen to any proposals
they had to make, and had profted by the
de.ay created by their own assurances, In
order to prepare secretly the means for eff
fective hostile operations.
That these assurances were given, has
been virtually confessed by the Govern
nent of the United States by its sending a
messenger to Charleston. to gi,e notice OF
Its purpose, to use force, if opposed in its
intention of supplying Fort Sumter. No
more striking proof Of the absence OF good
faith in the condact of the Government of
the United States towards the ConiedeIacy
eau be required than is contained in the
circumstances Which accompanied this no.
tice. According to the usual course oil
navigation, the vessels composing the ex-
petition design for the relief OF Fort Sum.
! ter, might be expected to reach Charleston