The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-01-16
CORRESPONDENCE.
BETWEEN THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
COMMISSIONERS OF SOUTH CAR
OLINA.

lhe following correspondence was read
III secret session, IN the State Convention,
on Friday, and from which the Injunction
oi secrecy was removed.
WAsHINGroN, December %, 1860.
SIR We have the honor 10 trans
inIt TO you copy OF tho full powers.
from the Convention Of the people of
South Carolina, under which We arc "au q.
thorzed and empov cred to treat with
the Government o. the United States for
the d,iirery OF the iorIs, magazines, light
houses, and other real estate, With their
appertenances, within tho limits Of South
Carolina, and also for an apportionment
Of the public debt, and Tor division Of
all the property held Dy tie Government
Of the United States, a. agent Of the
Contederaied States, Of which South Car
DINA was recently member, aud gene
| rally To negotiate s to all other meas
ures and arrangements proper to be made
and adopted in tho existing relation of
| the parties, and for the continuance Of
peace and amity between this Common
wealth and the Government At Washing
ton"
in the execution Of this trust, it is our
duty TO furnish you, as we now do, with
al official copy OF the Ordinance Of Sc
cession, by which the State Of South Car.
olina has resumed the powers she delega-
ted to the Government of the United
States, and has declared her perfect sov.
ereignty aud independence
II wouid also have been our duty to
have informed you that We were ready
to negotiate with you upon all such qnes
lions as are necessarily raised by the
adoption of this Ordinance, and that we
were prepared to enter upon this negotia,
ton with the earnest desire to avoid all
unnecessary and hostile collision, and 40
TO inaugurate ouI new relations AS to 81
cure mutual respect, general advantage,
and future OF good will and harmony,
beneficial to nil the parties concerned.
But the events Of the last twenty -four
hours rendered such an assurance impos.
sible. We came here the representatives
Of an authority which could ut auy time
within the past sixty days have taken pos
session Of the forts in Charleston harbor
but, upon pledges given in manner tina,
we cannot doubt, determined 10 trns. to
your honor than to its own powor Since
our arrival an officer of the Unied States
acting, as We are assured, not only with
out, but against, your orders, has dismap
tied one fort and occupied another, thus
altering TO most important extent the
condition OF affairs under which We came
Until these circumstances are explain
ed in manner which relieves us Of ali
doubt as to lbe spirit in which these ne
goliations shall be conducted, we are for.
c,d TO suspend MI discussion as 70 any
arrangements bv which our mutual inter
esls might be smicaby adjusted.
And, in conclusion, we would urge up
on you the immediate withdrawal OF the
troops from The Earbor Of Charleston. -
Under present circumstances, they are a
standing menace which renders Dego,ia
,ion impossible. and. as our recent expe
riencs shows, threatens speedily to bring
to bloody issue questions which oueh
TO be settled with temperance and judg
ment.
We have the honor to be, veTy respect
| fully, your obedient servants.
| X. w. BARNWELL, J
! j. ii. ADAMS, Corners
/ JAMES L. ORR,
To Tue President OF the United States
%
| WAsnIsGroS CIrY, Dec. 80, 1860
j Gentlemen IL have had The honor &,