Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-05-08

~ reatlOnS OetWeen tDaS xVseru oiis s.au So OVu-
derate States Of America and Cor the settlement of
all questions Of disagreement between the two gov
ernments upon principles Of right justice, equity
and gooefaith." .s
Twas my pleasure as we'll as my duty, to coop
crate with you in this work Of peace. Indeed, in
my address to you on taking the oath of office, and
before receiving from you the communication of this
resolution, said, "as necessity, not choice, we
have resorted the remedy of separation and hence
forth energies must be directed to the conduct
of our own affairs and the perpetuty of the Confed
aracy which we have formed. If just PERCEPTION
of mutual interest shall permit peaceably to pur
sue our separate political career, my most earnest
desire will have been fulfilled" nos
1t was in furtherance of these accordant views of
the Congress and the Executive, that made choice
of three discreet, able and distinguished citizens
who repaired to Washington. Aided by their cor
dial cooperation and that Of the Secretary Of State
every effort compatible with self-respect and the
dignity of the Confederacy, was exhaused before
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 uattanable.
On the arrival of our commissioners in Washing
ton, on the 9th March, they postponed, at the sug
gestion of friendly intermediary, doing more than
giving informal notice of their arrival. This was
done with view to afford time to the President
who had just been naugurated, for the discharge of
other pressing official duties in the organization of
his administration before engaging his attention in
the object of their mission. 1t was not until the
18th Of the month that they officially addressed the
Secretary of State, informing him of the purpose
Of their arrival and stating in the language of their
instructions their wish to make to the government
Of the United States overturcs for the opening of
negotiations assuring the government Of the United
States. that the President Congress and people of
the Confederate States earnestly desire peaceful
solution of these great questions that it is neither
their interest nor their wish to make any demand
which is not founded on the srctest Justice nor to do
any act to injure their late confederates"
10 this communication no formal reply was re-
ceved until the 9Th Of April. During the interval,
the Commissioners had consented to waive all ques.
tions'of form. With the firm resolve to avoid war
possible, they went so far even to hold during
that long period, unofficial intercourse, through an
intermediary, whose high position and character, in
spired the hope of success, and through whom con-
slant assurances were received from the Govern
ment of the United States, of peaceful Intentions
of the determination to evacuate Fort Sumter; and
further, that no measure, changing the existing
status prejudcial to the Confederate States espe.
cially at Fort Pickens, was in contemplation, but
that in the event of any change of intention the
subject notice would be given to the Commissioners.
The crooked paths of diplomacy can scarcely fur
nish an example so wanting in courtesy, in candor,
and directness, as was the course Of the United
States Government towards our Commissioners in
Washington. For proof of this, l refer to the an
neXed documents marked -, taken in connection
with further facts which now proceed to relate:
Early in April the attention Of the whole country
as we'll as that of our Commissioners was attracted
to extraordinary preparations for an extensive mill
tary and naval expedition in New York and other
northern ports. These preparations. commenced in
secrecy, for an expedition whose destination was
concealed only became known when nearly CON-
peted and on the 9Th, 9th and 7th April, transports
and vessels Of war, with troops munitions and mil
itaTy supplies, sailed from northern ports bound
southwards Alarmed by so extraordinary dem
onstration, the Commissioners requested the delv-
cry Of an answer to their oficia! communication of
the 18th March, and thereupon received on the 9Th
April, q reply dated on the 18th of the previous
month, from which it appears that during the whole
interval, whilst the Commissioners were receiving
assurances calculated to inspire hope of the success
of their mission, the Secretary of State and the
President of the United States had already deter
mined to hold no intercourse with them whatever;
to refuse even to listen to any proposals they had
to make. and had profted by the delay created by
their own assurances, in order to prepare secretly
the means for effective hostile operations
That these assurances were given, has been vir-
tuay confessed by the government of United States
by its sending . messenger to Charleston, to give
notice of its purpose, to use force if opposed in its
intention of supplying Fort Sumter. No more strk-
ing proof of the absence of good faith in the conduct
of the government of the United States towards this
Confederacy can be required than is contained in the
circumstances which accompanied this notice. Ac-
cordng to the usual course of navigation, the yes.
sells composing the expedition designed for relief of
Fort SUMTER might be expected to reach Charleston
harbor on the 9th April; yet with our Commission
ers actually in Washington, detained under assu-
RANGES that notice should be given of any military
movement the notice was not addressed to them,
but messenger was sent to Charleston to give the
notice to the Governor of South-Carolina, and the
notice was given at late hour on the 9Th April
the eve Of the very day which the fleet might be
expected to arrive That this manoeuvre failed in
its purpose not the fault of those who contrived
it A heavy tempest delayed the arrival of the ex.
petition, and gave time to the commander Of our
forces at Charleston to ask and receive the instruc
tions ofthis government. Even then, under all the
provocation incident to the contemptuous refusal
to listen to our Commissioners, and the tortuous
course of the government of the United States, was
sincerely anxious to avoid the eusion of blood anG
directed a proposal to be made to the commander o.
Fort SUMTER who had avowed himself to be nearly
out Of provisions, that We would abstain from di
recting fire Fort Sumter if he would promise
not to open fire on our forces unless first attacked
This proposal was refused and the conclusion wa.
reached that the design of the United States was t.
place the besiegng force at Charleston between tn
simultaneous fire of the feet and the fort Their
remained therefore, alternative but to direct tina
the fort should at once be reduced This order wa
executed by Gen. Beauregard, with the skill ant
success when, were naturally to be expected from
| the well known character of that gallant officer
and although the bombardment lasted but thirty
three hours, our flag did not waive over its battere'
walls, until after the appearance of the hostile flee
off Charleston. Fortunately not life was lost o,
our side and we were gra,ified in being spared tn
necessity Of useless efusion of blood by the pru
dent caution of the officers who commanded the feet
in abstaning from the evidently futile effort to en-
ter the harbor for the relief of Major Anderson.
refer to the report Of the Secretary of War and tn
papers which accompany it for further details o
this brilliant affair. a;
| In this connection cannot refrain from a we'll
deserved tribute to the noble State the eminentl,
soldieriy qualities Of whose people were so conspic
uously displayed in the port of Charleston. Fo