, 1861-01-10

Charleston; and second, that tho authorities
Of South Carolina, Instead Of asking e1plnna-
tion and giving yos the opportunity to vindi-
cato youtsel1 took possession Of othar prop
erty Of tho United efates.n..
The COMMISSIONERS then proceed to argna
that they never mado, the demand imputed to
them. They say they demanded nothing but
such An explanation Of events Is would re-
etbfe their GohadehEe III .the spirit in which
the negoaaudhs should be conducted. They
further say that thstr conversation With tie
President led to the belief TINT be did serious
y contemplate withdnwing the troops from
Charleston harbor: They continue. "as to the
Carolina, instead Of asking explanation and
giving yon the opportunity to yindicate your
sell, took possession Of other property Of the
United States, We would observe, first, that
even If this were so, 1t does not avail you for
defence, for the opportunity for decision was
arrived In Warrington on Wednesday,: The
news from Major Anderson reached here carly
on Thursday, and was Immediately communi-
catsd to you: I'LL thdt, dny men Of the highest
considerations, meh who had striTen success
fully to lift you to your great Office, who had
been your tried and true friends through the
troubles Of your Administration, sought you,
and entreated you to act-to act 1t once.
They told you that every hour complicated
your position. They only asked you to give
. the assurance thxt it the facts Here so-that II
the commander had acted without and against
your orders, and In violation Of your pledges
that you would restore the status you had
pledged your honor to maintain. You refused
to decide. Your Secretary Of War, your in
mediate and proper adviser In this whole mat
ter, waited an1iohsly for your decision, until
be felt that delay Was becoming dishonor.
More than twelve hours passed, aud two Cahi-
net meetings had adjourned, before you know
what the South Carolina authorities had done,
and your prompt decision at any moment Of
that time would hare avoided the subsequent
complications"
They then proceed to show that the act Of
Major Anderson was IN act Of WET without
tanned advantages through the misplaced con-
fdence Of the statc. They conclude thus:
"Be ths issue. what It may, Of this We are
asstired, that If Fort Aoultrie Ills been record
ed In history Us 3 memorial Of Carolina gal-
lantry, Fort Sumter will lire upon the snc-
eeeding page rs aa ampctishable testimony Of
Carolina faith. By your course you have pro
bably rendered ciyn war inevitable Be it SO !;
7 you choose to force this issue upon us, the
State Of South Csrolina will accept it, relying
upon Him who is the God Of Justice az well as
the God Of Hosts, will endeayor to perform the
great duty which Hes before her, hopefully,
brnye1y and thoroughly.
"Ohr mission being one for negotiation and
peace, and your nota leaving US without hope
OF a Withdrawal Of the troops from Fort Sum-
ter, OF the restoration of the sta&u quo existing
at the time Of our arrival, and intimatins, IS
ne think, your determination to reinforce the
garrison II the harbor Of Charleston. wc re-
specially inform you that nc purpose return
Ing to Charleston tomorrow afternoon"
The reception Of this document a. hereto
fore atated, was declined.