New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-01-08
R.W. BiRSNELl
i. n. ADAMS
IANEs l.. ORR,
To the Prcsid NJ ~ .hc ui'ri >'sies.


O. LNTN. | nave ndl W uOHh W i'''i'' '.''i
communication Of the 2sth instant, together wlh
COW Of your full powerr Of the Convention Of ~"
People OF South Carolina, authorizing you I" treat
with the Government OF the Juited States ON various
IMPORTANT subjects therein mentioned and al-p COPY
of The Ordinance bearing date the 2Dth instant Do
clarrg that "tLe Unipn now ruh-isiing between
South Carolina aud other Siaics under the mih' "i
tie nited States If America, Il hereby Dissolved
In an, wer 10 ihi- communi alton have W say, tht
NV rosition "a President Of the United State, wis
ce1Ily defined in ny me--age 10 'nn2r,-s ON thr 81
instant In that stated that, "npar from the rNrcn'
ton Of The law ~ far this NAV be- practicable, The
Executive has authority 70 decide what shall he t"
relaions between tie Federal Government ara SCUM
Carolina lie has been invested with ~" such 81 Gro
ton. He pof-"s-cs no power 10 chnge me ~ i'ilN'
heretofore existing between them m1e1 less 20 hckh3Ml
edge the Independence Of that Stale lhls would DE
IN iuyes; "A mere Executive officer with The power O
recop1 izlng the dissolution Of the Couederhcy among
onr tiry-hreo ,overcign States III Dear no r'S"i-
bAnce 10 the recognition OF foreign dr tacf0 npV'r-
ment involving no such responsibility. Any aucmpi
to do Ills would on hi part be naked act 81 usnrr-
alton II j. therefore my duty 10 submit to Congr's
the whole quesiion in all It's beanngr.
Such is my opinion still could Therefore NEE
Won only ~ private gentlemen OF the highest character
end was entirely willing 10 communicate 20 Congress
any proposition you might have Ia make 10 that bjdy
ur0Il tie subject. or THE You were wei aware u
was my earnest desire thai such deposition nighi bo
n AIDE of The whole subject by Congress, who alone
posse.s the power, az to prevent the Inauguration 81
civil war beiW the parier IN regard to the ln-"s-
zion Of the Fcder: forts in the larhor Of Charleston;
and therefore deeply rogrc, that, IN your oPniIn
" the events of the la tweuiyi0nr h0u'r render thl'
impossible r..
N eonc,u.ion you urge upon me 81 the imm"dld e
withdrawal of the troops from the harbOF OF Charles
ton stating that under present circumstance. my
are standing menace which render. ho1''i'lol
irnpo. .ble. aud. d. our recent experience Hho"-'
threaten. speedily To bring 10 bloody fSue fne>i
wi ich ought 10 BE- settled with temperance nld J'dk
ment." ..u..
he reason for thi- change in yonr position II hat
since your arrival ia Washington, an officer al we
United States acting m iyou are assured no. only
without but against your imyl orders, hbs ulshhh'u
one fort and occupied another, thus altering 10 mot
important extent the condition OF Affairs uhdsf "h'h
,ve ia ON, came" Nou al-O alege that YOU came mere
tbe K.pregcUt atiycs Of an authority winch conld al
any time within the past sixty days have taken p",-
setsion of the forts in Charleston hab"r out WHICH,
upon pledge given IN manner that we YOU oauil"
doubt determined trust to your my honor rather
ttan to its power.
This briugs M 10 considerli "a Of The nature Of
those ALLEGED hedges and in what manner they have
been observed In my Message OF the "a oil December
last stated, in regard TO the properly OF ihe n',
states in South Carolina, that II has been purch'ol
for iar equivalent by the consent OF the Lessa' ire
of the State for the erection OF fods magazines, ~
senala &C. and over these the authority 10 exercise
exclusive legislation, has been expressly g7nt,l 10y
tie Constitution TO Congess. II is noi Geney'd thhl
any attempt VIII be- made 10 expel The United >ihgs
from Ills property by force; but II M this should
prove 10 be- mistaken, the officer in command oi To"
forts has received orders 10 act strictly on the defensive
In ench contingency, the responhblhiy ior GoA-e-
ouences would glully rest upon the heads OF the ~
sailmis.'
Til beirg H., condition Of parties, on saturday
Dec g. four ot tie Representatives from South t!Io-
lna called on me, and requested AN interview W.
had all earnest conversation on the Snole'' ~ u" y
fors aud the best Of preventing c"liTloh De
tween the parties, for the purpose 81 .pathg he .lu
zion Of blood suggested for prudential reasons thai
it would be best to put in wning w'hi' th'y hh 5an
10 me verbally. They did 80 accordingly ana on mon
d,y morning. the 0;h inst three OF them praenici io
me paIcr signed by all the Representative: rom
Sorih Carroll with single exception oi winch 'ue
following is copy:
" To Hi Izieay JAMES BronAN'N Precedent % "' ""''
In compliance with s'sienen! to {o ytesda{ v. noT
a,"s anS6tie nor any body the people Of lhe ssle Of
soub Caroline win either attack uet the United states
forts I'm The habo Of Charleston previously 10 the action Of hr
Cny"op and ~ hope aud believe until offer haf been
made through An uccreded representative to negotiate Ter en-
Federal ovcincnt provided that no Teenoreomen sil be
into the forts ADD their relative n,S ' GS s'i fs remain
at present - ~ n pnSHAw
.Ua,hinetoa. Dec. 9, 1860" LAURENCE NJ htIIE
And here must, in Justice to myself, remark that
at The time the paper presented 10 me, OBJECTED
ia the word provided az 1t might be construed in,9
an agreement on my part when ! meyer yer W ,ha;i
rake They sd that nothing was further IRON their
irtention-hey did not understand II, aud should
not 40 consider it, 1t il evident they could enter into
no reciprocal agreement with me on the subject ihey
IA NOT nroess 10 have authority 10 do this, and were
acting in their individual character considered il as
no,Iina more in effect than the promise of highly ho
orbe gentlemen to exert their influence for The pnr'
The event has proven that they have faithfully kept
thor nromise although have never since received
inc from any one of them, or from any member o. inc
Convention on The subject. II well known 1t was
my determination and this freely eNe rsSn moe 20 co
s,on mill thew had been actually attacked, OF until
had certain evidence that they were about to be at
tackled This paper received most cordial and On nIn
sidered Il az happy that peace might o.iii De
-. snrred and la lime nish ~ ihns glNln ~ ~.