Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-05-21

j
/ gies must be directed to the conduct of our ow
| affairs and the perpetuity of the Confederac.
which we have formed. If just perception o
mutual interest shall permit us psaceably to pur
sue our separate political career, my most earn
| est desire will have been fulfilled"
1t was in furtherance of these accordant view
OF the Congress and the Executive that / made
choice Of three discreet, able and distinguished
citizens, who repaired to Washington. AideC
by their cordial cooperation, and that OF the
Secretary of State, every effort compatible witt
self-respect and the dignity Of the ConfederacJ
was exhausted before allowed myself to yield
to the conviction that the government of the U
5. was determined to attempt the conquest Of
this people, and that our cherished hopes OF
peace were unattainable. -e I
On the arrival of our Commissioners in Wash
'ngton, on the 9th March, they postponed, at the
suggestion of friendly intermediary, doing more
han giving informal notice of their arrival. This
was done with view to afford time to the Pres
dent whr had just been iDaugurated, for the
discharge of other pressing official duties in the
Organization of his administration, before en-
gsging his attention in the object of their mis-
zion. 1t was not until the 18th of the month
that they officially addressed the Secretary of
State, informing him of the purposes of their
arrival, and stating in the language of their in
s:ructions their wish to smake the Government
Of The United States overtures for the opening
of negotiations, assuring the Government of the
United States that the President, Congress and
people of the Confederate States earnestly de-
sire peaceful solution of these great questions;
that it is neither their interest their wish to
make any demand which is not founded on
strctest justice. Eor do any act to iDjure their
late confederate }.
To this communication no formal reply was
received until the 9th April. During the inter
val the Commissioners had consented to waive
all questions of form. With the firm resolve to
TO avoid war, if possible, they went so fai, even,
as to hold, during that long pericd unofficial in
tercourse, through an intermediary, whose high
position and character inspired the hope of sue
cess, and through whom constant assurances
were received from the Government of the Uni
ted States of peaceful intentions; of the deter
mination to evacuate Fort Sumter; that no meas
ure changing the existing status prejudicially to
the Confederate States, especially at Fort Pick
ems, was in contemplation, 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 so wanting in courtesy, in candor
aud direclness, as was the course OF the United
States Government towards our Commissioners
10 Washington. For proof OF this | refer to
che annexed documents marked --, taken
10 connection with further facts, which l now
proceed to relate:
Early in April the attention of the whole
country, as we'll as that of cur Commissioners,
9as attracted to extraordinary preparations for
III extensive military and naval expedition in
New York and other Northern ports. These
preparations commenced 10 secresy, for an expe
liton whose destination was concealed, only
became known when nea ly completed, and o.
the 9th, 9th and Tth of April, transports and
vessels of war, with troops, munitions and mill
tary supplies, sailed from Northern ports bound
S1uth wards. Alarmed by so extraordinary
demonstration, the Commissioners requested the
delivery of an answer to their official communi-
cation Of the 18th OF March, and thereupon re
c.ved. on the 9Th April, reply dated ca the
10Th of the previous month, from which 1t ap
pears that during the whole interval, whilst the
Commissioners were receiving assurances calcu
lated to inspire hope OF the success OF their mis-
sion, ths Secretary OF State and the President of
the United States had already determined to hold
90 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 preparations.
That these assurances were given has been
virtually confessed by the Government Of the
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 striking proof ot the
ABSENCE of good faith in the conduct OF the Gov
ernment of the United States towards this Con-
tederacy can be required, than is contained in
the circumstances which accompanied this no.
tice. According to the usual course of naviga-
tion. the vessels composing the expedition, de-
signed for the relief of Fort Sumter, might be
expected to reach Charleston harbor on the 9th
April; Yet with our Commissioners actually in
Washington. detained under assurances that no.
tice was not addressed to them, but messenger
was sent to Charleston to give tue notice to the
Governor of South Carolina and the notice was
so gwen ct late hour on the 9th of April, the
eve of the very day on which the feet might be
expected to arrive. That this manMuvre failed
10 its purpose as not the fault of those who
contrived it. A heavy tempest delayed the ar
rival of the expedition, and gave time to the
Commander OF our forces at Charleston to ask
and receive the instructions of this Government.
Even then, under all the provocation incident to
The contemptuous refusal to listen to our Com
missioners, and the tortuops course OF the Gov
ernment of the United States, | was sincerely
anxious to avoid the etfus,on Of blood, and di
rected proposal to be made to the Commander
of Fort Sumter, who had avowed himself to be
nearly out of provisions, that we would abstain
from directing our fire on Fort Sumter, II he
would promise not to open fire on our forces un-
less first attacked. This proposal was refused,
and the conclusion was reached that the design
Of the Uuited States was TO place the besieging
torce at Charleston, between the simultaneous
fire of the fleet and the fort. There remained,
therefore, no alternative but to direct that the
fort should at once be reduced This order was
executed by General Beauregard, with the skill
and success which we're naturally to be expected
from the well known character OF that gallant
officer !; and although the bombardnent lasted
out thirty three hours, flag did not wave over
It's battered walls until after the appearance OF
The hostile fleet off Charleston. Fortunately net
a life was lost on our side, aud we were gratitied
in being spared the necessity of useless etfusion
of blood by the prudent caution OF the officers
who commanded the fleet in abstaining from the
evidently futile effort to enter the harbor for the
relief of Major Anderson. refer to the report
of the Secretary OF War and the papers which
accompany il. for further details in this brilliant
affair, { ZeszsAs le 1 as -
In this connection cannot refrain from well
deserved tribute to the noble State, the eminent
soldierly qualities of whose people were so con-
spicuous by displayed in the port OF Charleston.
For months they had been irritated by the
spectacle of fortress held within their principal
harbor, as a standing menare against their peace
and independence Built in part with their own
money, its custody confded with their own con-
sent to an agent, who held no power over them
other than such as they themselves had delegated
tor their own benefit intended to be used by that