Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1861-01-19
THE GOVERNOR S REPLY.
STATE OF SoUTu CAROLINA,
EXECUTIVE OFFICE HEADQUARTERS

you make certain statements which very plain.
ly show that you have not been fully Informed
by your Government of the precise rclntions
which now exist between it arl the State of
South Carnlina. Official information has
been communicated to the Government of the
United States that the political connection
heretofore existing between the State of South
Carolina and the States which were known rs
the United States had ceased and that the
State of South Carolina had resumed all the
powers it had delegated to the United States
under the compact known as the Constitution
of the United States. The right which the
State of South Carolina possessed to change
the political relations which she had held with
the other States, under the Constitution of
the United States, has been solemnly asserted
by the people Of this State in Convention,
and now does not admit of discussion
In anticipation of the Ordnacc of Scccs,
sion, of which tho President of the United
States had official notifications it was under
stood by him that sending any rcnforccments
OF. troops of the United States in the harbor
of Charleston would be regarded by the con
Stitutcd authorities of the State of South
Carolna as an act of hostility, and at the
same time it was understood by him that any
change IN the occupation OF the forts in the
harbor of Charleston would in like manner be
regarded as an act of hostility. Either or
both of these events occurring during the
period in which the State of South Carolina
constituted part of the United States, was
then distinctly notified to the President of
the United States as an act or acts of hoStili.
ty, because either or both would be regarded,
and could only be intended, to dispute the
right of the State of South Carolina to that
political independence which she has always
asserted and will always retain
Whatever would have been, during the
continuance of this State as member of the
United States, an act of hostility, became
much more so when the State of South Caro-
llua had dissolved all connection with the
Government of the United States. After
the secession of the State of South Carolina
Fort Sumter continued in the possession of
the troops of the United States How that
tort Is ut this time in the possession of the
troops OF the United States it is not necessary
to discuss. 1t will suffice to say that the oc-
cupancy of that fort has been regarded by
the State of South Carolina ms the first act of
positive hostility committed by the troops of
the United States within the limits of this
state and was in this light regarded as so I'm.
cquivocnl that 1t occasoncd the termination
OF the negotiation then pending at Washing
ton between the Commissioners Of the State
Of South Carolina and the President of the
United States
The attempt to reinforce the troops now in
Fort sumter, or to re take and resume possess
ion of the forts within the waters of this
State which you abandoned after spiking the
guns placed there, and doing otherwise much
damage. cannot be regarded by the authori-
tics of the State as indicative of any other
purpose than the coercion of the State by the
armed forces of your Government To repel
such an attempt is too plainly duty to allow
1t to be discussed, and while defending its wa.
tcrs, the authorities of the State have been
careful to conduct the affairs of the State so
that no act, however necessary for its defence
should lead to useless waste of life. Spc.
clal agents, therefore, have been off the Bar,
to warn all approaching vessels, if armed
or unarmcd, and having troops to rein
force the fort on board, not to enter har-
Dor of Charleston, and special orders have
been given to the commander of all the forts
and batteries not TO fire at such vessels until
a shot was fired across their bow, which would
warn them of the prohibition of the State
| Under these circumstances the Star of the
! ''N'Vi ~ J." JHIS morning atJcm u
ed to enter this harbor with troops on board
and having been notified that she could not
enter, was fired into. The act is perfectly
justified by me. In regard to your threat in
regard to vessels in the harbor, it is only nee
cssary to say that you must Judge of your re
sponsibiity. Your position in this harbol
has been tolerated by the authorities of the
State, and while the act of which you com
plain is in perfect consistency with the rights
and duties of the State, it is not perceived
how far the conduct which you propose t.
adopt can find parallel in the history Of an,
country, or be rcconoiied with any other pur
pose Of your Government than that of impo
sing upon this State the condition of con
qucrcd province.
Signed, u. W. PIcKENs.
Shortly after, Message No 6 from his Tx
cellency the Governor was received and read
as follows
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, January 8, 1861.
7oMe Senate aud House Of Rspresentotiyes
have just this moment received, under
white flag, from Major Anderson, command
ant at Fort Sumter, another note, copy O
which accompanies this.
Immediately granted the permission de
sired, and directed every facility and courtes
extended to the bearer Of his dspatche
Oicut TalboD for his Government, gcin