Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-05-08

all questions of disagreement between the two gov
ernments upon principles of right justice, equity
and gooe-faith."
1t was my pleasure as well as my duty. to COOP
crate with you in this work of peace. Indeed, in
my address to you taking the oath Of office, and
before receiving from you the communication Of this
resolution, | said, las necessity, not choice, we
have resorted the remedy Of separation, and hence
forth our energies must be directed to the conduct
of our affairs and the perpetuty Of the Confed-
aracy which we have formed. If a just PERCEPTION
Of mutual interest shall permit peaceably to pur-
sue separate political career my most earnest
desire will have been fulfilled"
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 seltrespect 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 uattainabe.
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
done with a view to afford time to the President
who had just been inaugurated 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 ito make to 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 desire peaceful
solution of these great questons that it is neither
their interest nor their wish to make any demand
which is not founded the Srctest justice nor to do
any act to inure their late confederates"
To this communication no formal reply was re-
ceived until the Sth Of April. During the interval
the Commissioners had consented to waive all ques-
lions of form. With the firm resolve to avoid war
if possible they went far even as to hold during
that long PERIOD unofficial intercourse, through an
intermediary, whose high position and character, in
sPlred 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 preludcial to the Confederate States espe-
ciay at Fort Pickens, 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 fur
nSh an example so wanting in courtesy, in candor,
and dIectneSs, as was the course of the United
States Government towards our Commissioners in
Washington. For proof Of this, | refer to the an
with further facts which now proceed to relate:
Early in April the attention of the whole country,
well as that OF our Commissioners, attracted
10 extraordinary preparations for 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 COM
picted and on the 5th 9th and 9TH 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 deliv-
cry Of an answer to their offcia, communication of
the 18th March, and thereupon received on the 9Th
April, 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
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-
tually confessed by the government of United States
by its sending messenger to Charleston, to give
notice of It's purpose, to use force if opposed in its
intention of supplying Fort Sumter No more strik.
ing proof of the absence Of good faith in the conduct
of the government Of the United States towards this
COnfederacy 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
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 so given at late hour the Sth April,
the of the very day on which the feet might be
expected to arrive. That this maneuvre 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 nstruc
tons Of this government Even then under all the
provocation incident to the contemptuous refusal
TO listen to our Commissioners, and the tortuous
Of the government Of the United States, was
sincerely anxious to avoid the efiusion OF blood and
directed 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 d.
recting our fire on Fort Sumter if he would promise
not 10 open fire forces unless first attacked.
This proposal was refused and the conclusion was
reached that the design Of the United States TO
place the besieging force at Charleston between the
simultaneous fire of the feet and the fort. There
remained therefore, no alternative but to direct that
the fort should at once be reduced. This order
executed by Gen. Beauregard with the skill and
success which were naturally to be expected from
the we'll known character of that gallant officer;
and although the bombardment lasted but thirty
three hours, flag did not waive over its battered
walls until after the appearance of the hostile fleet
off Charleston. Fortunately not life was lost on
our side and we were gratified in being spared the
necessity of useless effuson of blood by the pru
dent caution of the officers who commanded the feet
in abstainng from tie evidently futile effort to en-
ter the harbor for the relief of Major Anderson
refer to the report Of the Secretary of War and the
papers which accompany it for further details of
this brilliant affair.
In this connection cannot refrain from a WELL
deserved tribute to the noble State the eminenty
soldieriy qualities Of whose people were so conspic
uously displayed in the port of Charleston. For
months they had been rritated by the spectacle of
fortress held within their principal harbor, as a
standing menace against their peace and indepen-
dence Built in part with their money, its custody
cnnEded with their consent to AGENT who