Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1861-02-16
Hon. Isaac w. IEaync-

SIR: We arc apprlscd that you visit Wash
mgton as an Envoy from the State of South
! Carolina, bearing communication from the
Governor of your State to the President of
! the United States, in relation to Fort Sumter
Without knowing its contents, we venture to
| request you to defor its delivery to the Presi
dent fora few days or until you and he have
considered the suggestions which we beg
leave to submit
| we know that the possession of Fort Sum
ter by troops of the United States, coupled
with the circumstances under which it was
taken, is the chief if not only, source of
difficulty between the Government of South
Carolina and that of the United States We
would add, that we, too, think it Just cause
OF irritation and of apprehension on tire part
OF your State. But we have also assurances,
Notwithstanding the circumstances under
which Major Anderson left Fort Moultric and
entered Fort Sumter with the forces under his
| command that it WAS not taken, and is not
held, with any hostile OF unfricndly purpose
towards your State; but merely as property of
the United States, which the President deems
1T h's duty to protect and preserve.
We will not discuss the question of right
or duty on the part of either Government
touching that property, or the late acts of
either in relation thereto; but we think that,
without any compromise of right or breach of
duty on either side, an ancabe adjustment
OF the matter of differences may and should
be adopted We desire to see such an adjust
mcnt, ard to prevent war or the shedding of
blood. We represent States which have al-
ready seeded from the United States or will
have done so before the first of February
next, and which will meet your State in Con
hnti l., c.1. ..
month. Cur people feel that they have n
common destiny with your people and expect
to form with them, in that Convention, new
Confederation and Provisional Government.
We must ard will share your fortunes, suffer.
ing with you the evils of war, if it cannot be
avoided; and enjoying with you the blessings
of peace, if it can be preserved We there
fore, think it especially due from South Caro-
lima to our Statcs--to say nothing of other
slavcaolding Statcs-tlat she should, rs fan.
us she can consistently with Ter Eonor, avoid
initiating hostilitics between Eer and the Uni
ted States or any other Power. We have the
public declaration of the President, that he
has not the constitutional power or the will 20
make war on South Carolina, and that the
public peace shall not be disturbed by anynct
of hostility towards your State
We, therefore, see no reason WHY there may
not be n settlement Of existing difficulties, If
time be given for calm aud deliberate counsel
with those States Which are equally involved
with South Carolina. We, therefore. trust
that an arrangement will be agreed ON between
you aud the President, at least till the fr-
tccnth February next; by which time your
and our States may, in Convention devise
wise, just and pcaccablc solution of existing
difficulties.
In the meantime, we think your State
should suffer Major Anderson to obtain neccs.
sary supplies of food, fuel or water, and enjoy
free communicates by post or special mos
sengcr, with the Presidents upon the under
standing that the President will not send
him reinforcemcnts duripg the same period
We propose to submit this. proposition and
your answer to the President
If not clothed with power to mako such
arrangement, then we trust that you will sub
init our suggestions to the Governor of your
State for his instructions. Until You have re-
ccivcd and communicated his response to the
President, of course your State will not at.
tack Fort Sumter, and the President will not
offer to reinforce it.
We most respectfully submit these rropo-
sitons, in the earnest hope that you, or the
proper authority of your State, may acccdo to
them.
We have the honor to be, with profound
esteem, your obcdicnt servants.
LOUIS I. WIGFALL, G. G. CLAY; JR.,