Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1861-05-10

who had just been inaugurated, for the dis
charge of other pressing official duties in
the organization of his Administration, be
fore engaging his attention in the object o
their mission. 1t was not until the 18th
OF the month that they officially addressed
the Secretary of State, informing him o.
the purpose Of their arrival, and stating in
the language Of their Instructions thei,
wish TO make to the government Of the
United States overturns for the opening o.
negotiations, assuring the Government ot
the United States, that the President, Con-
gress and people of the Confederate State
earnestly desire peaceful solution of those
great questions that it is neither their in.
terest nor their wish 10 make any demand d
which is not founded on strictest Justice
nor 40 any act to injure their late confed-
crates.'
| 10 this communication no formal rcp]v
was received until the eth Of April Du.
ring the interval the commissioners had
consented to waive all questions of form
With the firm resolve to avoid war if pos
sible, they went so far even, as to hold, du
ring that long period, unofficial intercourcc
through an intermediary, whose high posi-
ton and character inspired the hope Of sue,
cess, and through whom constant assurance
were received from the Government of tic
United States Of peaceful intentions of the
determination to cvacuate Fort Sumter, and
fur'her' that no measure changing the ex.
'st'ng status prejudicialIy to the Confedcr-
ate States, especially 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 commission.
ers. The crooked paths Of diplomacy can
scarcely furnish an example so wanting in
courtesy, in candor, and directncss, rs was
the course of the United States Govern.
ment towards our commissioners in Wash.
'ngton. For proof Of this refer to the
annexed documents, marked taken in con-
nection with further facts which / now pro.
ceed to relate:
Early in April the attention of the whole
country, as we'll as that Of our Commis-
sloners, was attracted to extraordinary pre-
paratious for an extensive military and
naval expedition in New York and other
Northern ports. These preparations com
menced in secrecy, for an expedition whose
destination was concealed, only became
knowo when nearly completed, and on the
9Th, 9th and 7th April, transports and yes.
sells OF war, with troops, munitions and
military supplies sailed from Northern ports
bound Southwark. Alarmed by SO extra.
ordinary demonstration, the Commission
ers requested the. delivery of an answer to
theffSofficial communication of the 18th
March, and thereupon received, on the 9th
April, "a reply dated on the 25th of the pre-
yiops month, from which it appears that
daring the whole interval, whilst the
Commissioners were receiyeing assurances
calculated to inspire hope of the success ol
their mission, the Secretary of State and
the President of the United States had
determined to hold no intercourse with
them whatever; to refuse even to listen to
any proposal they had to make, and had
profted by the delay created by their own
assurances, in orderto prepare secretly the
meaDs for effective hostile operations.
That these assurances were given, has
been virtually confessed by tho Govern
ment Of the United States by its sending a
messenger to Charleston, TO give notice q
it's purpose, to use force, if opposed in i,s
Intention Of supplying Fort Sumter. Nc
moro striking proofvi the nbseuce of good
ra'th in the conduct of the Government o.
the United States. towards the Confsderacy
can be required than is contained lin The
circumstances which accompanied the no
tice. According to the usual course o
navigation, he vessels composing the ex-
petition designed for the relief Of for,
Sumter, might be expected to REACH Char
lesion harbor on The 9th Of April, YET with
our Commissioners actually inaa Washing
ton, detained under assurauses s,het-no,ip ice
should be given oftany military movement
the notice was NOT addresssd 10 them, hut a
messenger was sent to Charleston TO give
the notice to 4Be Govsrnorsof South Caro-
ling, ,apd.the notice was so given at late
hounon the 9th April site eve Of the very
day on which the feet might be expected te
arrive. a-;. 90
That the maneuvre failed in its purpos,
was not The fault Of those who contrived it.
A Assvy Tempest delayed The arrival Of The
expedition. ,apd gsys; s;iime TO commend
Fer ofour forces 81 Charleston p ask ens
|ssceissa The ins..ucsias. 6af shis government
Even then, 1ndsrali he pFeySeatior iuSi