Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-01-18
Important and Warlike Correspondence
between Major Anderson and the Gov
ernor Of South Carolina. -,
THE CRISES Is AT HAND.

S' important and Warlike Correspondent.
between Major Anderson and the Go,
ernor Of South Carolina. -
THE CRISES IS AT HAND t
IN CHARLESTON, Jan. 9.
About ii o'clock this morning q boat fro,
Fort Sumter, bearing Lieut.. Hail, with
o white flag, approached the city. Lieut.. Hal
l. had an interview with Gov. Pickens an
was afterwards escorted to his boat and re
embarked for Fort Sumter The commu
nication from Major Anderson 10 az fol
9 lows: -
10 his ExcelleRcy the Governor Of Soutl
a Carolina-Sr: Two of your batteries nreG
8 TINS morning on an unarmed vessel bearing
3 tne Tag OF my government. AS have moi
DAen notified that war has been declared bv
south carolina against the United States. /
cannotbut think this hostile act committed
without your sanction or authority. Under
tnas nope l refrain from opening upon your
batteries.
have the honor, therefore, respectfully
10 ask whether the above mentioned act
one which l believe without parallel in the
history OF our country or any other civilized
governmeat-was committed in obedience
TO your instructions, and notify you that if
1t Is not disclaimed, regard it as an act of
war, and shall not, after reasonable time
for the return of my messenger, permit any
vessel to pass within the range Of the guns
OF my fort. In order to save, as far Is it is
In my power, the shedding Of blood, beg
you will take due notification of nv decis. |
ION for the good of all concerned. Hoping, |
however, that your answer ulay justify |
further continuance of fortearance on nv !
part, remain respectfully,
ROBERT ANDERSON.
GoV. Pickens, after stating the position of
South Carolina to the United States, saws
that any attempt to send U S. troop. into
Onarleston harbor, to reinforce the forts,
would be regarded as an act of hostility.
ana IN conclusion adds that any attempt to
reinforce the troops of Fort Sumter, or to
retaKe and resume possession of the forts
within the waters Of South Caroline, which
MAJ. Anderson abandoned after spiking the
cannen, or doing other damage, cansot but
DC regarded by the authorities Of the State
as indicative of any other purpose than the ,
coerclon OF the State by the armed forces
OF tne Government. Special agents, there
1ore, nave been stationed off tho bar to warn :.
vesselt armed or unarmed having troops to ;
reinforce Fort Sumter aboard, not to enter =
the hsrbor. ~
Special orders have been given to COM .
manders at the forts not to fire on such YES q
sells TIL shot across their bows should :
warn them Of the prohibition of the State. :
Onder these circumstances the Star of the =
West this morning attempted to enter the I
oaroor with troops, after having been mott !,
led she could not enter, and consequently =
vas tired into. The act is perfectly justified :,
~ me. In regard to your threat about YES 8
'els IN the harbor it is only necessary for "
nc TO say you alone must be the ju ,ge of =
'our responsibility. Your position in the y
larbor has been tolerated by the authorities - -
u the State, and while tho act of which z
'oo complain is in perfect consistency With :,
ne rights and duty of the State, it is not - -
'ercelved how far tho conduct you PROPOSE :,
Q adopt can find parallel in the history u
Y any country, or be reconciled with any l.
ther purposes than that Of your govern y
aent imposing on the State tae conditions :" ;s
an acquired province, [sgned.] n n
F. w. PIcKENs. q,
'econd Commaunicationtro from Maj andersen G,
10 His Excellency, Gov. Pickens, Sir h
ave the honor to acknowledge the receipt Il
i your communication, and say that IN 4
Ter the circumstances l have deemed it +,
roper TO refer the whole matter to my a,
government, and intend deferriag the course 7
Indicated in my note this morning until the c
'rriVal from Washington of such instruct o
ons as l may receive. Ihavo the honor, y
lso to express the hope that no objection Il
Vii be placed in the way, and that you Will t,
10 me the favor of giving every facility for A
ne departure and return Of the bearer, 3
lieut.. L, Talbot, who is directed to make 4
bis journey. u
[Signed] RoBr. ANDERSON, ~ :.
Gov. Pickens Immediately granted the Il
desired, and directed Lieut. Tai. sc
OF to have every facility and courtesy ex- el
ended to him as bearer of dispatches to the 81
'nited States Government, both in going sc
nd returning. In
lit will be seen by our latest dispatch es i
nat he has arrived at Washington.] =
"A