The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1861-05-17
BEDFORD, Pa, FRIDAY MORNING, MAY II, 1861

two governments upon principles of right, jus
tIce, equity and good fath''
4 1t was my pleasure as well as my duty, tc
cooperate with you in this work of peace In
deed, IN my address to you on taking the oath
OF ottice, and before receiving from you tht
communication of this resolution, had said
4 'as necessity, not a choice, we have resorted
j to the remedy Of separation, and henceforth our
energies must be directed to the conduct Of our
own affairs and the perPetuity of the Confeder-
acy which we have formed. II just peIcep-
lion OF mutual interest shall permit Us peacea-
Oily 10 pursue our 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 distn-
guished Citizens, who repaired 10 Washington.
. Aided by their cordial coopeiation, and that OF
the Secretary OF State, every effort compatible
with self-respect and the dignity of The Confed-
efacy was exhausted 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 unatainable.
On the arrival of our Commissioners in
Washington, on the 9th March, they postponed.
al ;he suggestion of a friendly intermediary, do
ing more than giving informal notice OF their
arrival This was done with a view to afford
time to the President who had Just been inau-
gnraied, for the discharge OF other pressing
oihcIal duties 10 the organization of his admin
Istratlon, before engaging his attention in the
object oftheir 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 lam
guage OF their instructions their wish "to make
to the government Of the United States over
tures for the opening of negotiations, assuring
the government Of the United States. that the
President, Congress and people OF the Confeder-
ate States earnestly desire a peaceful solution
OF these great questions that IT is neither their
interest nor their wish 10 make any demand
which is not founded on strictest Justice, nor
DO any act, 10 Injure their late confederates."
To this communication no formal reply was
received untl the 9Th of April During the
interval the Commissioners had consented to
waive all questions OF form. With the firm re-
solve TO avoid war if possible, they went so far,
even, as to hold, during that long period, un-
official intercourse, through an intermediary,
whose high position and character inspired the
hope OF success, and through whom constant
Of the United States of peaceful intentions of
the determination TO evacuate Fort Sumter
and further, that no measure, changing the ex-
istlng status preludicially 10 the Confederate
States, especially at Fort Pickens, was in con-
temptation, but that in the event OF any change
of intention on the subject, notice would be
gwen TO the commissioners. The crooked paths
OF diplomacy can scarcely furnish an example
so wanting IN courtesy, in candor, and direct
ness, as was the course OF the United States
Government towards our Commissioners in
Washington. For proof of this refer TO the
annexed documents, taken IN connection with
further facts which ! now proceed TO relate:-
Early in April the attention of the whole
country, as we'll as that of ouf Commissioners,
was attracted TO extraordinary preparations for
an extensive military and naval expedition in
New York and other Northern ports. These
preparations, commenced IN secresy, for an ex-
pPdItlon whose destination was concealed, only
became known when nearly completed, and on
the 9Th, 9th and 7th April, transports and
veSsels-oi-war, with troops, munitions and mil
itary supplies, sailed from Northern ports bound
southwards Alarmed by so extraordinary
demonstration the Commissioners requested the
delivery Of an answer to thee official commu-
nIcation Of the 18th March, and thereupon re-
ceived, on the 8th April, reply dated on the
18th of the previous month, from which it ap-
pears that, during the whole interval, while
the Commissioners were receiving assurances,
calculated to inspire hope of the success ofthelr
mission, the Secretary OF State and the PreSl-
dent Of he United States had already determined
TO hold no intercourse with them whatever TO
refuse even to listen to any proposals they had
to make, and had pro6ted by the delay created
by their own assurances in order to prepare Sc
cretly the means for effective hostile operations.
That these assurances were given, has been
virtually confessed by the Government OF the
United States by its sending a messenger 10
Charleston, to give notice of ITS purpose to
use force il opposed in ITS intention of supplying
Fort Sumter. No more striking proof of the
absense OF good faith in the conduct of the Gov
efnment of the United States towards this Con-
tedaercy can be required than is contained in
the circumstances which accompanied this no.
tice. According to the usual course of naviga-
ton the vessels composing the expedition de-
signed for the relief Of Fort Sumter might be
expected to reach Charleston harbor on the 9th
A pril yet with our Commissioners actually IN
w Washington, detained under assurances that
notice should be given of any military move
ment, the notice was not addressed 10 them, but
a messenger was sent to Charleston to give the
notice TO the Governor OF South Carolina, and
the notice was so given at late hour on the
Sth April, the eve of the very day which the
feet might be expected TO arrive. That this
vancouver failed in its purpose was not the
fault of those who contTiVed It. A heavy tenn
pest delayed the arrival of the expedition, and
pave time tJ the commander of our forces at
Charleston to ask and receive the instructions
of this government. Even then, under all the
provocation incident TO the contemptuous re-