Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-01-08
LITTER TO THE PRESIDENT

WASHINGTON, ID. e., Jan. l, 1861,
SIR: We have the honor to acknowledge the re-
ccpt Of your letter of the Both December I'm renIv
to note addressed by us to you the 2sts of the
same month, as Commissioners from South Caro-
lima.
In reference to the declaration with which vour
reply commences, that your g position as Presi-
dent of the United States was clearly defined in
the message to Congress on the Sd iHstant,n that
you possess "no power TO change the relations
heretofore existing" between South Carolina and
the States, 'much less to acknowledge the ind
pendence of that State,n and that consequently
you could meet us only as private gentlemen of
the highest character, with an entire willingness
to communicate to Congress any proposition we
might have to make" we deem il only necessary
to say that the State of South Carolina having in
the exercise Of that great right of sefgoverntuent
which underlies all our political organizations,
declared herself sovereign and independent, We
as her representatives, felt special soctude as
TO the character In which you mightreco9nize us
Satisfied thatthe State had simply exerci sed her
unq fashionable right, we were PREPARED I'm order
to reach substantial good, to waive the formal
considerations which your constitutional scrupIss
might have prevented you from extending We
came here, therefore, expecting to be received as
you did receive us, and perfectly content with
that entire willingness, of which you assured US
TO submit any proposition to Congress, which we
pendence of the State. That willinsn ness was
ample re:og milton Of the condition of public
affairs which rendered presence necessary
La this position, however, II is our duty, both 10
Tue Stdtc WHICH we represented ana 10 ourselves
to correct several important msconcs options of our
letter, into which you have fallen.
. \ GU say " II was my earnest desire that such
disposition should be made Of the whole subject
oy Congress, who alone possess the power to pre-
vent the Inauguration of a civil war between the
parties In regard TO the possession Of the Federal
forts In the harbor Of Charleston, and therefore
deeply regret that In your opinion, the events
of the last twenty-four hours render this impos.
sible'" We expressed no such opinion, and the
language which you quote as ours Is altered In
us sense by the omission Of a most important paR
Of the sentence What we did saw was, But the
events Of the last twenty four hours render such
an assurance impossible Place that assu.
rance" az contained in letter in the sentence.
ana we are prepared to repeat It,
Again, protesting to quote our language VIM
say - Thus, the authorities Of South Carolina,
without waiting or asking for any EXPLANATION
and doubtless believing, as you have expressed IL,
Inat tne ofncer had acted not only without but
against my orders,'' &c. We. expressed no such
opinion in reference to the belief Of the people of
South Carolina.
The language which you have quoted was n
piled solely and entirely TO our assurances, OBJ
tanned here, and based, as you well know. mon
your own declaration, declaration which, at
that tme II was impossi BILE for the authorities of
south Carolina to have known. But, without
Following this letter into all Its details we pro-
ment.
Some weeks ago the State of South Carolina
declared her intention, In the existing condition
OF public affairs to secede from the United States
she called q convention Of her people to put her
declaration In force The convention met and
passed an ordinance Of secession. All this Ven
anticipated, and your course Of action was
thoroughly considered. In your annual message
You declared you had no right and would not at
tempt to coerce seeding State, but that you were
pound by your constitutional oath, and would
defend the property Of the United Suites within
me borders OF South Carolina, IL an attempt was
made to take Ii by force.
seeing very clearly that this question Of prop.
efty was dificult and delicate one, you mani
,ss!ed desire 10 settle It without collision You
Id not reinforce the garrison In the harbor Of
Charleston. You renevsd . dissinguished and