Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1861-01-04
The Charleston rsFts.

! The following remarks by Mr. MILES, one
of the South Carolina members Of Congress, is
significant as showing their understanding Of
the position of President Buchanan in refer
ence to the forts, and the grounds upon which
their hope Of getting early possession Of them
is founded. Ii was delivered in the Convention
on the 18th inst. in reply to speech of Judge
McGrath, who advocated taking the fcrts at
once by force, and is copied from the official
report of the proceedings in the Charleston
Mercury
Mr.. MILES. had supposed that the rails
ing Of these committees would scarcely lave
led to general debate on the subject matter
which would have been submitted to them
and with the greatest possible Difference to the
ge ltleman, it dill appear to me that the point
of order was well taken, that the discussion
was premature, aud that the gentlemen should
wall until the committees werc apponed. The
remarks Just offered make it. in my Judgment,
perhaps well aud dsSire;lble that | should say
a very few words. As the gentlemen ali know
am very recently from Washington. went
on there for the purpose OF informing myself
as thoroughly and carefully as plssible, of all
matters pertaining to South Carolina. We
<hnull also be in the camp Of the enemy-not
as spies, but as vigilant seutineis,-to procure
all the information which we can conceive of
rs valuable to our people. Nov, sir, the re-
marks of my friend appear to me likely to give,
perhaps, what consider erroneous impressions.
will confinc myself simply to the matter Of
the forts in the harbor of Charleston, and will
state what conceive to be the real condition
of things. | have not the remotest idea that
the President of the United States will send
aay reinforcement whatsoever into these forts.
desire no concealnIent there should be no
conccament-bu perfect frankneSs. | vii
state here that and some of my colleagues, i'm
IL conversation with the President of the Unit |
ed States, and subsequently in written COM
mnnication, to which our names were signed, /
f,s' speaking of the great excitement about
the forts, we said thus to him :
Mr.. President, ii Is our solemn conUictior
that if you attempt to send a solitary soldier to
these forts that tie instant The intelligence reici-
IS our peope, and IRE shall take care that ii dees
reach aeaa. for rrs haze sources # inflammation
IN Washington. so that no orders for troops can !
be issued " ttOvf our gsiting crmat on-these
forts pH be forcibly and tmmediHely stormci"
We all assured him that if an attempt was
made to transport reiaEorcem7nts that our p2o-
pie would take these forts, and that we wonld /
go home and help them TO do it. For it |
would be suicidal folly for us to allow the forts !
to be manned. And we further said to him
that bloody result would follow the sending
of troops to these forts, and that we did not
believe that the authorities of South Carolina /
would do anything prior to the meeting of this +
Convention, and that we hoped and believed !
that nothing would be done after this body |
met, until we had demanded Of the General |
Government the recession of these forts. This I
was the substance of what we said. NUw
sir, it is my most solemn conviction that there /
is no attempt going to be made to reinforce
these-f forts In addition to this, what do we
see Just as left Washington We see the
Presidents right hand man his near ard dear
personal friend-going. from the Cabinet on
this precise issue. Gen. Cass, Secretary of
State, urged and vehementIy proposed the
strengthening of the garrisons around Charles
ton. 1t was discussed DAY after day in Cabi- i
bet meetings, and the President permitted his
friend to Withdraw rather than send reinforce
ments.