Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1861-01-18
Correspondence botwoen sdoys Piskeaa and
Major. AnassSS1s q ~ =. -

Correspondence botweea sdoys R,sksaa and
Major AndsfS ss7's: -,
MAJOR ASDEKsoN rG ssfnE q oyERsoR:
.ze.Ljis En- cellency The 6overnor Of South
Carohug.
S1R: Two Of your, batteries fired this
morning upon;an unarmed vessel bearing
the flag Of s,y Government. As I have
not been notified tIiat war has been, declnr-
ed by South Carolina against the Govern
meut of the United States, cannot but
think that this hostile act was committed
witllouesyour sanction or authority. Un-
der that hope, and that alone, did l refrain
form opening fire upon YOU, batteries. I
haye the honor, therefurc, to, respectfully ask
whether the above mentioned act-oneI
believe wilhont'a parallel in the history Of
our country Or any other civ,lizede Govern
piept-was committed in obedience to your
Instructions, and to. notify you if it be not
disclaimed, that I4pust regard i as an act
Of war ard that shall not, after reason
able time for the return Of my messenger
permit any vessel to pass within range of
the guns Of myyfort. In order to save. as
far rs in my power, the shedding of blood,
lsbeg that you will give due notification Of
this, my decision, to all: concerned. Hop
ing howeverythat yoar answer may be such
as will justify afurther continuance of for
bearance on my part, have the honor to
BE- very respectfully, your obedient ser
yant,
(signed.) EoB"E ANDERSON.
Major lst Artil'ery;;U. S. Army, Comd'g.
Fort Sumter, january 9, 1861.
r. TIE GOVERNORS REILLY.
STATE OF S. C.-.ExEcurvE OFFICE.
Headquarters, Charleston, Jan. 9, 1861
SIR: Your letter has been received: In
It TOY certain STATEMENTS whiclgvety
plainly show that you have not been fully
inforSled by yoHr Government of the pre-
else relatioH&: which nov. exist between it
and the State 9sfssouth sssso Carolina. Official
informatiog hssb Been communicated to the
Governmsnfof the; United states,hat the
political sgnhecliiasiT heretofore; existing be-
tween thsssso soatisC Carolihas apd the
States whb We're knowa- as. ths lU6ited
States, bad ceased, and that tho State of
South Carolina had resumed all the, powers
it lad delegated to Nc United States, uu-
der die compact known as the Consti-
tuition 81 The United stslss. The right
which The State Of South csrolirs posses-
sd toschange the Political Eelations which
she bad held with tte other States, under
'lg Constitution Of the United States, has
been ssfemnly asserted by tie people OF
State in, Convention. and now doesnot
.adraiss Of d;scussioE: : Iir antieigsq6n.~of
the Udinahee,of Secession, Of which the
President Of .iae United Stata had official
'sosifcation'Fit was understood by him that
sending any feinforcsments of tpops Of
the bnitedss,ates in tie barbor Of Char
lestosswqsuld be: ysegarded by the .consenn-
ted authorities st 'ths State efsseath GaE
olina as an apt Of fEa,ility sa as ths,esme
.!l.s& .it-was understood BY him that any
:. saange \! in tbsoccupaiaen Of the forts ifshe
aeseEbere sEb#rleston, wonId in iikemapner
zgatdsd As an ! act Of fbostility:.. Ether
ors1th :othcse EVENTS eecqs5hg durjnsfhe
Psfiod il nnahicb the state 81 r,soatb Caioli-
81 coas5 5isaated a part os4hG p1sd;. .stats,
s5saheb s assihctly sotiasa a,tFs President
" Ae UMhd States as an Sct or ads ~'of
tostaK sesaSse either or both wouldAbe
iisgstasd, .aa esuIt ouk be intepJed ID
dispute fs right of-abe sta.ss Of South
ytAat po,A4aal independence
khieh q 81 ks9aIs says asaassed sapd yill-al.
'wsSs Hi6t ah;S
.WhaWser would sayssbeen, during tho
{ Of this State while membey
Of the United States, an act Of hostility, be-
came mich more SO yhen the State south
Catoliss fad ASsseked az connection with
the ddsge'hf'snt ef the United States
AAes ,fis seeessi9l6f the State of South
cMolpe tsai ean,inued in the po..
session ofass troops Of the United States.
iso& tnat t2rt Is at 'tti's Time in poss
Of the troops of4he United State, it is not.
pow qewsa esSsS to discqss.e> 1t will suffice to
say AIN oseSaney Of thatstfort has
been atdeai xhe State Of sep,h Caro-.
|EiH6 i the firsf act of positive h@ftlity COM
nittsa by the troops Of tie UbitA states
y 4hip the limi.sscf s6js State, ana !s&asin
Islk 6eit rsgadl 90 sopneqnisocal that
u osesiashsa the { takminasiobof the ne
ssssia q ;sa ;iskea peAd'ag ~ vAstingtpp BE-.
lss @ e, 6 spmissioners ,rn oS,he State of
r afDlins and The President. of tile
lied States. sT9e, attempt to iaihforcs
hs troop gss iaf fort s6pter.er ,G rstaks {
nd,rsqs5 pise.SIpn Of h, she, gfoii.' within .he
4 .Iateta q shleh yop Abandoned. @
Ger sAiklnff III = onns,n DAD tFare md Sn;h1