The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1861-01-10
Highly Interesting Letters from
lseucrnl WOOl--klis Position on
lhc Secession Difficulty.

GEN. wooL's LETTER TO FRIEND IN WASH
INGToN.
TRoY, Sunday, Dec. 80, 1869.
Mr DEAR SIs: South Carolina. after 81
years. Mr.. Rhett says thirty years, Of con
slant and increasing efforts by her leaders
, to induce her to sscede, has declared herself
out of the Union; and this, too. without the
slightest wrong or injustice done her peo-
Pile on the part of the Government OF the
United States. Although she may have
seized the revenue cutter, and raised her
reasonable Palmetto flag over the United
States Arsenal. the Custom House, Post
Office, Castle Pinckney and Fort Moultrie.
she is not out Of the Union, nor beyond the
pale OF the United States Before she can
get out of their jurisdiction or control. a
reconstruction of the Constitution must be
had or civil war ensue. In the latter case.
it would require no prophet to foreteii the
result.
Ii is reported that Mr. Buchanan has re-
ceived informally the commissioners appoin.
ted by the rebels of South Carolina to ne
go;iate for the public property in the harbor
Of Charleston. and for other purposes II is
also reported that the President disapproy-
ed the conduct of Major A nderson. who be-
ing satisfied that he would not be able to
defend Fort Moul rie with the few men un.
der his command. wisely took possession OF
Fort Sumpter. where he could protect him
self and the country from the disgrace which
mi sh. have occurred. if he had remained in
For, Moultrie. Being the commander in
the harbor. he had the right to occupy Fort
Sumpter, an act which the safety of the
Union. as well as his own honor, demand
ed. 1t is likewise stated that apprehensions
are entertained that Maj. Anderson will be
required to abandon Fort Sumpter. and re-
occupy Fort Moultric. There can be no
foundation for such apprehensions. for sure
! ly the President would not surrender the
citadel Of the harbor of Charleston to reb.
els Fort Sumpter commands the entrance,
and, in few hours could demolish Fort
Moultrie. So long as the United States
I keeps possession OF this fort. the indepen-
dence Of South Carolina will only be in
name, and not in fact. If, however, it should
be surrendered to South Carolina, which
do not apprehend. the smothered indigna-
ton of the Free States would be reused be.
yond control. 1t would not be in the pow
er of any ore to restrain it. In twenty days
two hundred thousand men would be in
readiness to take vengeance on all who
I would betray the Union into the hands of
its enemies. Be assured tha, l do no. ex-
aggerate the feelings OF the people. They
are already sufficiently excited At the ~.
tempt to dissolve the Union for no other
reason than that they cons,itutiona.ly exer-
cised the mos: precious right conferred up.
on ,hem-of voting for the person of whom
they considered the most worthy aud best
qualified to ELL the Office of President
Fort Sumpter. therefore. ought not. and
presume viii not. be delivered over to South
) Carolina.
i lam not. however, pleading for the Fre<
States. for they are not in danger but fol
} the Union and the preservation of the Cot
, ton States. Those who SOW the wind mus
expect to resp the whirlwind- The leader.
of South Carolina could not have notices
: that all Christendom is making rapid stride