Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-02-13


she's guilty of unprovoked aggression in firing on
the Star Of the West.
Though an unarmed vessel. she was filed with
armed men, entering her territories against her.
Gov Plckens instructions to him accompanies
Haynes letter. Secretary HOltreplied, seknOwl-
edging the Presidents receipt of Haynes letter
de first gives a summary of Haynes instructions,
which are TO the effect:
Il do not come as military man to demand
surrender of fortress. but as legal officer of
State-its Attorney Generate claim for the
State the exercise of It's undoubted right Of emin
ent domain, and 10 pledge the State TO make
good all injury to rights of property which arise
from the exercise of such claim. The PROPOSE
ton, therefore, is. 10 buy Fort Samter;-that. if
South Carolina is not permitted 70 make the pur-
chase, she viii seize the fort by force farms"
This proposal imp-esses the President as having
assumed most unusual form He has, however,
investigated the claim which he processes to be
based apart from the declaration that accempan-
les it. The title of the United States the fort
Is complete and inccntestable.
Were its interests IN the property, in an ordinary
Gcceptati0n of the term, IL might, probably, be
subjected to exercise the act of eminent domain:
but it has political relations to il of much higher
and more imposing character than those of mere
<partisanshp. 1t has absolute jurisdiction over
the soil on which il stands which is clearly in
Under provision of the Constitution of the
United States South Carolina can no more assert
the right of eminent domain over Fort Sumter,
than Maryland can over the District of COlum
bia- The President, however, is retired from the
further necessity of pursuing this inquiry, by the
fact that he has not the constitutional power 10
secede or surrender it.
The question of reinforcing Fort Sumter IS so
fully disposed of in my letter of January 22d to
Ill
this, that its discussion need not be resumed. ]
then said ''At the present moment it is not
deemed Necessary to reinforce Major Anderson,
because ne makes no such request; should his
satet5, however, reel ire reinforcement, every eff
fort viii be made 20 supply them" / can add
nothing TO the explictness of this language, which
still applies to existing states.
In letter of Senator Davis and others 10
yourself, they say il Is especially due from South
! Carolina to our Stlte, to say nothing of other
slaveholding States, that she should, far as
consistent with her honor, avoid military hostili-
ties between her and the United States or any
other power, and YOU now give the President the
gratifying assurance that South Carolina has
every disposition to preserve the public peace;
and since he is sincerely animated by the same
desire, it would seem that this common and pat
riotic object must be of certain attainment
1t is difficult however, to reconcile this with the
declaration your part that South Carolina 5
own dignity prompts her to demand that this
property shall not longer be used as 4 military
fort by the Government she no longer acknowl-
edges. After stating that in case the attempt by
foreign power 70 capture the Charleston bat
teries, Fort Sumter would be exerted for her pro
lection. He says, how the presence of a small
garrison, actuated by such a spirit, can cOmpro-
mise the dignity of South Carolina. the Presi-
dent is at loss to understand. The attitude
that the Government has often declaredis neither
menacing, defiant nor unfriendly. If the an
nouncement so repeatedly made, of the Presi
dents pacific purposes in continuing the Occupa-
ton of Fort Sumter until the question is settled
by competent authority, has failed to impress the
Government of South Carolina with the forbear
ing conduct of his administration for the last
three months.
If this forbearance be not accepted, then neither
language nor conduct can possibly furnish such
pledge 1T, with all the multiplied proofs of the
Presidents anxiety for peace, the authority o.
South Carolina shall assault Fort Sumter, anC
peril the lives of the handful of brave and loyal
men shut up within its walls, and thus plunge oul
common country in the horrors Of civil war-ther
upon them and these whom they represent mus
= rest the responsibility.
WAzDorox, Friday, February 8.
The impression here among gentlemen who arr
well acquainted with the subject is, that no appre
tensions need be entertained relative to an imme
date attack on Fort SUMTER as it will be referret
to the Southern Congress; meanwhile the Soutl
Carolina authorities will keep stricter guard OF
the fort TO intercepr any endorsements TO Majo
Anderson All domestic Supplies and mail facul
ties are to be denied, and all possible means take
to starve out the garrison
The committee of the peace conference wer
engaged to-day on measures looking to an adjust
ment.
Nearly all the Commissioners have arrived, in
GLIDING those from Massachusetts and New Y ORR
A large number OF influential gentlemen, froI
nearly all parts of the country, constantly al
irving, embracing many members of the Virgini
legislature
Capt. Tilton, Of Maryland. attached to III
navy and a member of the Lighthouse BoarC
committed suicide. this afternoon, by blowing OF
his brains with pistol. He had for some tim
been much Depressed, owing to the political stat
Of the country.
1t appeared, on inquiry at the proper sourc
that the ST. Louis was ordered from the Gu
squadron as early as December 22d, and I'll
Sabine January 9th, three days before the surreI
der of the Pensacola yard, leaving the other We:
sells to compose the squadron-the Poschattal
Pocahoafas and Ciunbertand-and obtain pr
visions The store ship Supply was sent
order of flag officer Pendergast to Pensacola, aI
by Capt Armstrong, then at that place, o
dered to return to the squadron; but, instead
doing so. Capt Walker, her commander, took Z
board the patrolled officers, and men and woms
. from Fort Pickens, and proceeded to disobey o
ders. HE'S to be court Inartialed.
The Cumberland has been ordered to HamptC
Roads and the PorkaftaH to New York: VIVA
ever disaffection has been excited in the Gu
squadron was on board the latter vessel Wht
ordered TO proceed elsewhere, portion of h
officers, who are Southern men, supposing 81
was going to Pensacola, manifested diseonter
The First Lieutenant sent in his resignation. q
acceptance of which will depend on his being e
onorated from blame-to be ascertaned whentl
vessel shall arrive at New York; otherwise.
will be court martialed-
There are eleven naval vessels on our coast
one at Cuba and another at T0rtugas.
The Macedonian and Brooklyn have arrive
the neighborhood of Fort Pickens.
While the Mexican Government was in mo
unsettled condition, and there prospect OF
demonstration by Spain against Vera Cruz, it W
the policy of the Government to keep a strol
feet in the Gulf for the protection of Americ
interests. Since the Juarez Government has be
established, the necessity for the continuance Of
strong force in that quarter has ceased; and hen
tie fleet distributed in the manner above stated
A dispatch announces that the Cherokees ha
rebelled and sezed Fort Gibson.
. The testimony of ex-senator Benjamin, befc
the Indian Board Committee, is said to hayeb be
very direct and Canag1ng 10 secretary floyd-
asserts that, when he became accidentally avs
of Floyd's manner of giving acceptances,
warned him against it. and Floyd promised to
sist Afterward Floyd issued them to the amoV
of 3, 900 OeO.
Dispatches received by distinguished secessi
leaders indicate that export duty will be laid
cotton
The confirmation Of Horatio Kings nomir
ton as Postmaster General is delayed in
Senate BIZ Republicans, until it is ascertain
whether he viii execute Mr. Colfax's bin relat
TO postal service in seeding States. IL is und
stood that the nominee will execute the proyisi'
of that bill to the letter.
VIM. P. Ridgely, Clerk of the Navy Deps
ment, died suddenly, of heart disease, last event
The Court of Inquiry, in the case of Armstro
touching the surrender of the Pensacola Ma
ward, consists CT Com. Strader, Lavalette, Ca
HercelI, and Mr.. Cressy. Judge Advocate II
met to-day and adjourned till tomorrow.
Gen. Wood, New York delegate to the pc
congress, will demand guarantees that the Cap
shall not be attacked before he will assent 70
plan of reconciliation
Major Richie and Gov. Andrews, of Massac
sets, have rendered to President Buchar
twenty-six regiments of troops. ready to marcl
moments notice for the protection of the
ital. The special tender of those troops, it is
bar in of inf