Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1861-01-19

for 1t by any act Of tho government. My opinion
remains unchanged, that Justice as we'll as sound
policy requires us still to seek a peaceful solution
the South. Entertaining this conviction, ! re-
f.ainOd even from sending endorsements to Maj
or Anderson, who commanded the forts Of Charles
ton harbor, until an absolute necessity for doing
90 should make itself apparent, lest it might be
regarded ss a menace Of military coercion, and
thus fuuish a provocaiiOn, or, at least, a prete&t
for an outbreak on the part Of South Carolina.
No necessity for these achievements seemed to
exist. l WAS assured by Distinguished upright
gentlemen Of South Carolina that no attack on
Mnjor Anderson was intended, but that, on the
contrary, it was the desire of the 5 ate authorities,
ne much Os j: was my own, to avoid the fatal con-
sequences which must eventually follow q militia
~ collision. And he. | deem It proper to submit
for information copies o: a communication dated
December 2S, 1860, addressed to me by Il. W.
Barnwell, j. II. Adams and James L. Orr, Com
missioners Of South Carolina, with the accompa-
nying documents, and copies Of my answer there
80, dated December 81 Ia further explanation Of
Major Anderson's removal from Fora Moultrio to
Fort Sumter, it is proper to state that after my an.
swer to the South Carolina Commissioners the War
Department received u Letter from that gallant Off
Ger, dated December 81, 1860, the day alter his
movement, from which the folio wing is an extract
81 will add as my opinion that many things con-
WINGED me that the authorities Of tho State design
ed to proceed to q hostile act (evidently referring
70 the orders dated December IL, Of the late Sec
eetary of War;, Under this impression | could
not hesitate that it was my solemn duty to move
my command from Il fort, which we could rot prob
ably have held longer than forty eight or sixty
hours, to this one, where my power Of resistance
is increasing to a very great degree
Il will be recollocted tina! the concluding part Of
the order was in the following words:
Tho smalluess of your force, will not permit
you, perhaps, to occupy more than one Of the three
forts, but an attack on, or attempt to take posses
sion of either one of them, will be regarded as
an act of hostility, and you may then put your
command into either Of them which you may
deem most proper to increase its power of resist
ance. You are also authorized to take similar de-
fensive steps whenever you have tangible evidence
Of q design to proceed to an hostile act"
1t is said that serious apprehensions are to some
extent entertained. in which l do not share, that
the leace Of this District may be disturbed before
she 4th of March next. In any event il will be
my duty to preserve it, and this duty shall be
performed.
In conclusion, it may be permitted to me to re-
mark that l have often warned my couDtrymen o.
the dangers which now surround US. This may
be the last time | shell refer to the subject official
y. l feel that my duty has been faithfully, thougl
it may be imperfectly, performed, and whateve
the result may be, l shall carry to my grave th,
eonciousness that l at least meant we'll for m,
country. JAMES BUCHANAN.
Washington City, Jan. 8, 1861.