Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-02-05

and despatch. obeyed their wishes, and also
TO show that was duly sensible Of the impor-
lance of time in the whole proceeding. I'm
lnediately after reaching Washington, | nd.
dressed note (marked No. y to the Presi-
dent Of the United States informing him OF
my arrival, and asking IN early hour to be de.
signated by him to enable me 10 place him in
possession Of the wishes and feelings OF the
Legislature Of Virginia, and the instructions
which, in the form of her legislative resolves,
all having direct reference. to the disturbed
and painful condition Of public affairs, was
DESTROYS Of laying before him. lie responded
promptly by note, and left it optional with
myselfto select eight O'Clock Of that evening, or
an early hour the next morning for the time OF
the proposed conference Ny note No ., for rea-
sons therein set forth, informed him that !
should wait on him in the morning Of the en-
suing day. My note announcing NY arrival,
if the objects which had brought me to Wash.
ington had any consideration in the mind Of the
President, he would, did not doubt. suspend
any hostile movement against any seeding State
in the interval of time between its date and the
hour at which should wait upon him the next
morning, and superceda the necessity of a
night visit.
On the next morning at the hour Of ten re-
paired to the Presidents mansion, and met from
him warm and cordial reception. lost no
time in handing him your letter Of appointment,
atteSted by tho seal of the State and the LegiSa-
tive resolutions. He said that they were the
first full copies OF tlie resolutions which he had
Scen; and alter reading them hr remarked that
ne considered them very important, and was
rood enough to add that, being burne by my
self. he should feel it his duty to make them the
subject special message to Congress. Either
| suggested Or he voluntarily remarked, most
probably the latter, that he should accompany
them with strong recommendation to Con-
greSs, with whom, he said, rested the entire
power over the subject Of war or peace, TO all
stain from MI action Of hostile character nm
I'll Virginia should have had fair opportunity
10 exert all her efforts TO preserve the public
peace and restore harmony to the Union.
said 10 him that my mission was to him. that
he waS C0mlnanGer-n.chic of the army and
navy; could regulate the movement OF soldiers
and ships in peace and in war, and that every
thing Virginia desired WAS that the status quo
should be observed. represented to him that
the people Of Virginia were almost universally
inclined to peace and reconciliation. That
need not inform him Of the sacrifices the State
had made for the Union in its initiation or Of
her iSlrumcntalitv in the creation of the Con-
stilution That her efforts to reconstruct or
preserve depended for their success, on her being
permitted to conduct them undiSturhcd by OUT
side collision. He replied that he had in no meas.
ure changed his views rs presented IN ms annual
message. That he could give no pledges; that 1t
was his duty to enforce the laws, and the whole
power rested with Congress He complained
that tho South had not treated him properly;
that they had made unnecessary dennnslra
tons hy Selling unprotected arSenalS and
forts and thus pcprtrating acts OF nse-
less braralo, which had quite as we'll
been left alone. suggested to him that
while those things were admittcd) cal
culnted to fret and irritatc the Northern mind,
yet he would see in them only the necessary
results vi popular excitement, which, after all,
work ed no mischief in the end, if harmony be-
tween the States MRS once more restored. That
the States wherein the seizures had been made
would account for all the public property, aud,
that in the meantime, the agencies for its pre-
servalion were only changed He repeated his
views Of the obligations which rested on him;
could give no pledges but those contained in
his public acts, and REQUIRED again 10 the pro-
cecdings Of the Legislature and his intention
to send them 10 Congress in special message
accompanied with Streng recommendation tn
avoid the passage Of any hostile legislation
asked If might be permitted to sec the
sketch of the message, to which he unhcSl-
tatitIgly replied that he would take plea
sure in showing il To Inc nest morning.
Much more occurred in tue course Of an in
tervirw which lasted for an hour and hall, all,
however. relating exclusively to the above top
les, and left MIN entirely satisfied with the
result OF my interview. The President was
frank and entirely conllng i'll his language
ard whole manner. \ moments reflection sat
isiied me that if the message contained the re-
conlsucn,latinn to Congress to abstain from hos
lille legislation was at liberty to infer \ SINH
lar determination on his part Of 4 state OF quie-
tur!c.
Friday, 25th.--I waited on him again the
following morning and be lost no time in read
ing me so much of the sketch Of the proposed
message as related to the recommendation to
Congress. | suggested no change or alteration,
believing it 70 he amply sufficient, and ! be-
came Only anxious for its presentation 10 Con.
gress. lie said he should lave it all prepared
TO be submitted to his Cabinet on that day,
and would send il in the next day. On the al
tcrnnon of the same day (FriIay, 2Jth) | was
waited on by the Secretary of State and the
Attorney General, who stated that they
had called upon me at the request Of the Presi-
dent, to express his regret, that in consequence
Of the adjournment over to Monday he would
not he able to send in the message until Mon
day. While IN conversation with those gen
t!elnen, which chiefly turned on the condition
of public affairs, was startled by the receipt
Of tclegraphic dispatch from Judge Robert
son, my cO.cumInisSiuncr, dated at Charleston,
S. G., ENDURING into the foundation of a rumor
which had reached that place that the steam
ship Brooklyn, with troops, had sailed from
Norfolk immediately handed over the des-
patch to the gentlemen, with the suitable en-
quireS. The Attorney General said in sub
stance: "iou know, sir, that ain attached to
the law department, and not in the way OF
knowing anything about it. The Secretary OF
State said that hr had heard, and believed that
the Brooklyn had sailed with some troops, but
ne did not know when she sailed, or to what
point she was destined. | then said: ii hoped
that she had not received her orders since my
arrival in Washington" On this point the
gentlemen could give me no Information, but
expressed no doubt but that the President
would give me the information il requested.
excused myself to them and Immediately
Withdrawing to the adjoining rpom, address
cd to the President note number 8, which Mr..
Stanton, the Attorney General, kindly rolun-
teered to bear in person and without lapse OF
time to the President In short time after
wards Sir. Stanton returned to inform me that
he had Carried tho note to the Presidents
House, but, for reason not necessary here to
state, he could not see the President, but had
paccd it in the hands Of his servant to be de-
ivered ut the earliest opportunity. the reply
of the President, number ., reached me ut
harafter | O'Clock that night. In the interim
| had dispatched lay telegraph to Judge Robert
son the information had collected and upon
the opening Of the Telegraph office the next
morning. Saturday the material part Of the
Presidents reply relating to the sailing of the
Brooklyn, viz: That she had gone On an er-
rant Of ENERGY aud relief" and that she was
not destined to South Carolina. The
orders for the sailing of the ship, rs will