The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-01-12

ie-ethoarke0 Tor the fort
Inc correspondence between Major Ander-
son and Gov. Pickens has been published by
telegraph bat as part of the history Of the
| important eveat, we publish in full the letter
OF the last-named gentleman, Of which only a
sketch came over the wires: -EE
TBE GOVERNORS LETTER.
STATE or SOUTH CAROLINA.
ExEcUTivE OFFICE HEADeUARTERs,Y
Charleston, 9th January, 1851
SIR: Your letter has been received. III II
you make certain statements which very
plainly show that you have not been duly IN :
| formed by your Government OF the precise re-
| laiions vbich now exist between 1t and the
| State OF South Carolina. Official informa-
| lion has been communicated TO the Govern
ment OF the United States that the political
| connection heretofore existing between the
State of South Carolina and the s ,ates which
were known as the United States had ceased :
and that the State of South Carolina had re-
| sumed all the powers 1t had deiega ed to the
| United States under the compact known as
tbe Constitution of the United States The
right which the State of South Carolina pos
| sessed To change the political relations which
she had held with the other States under the
| Constitution OF the United States has been
f! solemnly asserted by the people of this State
| in Convention, and now does not admit of dis
| cussion.
In anticipation OF the Ordinance of Ssces-
| sion, OF Wh fch the President of the United
| S lat.s had official notification, it was under
| stood by him that sending any reinforcement Is
| of troops II the United States in the harbni
| Of Charleston would be regarded ny the con
| stituted thOriiies of the State of South Car
olina rs an act of hostility, and at the same
| Time II was understood by him that any
| change in the occupation OF the forts in the
| harbur of Charleston would, in like manner,
| De regarded rs an act CT hostility. Either or
| both of these events occurring during the pr
| riod III which the STATE of SJuth Carolina
| constituted a part Of the Uni'ed States, WAS
men distinctly notified to the President Of the
| United States as an act or acIs OF hostility,
| because either or both would be reg trded. an
| could only be intended TO dispute the right OF
the State of South Carolina TO that political
| iuden ndenca which she has always asserted
and will always retain.
Whatever would ha we been, during the con-
| uuuance Of this Sta'e while a member of the
| United Safes, au act nt hostility, becam e
mach more 50 when the Safe of South Caro-
| lima had dissolved all connection with the
| Government Of the United Sta res. After the
secession of the State of South Carolina, Fort
Sumter continued in the possession of the
troops of the United States. How that fort
is at this tiIJe in the possession Of the troops
of the United States, ii is not now necessary
to discuss. 1t will suffice 10 say that The Oc-
| cupancy of that fort has been regarded by the
State of South Carolina as the first act OF
positive hostility committed by the troops of
he United States within the limits of this
| STATE, and was in this light regarded as so.un-
| -quiyccal that it occasioned the termination
b
| ron bet Reen the Com missioners of the State
| Of South Carolina and the President of the
| United States.
| The attempt to reinforce the troops now in
| Fort sum eT, or 10 re-take and resume posses
| sion of the forts within The waters of this
| State, which You abandoned, after spikipg the
| guns placed there and doing otherwise N u h
| damage, cannot be regarded by the auth rites
| of the State az indicative of any other pur-
pose than The coercion of the State by The
| armed forces of your Government. To repel
such an attempt, is too plainly duty to allow
| it 10 he discussed and while defending its
waters the authorities of the State have been
| careful TO conduct the affairs of the State SO
that no act, however necessary for its defence,
| should lead to a US less waste Of life. Special
agents, therefore, have been oil the Bar, TO
warn all approaching vessels, if armed or un-
| armed, and having troops 10 reinforce the
fort on board, not to enter the harbor OF
| Charleston, and special orders have been
given TO the ommanders OF all the forts
| and batteries not TO fire ar such vessels until
| Il shot was fired across their bow, which would
| warn them of the prohibition or the State -
| Under these circumstances, the Star of the
| West il Is understood, this morning attempted
| TO ente this han bJr with troops on board, and
| having been notified that she could not enter,
| was fired into. The act is perfectly justified
| by me. In regard to your threat In regard 10
vessels in the haroor, 1t Is oniy necessary to
say that you must judge of your responsio'li-
| ~. Your position in this harb bor has been
tolerated by the authorizes cf the State, and
| WnltS Inc act CI WHICH you upldin Is III
| perfect cons <stency with the rights and lies
| Of the State, IL Is not perceived how tar the
| conduct which you propose to adopt can find
| a parallel in the history OF any country, or be
| recoDcied with any other purpose of your
| Government than that Of imp. slug upon this
| State the condition OF conquered province.
| Signed, +. w. PlCKENs.
| ENDoRsEMEN OF THE ACT BY TIE LEGIsLA.
| TURK.
| f,I1 ado h,
| the South Carolina House of Delegates on re-
| ceiving the correspondence from the Gov.
| ernor:
upon any attempt 10 reinforce the troops now N
possession OF Fort sumter, as an act OF open anC
| msnt Of the United states.
| Rsso!rtd, further, That this General Assembly
resistance this day, BY the troops OF this State
acting under orde rs of The Governor, to attempt
| Rs,orsd, fUrtaer, that this General Assembly
| entlreiy approves ana endorses the communion
ton of the Governor this da. made to Major An
deIson; n,. .
pledges Itself to an earnest vigorous. and unh-si-
iating support of The Governor IN every measure
adopted by him IN defence of the honor and safety
| Of the state
ARREST FOR TREASON.
The Charleston Mercury, of Thursday,
says:
j. N. Merriman. Collector of the port OF
GEORGETOWN, >. O., was on Monday last =
rested by the people of Georgetown on a
charge of treason against the State. A letter
was found written by him aud addressed 10
MIR. buchanan, stating that ne tMerrimah)
had just cleared vessels In the name of the
United States, and that he would continue TO
do SO. the letter calls upoa the President to
| send a boat and men TO collect the Federal re-
venue. aud informs him OF the progress made
in the construction OF the works near George
town. and promises TO keep him posted from
time 10 time in relation 10 the same. The let
ter is signed by his initials, J. N. Nj. When
arrested. lie acknowledged having written It,
Lopee, his deputy, was also "rrested. He sa
he had been in the habit OF writing out Mer-
riman's letters, but had not done so in this
case as he considered 1t treason. Both have
| been committed for trial.
THE CAPTURE or THE ALABAMA FORTS.
| The Mobile News OF Saturday last, gives
| the following account of the capture by Ala
bama troops, of the Federal forts within her
| limits:
The movement of the Mobile companies on
| Mount Vernon Arsenal up the river and Fort
Morgan down the Bay, kept the city in fer
| ment OF excited interest yesterday, and il was
| not until late in the day that Intelligence ar
| rived that both those points of Federal occu-
| patton and defence were in the hands of the
solalery OF the State of Alabama. The sud
den stroke OF policy in Alabama, the coup d,etat
| ara comp dc gnere, was quietly and effectively
| carried out In this wise Acting under the
| Governors orders. at eleven o'clock ON Thurs
day night lhs following companies detailed
| for that service embarked ON a steamer for
Fort Morgan: the "Cadets," Capt. Sands: the
| "Fusiiiers," Lieutenant Emrick comm,ndins.
tina "Independent Rifles" Capt Sukes. and
| the "Artillery,'' Capt. Ketcnnm. Steamins .
! down The bay they arrived ut the Fort nbouf
| 3 O'Clock aud quietly occupied il, its onIy Gar.
| rIson being an Ordnance Sergeant and his
| family, aud a laborer or SO. The Fort is now
sha ataP 1f Z fhat t~r
| took ossessIon about two hundred men he.
ing under arms The works are being put i n