Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1861-01-16

In anticipation Of the Ordinance OF Seces-
sion, of which the President Of tue United
States had Official notification, it was under
stood by him that sending any relntprce'nents
If trn,;,s of the United States in the harbor
Of Charleston, would be regarded by the con-
sli,utcd authorities OF ,hc State of South Car
oIna rs an act of hostility, and at the same
time it was understood by him that any
Change in the occupation of the forts Ill the
l1arbor Of Charleston, would, III like manner
he regarded as Ell act of hostility. Either or
both Of these events occurring during tie pc
riuI in which the State of South Carolina
constituted II part of the Unitc;! States, was
then distinctly notified TO the President of
the United States rs All act or acts ot hostility,
because either or both would hc regarded,
and Gould only be intended to dispute the
right OF the State Of South Carolina to that
political Independence which size has always
asserted and will always Retain.
Whatever would have heen, during the
continuance cf this State Hi.ile a uembcr ot
tle United States, an act of hostility, became
much more sp when III: State of South Caro-
Ina had dissolved all correction with the
Government of the United States. After the
secession of tie State of South Carolina, Fort
S.rnter continued in the possession oil the
United States. How hat fort is at this time
il the possession Of the troops Of the United
SratrS. il is not now .:ecessarr to discuss III
vii! suffice 70 say that the occupancy ot that
for. has been regarded by the State of South
Caroline Is Tie first act ot positive hostility:
co:,ttcd by the troops Of the United States
wi:lin the ll,ni:s Of this State and WIS in this
light regarded as 50 uneGu;vocal ta; it occs-
Stored the termination ot the negotiation
then pending al Washington betxee: ti.e
Commissioners o; the State ul South Carolina
AMI tic President Of lie Cniie,l States.
The attempt to reinforce tie troops now III
Fort Sumter, ur To rc-.akc and resume pos
session Of the forts within the waters Ut this
State, which you abandoned after spiklny the
yll:ia placed there and doing otherwise much
da.aage cannot he regarded by the authori-
ties OF the Stale Us indicative Of any ether
purpose than The coercion of the State by the
armed force on yonr Government. TO repel
such an attempt j too plainly L duty to allow
it to be di>cu ,Scd, and while defending its
waters the authorities of the State have been
careful 10 conduct tue affairs Of the State so
that no act, however necessary for its de-
fence. should lead 10 Il useless waste Of life.
Special agents, therefore, have becn off the
lar, 10 warn all approaching vessels, II armed
or unarIuc;l, and having troops To rein:prcr
tic fort on board not to enter tue l:ariiur ui
Charleston, and special orders have been given
10 ,.e commanders OF all the forts and bate
res not to fir. 1T such vessels until shot
WA fired across thc:r bow, would warn them
OF tic prohibition "i TIE State. CnlSr these
circumstances, the Sta. of l!e Nest, 1t Is 'lii
ticrstonl, this morning Attempted to enter
this n2ror Wit:. troop; on h!r,i, ::'n HaVliiS'
l....n notified .nat she Could net enter, wv,
fired in:o. Tie nc; is perfectly justified by
me. In rcsar.! 70 Your threat III regard I"
yr.sc.S in tue iiarbur it j, only necessary tn
say TIA; v,u lnl>; i"dge of your responsibility
yam. p,.i lon i. ri;S lrbnr has been '""ra-
;c.: * ,!,a antr"ri:rs L: the State, anu whiie
;bn &c, IF wil:c! y"a c''I:,pi;ia i III perfect
Consistency wtn .i., r:.ilts and ''u:i,n =! The
S,,;c- j; i not tcrc.irc.i li"w f:r ;!.r conduct
which YOU yIu,.o-c t" adept, can ilnu faraI-
,eIl il; lie history C., any country, Or b,. rccn'
c.lc.l with any nti.cr purpose oi your uoverii'
mr,,t than that Of ilnpos ng lp'n this State
the condition Of conquered I'ruTince.
:fS;,mdl \ T. w. PlcEENs.
Mr. Mullins offered the following resou-
ions:
HcsoislG. Tia; til, G,n"ral= ~ ;"n'', :
;,c, upnD ary a..einp; IL rcuf'iccte troops
r..v j., ,a., c>,ip,. OF Fart ;iuln;rr. rs an act
,.t oucn ard unGisg,,!srl l:o.,i!:i.v rn III" part
II The Government of the Cnitc'i States.
9. Rcsofred farther, That the General As