Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1861-01-11

your desire 1t would have been wiser md
better in ocr opinion, to have Withdrawn the.
troops; and this opinion We urged upon your
but We ,?cman{,d nothir. but such an eypiana.
ti"n Of the. events of the last twenty four hours
IL would restore our confidence in the spirit
with which, the negotiations should be con.
ductcI:
In relation to this i'hdrawal of the troons
from the haroor we arc compelled. however,
to notice one passage of Your letter. Refer
ring TO It YOU say. This l n.not' do This
will not do. S!Ich IN idea was never thourht
of hv NE in any possible contingency No
a'!usi"a 10 il had ever been made in any com.
munIcai;on between myself and any human be-
ing"
la reply to this statement we arc compoliel
- say i, 'hat your conversation with ns left
nH"n oar minds the distinc, impression that YOU
IA seriously ""nt"rnplulc the withdrawal OF
'hr troops h"rn Charleston harbor. And in
support OF this impression We would add, that
we nave 'he positive assurance of gentlemen of
''t niEhest l"sHb!c reputation and tho most
fame, secured by long service and pat,iotie
ae"icVenient, place their testimony beyond
eNi-'hht such suggestions had been MADE to
ait urged upon yon hy them, aud had formed
va SG'J"ct OF more than one earnest discussion.
%'i' lou. A'.I It was this hrowlelre that M
"irch lis 10 n'l:" upon You policy which Ind
L" rcc"inn'"nl! it its own wisdom and the we;rht-
Of such authority.
As To the second point, that the author,ties
o! S""th Car"!ina, in:tcad Of asking explone.
'i";.s and giving you tie opportunity TO yindi.
'!'r Yourself took Possession Of other pronertv
81 :" '''1 t",trG States. sc would observe. FIRST
lhAt even If This were sa i: does not avail ,o,,
-" .e:e:"", 10: tie opportunity for ioo;S;on
WE' '.!."'''.I y"'; Jofo:c these facts occurreI
We arr.vr! II Washington on WcJnos}a
The news iion Major Anderson reached e.
cary Oh Thursday, and WAS immediately com.
n!"n!:"ie.s i" E"H M! that day men OF tho
h's;h";' r""=iicration--lGen who hnJ strivn,,
s':vcr -liiy 70 lift you to yo;.r great oflico
M''o l'd hco" Your tried and true friend,
.t!'."Cg' the troubles % your Atminis,r ,rot;nn
aons:.t you, ":.d eH,rsa.el you to act, to act at
'cMcr. ' "'
They to,.' ycr t',a; every hour comp,c,to,
ill.,, ;m". ,,'':"''' lhHy only asked YOU to give
me ;sa"ri''r, that # the facts were so-that If
the Commanded nh aclu.! without and ,,,,;nst
your orders. ;':!' II. violation Of YOUR pIcd,,c|
"iai ~" W":.'! restore the status YOU
riHH&:! Your E":.'.H 10 maintain. You r.fuA
L" 'i"r!'!'. l""r r:Secretlry of War--vonr ia
'"'''a'e %'i proper adviser in this Whole mat
Ter "ai;"d ntN:r;isly for rcur decision rnf,,
'r i":t tn"' d":aJ Was dishonnr
More than twelve hours pas,.l ori .,,
,ah'"ct m"r'm:s ha.l aGi"u,.c,l, jcfrrc v",
k""" WhaH ihG authorities IF Soutl, Cor,i;na
h''' d"'.' anal Your prompt ,!.c.;on at INV
Lament T.; ;'"t time w'';ii,. have avoided the
iHr't COMMUNICATIONS. B:, If YOU had
hMH"h 'he acts ni the authorities OF Sou;b f,.r.
oii'n Should havs ,,sr,cutci your knan;n,, Hnr.
I""F .a'h. Whnt wa, he condition Of ,Lj,rs2
t"E the last siv'v. days yvu hare had in
t''Hfiest"n ia,h"f no; r;j.sc. nou,rl 10 bniJ ,'
i2it' aaS;a'' a. rInal eaemy. Two of them
were .:i.i'IE; i'@ OF those, too, the most i'm
poriHrI ia ;Er harlor 1t coul.! l,ave hnen ,a-
Ken ut ahr 'i;nc. You onrh, TO know b,,tor
,i'nh any ;'@, that IL would lave been taken
hl't i"r l'e tlt1:iz II those o rut l!:cir ,,u,
it: yogr h""or. N"':
l"'ievinG that t'.ny were threatened bv to
S.ii'''1: "siec,"!'r, the people We're will linz.
s"'Y f'SiF.'i''> i'"'i securing without blood
'"t POSSESSION "i THIS Important fortress. Az
Ter man. anc; reiterated ASSURANCES evc, -,
y"N: !es"'f. '|h:ch we cannot bel eve muon,hos
i%r'!. ':"N 'e!"rnliCcd to TO; ljrar and in ,r,o3
i"i;h s:i!: Oh their Commissioners to n.r,I;,.
with yon ltry meant yo:: 20 harm: wishcd
you 10 III. ihvy 'h""-!.; Of you Kindly: b..
'eEca !"h hHs; and were willing, rs lar us
vas 1"iS!,t n: with ntv. to .;,nre YOU unre.-
"ss"'y AZ" i.':''ir co.!Sna Scarcely had ,h.,,
t":':i'.S>!o!l"i& left, t.an iImi"r Anderson ia.
"et WHn-> go other word. will describe HE, oc-
j. w'e l,Hl :: rcacecu! c,an.;. from, one foEt f..
""",!''r; II Vas hostile act III The Lirhest
s':'.r :l.! "':iy Justified! in the PRESENCE Of
~. g .'' ',',.hJ "':,i IN io:miuc:t l,e":E He
""i,""i:ed rs position. spike" his .;:t.. burn
e.! Is G"N-r"'i;":'a ;aa,e preparations for the,
Gas F.'t'i"i. -: i!a i"':, al.I withdrew un,i.-
c"' .: .. 30 n':3t To u !r ;roS.,iun This
N"a W"" =" ii'tn c".ll have believed fw;,hA
'':' your 49, 'n:.i!"r) that o!:rrr could have
.,e'' s',.'' ''' not Only without orders.
TX. ".:iii'.-' ':.:""s' Wha, the Stat. did was
IN s!"'E!" s::i defence; :ur Iii, act, with all it's
a'ir;.c!n!; circumstances, was as mach war as
il!IiS '".:ey; and, war being thus begun.
"i't! lh"s. commencing it explained their ac-
TO" and lisa I"we'i ,'"ir intention, there was.
nc :'"hi Tor delay; ami even ut this moment
while We are writing IL IS more ;lan probable
from t!e tc!."r OF your letter, that reinforce
i"ch's ni" l';rymc into the conflict, So that
when the a"St gun shall be fired ll.cre will.
have been on Your part one continuous consist.
eht se:'e= oil "ci,oiS, cotnncncingIn IN a demon,
sIra'ioH essentially warlIkc, supported by reg.
ular reinforcc'nen:s and terminating in defeat
OF victory. And ali this without the sliphtest
Tor, among the many thjnps
which You have snd there is one thing which
!ou c"nnot sny-you have waited anxiocsly
Tor news ironi me scat Of war; in hopes that do.
itution.
But this "tangible evidence of n desrn to
rrocee'! to II hostile net on the part of the M
thoritlcs OF South Carolina" which ia tho only
Jnetilicntlon of Major Anderson, YOU are for
rtd to admit has not yet been alTa-ed." But
you have decided. You have resolved to hold
by iores what you have obtained through, our
av"w the action of Major Anderson. have con.
Ver'ca his violation of orders into a legitimate
act OF your Executive authority.
BE He issue what it may, Of this wa aro ae.
:a;el' tliaI !! Fort Moul lie has been recorded
|. % history rs a memorial Of Carolina rallantry,
oft sumter VIII live upon The succeeding paSo
As ~ IN i'"per!@h.ble testimony of Carolina faith.
Hy ycrr course You have probably rendmed
sivIl war inevitable. BE it so. If You Choose
10 force this issue upon u.s. the Stat, of south
-aF'!'nI WI accept it, and relying upon him
mo Is the God of Justice rs well as the God of
liosts' VIII en1eavoS'o pc, form the great duty
.hlen y n1 lies before lei, hopefully, bravely and
Our mission being one for negotiation and
peace and ,yonr note leaving us without hope
oi withdrawal Of the troops from Fort Sum
.ei, or OF the restoration of the status QUO ex-
sung at Tho time Of our arrival, and intima-
ing, as we We think, your discrimination TO rein
ofee tire garrison 10 the harLor of Charleston,
we respectfully inform you that we purpose re-
nrning to Charleston to-mprrow afternoon,
q 10 n lor 81