Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1861-02-16


sire to avoid collision; to save the waste of
life; and fulfill the highest obligations of
morality. While the Commissioner deputed
by the State of Virginia is honestly urging
upon the authorities of this and other States
to avoid all occasions of collision with the
Government of the United States; and
while from the same State another Commits.
sioncr is attempting to recommend the same
counscs to the President of the United States
hostile expedition is on its way to attempt
the coercion of State, when the Govern
ment of the United States seems to listen to
the suggestions of peace from that ancient
Commonwealth.
The Governor regards it as happy cir
cuulstancc that in deferring to the wishes of
the Senators who have interposrd in the
mission with which you were charged, their
good intent has been rewarded, in leading to
that declaration from the President, which,
in every seeding State, will he regarded as
equivalent to his declaration of war against
them and thus save them from the copsc-
quences of a generous, but misplaced conf
dence.
Nor is it proper that it should be under
stood, that what the President is pleased to
consider proof of his forbearanco, should
seem to have the acquicscence of the Gov
crnor In the correctness of that construction
of his conduct under the circumstances of a
case, wholly unjustifable, and more than ag-
gravntlng 1t is not for the President of the
United States to seem 60 consider the repulsc
OF vessel sent here with reinforcemcnts, as
the attack of the State of South Carolina up
on an unarmcd vessel If it had not the ar
mamcnt of a vessel intended for war; the less
eXcusable was the attempt to introduce. an
der the shield of peaceful trader, armed
men for the purpose of executing the orders
of the President. 1t was not only a hostile
demonstration, but, while hostile, it was at
tempted to be made successful under dis
guise, which, if it had secured the result
which was desired, would have left nothing
but the mere success to compensate for the
sacrifice of the proprictes with which it had
compensated for the sacrifice of the proprie-
tics with which it had been purchased
The opinion of the Governor, as to the
propriety Of the demand which is contained
in the letter, with the delivery of which you
are charged, has not only been confirmed by
the circumstances which your mission has de-
vcloped, but is now increased into convic-
ton of it's necessity The safety of the
State requires that the position of the Presi-
dent should be distinctly understood. The
safety of all the seeding States requires it as
much as the safety of South Carolina If it
be so, that Fort Sumter is held but as proper
ty, then, as property, the rights whatever
they may be, Of the United States, can be as
ccrtained and for the satisfaction of those
rights, the pledge of the State of South Car
olina you are authorized to give. If Fort
Sumter is not held as property, it is held as
military post; and such post, within the
limits of this State will not be tolerated
The letter of the President may be rcceiv-
cd as the reply to the question you were in
structcd to ask, as to his assertion of the
right to send rcnforccments to Fort Sumter
You were instructed to say to him, if he as
serted that right, that the State of South
Carolina regarded such right when assert
ed, or with an attempt at it's exercise, as
declaration of war. If the President in
tends it shall not be so understood, it is prop
or, to avoid any misconccpton hereafter, that
he should be informed of the manner in
which the Governor will feel bound to re-
gard it.
If the President, when you have stated
the reasons which prompt the Governor in
making the demand for the delivery of Fort
Sumter, shall refuse to deliver the fort, upon
the pledge you have been authorized to make,
you will communicate the refusal, without de-
lay, to the Governor IF the President shall
not be prepared to give YOU an Immediate
answer, you will communicate to him that
his answer may be transmitted, within rea-
sonable time, to the Governor at this place
The Governor does not consider it necessary
that you should remain in Washington longer
than Is necessary to execute this, the closing
duty of your mission, in the manner now in
dlcatcd to you. AS soon as the Governor
shall receive from you information that you
have closed your mission, and the reply,
whatever it may be, OF the President, he will
consider the conduct which will be necessary
on his part
To the Senator'S who have so generously
interposcd in this matter, the Governor desires
you to express the satisfaction he has expc-
ricnccd with the interest they have exhibited
and the concurrence they have manifested in
the earnest desire which has governed him,
in his attempt to secure for the State of South
Carolina its just rights, without the waste of
life or loss of blood. If other counsels shall
prevail with the Government at Washington,
the Governor feels that, whatever unhappy
results may follow, his efforts and the efforts
of those Senators will have been earnestly
made to avert them. copy of this note
to you, the Governor desires you to address to
those Senators
1t will not be necessary for the Governor
to make any further communication to you
than this note. To this he desires me to add
the expression of his thanks for the manner
in. which you have executed the duty with
which you were charged.
zIr IL