Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1861-01-12
VOL. XN.--N0. 23.
The Legislature.

This body rc.asscmbled in Charleston, ON th0s5
Sd instant, and proceeded Mt once to business.
The following message was received from His
Excellcncy, Coy. Pickens, and properly rotor
rcd: t3XNi
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
ToNe Members Of he Senate anil House of Reps.
reScBtaticcS.
The events that have recently transpiredin
the hHrhOr of Charleston, make it proper thas r
should communicate the general facts in rela-
ton to the same. 1t distinctly atderssee.t5
that those who had the right to pledge the faith
of the United States Government on the one
part, and those who had II similar right on the
part of this State, had agreed that after the
Act of Secession there should be no change in.
the forces within it's keeping at the forts in the !
harbor nor should there be any increase of tho
United States forces until after the Commissioners
ers appointed by the Convention should present
themselves Mt Washington and lay before the
President of the United States the Ordinance OF
Secession and the proposition to negotiste for
the delivery of the posts and for the State TO
account for all public property just and
equitable principles All this is admitted aud
stated by the late Secretary of War, Cow Floyd,
in his letter of resignation, which has beess
published.
Pending this solemn pledge, during Che nigttA
of the Goth Of December last, the commanding
OF Fort Moultrc suddenly, without notice. evac-
uatcd that fort and with nearly every effective
man under his command, and transferred the !
garrison over to Fort Sumter, the strongest posi-
ton commanding the harbor, and to a great ex-& y
tent Fort Moultrie itself lie not only did this, Z
but actually burned the carriages of most of 7
the heavy guns in effective position, and spiked g
all the guns and injured the public property in
other respects The fort was cnvcloped in smoke (
and flames. When this was known in tho earlyi
morning to the good people of Charleston, they
were thrown into great excitement. | sent off
an Abide Camp to the fort to know by what aii4% Y
thority the commandunt had acted, and to re- I
quire that the commandant should return back &
To Fort Moultric, as the Government of tho
United States was pledged to keep all its forces
as they were in the different forts. The reply of
Major Anderson was that he did not know any
thing of such pledge, and acted on his own re-
sponsblity, with Il view to prevent the effusion
of blood. and declined to return. | Immediate
ly ordered the occupation of Castle Pnckneyl
and Sullivan's. Island, and if it could be done
in safety, after examination as to the reported
undermining then Fort Moultrie itself should
be occupied -
In the orders issued, it was expressly stated
that these occupations were made with n view
to prevent the further destruction of the public
property end to secure the public safety il pos
siblc. The officer taking possession of Cast,
Pinckncy stated that if it had not been done the
public property in that fort wull,l 1htape-heesl
destroyed, as was done in Fort Moutrie. The
Arsenal. containing tho arms of the United
States, in the city, more recently taken. pos
session of, to prevent any premature collision, E
and for snie-kccpnG in the present excited state X
of the public mind. All the steps which have Y
been taken have been taken from necessity, ard
with view to give security and safety in the
present condition of the country.
The Convention has, by its Ordinance, with
drawn the State from the Federal Union, and,
by consequence, imposed upon the Executive
the duty Of endeavoring to sustain the rights or
the State; and in this emergency, confidently
tive IN all proper measures.