Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-02-14
Washington Matters.
WASHINGTON, Feb. s

AodlNOION, Ieus o.
The President in message transmitted
to both Houses to-day, gives the cores
pondence between himself and Col. Hayne,
much of it already published. The fol-
lowing is the substance of the concluding
part.
January 81. 1861
After stating the refusal TO surrender
Fort Sumter to be occasion for war, and
stating the question to be one of mere
property, he says:
If the evils of war be encountered,
especially calamitous civil war, elevated
craftsmanship would seem to require it
should be accepted as an unavoidable al
ternative of something still more disastri-
Gus; such as national dishonor, or measures
materially affecting the safety or permanent
interest of the people, that should be de-
liberately made and entered upon, and of
SET purposes, but that war should be the
incident or accident attendant on policy
professedly peaceful. and not required to
effect the object which is avowed as the
only end intended, and can only be excused
where no warning has been given as TO
consequences. South Carolina cannot by
her silence appear to aequiese in imputa-
ton that she is guilty of an act of un-
pro ,oked aggression in firing on the Star
of the West. Though an unarmed vessel,
she was filled with armed men entering her
territories against her.
Gov. Pickius' instructions to him ac-
company Haynes letter.
Secretary Holt replied BY acknowledging
the Presidents receipt of Haynes letter.
He first gives a summary of Haynes in
structions, which are, in effect:
do not come as military man to de-
mand the surrender of fortress, but as a
legal officer of the State-its Attorney
General-to claim for the State the exer-
else of its undoubted right of eminent do
mains, and to pledge the State to make
good all injuryto rights of property which
arise from the exercise of its claim. The
proposition, therefore, is to buy Fort Sum-
ter, sustained by the declaration, in effect
if South Carolina is not permitted TO make
the purchase she will seize the Fort by
force of arms. As an invitation for ne
gotiation to transfer property between
friendly governments, this proposal i'm
presses unusual form. He has, however,
investigated the claim on which it processes
TO be based apart from the declarlion that
accompanies it. The title of the United
States TO the Fort is complete and incon-
testable. Were its interest in the proper
ty in the ordinary accepta,ion of the term
il might probably be subjected to the ex-
ercise of the act of eminent domain, but
it has political relations to it of much
higher and more imposing character than
those of mere pruprietorship.
1t has absolute juriSdic ion over the fort
and soil on which it stands, which is clear.
ly Incompatible with claims of eminent
domain. This authority was derived fr'm
the peaceful cession of South Carolina her.
self, under IL provision Of the Constitution
of the United States. South Carolina
can no more assert the right of eminent
domain over Sumter, than Mary land can
over the Dislr ct Of Columbia. The Pres
ident, however, relieved further necessity
of pursuing this inquiry by the fact that
he has not the constitutional power 10 ccde
or surrender it.
The question of reinforcing Fort Sum
ter WAS So fully disposed of in my letter OF
22d of January to Senator Slidell, a copy
of which accompanies this, that its dis
cussion need not be renewed. then 81 id
Al the present moment it is not deemed
necessary to reinforce Major Anderson, be-
cause he makes 10 such request. Should
his safety, however require renforcements,
every effort will be made TO supply them.
can add nothing to the expllcltness OF
this language, which still applies to the ex-
isting state.
In letter Of Senator Davis, and Others,
to yourself, they say it is especially due
from South Carolina to our State, TO say
nothing of other slaveholdng States
She should, as far as consistent with her
honor, avoid initiating hostilities between
her and the United States, or any other
power, and you now give the President the
gratifying assurance that South Carolina.
has every disposition TO preserve public
peace, and since he is sincerely animated
by the same desire it would seem this COM
mon patriotic object must be of certain at
tainment. 1t is difficult, however, to rec
oncile this with the declaration on your
part that South Cardinals own dignity as
sovereignty and the safety of her people,
prompts her to demand this property, and
not longer to be used as military post by
the Government she no longer acknowl-
edges. After stating that in case an at.
tempt BY foreign ports 10 capture the Char
lesion batteries, Fort Sumter would be ex.
er,ed for her protection, he says: How the
presence of small garrison, actuated by
such spirit, can compromise the dignity
or honor of South Carolina, the President
is at loss to understand. The attitude
that the Government has often declared,
is neither menacing, defiant, nor unfriend-
Iy. If announcement so repeatedly made,
Of the Presidents pacific purposes in con.
tinuing the occupation of Fort Sumter un,
til the question is settled by competent
authority, has failed to impress the gov
ernment of South Carolina with the for.
bearing conduct of his administration :uI
the last three months, it should be received
as conclusive evidence of his sincerity, and
if this forbearance be not accepted, then
neither language nor conduct can possibly
furnish such n pledge.
If with all the multiplied proofs 'of the