The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1861-02-21

eth"r put tne very demand itself, which
you say has been modified. What purpose
OF peace or Cancellation your Secretary
could have had in view In the Introduction
OF this point at all, it is difficult to perceive.
Your next attempt to ridicule the propo-
sal presented, ''as simply an offer on the
part OF South Carolina to bny Fort Sumter
ana contents, as property of the United
States, sustained by d claration in effect,
that II she is not permitted to make the
purchase, she will seize the fort by Fl rec of
arms Ii is difficult to consider this as
other than intentional mscsns.ruction.
You were told that South Carolina, as a
separate, independent sovereignty, would
not tolerate the occu, alton, by foreign
troops, OF a military post within her limits;
but that, inasinuch as you, in repeated mes.
sages, andiH your correspondence, hid "laid
much stress upon the character of your
duties, arising from considering forts as
property, South Carl lima, SO far as this
matter OF property, suggested by YOURSELF
was concerned, would make compensation
Tor all injury done the property in the cx-
e'cisc OF her sovereign right OF eminent
domain. And this your Sccrctary calls .
proposal to purchase! The idea Of pur-
'hase is entirely Inconsistent with the MS
sertiCn of paramount right III the purcta-
scr. | had supposed that an interest in
property as such, could be other than
purely proprietary" and if confined my
self to This narrow view or your ".elatious''
tp Fort Sumter, you at least should met
Consider it the subject of criticism. Until
yonr letter OF yesterday, you chuse SO TO
consider your relations, in everything which
You have written, or which has been written
under your direction. It was precisely be-
cause you had yourself chosen to place your
action upon the ground OF purely proprie.
tary' right, that the proposal of compensa-
ton was made, anJ you now admit, tn t.in
this view, lit fort SUMTER would probably
he subjected to the exercise OF the right. Of
eminent domain -
In your letter of yesterday (thfpdxli
your Secretary3you shift your position.
You claim that Your Government bears to
fort Sumter political relations OF much
hI-her aud more imposing character" Ia
Was no part OF my mission TO discuss-.the
''?ol;tici relations" Of the Uli:eas Sta, "a
Government to anything within kkesterrs;
Carolina claims to have dissolved al p5zgii 1
cal connection with your Government. niii1
TO have destroyed al political re!ations'' ai
Jour Government with eveFytMg within
her oorI'ra. Sh; is nquesshapably AZ this
momen;, ,Ie h.cto, a scparatd n1ndepen.
dent Government, exercising be soy.
ere;snty over every foot Of q Except
Fort Sumter. Now that he intention is
avowed to bold this place as military post
with claim of exclusive Jurisdiction, on
the par; ot Il G0vernmSnt foreign 10 South
I Carolina, it vill &c FOR the authorities to
determine what is the course proper to be
pursued II is vain to ignore tie fact tha;
South CaroliGa is, TO yours, ffti.n Cox.
ernment; and how, with this ~r1eeat i,x
/ before you. you cAH-eonsidcr ths9sftinu
oc uPatiou u fort in her lIts6orsT pl ID
measure AID parcel OF afszeefil poGy
passes, certainly my comprehension. ~
Iou say that the fort is'~arriSoned fol
our protection. AMI i held for thef~sS.pe
, purposes for which il has been ever RFl
/ s.ncc ITS construction. Are yaa not awarc
ihot to hold, in the territory OF foreign
power, fortress against hAswill, .avowedly
Tor tho purpose of pr3tec,iAg her citizeus,
Is perhaps The hiahcs, in ultswhich one
government can offer to aaotsler Bui
Fort Sumt was never earrisontd at all
until South Caroline had dissolved her con.
msction with y ur Goyernmcut This r
/ ri>pn entered II in the night with ever,
I circumstance OF secrecy, after spiking tn.
I gus and burning the carriages, and
I cnt:inI down the fts staff of an adjacent
fort, which WAS then abandoned.
; nth Carolina had not taken Fort sum
I ter INTO her own possession only because Of
her misplaced confidence III government
which deceived her. A fortress occupied
under the circumstances above stated. is
considered 10y You not only as no cause o
Irritation, bat YOU represent it as held fol
, our protection.
Your Exccliency's Secretary has induls
cd IN irony Oh every grave subject
" 10 the reSpon,iLIIity for consequences
1 if, indeed, it does rest on US, can assnr,
your ExccIlcncy We are happily Gncvasciou.
/ oil the fact
return TO Charleston tomorrow.
With considc ations OF high re -lrd,
am, very respectfully,
J. ". HAYNE,
SPECIAL Envoy.