Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-01-10

for explanation, added And in conclusion would
urge upon you the immediate withdrawal of Il troops from
the harbor of harleston Under present
they standing which renders negotiation i'm.
circumstances Why clearly the occupation Of
ter and the dsmanng of Fort MoultrIe by Major Ander
SON. in the face of Your pledges and without or
which would could have prevented from declining to
withdraw the TROOPS and offering the restoration OF the
status to which you pledged such had been your oe
SIRE 1t would have been wiser and better IN our opnon
have Withdrawn the and this opinion we urged
upon you, but demanded nothing but such an expiana
on of the of the last twenty hours as would re-
store confidence in the spirit with which the negoua
| tiOns should be conducted.
In relation to this withdrawal Of the troops from the har
bor compel ed, however, to notice one pass ge
your letter. Referring you say, This cannot do
This Will do. Such idea never thought OF BY
any possible contingency No aluslon to 1t had eve
been made in any communication between myself and any
human being
In reply to this compelled to say it, tina
your conversation with left upon minds the distnc
impression that you did seriously contemplate the with
drawal the troops ro Charleston harbor And IN sup
mort of this impression We would add that the
positive assurance of gentlemen of the highest possible
public reputation and the most unsuied ntegrlty-mel
whose name and fame secured by long service and Eatro
achievement place their testimony beyond cav-tha suc
suggestions had bean made to and urged upon you ny them
had formed the subject OF more than one earnest d
cussioG with you. And this knowledge that induced
urge upon policy which had, to recommend 1t
It's wisdom and the weight of such authority.
to the second pont that the authorities OF south Gar
DINA instead of asking explanations and giving the Op
portunity vndicae YOURSELF took possession OF othe
if this does not avail you for Defence TO
the opportunity afforded you before these facts occur
red We arrived in Washington on Wednesday. The new
rem Major Anderson reached he'e early on Thursday ant
Immediately communicated to you All that day mel
OF the highest who had strVen success
fully lift you your great ofce-who had been you
tried and friends through the troubles OF your admin
sraon sought you and entreated you to act to act
once.
They told you that every hour complicated your position
They only asked you give the that the fact
were so-lhat if the Commander had acted without AM
against orders and III violation of your pledges-tha
would restore the status you had pledged your honor
maintain. You refused to decide. Your Secretary Of Wa
your immediate and proper adviser III this whole matte
waited anXiOusy for decision until be felt that dela
was becoming dshonor.
More than twelve hours passed. and two Cabinet meet
ns had adjourned before knew what the
South Carolina had DONE AID your prompt decision at
moment of time would have avoided the subsequen
hores OF South Carolina should that have you
keeping your faith What the condition Of things -
For the last sixty days have had in Charleston habo
not force enough to hold the forts against an eQ d enemy
Two OF them empty one OF those, too the most III
portan the harbor 1t could have been taken any time
You ought know better than any that it would hav
been taken but for the efforts of those who put their trust
your honor.
Believing that they threatened by Fort Sumter es
pecaly, the people with difficulty restrained from
curing without blood the possession Of this important for
ress After many and reiterated assurances gwen on you
behalf which cannot believe unauthorized, they deter
mined forbear and in good faith their Commits
sioners to negotiate with They meant you no harm
wished ill. They thought OF you kindly believe
you true; and were wiling far consistent wit
duty to spare unnecessary and hostile collision Scarce
had their Commissioners eft than Major Anderson wage
war. mo other words will describe his action.
1t not peaceful chan from fort 20 another
hostile act in the highest sense and only justified
the presence OF superior enemy and in imminent peril
He abandoned his position spiked his gnns bu ned his gun
carriages made for the destruction of his
and withdrew under OF the night to safer position
This war. could have believed (without you
as5ufance) that officer could have taken such step
only without orders, but against orders" What tn
State did simple defence; for this act, with al
its attending circumstances, much firing
y; and, being thus begun until those commencing
xpaIned their disaVOwed their intention
| W
writings is than probab from the tenor of you
letter. that relorcemens are hurrying into the conflict
when the first gun shall be fired, there will have bee
your part continuous series OF action
commencing in demonstration essentially warike support
ed by regular reintoIcements, and terminating defeat
all without the
for among many things which you have said there
thing you cannot sayyOu have waited anXously 70
news from the seat Of hopes that delay would fur
nish some excuse for this precipitation.
But this tangible eyirence Of design proceed to
hostile act the part the authorities OF South Carolina,
which the only 1eat"n OF Major Anderkon you ar
decided You have resolved to hold by force what yo
have obtained through misplaced Confidence and b.
refusing to dsavOw tie action OF Ma Anderson have
vered hs violation ot oders Into legitimate act OF You
EXtcu'Ive authority.
Font Moultrie has been recorded in history memora
of CarOna CALAMITY, Fort will live upon the
ceedng page pershabe testimony of Caro- ina ta
BY your cOulse you have probably rendered civil ia
evuab.e be it II you choose 10 force this issue upo
upon Him bo is the God OF Justice we'll the God o
Hosts; will endeavor perform the great duties which lie
before her, hopefully, braVely and thor oughly.
Our mission being for negotiation and peace and you
note leaving without hope withdrawal OF the troops
from SUMTER OF the restoration of the status
listing at The time Of ARRIVAL and intimatng thilk
your determination to reinforce the garrison the harbo
OF Charleston. respect uy Inform you that purpose
returning to Charleston to morrow afternoon
We have the IA to be, sir, very respectfully, you
Obedrnt servants,
h. W. BAbNWELL,)
j. H. ADAMS, Commissioners
JAMES l.. OhR.
To his EAcelency, the President Of the United States
The following was the endorsement the paper:
fXECUTIyE MANSION, O clock.
This paper just presented the President is of such
chat that he declines to receive it.
SPEECH w. HALL.