Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1861-01-18


most earnestly recomnen that YOU de-
vote yourselves exelusiv ' TO the question how
this can be accomplished in peace. All other
questions, when compared to this sink into in
significance. The present is no time for pal
liation. Aetion-promp action IS required
"A delay in Congress to prescribe and rec
ommend q distinct, practical proposition fnr
concil action may drive US 70 point from
which it win be almost impossible TO recede.-
A common ground, on which Cancellation and
harmony may be produced, is surely not unat-
tAinablO.
The proposition to compromise by letting
the North have exclusive control Of the terri
tory above certain line, and giving Southern
institutions protection below that line, ought
to receive universal appreciation. In it self
indeed, i may not be entirely satisfactory. but
when the alternative is between reasonable
concession on both sides. and the destruction
of the Union, it is an imputation on the pairi-
otism Of Congress TO assert that It's members
viii hesitate for moment.
Even now the danger is upon US In sever
Al s5taies which have not seccdrd, the forts,
= aFseiNsla. and magazines Of the United States
have beeB seized. This is by far the most Sc
Fious step which has been taken since the COM
,fHeacenent Of the troubles. The public prop
erty has long been lefl without garrisons and
troops fOT its protection, because no person
doubted its security under the flag of the
country in all the States Of the Union. Be
: sides. our small army have scarcely been suf6-
cient to guard our remote frontiers against
Indian iBcnFsions.
The seizure Of this property. from all ap-
zpearaaccs, has been purely aggressive, ard not
IN resistance to any attempt to coerce State
or States 70 Fealain in the Union. At the be-
glazing sf these nnhAppy troubles. I determ-
ined that no act of mine should increase the
yexeitement in either section of the county
II the political cunfict were 10 end in civil
xAr, it was my deterinincd purpose not to
epmsneBce it nor even furnish an excuse for il
by any gct Of this Government Sly opinion
ipem;lins unchanged, that Justice as well as u
isanmIlI lIriicy requires Us still to seek peace
jfal solution OF the questions at issue between
7tllp North and South. Entertaining this con-
viotion. rrefrained even from sending rein
sfopcemeRls 70 Major Anderson, who cOmnan-
,tled the forts in Charleston hIIb1r. until an
absolute necessity for doing 80 should make it.
self apparent, lest it might unjustly be regard
ed rs q menace OF military coercion, and thus
furnish &c not provocatiOn, at least pretcxt
for an outbreak on the part of South CARROLL
ma. No necessity for these reinf0rcements
seemed to exist.
~, was assured by distinguished and upright
gentlemen from south Carolina that no attack
on MajIf Anderson was intended, but that on
the contrary it was the desire or the State au-
tHorities, as much as it was my own, to avoid
the fatal consequences which must inevitably
follow military collision. And here deem
il proper to submit for your consideration
cnpies of communication dated the 29Ih OF
december, 1859, addressed 10 me by II. w
ISarnwell, j: II. Adams and james L. Orr
commissioners from South Carolina, with nc
companying documents and copies Of my ans
wertherrto dated the 3Ist of December.
In further explanation Of Major Anderson't
removul from Fort MoultrIe to Fort Sumter
il is proper to state that, fler my answer Il
the South C0roIina Commissioners, the WaI
Department received a letter from that gal
liant officer, dated on the 9th OF December
1860, tthe dny after the mOvement.l from
which the following is an extract:
Il will add, asmy opinion that many things
convinced inc that the authorities of the ) StatC
designed 10 proceed to a hostile net. (Eyi
IDENTIFY referring to the orders dated December
lIth, of the late Secretary Of War) Under
this impression, could not hesitate, tn, Il
was my solemn duty to move my commant
from a fort which We could not probably hav,
held lougeE thaO forty-eight or sixty hours, tc
this one, where my power of resistance is in
creased in a very great degree"
81 Itaain be Fccollectcd that the convlu
ding part Of these orders were in the follow
ing terms:
"The suaAliness Of your force win not per-
nit you, perhaps, to occupy more than one o
the three forts; bu. an attack on, or an at
tcnpt to take possession of either Of them
will be regarded ms an act Of hostility, auC
you may then put your command into cithci
or them which you may deem most proper t,
Increase its power Of resistance. You are al
so authorized to take similar defensive steps
whenever you have tangible evidence Of a de
sign to proceed to hostile act"
1t is said that serious Apprebensions are tc
some extent entertained that the peace o
this district may be disturbed before March
next. In any event it will be my duty to pre-
vent Il, and this duty shall be performed.
In conclusion, it may oe permitted to me tC
rcniark that have often warned my count ry
men OF the dangers which now surround us
This may be the last time l shall refer t,
the subject officially. I feel that my duty has
been faithfully, though imperfectly performed
and whatever the result may be, shall carry
to my grave the consciousness that at least
meant we'll for my country.
e tSignedl JAMES BUCHANAN