Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-11-12
Eou man deem uroper . b the bsarsr Of rour

you may deem proper to be the bearer Of you
demand"
This proposition was promptly accepted By the gov
ernOr ana, in pursuanee thereof sent his part Hon
j. w. Hayne. the attorney general OF South Carolina
| to Washington, while Major Anderson deputed Lieu
tsnant Hall OF the United States army, TO acc mpany
him. These gentlemen arrived together In Washington
the evening Of the I3h Of January when the Pres
dem obtained the hrst knowledge Of the transaction.
But viii be reeolected that time interviewed be
tween the return Of the Star Of tho West New York,
and The arrival Of the messenger bearing copy Of the
lruee at Washington within which would have been
possble to send renfOreemeRis to Fort Sumter both
! events occurred ab ut the anne time.
/ Thus truce, suspension Of arms, was concluded
between the parties 70 continue until the question Of the
surrender OF the fort should be decided by the President
Until this decision Mscr Anderson had placed it out OF
his power ask for reiuforcemens and equally
out of the power Of tbs government send them with
out violation Of public faith. This Is What writers
on public law denoEinRts "a partial truce, under which
hostes suspended only in certain places, be-
tween town and the army besiegins it"
II is possible that the President under the laws Of
might have annuled this truce Hpon due notice to the
opposite party but neither General scott nor any other
person supported this expedent This would have
reflection on Major Anderson, who beyond question,
acted ON the highest and pursst mOives Did General
Scott ever propose to violate this truce during its exist
encef II he did rot now, and never was, aware
Of the fact Indeed think he would have been Of
the last men in the world to propose such
Colonel HaYne did deliver the letter which he bore
from Governor Pckens, demanding the surrender Of the
fo-t to the President until the 3st Of January The
documents containing the reasons Tor this worrying de
lay communicated to Congress in special message
on the sh Of February to which refer the reader. On
the 5th OF February, the Secretary Of War under the
instructions President gave peremptory refusal
TO this demand n abe and prehensive letter re-
viewing the whole subject explaining and usfyinz the
sonduct Of the Presdent throughout. Its concluding
sentence is both slOquen; and emphatic.
" If (says ar. Holt,) with all the multiplied proofs
which est Of the Presidents anxiety for peace and Of
the esrnestness with which he has pursued IT, the author
tiles Of that Stats shall asGast Fort Sumpter and
peril the lives Of the handful Of brave and loyal
shut up within its walls and thus plunge our country
into the horrors Of civil upon them and those they
represent must rest the responsibility"
The truce was then ended and General Scott is cor
rect in stating that lasted to the end Of that admins
traiion."
An exp.dltien was quietly fitted out at New York IN
der the supervision OF General Scott be ready any
contingency He arrans the details and regarded the
renforcemsnts thus provided for sufficient This
ready 10 sail f,v Fort Sumpter five hours notice
II Il OF this expedition that General Scott thus gpesks
AT that time when this hs tTuee) had passed away,
Secretaries Holt and Toucsy, Captain Ward Of the
Navy a'd myself with the knowedge Of the President
settled upon the employment under the capita n three
or four steamers belonging to the survey but he
was kept back by the tru e"
strange inconsstencr. The truce had expired with
Mr. Holts letter to Colonel HayBe the 5h Of Febru
sry aud General Scott in his statementshys It would
have been easy TO reinforce this fort down about the
18th Of February" why then did not the reinforce
msnts proesedi This simply because Of coInmuni-
cations from MAJOR Anderson II most fortunate
that they did not proceed because the three four
small steamers which 10 bear them would have
reached the fort and in the attempt must have been cap
tured destroyed The fnsdsquacy Of the force
provided 10 accomplish the object was demonstrated by
Information received from Major Anderson at the War
Department on the last day Of the administration.
Ipurposelv forbear At present to say tits sub
sc lest might however unDtentonslly do injustice
to Of the parties concerned in consequence
OF the brevity required by the nature Of this eommuu
cation The facts relating 20 It, with the apprOuriata
Compartments have been fully presented 10 hi toTicsl
review prepared year ago which viii long be pub
shed This review coDtsins sketch Of the last uT
months Of my administration II is impartal ~ least
such is my honest conviction That has not been pub
shed has arisen solely from apprehension longer
entertained, that something therein might be Wjusty
perverted into interference with the goYerBmens in
vigorous prosecution Of f)r the maintenance Of
the Constitution and the restoration Of the Union, which
was far. very far from ny Intention
After certain ret ospeet can solemnly declare be
fore Od and my country that cannot reproach myself
with any sct Of commission omission since the existing
troubles commenced. 7 have never donbted that nv
eouutrvmen would yet do justice. In nv special
message Of the sth Of January, 1861, presented ful
and fair exposition Of the alarming condition OF the
country and urged COngr either to adopt measures Of
compromise failing this to prepare for the lRst
alternative. In both aspects my recommendation was
disreFsrded. shall close this document with quota
ton Of the last sentences OF the message az follows;
In conclusion II may be permitted to remark that
1 have often warned my eountrymen Of the dangers
which nov surround This may be the last time
has been faithfully though may be irp-rfectly, per
formed and yer the result may be shall carry
my grave the consciousness that at least well
for my country
Your obedient servant
JAsfFs RrCHANAN.