The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-06-06
HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS
Columbia cor News and Courier

Abc p'ubuo' ioOuIb WuICu lS Oelng
explored by Mr. CAN'T and Mr. Yel-
dell. is still bringing forth iDteresting
documents. One of the latest was a
packet OF papers, containing a reply
of President Buchanan 10 the com
missioners from South Carolina. and
the uI,imatum or reply Of the South
Carolina commissioners The reply
of the South Carolina commissioners
is caustic and eloquent ia It's denun-
citation of President Buchanan for not
maintaining the status quo in Charles.
ton hsrbor. The South Carolina com.
missioners conclude what they say as
follows:
But you have decided. You have
resolved to hold by force what you
have obtained through our misplaced
confidence, and by refusing to disa.
vow the action of Major Anderson,
have converted his violation of orders
into legitimate act of your xs ecu.
tive authority. Be the issue what it
may, of this we are assured, that if
Fort Moultrie has been recorded in
history as a memorial of Carolina gal.
lantry. Fort Sumtar will live upon
the succeeding page as all imperisha
BILE testimony Of Carolina faith
BY your course you have probably
rendered civil war inevitable. Be it
go If you choose to force this
issue upon us the State of South
Carolina will accept it. and, relying
upon Hin who is the God of Justice,
as we'll as the God of Hosts, will
endeavor 70 perform the great duty
which lies before her hopefully,
bravely aud thoroughly.
Our mission being one for negotia
tion and peace, and your note leav
ing us without hope of withdrawal
of the troops from Fort Sumter. or
the restoration of the status quo ex-
listing at the time of our arrival, and
intimatlDg, rs we think, your deter.
mination to reinforce the garrison in
the harbor of Charleston, we respect
fully inform you that we purpose re.
turning to Charleston on tomorrow
afternoon.
We have the honor to be, sir,
very respectfully, your obedient ser.
wants.
r w BarDweIl,
j Fl Adams,
James L. Orr,
Commissioners
On the hack of this paper. which
is 3 peges long. and is dated Jan |.
1861 10 written. in the presidents q
own handwriting:
Executive Mansion, 3 80 O'Clock,
Wednesday This paper. just pre-
sen'ed to the president. is of such
Q character that be declines to re.
ceive it,"
The paper seems to have been
kept in the original envelope in
which it was returned to the commits
sioners. as it bears the seal of the
president of the United States. and
in one corner is written in the presi
dents handwriting the name of the
messenger who carried the docu
ment to the commissioners of South
| Carolina
The other paper which was found
with this is evidently the reply of
President Buchanan to the first com
munication of the commission ners,
Dec 2s. 1860 1t is signed by Presi.
dent Buchanan and is defense of
what happened in Charleston harbor
Immediately after the ordinance of
secession had been passed In this
paper President Buchanan insists
that he went into an Understandings
not Q contract with Messrs Law.
renee M Keitt. w. W Boyce, M.
L Bonham. w P. Miles and John
Mcqueen. to maintain the status quo.
He insists that it was not formal
contract, but that 90 far as be was
concerned he was willing to carry
out the agreement in good faith and
did SD. He gives copies of orders
issued early in December to Major
Anderson, and as to Anderson's &C.
tions concludes "Under these cir.
cumstauces, it is clear that NJ sior
Anderson acted upon his own re
sponsibility unless, indeed, he had
tangible evidence of q design to
proceed to hostile act on the part
OF the authorities of South Carolina.
which has not yet been alleged "
Going ON aa 10 iha remnual of No;