Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-06-23

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FlFTY-SEVENTH lNSTALLMENT
Thursday Morning, February I, 1861.
Fort Sumter.
The correspondence between the au-
thorites Of our state on the one hand
and Major Anderson and the govern
ment at Washington on the other; in
relation to the demand for the sur
render Of Fort Sumter has been pub
lished in the Charleston Mercury We
are now enabled to measure the de-
gree of wisdom and craftsmanship
which has prevailed in our cabinet. In
order to enable our readers to form an
intelligent opinion Of their own, we
propose briefly to narrate the inter-
esting purposes and circumstances OF
Col Haynes mission to Washington.
On the 18th Of January, Gov. Pick
ems demanded the surrender Of Fort
Sumter of Major Anderson. This de-
mand was made in order to prevent
the effusion of blood, and with the
pledge of our state to account hereaf-
ter for the fort as public property.
Major Anderson failed to comply with
this demand; but agreed to depute an
officer to convey it to the government
at Washington. Our governor sane
toned this agreement Lieut.. Talbot,
the officer deputed was accompanied
by Mr.. Hayne as special envoy from
the state of South Carolina. Mr..
Haynes mission was simple one. He
was instructed to inquire of the pres
signed to order, reinforcements to Fort
Sumter; and to say to the president
that the fact or the intention to send
reinforcements, would, either Of them,
be regarded by South Carolina as a
declaration Of war. He further car
ried in his pocket, a demand OF Mr..
Buchanan, for the unconditional and
immediate surrender of Fort Sumter.
When Mr.. Hayne arrived at Wash
ington, ten senators of seeding states,
being apprised Of his mission, ad-
dressed him a note; in which they
take the ground that South Carolina
should, before initiating hostilities,
await a consultation with those states
which will be bound up with her in is
sues Of the suffering with her
evils of war if it cannot be avoided,
and enjoying with her the blessings of
peace if it can be preserved" and beg
ging Mr.. Hayne to delay the delivery OF
the demand to the president, until he
could confer with our government for
further instruction. This letter is dat
ed the 18th of January. Mr.. Hayne re-
piled instantly that he was not au-
thorized so to act; but would take the
responsibility upon himself under GER
tain provisos These provisos were
that no reinforcements should be sent
to Fort Sumter and that the public
peace should not be disturbed by any
act of hostility towards South Caro-
lima during the pendency of these ne
gotiations.
These letters were conveyed to the
president, and he was requested to
comply. In his answer to them, Mr..
Buchanan took the position that from
the beginning he was acting on the
defensive, and was holding the fort as
public property which it was his duty
to protect and preserve" But should
Major Anderson'S safety, said he, re-
quire more troops, every effort would
be made to supply them. AS to "acts
of hostility" he could promise nothing
as congress alone had the power to
declare war.
The senator's above referred to trans
mitted the presidents reply to Mr.
Hayne. They expressed themselves as
not satisfied with it, but thought no
reinforcements would be sent: and
Mr.. Hayne concluded on the strength
of their opinion to defer the object of
South Carolina. He ably argued, how
ever, that as property, Fort Sumter is
in far greater jeopardy now, than II
II were in the hands of our state with
the pledge which he had the power of
making to account for it in a future
adjustment between the two govern
ments.
This whole correspondence was laid
before Governor Pickens, who renew
ed through Secretary Magrath, his in
structions to Col. Hayne. Judge Ma
grath ably reviewed these letters, and
reached the conclusion that the real
purpose of the president stripped Of all
disguise, is to keep and defend Fort
Sumter, not as property, but as "a
military post of the United States. "
This conviction fastened upon his
mind by the refusal of Mr.. Buchanan
to accede to the generous and peace
able proposal Of the southern senators,
was strengthened by the confident be-
lief that troops were being secretly and
hostility. The opinion Of the govern
or he says, as to the propriety of the
demand for the fort, has therefore, not
only been confirmed by tho facts
which Mr.. Haynes mission has de-
veloped; but he now regards the de-
mand as an absolute necessity. The
instructions to demand the surrender
of the fort were thus renewed in
stronger terms than before; and Mr..
Hayne was advised to communicate
the presidents reply, without delay.
The telegraphic dispatches from
Washington state that Mr.. Hayne
made this demand on last Thursday.
We expect to hear the conclusion of
the whole matter very soon. Mr..
Hayne has acted throughout this en-
tire mission, with that craftsmanship
and patriotism which will make York
ever proud to honor him as one of her
worthieSt natives to the manor born.
York Volunteers.
The Kings Mountain Guards. -