Year: 1861

apprehension dt tne oOutn OF tne SenumentS OIL
the ma ajority in several of the Northern States.
Let the question be transferred from political
assemblies to the ballot box, and the people
themselves would speedily redress the serious
grievances which the South have suffered. But,
in Heavens name let the trial be made before
we plunge into armed conflict upon the mere
assumption that there is no other alternative.
Time is great conservative power. Let us
pause at this momentous point, and afford the
people, both North and South, an opportunity
for reflection. Would that South Carolina had
been convinced of this truth before her precipi.
tate action therefore appeal through you
to the people of the country to declare in their
might that the Union must and shall be pre-.
served by all constitutional means. l most
earnestly recommend that you devote your
selves exclusively to the question how this can
be accomplished in peace. All other questions,
canoe. The present is no time for pallistons.
Action, prompt action, is required. A delay
in Congress to prescribe or to recommend o
distinct and practical proposition for concilia.
ton may drive US to point from which it will
be almost impossible to recede.


A common ground on which concliation
and harmony can be produced is surely not uh-
attainable. The proposition to compromise by
letting the North have exclusive control of the
territory above a certain line, and to give ,
Southern institutions protection below that line,
ought to receive universal appreciation. In IT,
self, indeed, it may not be entirely satisfactory;
but when the alternative is between reasona.
BILE concession on both sides and destruction
of the Union, it is an imputation upon the pa
trotism of Congress to assert that its members
will hesitate for a moment.


Even now the danger is upon us. In several
Of the States which have not yet seeded, the
forts, arsenals, and magazines Of the United
States have been seized. This is by far the
most serious step which has been taken since
the commencement of the troubles. This pub
lie property has long been left without garri-
sons and troops for its protection, because no
person doubted its security under the flag of
the country in any State of the Union. Be.
sides, our small army has scarcely been sufi-
cient to guard our remote frontiers against In.
dian incursions. The seizure Of this property,
from all appearances, has been purely aggres.
sive, and not in resistance to any attempt to
coerce State or States to remain in the Union.


At the beginning Of these unhappy troubles,
/ determined that no act of mine should in.
crease the excitement in either section of the
country If the political conflict were to end in a
civil war, it was my determined purpose not to
commence it, nor even to furnish an excuse
for it, by any act of this Government. My
opinion remains unchanged, that justice as
well as sound policy requires us still to seek q
peaceful solution of the questions at issue be-
tween the North and the South. Entertaining
this conviction, refrained even from sending
reinforcements to Major Anderson, who com.
manded the forts in Charleston harbor, until an
absolute necessity for doing so should make
itself apparent, lest it might unjustly be re-
garded as menace of military coercion, and
thus furnish, if not provocation, at least
pretext for an outbreak on the part of South
Carolina. No necessity for these reinforce
ments seemed to exist. was assured by dis.
Carolina that no attack upon Major Anderson
was intended; but that, on the contrary, it was
the desire of the State authorities, as much as
it was my own, to avoid the fatal consequences
which must eventually follow q military COLI
sion.


And here l deem it proper to submit, for
your information copies of q communication,
dated twenty December eighteen hundred
and sixty, addressed to me by r. W. Barnwell,
]. H. Adams, and James L. Orr Commission.
ers " from South Carolina, with the accompa.
nying documents, and copies Of my answer
thereto, dated thirty. first December.


In further explanation of Major Anderson's
removal from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter, it
is proper to state that, after my answer to the
South Carolina Commissioners" the War De.
partment received a letter from that gallant
officer, dated on the twenty seventh December,
| eighteen hundred and sixty, the day after this
movement, from which the following is an
| extract.


81 will add, as my opinion, that many things
convinced me that the authorities of the State
designed to proceed to hostile act," (evidently
referring to the orders, dated December llth,
of the late Secretary of War; "Under this i'm.
preston, could not hesitate that it was my
solemn duty to move my command from fort
which we could not probably have held longer
than fortyeght or sixty hours, to this one, where
my power of resistance is increased to a very
great degree"


twill be recollected that the concluding part
of these orders was in the following terms:


1.-The smallness Of your force will not per.
NIT you, perhaps, to occupy more than one Of
the three forts but an attack on, or attempt to
take possession of, either one of them, will be
regarded as an act of hostility, and you may
then put your command into either of them
which you may deem most proper to increase
its power of resistance. You are also author
lied to take similar defensive steps whenever
you have tangible evidence of design to pro-
coed to a hostile act"


1t is said that serious apprehensions are to
some extent entertained in which do not share,
that the peace of this District may be disturbed
before the 4th of March next In any event, it
will be my duty to preserve it, and this duty
shall be performed.


In conclusion, it may be permitted to me to
remark that have often warned my country
men of the dangers which now surround us.
This may be the last time shall refer to the
subject officially. feel that my duty has been
faithfully, though it may be imperiectly, per-
formed; and whatever the result may be,
shall carry to my grave the consciousness that
l at least meant well for my country