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CORRESPONDENCE

BKTWEI5N Till

tf[ommififjionenj of the ^t\U of ^o. Oliu

(iOVKUXMKXT AT \VASI11X(;T()X

THK IMIKSIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES;

TOiSKTIfKR WtTM THK

STATEMENT OF MESSRS. MILES AND KEITT.

PRINTKI> IIY onHKR <»K THE «ON VKNTION.

r II \ |{ \, HSTOX:

KVANM k COOrtWKM., rRINTERJ* TO THK rOX VKNTIOJI, No. ;; Ilriiwl und m.T F4»»t Bay Ctiw-t.

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TREASimi ^CX)M

George JVashitigton Flowers Memorial Collection

DUKF. UNIVF.RSITY I.IHRARV

ESTABLISHF.D BV THE

rAMII.V or

COLONEL K LOWERS

^

C0RRESP0NT3ENCE

BETWEEN THE

OtommiTifiiontrf) nf the ^tak 4 ^o. Ola.

GOVERNMENT AT AVASIIINGTON

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES;

TOGETUEU WITH THE

STATEMENT OF MESSRS. MILES AND KEITT.

riUNTED BY ORDER OF THE CONVENTION.

(']1 .\ JILKSTON:

KVANH k COGSWELL, PRINTERS TO THE CONVENTION, No. 3 BniaJ antl 103 Ea«t Bay i^trcit.

1861.

• #)

[lkttkr ok thk commissioners to the puesidicnt.]

Washington, 28tli December, 1860.

Sir: We have the honor to transmit to you a copy of tlie full powers from the Convention of the People of South Carolina, under which wc are "authorized and empowered to treat with the Government of the United States for tlu- delivery of the forts, magazines, light houses and other real estate, with their ap]turtenances, within the limits of South Carolina, and also for an apportionment of the pub- lic debt and for a division of all other property- lield hy the Government of the United States as agent of the confed- erated States, of which South Carolina was recently a member; and generally to negotiate as to all other meas- ures and arrangements proper to be made and adopted in the existing relation of the parties, and for the continuance of peace and amity between this connnonwealth and the Government at Washington."

In the execution of this trust, it is our duty to furnish you, a.s Ave now^ do, with an official copy of the Ordinance of Secession, by which the State of South Carolina has resumed the powers she delegated to tlie Governmei\t/of the United States and has declared her perfect sovereignty and independence.

It woidd also have been our duty to have ijijfoniied ^yon that we were ready to negotiate with you upon all such questions a,s are necessarily raised by the adoption of tlii'^ "rdinance, and that we were jirepared to enter upon ihi- negotiatifMi with the earnest desire to avoid all unnecessary and hostile collision, and so to inaugurate our new relations as to secure mutual respect, general advantage and a futun ■f good will and harmony beneficial to all the parties • oncerned.

Hut tlio events of the la^i twenty-four liours render sueh im assurance impossible. We came liere tlie representa- tivcH of an authority wliich could, at any time within tlie |»ju<t sixty ihiys. have taken possession of tlie forts in Char- lest<»n harlmr. htjt which, upon pledges a^iven in a manner that, we cannot doubt, determined to trust to your honor rather than to its own power. Since our arrival here an nfticer oi the United States, acting, as we are assured, not only without but against your orders, has dismantled one fort and occupied another, thus altering, t<» a most import- ant extent, the conditi«ui of allUirs under wlTu-h we came. I 'mil these circumstances are explained in a manner which relieves us of all doubt as to the spirit in which these negotiaticjns shall be conducted, we are forced to suspend all discussion as to any arrangements by which our mutual interests might be amicably adjusted.

And, in conclusion, we would urge ujion you the imme- diate withdrawal of the troo}>s from the harbor of Charles- ton. Under present circumstances, they are a standing njenace which renders negotiation impossible, and, as our recent experience shews, tlneatens speedily to bring to a bloody issue questions w liieli ought to be settled with tcm- j't-rance and judgment.

We have the honor. Sir, to be,

\'ery respectfully,

Your obedient servants,

]{. W. r.AKXWKLL. J. 11. ADAMS. JAMES L. ORU,

Cvmniissiontn's. ^7\j'(h l''liiiMm:NT

of the United Sluh's.

[RF.rr,Y OF TUF, PRKSIDKNT TO THE COMMISSIOXKUS.]

Wasiiincjton C[ty, 30t.h December, 1800.

Gentlemen : I liavc the lienor to receive your commnni- catioii of 28th inst., together with a copy of your "full powers from the Convention of the People of Honth Caro- lina," authorising you to treat with the Government of the United States on various important subjects therein men- tioned, and also a copy of the Ordinance bearing date on the 20th instant, declaring that "the Union nowsubsisting between South Caroliiia and other States under the name of 'the United St.ites of America,' is hereby dissolved."

In answer to this communication, I have to say, that my position as President of the United States was clearly defined in the message to Congress of the 3d instant. In that t stated that, "apart from the execution of the laws, so far as this may l>e practicable, the Executive has n<> authority to decide what shall be the relations between the Federal Government and South Carolina. He has been invested with no such discretion. lie possesses no power to change the relations heretofore existing between them, much less to acknowledge the independence of that State. This would be to invest a mere executive officer with the power of recognizing the dissolution of the Con- federacy among our thirty-three sovereign States. It bears no resemblance to the recognition of a foreign dr facto government — involving no su<h responsiVnlity. Any at- tempt to do this would, on his part, be a naked act of tHurpation. It is, therefore, ni}- duty to submit to Con- gress the whole rpiestion, in all its bearings."

Such is my opinion still. I could, therefore, meet you only as private gentlemen of the highest character, and was entirely willing to communicate to Congress any pro- position you might have to make to that body ni»oii the subject. Of this yt)u were well aware. It was my earnest

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desire, that such n dispotjitioii might be made of the whole !*abject bv Con^re«», who alone possess the power, as to prevent the inau^unition <»f a civil war hctwot'ii tin.- parties in regard t<» the possession of tlic Federal Forts in the Itarhor of Charleston : and T therefore deeply rej^ret. that, in your opinion, "the events of the last twenty-fonr houi*s render this inipossihle." In conclusion, yon ur<;o ujton me ••the immediate withdrawal of the troops from the harbor of Charleston," statinc that, "under present circnmstanees, thev are a standing menace which renders negotiation impossible, and as our recent experience shows, threatens spee<lily to liring to a bloody issue, (piestions which ouglit to be settled with tom]»cranco and judgment.'"

The reason for this eliaiige in your jtositioii is, that since vour arrival in Washington, "an olKcer of the United States, acting as we (y<ui) are assured, not oidy without, but against your (niy) orders, has dismantled one fort and occn- jiied another, thus altering, to a most important extent, the t:ondition of affairs under which we (you) came.' You also allege that you eame here " the rei>resentatives of an authority which could, at any time, within the past sixty days have taken j^ossession of the forts in Charleston har- bor, but wliieh, upon ])ledgcs given in a manner that we lyou) cannot doubt, determined to trust to your (my) honor rather than to its own jiower."

This brings me to a eonsideration of the nature of those alleged pledges, and in what manner they have been ob- served. In my message of tlie third of December last. I stated, in regard to the property of the United States in South Carolina, that it "has been purchased for a fair equivalent "by the eons\.iit of the Legislature of the State,' • for the ereetion of forts, magazines, arsenals,' &c., and over these the authority ' to exercise exclusive legislation* has been exjiressly granted by the Constitution to Congress. It is not believed that any attempt will be made to expel the United States from this prt>i>erty by force; but if in this I should prove to be mistaken, the otHcer in command of the forts has reeeived orders to act strictly <jn the defen-

Bive. In such a contingency, the responpiltility for conse- quences would riglitfully rest upon the heads of the assail- ants." This being the condition of the parties, on Saturday, 8th December, four of the representatives from South Carolina called upon me and requested an interview. We had an earnest conversation on the subject of these forts, and the best means of preventing a collision between the parties for the puq^ose of sparing the effusion of blood. I suggested, for prudential reasons, that it would be best to put in wi'itiug what they said to me verbally. They did so accordingly, and on Monday morning, the 10th instant, three of them presented to me a paper signed by all the representatives from South Carolina, with a single excep- tion, of which the following is a cop}^:

To His Excellency James Buchanan,

President of the United States :

In compliance with our statement to you yesterday, we now express to you our strong convictions that neither the constituted authorities, nor any body of the people of the State of South Carolina, will either attack or molest the United States Forts, in the harbor of Charleston, pre- viously to the action of the Convention, and we hope and believe, not until an ofter has been made, through an accredited representative, to negotiate for an amicable arrangement of all matters between the Stat« and the Federal Government, provided that no reinforcements shall be sent into those forts, and their relative military status shall remain as at present.

JNO. McQUE?:N, WM. rOKCHHK MILES, M. L. BOXIIAM, W. W. BOYCP; LAWRENCE M. KEITT. Washington, Utli Dec, 1860.

And here I must, in justice to myself, remark, that at the time the paper was presented to me, 1 objected to the

word "provided," iu^ it might be construed into an agree- ment, on my part, wlfu'li I never would make. Tliey said that nothing \va<< farther froni tlioir intention — tliey did not 80 understand it, and I should not so consider it. It is evident they could enter into no reciprocal agreement with me on the (<uhject. They did not profess to have authority to do this, and were acting in their individual character. I conHi<lercd it as nothing more, in effect, than the jtromisc of highly honorable gentlciaen to exert their intiuenee for the puqiose expressed. The event lias proven that they have faithfully kept this promise, although I have never since received a line from any one of them, or from any member of the Convention, on the subject. It is well known that it was my determination, and this I freely ex- pressed, not to reinforce the forts in the harbor, and thus produce a collision, until they had been actually attacked. or until I had certain evidence that they were about to be attacked. This paper I received most cordially, and I'on- sidcvcd it as a hai)py omen that peace might still be pre- Bcrved, and that time might thus be gained for reflection. This is the whole foundation for the alleged i>ledge.

liut I acted in the same manner I would have done hud I entered into a positive and formal agreement with parties capable of contracting, although such an agreement woidd have been, on myjiart, from the nature of my ofHcial duties, impossible.

The world knows that I have never sent any reinforce- ments to tlje forts in Charleston harbor, and I have cer- tainly never authorized any change to be made " in their relative military status."

Hearing upon this subject, I refer you to an oider issued by the Secretary of War, on the 11th inst., to^Iajor Ander- son, but not brought to my notice until the 21st instant. It is as follows :

" Memorandum of verbal iii.structions to Major Anderson, \st Artillery^ Commamlhif) Fori Moultrie, S. C.

You are aware of the great anxiety of the Secretary of

War that a collision of the troops with the people of this State shall be avoided, and of his studied determination to pursue a course with reference to the military force and forts in this harbor, ■which shall guard against such a col- lision. He has, therefore, carefully abstained from increas- ing the force at this point, or taking any measures which might add to the present excited state of the public mind, or which would throw any doubt on the coniidence he feels that South Carolina Avill not attem])t by violence to obtain [•osscssion of the public works, or interfere with their occu- pancy. But as tlie counsel and acts of rash and impulsive persons may possibly disappoint these expectations of the Government, he deems it ^troper that you should be pre- ])ared with instnictions to meet so unhappy a contingency. He has, therefore, directed me, verbally, to give you such instructions.

You are carefully to avoid every act which would need- lessly tend to provoke aggression ; and, for that reason, you are not, without evident and imminent necessity, to take up any position which could be construed into the assump- tion of a hostile attitude ; but you are to hold possession of the forts in this harl>or, and, if attacked, you are to defend yourself to the last extremity. The smallness of your force will not permit you, perhajts, to occupy more than one of the three forts; but an attack on, or attempt to take possession of either 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 ])ower of resistance. You are also authorized to take simi- lar defensive steps whenever you have tangible evidence of a design to proceed to a hostile act.

1). r. IMJTLYAl, Assif^tani Adjutani General. Fort Moultrtk, S. C, Dec. 11, 1860."

This is in contorniity to my instructions to Major Buell. JOHN B^'LOYD, .Secretory of War.

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These were the last iiistructions traiiPmitted to Major Andereiin licfore his removal to Fort Sumter, with a single «x<<itli«»n ill n'^Mi'd to a i»articular which does not. in any dcp-co, aliV'ct the |»iv8('iit question. Uiulor those oirciun- Ktanecs, it is rkyir that Major Anderson acted iii».)n his own respoiisiljilitv. an<l witht)Ut authority, unless, indeed, he had "taiitfihie evidence of a design to proceed to a hostile act," on the jiart of the authorities of South Carolina, which has not yet heen alleged. Still, he is a brave and honorable officer; and justice requires that he should not be con- demned without a fair hearing.

lie this a» it may, when I learned that Major Anderson had left F'ort Moultrie, and proceeded to Fort Sumter, my tirst pronq)tings were to command him to return to his former position, and there to await the contingencies pre- sented in his instructions. This could only have l)een done, with any degree of safety to the command, by the concur- rence of the South Carolina authorities. IJut, before any steps could possibly have been taken in this direction, we received inl\)rma1i(tn, dated on the 28th instant, that "the Falmetto flag Hoated out to the breeze at Castle Pinckney, and a large military force went over last night (the 27th) to Fort Moultrie.'" Thus the authorities of South Carolina, without waiting or asking for any explanation, and dt)ubt- less believing, as you have expressed it, that the officer had acted not only without, but against my orders, on the very next day after the night when the removal was made, seized, by a military force, two of the three fedentl forts in the harbor of C-harleston, and have covered them under their own Hag, instead of that of the United States. At this gloomy i»eriod of our history, startling events succeed each other rapidly. On the very day (the 27th instant) that possession of these two forts was taken, the Palmetto ilag was raised over the fedei-al Custom House and Post Office in Charleston ; and. on the same day, every officer of the Customs — Collector, Xaval ()fli(;ers. Surveyor and Apprais- ers— resigned their odices. And this, although it was well known, from the language ot^iy message, that, as an execu- tive officer, I felt myself bound to collect the revenue at the

11'

port of Cliarlcston under tlic existing laws. In tlie liarlx^r of Charleston, we now find three forts confronting each other, over all of whicli the federal flag floated only four daj's ago ; but now, over two of them, this flag has been supplanted, and the Palmetto flag has been substituted in its stead. It is, under all these circumstances, tliat I am urged immediately to withdraw the troops from the harbor of Charleston, and am informed that witliout this, negotiation is impossible. This T cannot do; this I will not do. Such an idea was never thought of by me in an\' possible con- tingency. No allusion t<> it had ever been made in any communication between myself and any human being. But the inference is, that I am bound to witlidraw the troops from the only fort remaining in the possession of the United States in the harbor of Charleston, because the officer then in command of all the foiis thought proper, without instruc- tions, to change his position from one of them to another. I cannot admit the justice of any such inference.

At tliis point of writing, I have received information, by telegram, from Ca[»tain Humphreys, in command of the Arsenal at Charleston, "that it has to-day (Sunday, the 80th) lieen taken l>y force of arms." It is estimated that the munitions of war l)elonging to the United States in thi-^ Arsenal are worth half a million of dollars.

Comment is needless. After this information, I have only to add, that, whilst it is nn- duty to defend Fort Sumter, as a portion of the public jiroperty of the United States against hostile attacks from whatever quarter they may come, by such means as I may possess for this pur- pose, I do not [KTceive how such a defence can be con- strued into a menace against the City of Charleston.

With great personal regard, I remain

Yours, very respectfully,

JAMES BUCHANAN.

To Jlonorohff

KoBERT W. Barnwell, James H. Adams, James L. Orr.

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[bKPLY of THK COMMIS8IOXKU8 TO TIIK mtUilDKXT.]

\\'ASIIINiiT«tN, D. C\,

January 1st, 1861.

Sir: Wo have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of vour letter of the 80th Doceiiiber, in ro\\\y to a note ad- dressed by us to you on the 2^th of the srinif month, as Commissioners from South Carolina.

In reference to the declaration with whicli your reply commences, that "your position as President of the United States was clearly defined in the Messas^o to Cons^ress of tlie 3d instant," that you possess "no power to change the relations heretofore existinir" between South Carolina and the Tnited States, " much less to acknowledge the inde- pendence of that State;" and that, consequently, you could meet us only as private gentlemen of the highest character, with an entire willingness to communicate to Congress any jti'oposition we might have to make, we deem it only necessary to say, that the State of South Carolina having, in the exercise of that great right of self-government which underlies all our political organizations, declared herself sovereign and inde|iendent, we, as her representatives, felt no special solicitude as to the character in which you might recognize us. Satisfied that the State had simply exercised her unquestionable right, we were i)repared. in order to reach substantial good, to waive the formal con- siderations which your const it utiomil scrui>les might have prevented you from extciiding. We came here, llicicfore, expi'cting to be received as you did rcci'ive us, and per- fectly content with that entire willingness of which yoti assured us, to submit any iiroposition to Congress which we might have to make ujton the subject of the independ- ence of the State. That willingness was ample recognition of the condition of public afi'airs which rendered our pros-

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dice necessary. In this position, however, it is our duty, huth to the State wliich we represent and to ourselves, to correct several important misconceptions of our letter into which you have fallen.

You say, ''It was my earnest desire that such a diisposi- tion might he made of \hv w]u»le suhject hy Congress, who alone possesses the poAvcr to prevent the inauguration of a civil war hetween the parties in regard to the possession of the federal forts in the harbor of Charleston; and I, therefore, deeply regret that, in your opinion, 'the events of the last twenty-four hours render this impossible,' " Wo expressed no such opinion, and the language which you quote as ours, is altered in its sense hy the omission of a most important part of the sentence. What we did say was: "But tlie events of the last twenty-four hours render such an a5.SMra?ice impossible." Place tliat "assurance" as contained in our letter, in the sentence, and we arc prepared to repeat it.

Again, professing to quote our language, you say : — "Thus the authorities of South Carolina, without waiting or asking for anj* explanation, and, doubtless, believing, as you have expressed it, that the officer had acted not only without, but against my orders," &c. AVe expressed no such opinion in reference to the belief of the people of South Carolina. The language which you have quoted, was applied solel\- and entirely to our assuraufc, obtained here, and based, as you well know, upon your own declara- tion— a declaration which, at that time, it was impossible for the authorities of South Carolina to have known. But, without following this letter into all its details, we propose only to meet the chief points of the argument.

Some weeks ago, tlie State of South Carolina declared her intention, in the existing condition of [tublic affairs, to secede from the United Stiites. vShe called a Convention of her people, to put her declaration in force. The Con- vention met, and jiassed the Ordinance of Secession. All this you anticipated, and your course of action was thor- oughly considered. In your annual mcsnafc. y«tu declared

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you had no rip:lit. ami would not attempt, to eocive a seced- inj: Stato, l»ut that yon wi-re hound hy your constitutional oath, and would dofc-nd the jiroporty of the I'nit* d States within the l>ordcrrt of J^outh Carolina, if an attempt was made to take it hy foree. Socinp: very early that this (jues- tion of pixjjierty was a difficult and delicate one, you nunii- feHtod a desire to settle it without collision* You did not reinfort'C the pirrisons in the harbor of Charleston. You removed a distiniruished and veteran officer from the com- mand of Fort Moultiie. l>ccause he attempted to increase hii* Pnpply of ammunition, ^'ou refused to send additional tro<»ps to the same pirrison when ajiplied for by the officer appointed to succeed him. You accepted the resii^nation of the oldest and* most eminent lueinher of your Cabinet, rather tlian allow these garrisons to he streiiiifthcned. You compelled an officer stationed at Fort Sumter, to return immediatel}' to the Arsenal, forty muskets which he had taken t<t arm his men. You ex[>ressed not to one, but to many, of the most distiniruished of our public characters, whose testimony will be placed upon the record, whenever it is necessary, your anxiety for a peaceful termination of this controvei-sy, and your willinijness n<»t to disturb the military status of the forts, if Commissioners should bo sent to the (fovernmen4, whose coniiiiiini<ati<ins you ]»rom- ised to submit to Coni^ress. You recei\i'd and acti'd on assurances from the hii^hest official authorities of South Carolimi, that no attempt would be made to disturb your pOKsessi(»n of the forts an<l ]iroperty of the United States, if you would not disturb their existing conditi«)n until Commissioners had been sent, and the attempt to nei,^otiate had failed. Vou took from the mendjers of tlu* House of Kepn'seiitatives, a writti'u memorandum that no such attempt should be made, '[Hdvided that no reinforcements shall be sent into those forts, and their relative military HtatUH shall remain as at present." And, althoji<j:b you attach no force to tlio ac«-cptance of such a jiapi-r, although you "considend it as nothinc^ more in etl'ect than the promise of highly honorable gentlemen,' as an obligation

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on one side without corrcppondinc: oblij^ation on the other, it must be remembered (if we are rightly informed) that you were pledged, if you ever did send rcinforeements, to return it to those from whom you had received it before you executed your resolution. You sent orders to your officers, commjinding them strictly to follow a line of con- duct in conformity with such an understanding.

Beside all this, you had received formal and official notice from the Governor of Ponth Carolina, that we had been appointed Commissioners, and were on our way to AVnshington. You knew the implied condition under which we camo; our arrival was notiiied to yon, and an liour appointed for an interview. We arrived in Washing- ton on Wednesday', at three o'clor-k, and y<^] appointed an interview with us at one the next day. Early on that da}-, Thursday, the news was received here of the movement of Major Anderson. That news was communicated to you immediately, and you ]>ostponed our meeting until half- past two o'clock, on Friday, in order that you might con- sult your Cabinet. On Friday we saw you. and we called upon you thon to redeem your pledge, ^'ou could not deny it. With the facts we have stated, and in the face of the crowning and conclusive fact, that your Secretary of AVarhad resigned his seat in the Cabinet, upon the publicly avowed ground that the action of Major Anderson had violated the pledged faith of the Government, and that un- less the pledge was instantly redeemed, he was dishonored; denial was impossible; you did not deny it. You do not deny it now, but you seek to escape from its obligation on two grounds: 1st, That irr terminated all negotiation by demanding, as a jirt'liniinarv. the withdrawal of the United States trodps from the harbor of Charlestrtn ; and 2d, Tliat the authorities of South Carolina, instead of asking expla- nation, and giving you the oppfirtunity to virdieate your- s«df, took possession of other ]^r<»]'eri\- <^«f tb<' Fi.it.-d States, \Kq will examine both.

In the first place, we deny jKWtivcly, that we have ever, in any way, made any such demand. Our lettor is in your posse.s9ion ; it will stand by this on the record. In it, wc

IG

iufunn you of the objccte of our mission. Wc say that it would l);i . ' our dutv to have assured you of our read-

iiu >s to . f negotiations willi the most earnest and

aiixiuuK desire to settle all questions between us amiiahly, and t<» our mutual advantage, hut that events had rondc red thai UASuraneo imitossihle. We statrd the events, and we 8aid that, until some satisfactory exjdanation of these events was given us, we eouhl not proceed, and then, hav- ing made this request for explanation, we added, "and, in conclusion, we would urge upon you the immediate with- drawal of the troops from the harbor of Charleston. Under present circumstances they are a standing menace, which renders negotiation injpossible," &.c. "Under jiresent cir- cumstances!" tWhat circumstances? Why, clearly, the occupati»)n of Fort Sumter, and the dismantling of Fort Moultrie by Major Anderson, in the face of your jdedges, and without explanation or practical disavowal. And there is nothing in the letter, whieli would or C(»uld have }MVvent- ed you from declining to withdraw the troops, and oifering the restoration of the stiitus to which you were pledged, if such had been your desire. It would have l)een wiser and better, in our opinion, to have withdrawn the troojjs, and this opinion we urged upon you, but we iTcmanded nothing but such an explanation of the events of the last twenty- four hours as would restore our contidence in the spirit with which the negotiation should be conducted. In rela^ tii>n to this withdrawal of the troops from the harbor, we are compelled, however, tu notice oue passage of your let- ter. Referring to it, you say : "This 1 cannot do. This 1 will not di». Such an idea was never thought of by nie in any possiMe contingency. .\o allMsi(»n to it had ever been nja<le in any eoiuMiuniiation llet^vl.'en myself and any human being.

In reply to this statement, we are conjpelled to say, that your conversation with us left upon our minds the distinct impression that you did seriously contemplate the with- drawal of the troops from Charleston harbor. And, in stipj)oit t)f this iinjjression, we would add that we liave the positive assurance of gentlemen of the highest possible

17

public rcpiitntion, and the most unsullied integrity — men whose name and fame, secured by long service and patriotic achievement, place their testimony beyond cavil — that such suggestions had been made to, and urged upon you by them, and had formed the subject of more tban one earn- est discussion with you. And it was this knowledge that induced us to urge upon you a policy which had to recom- mend it, its own wisdom and the weight of such authority. As to the second point, that the autlK)ritics of South Caro- lina, instead of asking explanations, and giving you the opportunity to vindicate yourself, took possession of other property of the United States, we would observe, 1st. That, even if this were so, it does not avail you for defence, for the opportunity for decision was afforded you before these facts occurred. AVe arrived in Washington on "Wednesday. The news from Major Anderson reached here early on Thursday, and was immediately communicated to you. All that day. men of the highest consideration — men who had striven successfully to lift you to your great office — who had been your tried and true friends througli the troubles of your administration — sought you. and entreated you to act — to act at once. They told you that every hour com- plicated 3-our jtosition. They only asked yon to give the assurance that, if tlie facts were so — that, if the command- er had acted without, and against your orders, and in vio- lation of your pledges, that you would restore the status you had pledged your honor to maintain.

You refused to decide. Youf Secretary at AVar — your immediate and proper adviser in this whole matter — waited anxiously for your decision, until he felt that delay was becoming dishonor. More than twelve hours jtassed, and two Cabinet meetings had adjourned before you knew what the authorities of South Carolina had done, and your prompt decision at any moment of that time, woidd have avoided the subsequent complications. But if you had known the acts of the authoritios of South Carolina, should that have ])revented your keeping your faith ? What was the condition of things? For the last sixty days, you have had in Charleston harbor, not force enough to hold the 2

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forte against an equal enemy. Two of them were empty ; one of thofse two, the most important in the harbor. It could have been taken at any time. You ought to know better than any man, that it would have been taken, but for the* effort.«< of those who put their trust in your lionor. Believinc: that they were threatened by Fort Sumter espe- cially, the people were, with difficulty, restrained from securinar, without blood, the possession of this imjtortant fortress. Alter many and reiterated assurances given on your behalf, which we cannot believe unauthorized, they determined to forbear, and in good faith sent on their Com- missioners to negotiate with you. They meant you no harm ; wished you no ill. They thought of you kindly, believed you true, and were willing, as far as was consistent with duty, to. spare you unnecessary and hostile collision. Scarcely had their Coninus.sioners left, than Major Ander- son waged war. Xo other words will describe his action. It was not a peaceful cliange from one fort to another; it was a hostile act in the highest sense — one only justitied in the presence of a superior enemy, and in imminent peril. Ho abandoned his position, spiked his guns, burned his gun- carriages, made preparations for the destruction of his post, and withdrew under cover of the night to a safer position. This was war. No man could have belteved (without your assurance) that any officer could have taken such a step, "not only without orders, but against orders.' What the State did, was in simple self-defence ; for this act, with all its attending eireumstai»-es, was as mueh war as firing a volley; and war being tlnis begun, until those eonuneneing it explained their action, and disavowed their intention, there was no room for delay ; and, even at this moment, while we are writing, it is more than probable, from the lenor of your letter, that reinforcements are hurrying on to the conflict, so that when the first gun shall be tired, there will have been, on your part, one continuous consistent series of actions commeneing in a demonstration essentially warlike, supported by regular reinforcement, and terminat- ing in defeat or victory. And all this without the slight- est provocation ; for, among the many things which you

19

have said, there is one thing you cannot say — you have waited anxiously for news from the scat of war, in hopes that delay would furnish some excuse for this precipitation. But this " tangible evidence of a design to proceed to a hostile act, on the part of the authorities of South Caroli- na," (which is the only justification of Major Anderson,) you are forced to admit "has not yf< been alleged." But you have decided. You have resolved to hold by force what you have obtained through our misplaced confidence, and by refusing to disavow the action of Major Anderson, have converted his violation of orders into a legitimate act of your Executive 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 gallantry, Fort Sum- ter will live upon the succeeding page as an imperishable testimony of Carolina faith.

By your course, you have probably rendered civil war inevitable. Be it so. If you choose to force this issue upon us, the State of South Carolina Avill accept it, and, relying upon Him who is the God of justice as well as the God of hosts, will endeavor to perform the great duty which lies before her, hopefully, bravely and thoroughly.

Our mission being one for negotiation and peace, and your note leaving#is without hope of a withdrawal of the troops from Fort Sumter, or of the restoration of the siatus quo existing at the time of our arrival, and intimating, as we think, your determination to reinforce the garrison in the harbor of Charleston, we respectfully inform you that we propose returning to Charleston on to-morrow after- noon.

We have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, Your obedient servants,

R. w. BARX^^^:LL,

J. TI. ADAMS.

JAMES L. OKK.

Commissioners. To his Ercdlency, the Pre^^ikent

of ilu United States.

20

The last communication is endorsed as follows:

Executive Mansion,

iih o'clock, Wednesday.

This iiajHT. just presented to the President, is of such a character that he declines to receive it.

STATEMENT

Of Messrs. Miles and Keitt, of what transpired

between the president and the soutii

Carolina Delegation.

In compliance with the request of the Convention, we beg leave to make the following statement:

On Saturday, the 8th of December, several of the South Carolina delegation, including ourselves, waited upon the President. At this time, there was a growing belief that reinforcements were on the eve of being sent to the forts in Charleston harbor. It was known that the suliject was fre- quently and earnestly discussed in the Cal)inet. It was rumored that General Cass and Mr. Holt were urgent that reinforcements should be sent. Upon our being announced, the President, who Avas then in Cabinet Council, came out to U8 in tlie ante-room. We at once entered into a conver- sation upon tlie topic, which was so closely occupying his thoughts as well a« ours. The President seemed much disturbed and movcrl. lie told us that he had had a painful intei*view with the wife of Major Anderson, who had come on from Now York to see him. She had manifi'sted great anxiety and distress at the situation of hor husband, whom she seemed to consider in momentary danger of an attack from an ex<'itod and lawless mob. The ['resident ]»rofessed to feel a deep res]»onsibility resting upon him to protect the lives of Major Audersou and his command. We told liim

22

that the news that reinforcements were on their way to Charleston, would be the surest means of provoking what Mrs. Anderson apprehended, and what he so much depre- cated. We said, further, that we did not believe that Major Anderson was in any danger of such an attack; that the general sentiment of the State was against any such pro- ceeding. That, prior to the action of the State Convention, then only ten days off, we felt satisfied that tliere would be no attempt to molest the forts in any way. That, after the Convention met, — while we could not possildy undertake to say what that body would see fit to do, — we yet hoped and believed that nothing would be done until we had first endeavored, by duly accredited Commissioners, to nego- tiate for a peaceful settlement of all matters, including the delivery of the forts, between South Carolina and the Fed- eral Government. At the same time, we again reiterated our solemn belief that any change in the then existing con- dition of things in Charleston harbor, would, in the excited state of feeling at home, inevitably precipitate a collision. The impression made upon us was, that the President was wavering, and had iiot decided what course he would pur- sue, lie said he was glad to have had this conversation with us, but would prefer that we should give him a written memorandum of the substance of what we had said. This we did on Monday, the 10th. It was in these words :

To his Excellency James Buchanan,

President of the United States:

In compliance with our statement to you yesterday, we now express to you our strong convictions that neither the constituted authorities, nor any body of the people of the State of South Carolina, will either attack or molest the United States forts in the liarbor of Charleston, previously to the action of the Convention, and we hope and believe not until an offer has been made through an accredited re- presentative, to negotiate for an amicahle arrangement of all matters between the State and the federal Government,

23

provided that no reiuforcements shall bo sent into those forts, and their relative military status shall remain as at present.

JOHX McQUEEX, WM. PORCHER MILES, M. L. BONHAM, W. W. BOYCE, LAWRENCE. M. KEITT.

Wasiiingtox, 9th December, 18G0.

The President did not like the word "provided," because it looked as if we were binding him while avowing that we had no authorit\' to commit the Convention. Wo told him that we did not so understand it. We were expressing our convictions and belief, predicated upon the maintenance of a certain condition of things, which maintenance was abso- lutely and entirely in his power. If he maintained such condition, then we believed that collision would be avoided until the attempt at a peaceable negotiation had failed. If he did not, then we solemnly assured him that we believed collision must inevitably, and at once, be precijlitated. He seemed satisfied, and said it was not his intention to send reinfin-cements, or make any change. We explained to him what we meant by the words "relative military status," as applied to the forts; mentioned the diffcrenco between Major Anderson's occupying his then position at Fort Moultrie, and throwing himself into Fort Sumter. We stated that the latter step would be equivalent to reinforc- ing the garrison, and would just as certainly as the sending of fresh troops, leiwl to the result which we both desired to avoid. When we rose to go, the President said in substance, "After all, this is a matter of honor among gentlemen. I do not know that any pajter or writing is necessary. We understand each other." Une of the delegation, just before leaving the room, remarked, "Mr. President, you have de- termined to let things remain as they are, and not to send reinforcements; but, suppose that you were hereafter to

24

chanfferourpolicv for any reason, what then? That would put us, who are wlllinir t^ use our personal influence to prevent anv attack upon the forts before Commissioners are sent on to Wasluncton. in rather an embarrassing position." "Then," said tlie President, "I would lirst return you this paper." AVo do not pretend to give the exact words on either side, but we are sure we give the sense of both.

The above is a full and exact account of what passed between the President and the delegation. The President, in his letter to our Commissioners, tries to give the impres- sion that our "understanding" or "agreement" was not a " pledge." AV^e confess, we are not sufficiently versed in the wiles of diplomacy to feel the force of this "distinction without a difterence." Xor can we understand how, in "a matter of honor among gentlemen," in which " no paper or writing is necessary," the very party who was willing to put it on that high footing can honorably descend to mere verbal criticism, to purge himself of what all gentlemen and men of iionour must consider a breach of faith. The very fact that wo (the representatives from South Carolina) were not authorized to commit or "pledge" the State, were not treating with the President as accredited minis- ters with full powers, but as gentlemen assuming, to a certain extent, the delic-atL' task of undertaking to fore- shadow the course and policy of the State, should have made the President the more ready to strengthen our hands to bring abf)ut and carry out that course and poliey which he professed to have as mueh at heart as we had. "While we wer(» ni»r authorized to s;iy that the (\)nveinion wt)uld not order ihe o<-eiiiKition of llu- foits immediately after secession, and prior to tlie sending on of Commissionei-s, the President, as Commander-in-chief of the Army and Xavy of the Pnited StMies, cMiild most positively say, that so lojig as South Carolina al)stained fi-om attackinir and seizing the forts, lie would not send reinforcements to them, or allow their relative military status to be changed. We were acting in the capacity of gentlemen holding certain prominent jjositions, and anxious to exert such influence as

25

we might possess to effect a peaceful solution of pending political difficulties, and prevent, if p()ssi])le, the horrors of war. The Tresi<U'iit was acting in a double cajtacity; not only as a gcntleniiin, whose influence in carrying out his share of the understanding, or agreement, was potential, but as the head of the army, and, therefore, liaving the abso- lute control of the whole matter of reinforcing or transfer- ring the garrison at Charleston. But we have dwelt long enough upon this point. Suffice it to say, that considering the President as bound in honor, if not by treaty sti]>ula- tion, not to make any change in the fort«, or to send rein- forcements to them, uidesa they were attacked, we of the delegation who were elected to the Convention, felt equally bound in honor to do everything on our part to ]»revent any ]>remature collision. This Convention can bear us witness as to whether or not we endeavored honorably to carry out our share of the agreement.

The published debates at the very commencement of the session, contain the evidence of our good faith. We trusts ed the PresidtMit. We believed his wishes concurred with his polic}', and that both were directed to avoiding any inauguration of hostilities. We were confirmed in our confidence, and reassured in our belief by a significant event which t(tok place subsequent to our interview. lie alh)wed his premier Cabinet officer, an old and tried friend^ to resign, rather than yield to his solicitations for tlie rein- forcement of the garrison at Charleston. We urged this as a convincing proof of bis firmness and sincerity. But how have avc been deceived I The news of Major An<ler- son's coup ju'oduced a sud<len and unexpected change in the Presidents jiolicy. Wbilc declaring that his with- drawal from P'oii Moultrie to Fort Sumter was "without orders, and contrary to (U'ders," he yet refused, for twelve hours, to t^dvc any action in the matter. For twelve hours, therefore, without any excuse, he refused to redeem his plighted word. No subse«juent acts on the jiart of our State — no after reasons — can wipe away the stain which he suffered to rest upon his " honor as a gentleman," while 8

26

those hours, hit; with jMtrtt'MtKUS events, rolled slowly hy. His SeereUirj' of War. iiMpatient <»t* :i <lelay, every moment of which he felt touelied hi.s owji li(»n<ir, resigned. He did 80 KoU'ly on the i^ronnd tliat the faith of the govern- ment— solenily pledp'd — was broken, if it faiK-d promptly to undo what had hern done contrary to its wishes — against its settled pcdiey — and in violation of its <listinet agreement. The Pri'hidcnt accepted his resignation without comment. lie <lid not attempt to flisahusi' the mind of his Secretary as to what was the Inie position of tin- ( Jovernment. What a Bpecta<-Ie d<u's the Presidents vacillating and disingiMiuous course present! He allows one Secretary t«) resign rather than ahandon a policy w liicli he has agreed upon. Scarcely have a few slioi't weeks elapsed, and he aci'e|)ts the resig- nation of another, rather than adhere to that very ])oliey. He makes an agreement with gentlemen which, while he atlmits that they luive faithfully kept it on their part, he himself evades an<l rejiudiates. And this lie does rather than redress a wrong — I'orrect an error — what he himself considers an error — committed l»y a subordinate, without his orders, and couti'ary to liis wishes I ft was at least due to Mr. Floyd, who, as one (»f liis (^ahinet, had otHcially and personally stoo*! l»y his ;nliuiiiisti-atioii from its \ei-y com- mencement— through good report, and through evil report — to have exjilained to him that ]\v was. in the J'resident's opin- ion, laboring un<h'r a misapiirdieusion. At least, to liave •aid to yiim, "you are mistakiii about this matter — do not leave me on a false is.sue." But no; ho t'oldly, ungra- ciously, yet promptly, receives the resignation without a syllable of remonstrance, and thus tacitly, but unetpiivo- cally, acci'pts without sbauie the issue j)reseiited. He does not deny that the faith (tf bis government is pledge<l, hut he deliberately refuses to redeem it.

\VU. I'ORCHKR MILES. LAURENCE M. KEITT.

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