January 23, 1861, The Charleston Mercury
We are very happy, says the Washington Star, to have it in our power to say that the Government here has become satisfied that all danger of hostile collision between its forces and those engaged in the secession movement is rapidly disappearing. The revolutionary authorities of South Carolina have entirely changed their policy, and are now arriving to prevent and avoid the collision in Charleston harbor they were evidently striving to precipitate up to very recently. It is believed that this change of their tactics is the result of the growing desire of the people of South Carolina for a settlement of the difficulties without the permanent destruction of the Union; and that it means that the revolutionary authorities of that State are acting under the advice of leading sympathizers with their cause in other States (such as FITZPATRICK, of Alabama, who has never had any part in the movement; MASON, who represents a border State; DAVIS, who expects to reconstruct the Union; and CLAY, who comes from North Alabama, the lowest toned place in the Cotton States)