February 16, 1861, Harper’s Weekly
The correspondence between South Carolina and the United States, relative to the demand of Fort Sumter, has been published. The following is the first letter:
“STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
HEAD-QUARTERS, CHARLESTON, Jan. 11, 1861. “SIR,–At the time of the separation of the State of South Carolina from the United States, Fort Sumter was, and still is, in the possession of troops of the United States, under the command of Major Anderson. I regard that possession as not consistent with the dignity or safety of the State of South Carolina ; and I have this day addressed to Major Anderson a communication to obtain from him the possession of that Fort by the authorities of this State. The reply of Major Anderson informs me that he has no authority to do what I required, but he desires a reference of the demand to the President of the United States. ” Under the circumstances now existing, and which need no comment by me, I have determined to send to you Hon. I. W. Hayne, the Attorney-General of the State of South Carolina, and have instructed him to demand the delivery of Fort Sumter, in the harbor of Charleston, to the constituted authorities of the State of South Carolina.
“The demand I have made of Major Anderson, and which I now make of you, is suggested because of my earnest desire to avoid the bloodshed which a persistence in your attempt to retain the possession of that fort will cause; and which will be unavailing to secure you that possession, but induce a calamity most deeply to be deplored.
” If consequences so unhappy shall ensue, I will secure for this State, in the demand which I now make, the satisfaction of having exhausted every attempt to avoid it. “In relation to the public property of the United States within Fort Sumter, Hon. I. W. Hayne, who will hand you this communication, is authorized to give you the pledge of the State, upon the adjustment of its relations with the United States, of which it was a part.
“F. W. PICKENS. ” To the President of the United States.”
ANOTHER LETTER FROM MAJOR ANDERSON. The following letter from Major Anderson has been received by the Secretary of the New York State Military Association :
“FORT SUMTER, S. C., January 29, 1861. “H. Roosa, Corresponding Secretary of the New York State Military Association:
” SIR,–There are so many things which require my attention that I have only time to acknowledge, very briefly, the receipt of your letter of the 18th inst., forwarding a copy of the resolutions of the New York State Military Association, approving the steps taken by me, in this harbor, to assert the proper authority of the Federal Government and maintain the honor of our country’s flag.
” I thank the Association for the complimentary and pleasing terms in which they allude to what I have, by the blessing of God, done in the hope of preserving peace, and also for the honor conferred upon me by my election as an honorary member.
“Accept, if you please, my thanks for the expression of your own approbation of my course, and believe me to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
” ROBERT ANDERSON, “Major U.S.A., Commanding.”
THE ULTIMATUM OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
The last document in the series is a long dispatch from Hon. A. G. Magrath, reviewing the whole subject, for the purpose of showing that the President is entirely wrong in the position he has assumed–and closing thus:
“The safety of the State requires that the position of the President should be distinctly understood. The safety of all the seceding States requires it as much as the safety of South Carolina. If it be so that Fort Sumter is held but as property, then, as property, the rights, whatever they may be, of the United States can be ascertained, and for the satisfaction of those rights, the pledge of the State of South Carolina you are authorized to give. If Fort Sumter is not held as property, it is held as a military post, and such a post within the limits of this State will not be tolerated.
The letter of the President may be received as the reply to the question you were instructed to ask, as to his assertion of the right to send reinforcements to Fort Sumter. You were instructed to say to him, if he asserted that right, that the State of South Carolina regarded such a right, when asserted, or with an attempt at its exercise, as a declaration of war. If the President intends it shall not be so understood, it is proper, to avoid any misconception hereafter, that he should be informed of the manner in which the Governor will feel bound to regard it.
“If the President, when you have stated the reasons which prompt the Governor in making the demand for the delivery of Fort Sumter, shall refuse to deliver the fort upon the pledges you have been authorized to make, you will communicate the refusal, without delay, to the Governor. If the President shall not be prepared to give you an immediate answer, you will communicate to him that his answer may be transmitted, within a reasonable time, to the Governor, at this place. The Governor does not consider it necessary that you should remain in Washington longer than is necessary to execute this, the closing duty of your mission, in the manner now indicated to you. As soon as the Governor shall receive from you information that you have closed your mission, and the reply, whatever it may be, of the President, he will consider the conduct which will be necessary on his part.”