February 3, 1861; The New York Herald
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2, 1861.
The President has received Colonel Hayne’s communication in regard to the public property in South Carolina, and demanding, in case he will not enter into negotiations for it, the surrender of Fort Sumter.
This letter has been prepared with great care, having been submitted to Messrs. Hunter and Mason, and also to Messrs. Benjamin and Slidell.
The President will reply to it as early as possible. His views are already well known to the people of South Carolina in regard to this matter. He has seen nothing in the events of the last few weeks to change them.
Lieut. Hall’s departure for South Carolina, with official despatches, has been postponed for the present. He expected to have gone tonight.