654 



SOUTH CAROLINA. 



nal jurisdiction in cidmiralty cases, with the 

 right of appeal when exceeding in interest 

 $2,000. In cases affecting the public ministers, 

 the provisions are nearly the same as exist in 

 the Federal courts. Th act of Congress of 

 March 3d, 1825, for the more effectual punish- 

 ment of certain crimes, has been substituted by 

 making all offences subject to the jurisdiction 

 of the State courts. 



The remaining sessions of the Convention 

 were chiefly held in secret. Military measures 

 were adopted. 



An ordinance was passed, vesting all power 

 necessary to make postal arrangements in the 

 Legislature. Military officers in command of a 

 volunteer or regular force raised under the or- 

 ders ,of the Convention were allowed to hold 

 seats in the Legislature. 



Five thousand copies of the correspondence 

 between the commissioners and the President 

 of the United States were ordered to be printed. 



The table, chair, and other appurtenances 

 used on the night of signing the ordinance of 

 secession, were ordered to be placed in the 

 State House at Columbia, and the Convention 

 adjourned on the 5th of January. 



The forts in the harbor of Charleston early 

 became an object of attention. If they were 

 reenforced by the United States, it would re- 

 quire a bloody struggle on the part of South 

 Carolina to obtain possession of them. On the 

 other hand, an immediate seizure, before even a 

 secession, would be an outrage which would oc- 

 casion intense excitement against the State. 

 After the passage of the ordinance of secession, 

 when she declared herself an independent nation, 

 her honor required that she should demand the 

 surrender of the forts ; and if this demand was 

 not complied with, she could then proceed to 

 capture them. An assurance was given to 

 President Buchanan by the representatives in 

 Congress from the State that the forts would 

 not be attacked, and at his request it was made 

 in writing, as follows : 

 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, previously to the action of the Con- 

 vention, and we hope and believe not until an offer has 

 been made through an accredited representative, to 

 negotiate for an amicable arrangement of all matters 

 between the State and Federal Government, provided 

 that no reinforcements shall be sent into those forts, 

 and their relative military status shall remain as at 

 present. JOHN McQUEEN, 



WM. PORCHER MILES. 

 M. L. BONHAM, 

 W. W. BOYCE, 

 LAWRENCE M. KEITT. 



WASHINGTON, Dec. 9, 1860. 



Still later, in the month of December, and 

 after the passage of the ordinance of secession, 

 the Governor, on being serenaded, on Dec. 

 21st, ia the evening, expressed the following 

 opinion as to war : 



" That Convention is now assembled, and, 

 under existing circumstances, it would be ob- 

 viously improper in me to make any lengthy or 

 protracted remarks. But, fellow-citizens, allow 

 me to say to you that I hope and trust I am in 

 possession of information that perhaps there 

 may be no appeal to force on the part of the 

 Federal authorities. But if I am mistaken in 

 this, at least so far as I am concerned, we are 

 prepared to meet any and every issue. I hope 

 and trust that, under existing circumstances, 

 there will be no imprudence ; no rash appeals 

 to counsels caught under the impulse of false 

 rumors ; that we will prove to the world that 

 we are not only free and independent, but that 

 we are entitled to be so by our virtues and our 

 character. The Convention, in all human prob- 

 ability, will, in a few days, send the ordinance 

 to Washington which proclaims you to be, as 

 you have a right to be, a free and independent 

 republic. And, until they present the claims 

 of South Carolina to your forts and your public 

 places now in possession of the Federal Govern- 

 ment, it is our duty to sustain that Convention 

 by showing that we are ready to await a free 

 and fair demand. But if, in the meantime, there 

 is any attempt to increase the forces that now 

 garrison them, so far as I am concerned, it shall 

 not be done without an appeal to arms. I sin- 

 cerely desire that we shall triumphantly go 

 through this great controversy without this 

 appeal to arms. But, if it be necessary to vin- 

 dicate the independence of my country, I vow 

 to you here that all the power that I have shall 

 be exerted to maintain to the last extremity the 

 independence of South Carolina. Allow rne to 

 say that there is nothing at present in the pres- 

 ent issue to excite the slightest alarm. Be firm, 

 be united, be true to your country, and your 

 country is safe. I desire to say nothing that is 

 imprudent or rash. I desire coolness and calm- 

 ness. I desire that every man shall be ready, 

 standing at his post ; ready to do his duty when 

 the word is given to march. I tell yon, as far 

 as I am able, when necessary that word shall 

 be given to march forward to honor and inde- 

 pendence now and forever." 



The commissioners sent to Washington had a 

 brief correspondence with President Buchanan 

 on the 29th of December, but accomplished 

 nothing. (See UNITED STATES.) 



Active movements immediately commenced 

 for resisting any attempt on the part of the 

 United States to exercise Federal powers with- 

 in the limits of the State. Rumors that vessels 

 of war had started for Charleston harbor, and 

 that the commissioners to Washington were on 

 their way home, created great excitement in 

 the State, and all thoughts of peaceable secession 

 were abandoned. A collector for the port of 

 Charleston was nominated to the Senate by 

 President Buchanan, but that body failed to 

 confirm the nomination. 



Meantime, Governor Pickens organized his 

 Cabinet, as follows : Secretary of State, A. G. 

 Magrath; Secretary of War, D. F. Jamison; 



