656 



SOUTH CAROLINA. 



in the hold of a vessel of commerce, with a view to 

 subjugate the people of South Carolina, and that even 

 since the authorities at Washington have been inform- 

 ed of the present mediation ot Virginia, a vessel of 

 war has been sent to the South, and troops and 

 munitions of war concentrated on the soil of Vir- 

 ginia. 



Dudley Mann was at this time sent out as 

 commissioner on the part of South Carolina 

 to arrange some system with foreign Govern- 

 ments respecting their varied interests, and 

 more particularly in regard to opening commer- 

 cial facilities and direct trade. On the seces- 

 sion of Florida, four thousand stand of arms 

 were sent to the authorities of that State from 

 the arsenal at Charleston. The Governor was 

 also authorized to send volunteers to that State 

 if they should be needed. 



The forts in Charleston harbor, occupied by a 

 small garrison of regular troops of the United 

 States, afforded a standing denial of the sover- 

 eignty and independence of South Carolina. 

 The first object to be accomplished by the State 

 authorities to secure that respect due to an in- 

 dependent nation, was to obtain possession of 

 these forts. For this object the following cor- 

 respondence took place : 



STATR OF SOUTH CAROLINA, ) 

 EXECUTIVE OFFICE, CHARLESTON, Jan. 11, 1861. j 

 To Major Robert Anderson, commanding Fort Sumter. 

 SIR : I have thought proper, under all the circum- 

 stances of the peculiar state of public affairs in the 

 country at present, to appoint the Hon. A. G. Magrath 

 and Gen. D. F. Jamison, both members of the Execu- 

 tive Council, and of the highest position in the State, 

 to present to you considerations of the gravest public 

 character, and of the deepest interest to all who dep- 

 recate the improper waste of life, to induce the de- 

 livery of Fort Sumter to the constituted authorities of 

 the State of South Carolina, with a pledge, ou its part, 

 to account for such public property as is under your 

 charge. Your obedient servant, 



F. W. PICKENS. 



MAJOR ANDERSON TO GOV. PICKENS. 



HEAD-QUARTERS FORT SUMTEB, 8. C. ) 

 January 11, 1861. $ 



His Exc'y F. W. PicJcens, Governor of S. Carolina. 



SIR : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt 

 of your demand for the surrender of this fort to the 

 authorities of South Carolina, and to say, in reply that 

 the demand is one with which I cannot' comply. 



Your Excellency knows that I have recently sent a 

 messenger to Washington, and that it will be impos- 

 sible for me to receive an answer to my despatches, 

 forwarded by him, at an earlier date than next Mon- 

 day. What the character of my instructions may be 

 I cannot foresee. Should your Excellency deem fit, 

 prior to a resort to arms, to refer this matter to Wash- 

 ington, it would afford me the sincerest pleasure to 

 depute one of my officers to accompany any messenger 

 you may deem proper to be the bearer of your de- 

 mand. 



Hoping to God that in this, and all other matters, in 

 which the honor, welfare, and lives of our fellow- 

 countrymen are concerned, we shall so act as to 

 meet ftis approval, and deeply regretting that you 

 have made a demand of me with which I cannot com- 

 ply, I have the honor to be, with the highest regard, 

 your obedient servant, ROBERT ANDERSON^ 



Major TJ. S. Army, commanding. 



This reply of Major Anderson referred the 

 question to the President of the United States, 



to whom, therefore, Governor Pickens then 

 addressed the following letter : 



STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 

 EXECUTIVE OFFICE, HEAD-QUARTERS, 

 CHARLESTON, Jariy 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 the troops of the 

 United States, under 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 com- 

 munication 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 the 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 persist- 

 ence in your attempt to retain 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 at- 

 tempt to avoid it. 



In relation to the public property of the United 

 States within Fort Sumter the Hon. I. W. Hayne, who 

 will hand you this communication, is authorized to 

 give you the pledge of the State that the valuation of 

 such property will be accounted for by this 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. 



For the result of this attempt to obtain pos- 

 sesion of the fort, see SUMTER ; for the reply of 

 the President, and his views upon the questions 

 incidentally raised, see UNITED STATES. 



To furnish resources for the State, an act was 

 passed by the Legislature appropriating $850,- 

 000 to meet demands upon the State ; also 

 $980,000 for military and other exigencies, and 

 $50,000 for postal service. The amount not 

 provided for by direct taxation was to be sup- 

 plied by Treasury notes and bills receivable, in 

 sums of $50, $100, and $500. 



Preparations were now made to organize a 

 volunteer force of 10,000 men, and the Gov- 

 ernor appointed Milledge L. Bonham, of Edge- 

 field, major-general; P. H. Nelson, of Sumter, 

 brigadier-general ; Major T. G. Rhett, late of 

 the United States army, Samuel McGowan, of 

 Abbeville, and A. G. Garlington, of Newbery, 

 brigadier-generals. 



All commerce had now ceased, and a general 

 stagnation of commercial affairs ensued. A 

 degree of popular excitement was maintained 

 by the condition in which Fort Sumter was 

 held, and by the preparations on foot for its ul- 

 timate capture. The Provisional Constitution 

 of the Confederate States was adopted by the 

 State Convention, which reassembled on the 

 26th of March. The vote on its adoption was 

 140 aves and 29 noes. Thus South Carolina 



