WASHINGTON CITY,
January 15, 1861.
SIR: We are apprised that you visit Washington as an envoy
from the State of South Carolina, bearing a communication from the governor of
your State to the President of the United States in relation to Fort Sumter.
Without knowing its contents, we venture to request you to defer its delivery
to the President for a few days, or until you and he have considered the
suggestions which we beg leave to submit.
We know that the possession of Fort Sumter by troops of the
United States, coupled with the circumstances under which it was taken, is the chief
if not the only source of difficulty between the government of South Carolina
and that of the United States. We would add, that we, too, think it a just
cause of irritation and of apprehension on the part of your State. But we have
also assurances, notwithstanding the circumstances under which Major Anderson
left Fort Moultrie and entered Fort Sumter with the forces under his command,
that it was not taken, and is not held, with any hostile or unfriendly purpose
towards your State, but merely as property of the United States, which the
President deems it his duty to protect and preserve.
We will not discuss the question of right or duty on the
part of either government touching that property, or the late acts of either in
relation thereto; but we think that, without any compromise of right or breach
of duty on either side, an amicable adjustment of the matter of differences may
and should be adopted. We desire to see such an adjustment, and to prevent war
or the shedding of blood.
We represent States which have already seceded from the
United States, or will have done so before the 1st of February next, and which
will meet your State in convention on or before the 15th of that month. Our
people feel that they have a common destiny with your people, and expect to
form with them, in that convention, a new confederation and provisional
government. We must and will share your fortunes — suffering with you the evils
of war if it cannot be avoided, and enjoying with you the blessings of peace,
if it can be preserved. We therefore think it especially due from South
Carolina to our States — to say nothing of other slaveholding States — that she
should, as far as she can consistently with her honor, avoid initiating
hostilities between her and the United States, or any other power. We have the
public declaration of the President that he has not the constitutional power or
the will to make war on South Carolina, and that the public peace shall not be
disturbed by any act of hostility towards your State.
We therefore see no reason why there may not be a settlement
of existing difficulties, if time be given for calm and deliberate counsel with
those States which are equally involved with South Carolina We therefore trust
that an arrangement will be agreed on between you and the President, at least
till the 15th February next, by which time your and our States may in
convention devise a wise, just, and peaceable solution of existing
difficulties.
In the meantime, we think your State should suffer Major
Anderson to obtain necessary supplies of food, fuel, or water, and enjoy free
communication, by post or special messenger, with the President, upon the
understanding that the President will not send him re-enforcements during the
same period. We propose to submit this proposition and your answer to the
President.
If not clothed with power to make such arrangement, then we
trust that you will submit our suggestions to the governor of your State for
his instructions. Until you have received and communicated his response to the
President, of course your State will not attack Fort Sumter, and the President
will not offer to re-enforce it.
We most respectfully submit these propositions in the
earnest hope that you, or the proper authorities of your State, may accede to
them.
We have the honor to be, with profound esteem, your obedient
servants,
Louis T. WIGFAIL.
JOHN Hemphill.
D. L. Yulee
S. R. MALLORY.
JEFFERsON DAVIS.
C C. CLAY, JR.
BEN. FITZPAtRICK.
A. IVERSON.
JOHN Slidell.
J. P. BENJAMIN.
HON. IsAAc W. HAYNE.
SOURCE: John Bassett Moore, Editor, Works of James
Buchanan, Volume 11, p. 127-8
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