John Tyler to Robert Tyler, November 10, 1860

SHERWOOD FOREST, November 10, 1860.

So all is over, and Lincoln elected. South Carolina will secede. What other States will do remains to be seen. Virginia will abide developments. The Bellites will seek to divide parties into Unionists and the reverse. We shall see the result. It is said that Rives is offered the premiership. He will only take it upon satisfactory assurances being given, I am sure. For myself, I rest in quiet, and shall do so unless I see that my poor opinions have due weight. In the meantime confidence between man and man is giving way, and soon gold and silver will be hoarded by those who are fortunate enough to have them.

Love to all.

Your affectionate father,

J. TYLER.

SOURCE: Lyon Gardiner Tyler, The Letters and Times of the Tylers, Volume 2, p. 563

The South Carolina Cadets at the United States Military Academy to the Editor of the Columbia (S. C.) Guardian, November 9, 1860

WEST POINT, November 9, 1860.

To the Editor of the “Columbia (S. C.) Guardian.”

MR. EDITOR—SIR:  From what we have seen and heard, South Carolina will undoubtedly, at an early period, redeem her assertions, take her destinies in her own hands, and proceed at once to organize for herself a new and separate government (a government of which our beloved Calhoun would approve were he with us at this time), one in which the benefits are equally distributed to all.

Now we, her sons and representatives at the United States Military Academy at West Point, are eager to manifest our devotion and affection to her and her present cause; so will we, simultaneously with her withdrawal, be found under the folds of her banner, fighting for liberty or equality.

Though the reception of a diploma here at the National Academy is certainly to be desired by all of us, yet we can not so stifle our convictions of duty as to serve the remainder of our time here under such a man as Mr. Lincoln as commander-in-chief, and to be subjected at all times to the orders of a government the administration of which must be necessarily unfriendly to the Commonwealth which has so far preserved a spotless record, and of which we are justly proud.

We hereby swear to be true to her lone star in the present path of rectitude, and if, by chance, she goes astray, we will be with her still.  All we desire is a field for making ourselves useful.

George N. Reynolds, 

Henry S. Farley,

Jno. Y. Wofford,

J. S. Weatherby, 

Jno. Blocker, 

J. S. Boatwright, 

Jas. H. Hamilton. 

SOURCES: Peter Smith Michie, The Life and Letters of Emory Upton, p. 27-8; “South Carolina Cadets at West Point,” The Liberator, Boston, Massachusetts, Friday, November 30, 1861, p. 1; “Insubordination at West Point—The South Carolina Cadets, at the Military Academy Taking an Oath,” Salem Weekly Advocate, Salem, Illinois, Thursday, November 29, 1860, p. 4; Colburn's United Service Magazine and Naval and Military Journal, 1861. Part 1, February 1861, 187-8; “South Carolina Cadets at West Point,” Richmond Daily Dispatch, Richmond, Virginia, Saturday, November 24, 1860, p. 1.