that the equivocating conduct of the Adminis- | these letters before any person who is entitled to tration, as measured and interpreted in connec- ask an explanation of myself. tion with these promises, is the proximate cause of the great calamity.

I have a profound conviction that the telegrams of the 8th of April, of Gen. Beauregard, and of the 10th of April, of Gen. Walker, the Secretary of War, can be referred to nothing else than their belief that there has been systematic duplicity practiced upon them throughout. It is under an oppressive sense of the weight of this responsibility, that I submit to you these things for your explanation.

Very respectfully,

JOHN A. CAMPBELL, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. Hon. WM. H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.

Very respectfully, JOHN A. CAMPBELL, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the U. S. Hon. W. H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. No reply has been made to this letter. April 24, 1861. MONTGOMERY, Ala., May 7. SIR-I submit to you two letters that were addressed by me to Hon. Wm. H. Seward, Secretary of State of the United States, that contain an explanation of the nature and result of an intervention by me in the intercourse of the Commissioners of the Confederate States with that officer. I considered that I could perform no duty in which the entire American people, whether of the Federal Union or of the Confederate States, were more interested than that of promoting the counsels and the policy that had for their object the preservation of peace. This motive dictated my intervention. Beside the interview referred to in these letters I informed the Assistant Secretary of State of the United States, (not being able to see the Secretary,) on the 11th April, ultimo, of the If you have no doubt of the authorized char- existence of a telegram of that date from Gen. acter of the agent who communicated to you Beauregard to the Commissioners, in which he the intention of the Washington Government informed the Commissioners that he had deto supply Fort Sumter by force, you will at manded the evacuation of Sumter, and, if reonce demand its evacuation; and if this is re-fused, he would proceed to reduce it. On the fused, proceed in such manner as you may determine to reduce it.

DESPATCHES.

To L. P. WALKER, Secretary of War:-
An authorized messenger from President
Lincoln just informed Gov. Pickens and myself
that provisions will be sent to Fort Sumter
peaceably, or otherwise by force.

Gen. P. G. T. Beauregard :—

WASHINGTON CITY, Saturday, April 20, 1861. SIR-I enclose you a letter corresponding very nearly with one I addressed to you one week ago, (13th April,) to which I have not had any reply. The letter is simply one of inquiry in reference to facts concerning which I think I am entitled to an explanation. I have not adopted any opinion in reference to them which may not be modified by explanation, nor have I affirmed in that letter, nor do I in this, any conclusion of my own unfavorable to your integrity in the whole transaction.

All that I have said, and mean to say, is, that an explanation is due from you to myself. I will not say what I shall do in case this request is not complied with; but I am justified in saying, that I shall feel at liberty to place

same day, I had been told that President Lin-
coln had said that none of the vessels sent to
Charleston were war vessels, and that force
was not to be used in the attempt to supply
the fort. I had no means of testing the accu-
racy of this information, but offered that, if the
information was accurate, I would send a tele-
gram to the authorities at Charleston, and that
it might prevent the disastrous consequences
of a collision at that fort between the opposing
forces. It was the last effort that I would
make to avert the calamity of war. The As-
sistant Secretary promised to give the matter
attention, but I had no other intercourse with
him or any other person on the subject, nor
have I had any reply to the letters submitted
to you.
Very respectfully,

JOHN A. CAMPBELL.

GEN. DAVIS,
President of the Confederate States.

POETRY, RUMORS AND INCIDENTS.