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deny ourselves.

THE COMMITTEE OF THIRTEEN.

123

make any impression on the points at issue, its circulation among the people served to strengthen the confident and determined spirit of the vast mass of Northern people. It unquestionably had the endorsement of four-fifths of the voters in the North-western States.

No further proceedings of this week's (tho 4th) session particularly related to the "question of questions." It was understood that Mr. Benjamin, of Louisiana, would address the Senate on Monday, January 1st. All looked forward with interest to that speech, as Mr. B. would unquestionably define the course which the united Southern States were to pursue.

The Committee of
Thirty-three.

say this law excludes your social institution. So it | nently kind and candid; and, if it failed to excludes our banking institutions and our manufacturing corporations. Your social institution is a kind of close corporation, existing under the laws of your States, not existing by the common law of the country. We deny you no right which we do not If we acquire territory, you are asking too much when you ask us to convert it to Slave Territory. It is impossible that we can have peace upon any such doctrine as that. You must allow the Free Territories to remain free. We will not interfere with your institution where it exists. Sir, that is peace. I repeat, that non-interference by the General Government or by the Free State men, with Slavery in the States, and non-interference by the General Government or by the Slaveholders against freedom in the Territories, is peace." Mr. Doolittle was frequently interrupted by Mr. Benjamin, of Louisiana, Wigfall, of Texas, and Brown, of Mississippi-all of whose inquiries he answered with decision and candor. Mr. Brown made a brief reply, declaring that Northern Senators would overlook the main point at issue. We claim that there is property in slaves, and they deny it. Until we can settle on some basis this question, it is idle to talk of peace. He claimed that the doctrine of non-recognition of property in slaves was a new doctrine. He said the South had $400,000,000 in this kind of property. Is it to be supposed that the South would consent to live under a Government outlawing this kind of property? Can millions at the South consent to live under a Government as outlaws, only recognized when the Government wants tribute? If the Government continue to outlaw the South, there is only two ways-separate in peace or by

Mr. Brown's Reply.

force. He said the South could not take less than justice, and asked no more. They recognized the right of the Government to protect the property of the North, but the North would not recognize the right of protection to the property of the South. If they persisted in the idea that the Government would

not recognize property in slaves, and protect it, then, standing in the high presence of and before Almighty God, he declared the Union could not last ninety days.

This day's proceedings did not bring the discordant elements into closer harmony. The spirit of Mr. Doolittle's speech was emi

The Committee of Thirty-three having adjourned December 21st to December 27th, accomplished little during their sessions of Thursday and Friday, December 27th-28th. On Thursday the propositions. of Mr. Rust [See page 103] were urged to a vote, and were rejected, by 12 to 15. On Friday the Committee considered Mr. Adams' proposition. It proposed an amendment to the Constitution prohibiting Congress from passing a law interfering with slavery in the States where it exists. It was agreed to by nearly an unanimous vote, the several dissents considering that the Constitution already gives that security.

The Committee of
Thirteen.

The Committee of Thirteen sat three hours on Monday, December 24th, when most significant propositions were submitted by Mr. Seward:

"First. No amendment shall be made to the Constitution which will authorize, or give to Congress any power to abolish or interfere, in any State, with the domestic institutions thereof, including that of persons held to service or labor by the laws of such

State."

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ing "in the State from which the fugitive escaped." This was carried, and then the whole proposition was voted down by the Democrats, all the Republicans sustaining it. This was lost, as follows:

"YEAS.-Messrs. Grimes, Seward, Wade, Doolittle, Collamer, and Crittenden-6.

"NAYS.-Messrs. Powell, Hunter, Toombs, Douglas, Davis, Bigler, and Rice-7."

The Southern men voted adversely, upon the ground that, though it was not openly assigned, this proposition would affect their laws imprisoning colored seamen.

It will be seen that the extremists would not sustain the propositions intended to meet the very cases they had specifically charged against the North.

Mr. Toombs' resolutions were then called up, and four of them voted upon, Mr. Douglas refusing to go upon the record. They were then postponed till Wednesday, Mr. Toombs and the ultras resisting any delay, for the transparent object of using the action of the Committee to operate upon the pending elections for the Southern Conventions. Mr. Davis offered the following resolutions, which went over with the others:

"That it shall be declared by amendment of the Constitution that property in Slaves, recognized as such by the local law of any of the States of the Union, shall stand on the same footing in all Consti

tutional and Federal relations as any other species of property so recognized; and, like other proper ty, shall not be subject to be divested or impaired by the local law of any other State, either in escape thereto, or by the transit or sojourn of the owner therein. And in no case whatever shall such property be subject to be divested or impaired by any legislative act of the United States, or any of the Territories thereof."

Toombs and Davis resolutions. SubsequentOn Wednesday the Committee rejected the ly, Mr. Seward offered the following on be half of the Republican members:

"Resolved, That under the fourth section of the fourth article of the Constitution, Congress should pass an efficient law for the punishment of all persons engaged in the armed invasion of any State from another by combinations of individuals, and punishing all persons in complicity therewith, on trial and conviction in the State and District where their acts of complicity were committed in the Federal Courts."

Mr. Toombs proposed to amend by inclu ding "insurrections," and Mr. Douglas, by inserting his sedition law of last session, after which the resolution was voted down.

Mr. Douglas explained that he declined voting on the Toombs and Davis resolutions, on Monday, because he had presented amendments to the Constitution, in due form, covering the same points.

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CHAPTER XIX.

INCIDENTS AND RESULTS OF THE EVACUATION OF FORT MOULTRIE.

Major Anderson's

true Position.

THE evacuation of Fort Moultrie, by Major Anderson, on the night of Dec. 26th, quite took the country by surprise. His great peril-the steady refusal of the President to allow the dispatch of reinforcements -excited the most painful apprehensions throughout the entire North for his safety. An occasional note like the following, dated December 24th, came from the gallant commander, to intensify the feeling in his behalf:

"When I inform you that my garrison consists of only sixty effective men, and that we are in a very

indifferent work, the walls of which are only about fourteen feet high, and that we have, within one hundred and sixty yards of our walls, sand hills which command our work, and which afford admirable sites for batteries, and the finest covers for sharp-shooters; and that, beside this, there are numerous houses, some of them within pistol-shot, you will at once see

that, if attacked in force, headed by any one but

able to hold out long enough to enable our friends to come to our succor.

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THE OCCUPATION A MILITARY NECESSITY.

125

The desertion of this untenable post for the In the mutterings of an excited populacefastness of Fort Sumter, which lay like a vast in the gathering of soldiery-in the resolution monster on the bosom of the waters far out of inquiry [see page 112], Major Anderson in the harbor, was a step certainly never con- detected the evidence of an early occupation templated by the South Carolina authorities of Fort Sumter, if not of an actual assault nor by the President. Anderson's last instruc- upon Fort Moultrie. If Sumter were occutions from the War Depart-pied by an enemy, Moultrie would not be mentas averred by the tenable for five hours. It was, in fact, the President in his correspon- key to the harbor, which, if properly garrisdence with the South Carolina Commissioners oned, would defy the assault of any force for -were as follows: months. Noting carefully the daily, almost

Anderson's last In

structions.

ists; seeing, upon all sides, unconcealed preparations for large military movements; looking wistfully, but in vain, for succor from reinforcements, it would have been a base betrayal of trust for him to have remained in Moultrie when Sumter offered him the shelter of its kindly walls.

"Verbal Instructions to Major Anderson, First Ar- hourly, gathering strength of the revolution-
tillery, commanding Fort Moultrie, S. C.
"You are aware of the great anxiety of the Secre-
tary of War that a collision of the troops with the
people of this State shall be avoided, and of his
studied determination to pursue a course with refer-
ence to the military force and forts of this harbor
which shall guard against such a collision. He has,
therefore, carefully abstained from increasing the
force at this point, or taking any measures which
might add to the present excited state of the public
mind, or which would throw any doubt on the con-
fidence he feels that South Carolina will not attempt
by violence to obtain possession of the public works,

or interfere with their occupancy.

"But as the counsel and acts of rash and impul

sive persons may possibly disappoint these expecta-
tions of the Government, he deems it proper that
you should be prepared with instructions to meet so
unhappy a contingency. He has, therefore, directed
me, verbally, to give you such instructions.

"You are carefully to avoid every áct which
would needlessly tend to provoke aggression, and
for that reason you are not, without necessity, to
take up any position which could be construed into
the assumption of a hostile attitude; but you are to
hold possession of the forts in the harbor, and if attacked,
you are to defend yourself to the last extremity. The
smallness of your force will not permit you, perhaps,
to occupy more than one of the three forts, but an
attack on, or attempt to take possession of either
of them, will be regarded as an act of hostility, and
you may then put your command into either of them
which you may deem most proper to increase its
power of resistance. You are also authorized to take
similar steps whenever you have tangible evidence of a
design to proceed to a hostile act.

"D. P. BUTLER,
"Assistant Adjutant-General.

"FORT MOULTRIE, S. C., Dec. 11, 1860."
"This is in conformity to my instructions to Major
Buell.
JOHN B. FLOYD,
"Secretary of War."

The Occupation a Military Necessity.

A correspondent from Washington, under date of December 29th, said: "Major Anderson had command of all the forts of Charleston. He held and occupied them at his discretion. Before he went to his command last autumn he was here, and was depressed at the position he felt he was about to occupy. But his views of duty were wholly those of a soldier. His business was to defend his position, and the fact that he intended to do it was what depressed him. He felt the delicacy of his situation, and he knew the weakness of his command. He found himself at Fort Moultrie, threatened with an attack. He besought the Executive for more troops. General Scott, over and over again, urged that they be sent. The President refused. Major Anderson went on strengthening his position, while, at the same time, he urged forward the completion of Fort Sumter, the mounting of its heavy ordnance, &c. This was done as promptly as possible by Captain Foster, of the Engineers. When the engineering labors of Captain Foster were completed, he reported the fact to Major Anderson. Without any special orders or suggestions from the President, the Secretary of War, or the Commander-in-chief, Major Anderson, looking upon his position from an exclusively military point of view, seeing the weakness of Fort Moultrie and the strength of Fort Sumter, did precisely that

thing which, as a military man, he was com- | rapidly relieved of their heavy cargoes. The pelled to do, and which he could not avoid doing without inflicting a stain upon his military reputation. He left the weaker for the stronger position. As a military act its propriety admits of not the slightest question among military men. As a political question, or an act of policy, in reference to the difficulties between South Carolina and the United States, Major Anderson had nothing to do with either, and acted with no reference to either. He simply discharged his duty as a wise and gallant soldier."

small-boats pulled away after everything needful, which it was possible to transport, had been recovered. By daylight the entire force was within the walls of the great water fortress, excepting Capt. Foster and eight men, left to dismantle the big guns bearing on Sumter, by burning their carriages. This duty Capt. Foster proceeded to perform. At an early hour, Thursday morning, the smoke from the burning carriages gave the Charlestonians their first intimation of an extraordinary occurrence. The alarm immediately spread, and the people thronged the wharves and battery looking out upon the harbor. The military were ordered under arms. Everything betokened a crisis in the affairs of the

that a reinforcement had arrived-then it was reported that the garrison had evacua

This statement presents a correct view of the circumstances, and justly gives to the commander the entire credit of the movement, so applauded by friends, so execrated by foes. If merely a military act it neverthe-"sovereign" State. It was at first supposed less was potent with political results. The little vessels which, in their night duty between Moultrie and Sumter, bore to the fast-ted the harbor, after destroying the fort. ness the men and munitions that were to hold it for their country against conspirators, held the fate of a Republic on their slender decks; and the soldier who ordered the transfer became an instrument in the hand of destiny, of leading the Crusade against the Goths who sought to sack the citadel of the Republic, and scatter its glories to the four winds of Heaven. He proved a worthy leader.

Particulars of the
Evacuation.

Some laborers, however, arrived at the wharves, direct from Sullivan's Island, and communicated the truth to the thoroughly exasperated people and the anxious authorities.

The Convention immediately came together, in secret session, scarcely waiting for the formality of a breakfast. It gave orders for the military disposition necessary in a moment of danger. Governor Pickens was out on duty, gathering the masses of men into solWhen informed by Capt. dierly consistency. The battery was filled Foster of the readiness of with troops, ready for any service. When Sumter for occupancy, the news arrived of the course pursued by AnderMajor secured three vessels as transports. son, Governor Pickens sent off a note to inIt was given out that the service required quire by what authority the evacuation was was to remove the families, furniture, &c., of made, and what was the object of the movethe garrison to a place of safety at Fort John-ment. Anderson replied, stating that it was son. Besides the vessels, several row-boats a military step for which he alone was rewere brought into requisition, to be manned by the soldiers. At an early hour Wednesday (Dec. 26th) the order was given for the evacuation. Not a soldier of the garrison knew the destination, but all were zealous for- duty. The vessels were rapidly loaded from the landing-place with all the personal effects of the officers and men, with munitions, provisions, and with the women and children of the post. They then stood out toward Fort Johnson, on James Island, but brought up at Sumter, where, by the aid of the workmen in the fort, the vessels were

sponsible-that it was an act of defence only. While these messages were on their way, Captain Foster appeared in the streets of Charleston to repeat the facts of the case to all inquirers. Intense indignation was expressed at the coup de main, but no violence was offered to the officer. Having imparted the information as authorized by Major Anderson, he returned to Fort Moultrie to retain its possession and await the action of the authorities. It was thus retained to throw upon the State the responsibility of its seizure from a United States garrison.

CONDITION OF FORT MOULTRIE.

127

Condition of Moultrie

after the Act.

"The entire place was, to all appearances, littered up with the odds, ends, and fragments of war's desolation. Confusion could not have been more complete had the late occupants retired in the face of a besieging foe. Fragments of gun carriages, &c., broken to pieces, bestrewed the ramparts. Sandbags and barrels filled with earth, crowned the walls, and were firmly imbedded in their bombproof surface, as an additional safeguard — and, notwithstanding the heterogeneous scattering of materials and implements, the walls of the fort evinced a vague degree of energy in preparing for an attack. A ditch some fifteen feet wide and about the same in depth surrounds the entire wall on three sides. On the south side, or front, a glacis has been commenced and prosecuted nearly to completion, with a rampart of sandbags, barrels, &c..

The Charleston Courier's small arms, clothing, provisions, accoutrespecial reporter, visiting ments, and other munitions of war had been the partially evacuated fort removed off and deposited nothing but to observe its condition, gave an interesting heavy balls and useless cannon remained. statement of his observations. He wrote:"In order to ascertain truthful statements of the actual damage done to the forts, of the causes of the movement, and of the state of affairs generally, reporters were dispatched to the scene during the forenoon. On the way across the harbor, the hoisting of the American flag from the staff of Fort Sumter, at precisely 12 o'clock, gave certain indication that the stronghold was occupied by the troops of the United States. On a nearer approach the fortress was discovered to be occupied, the guns appeared to be mounted, and sentinels were discovered on duty, and the place to give every sign of occupancy and military discipline. The grim fortress frowned defiance on every side; the busy notes of preparation resounded through its unforbid ding recesses, and everything seemed to indicate the utmost alacrity in the work on hand. "Turning towards Fort Moultrie, a dense cloud of smoke was seen to pour from the end facing the sea. The flagstaff was down, and the whole place had an air of desolation and abandonment quite the reverse of its busy look one week ago, when scores of laborers were engaged in adding to its strength all the works skill and experience could gest.

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"In the immediate vicinity of the rear or landside entrance, however, greater activity was noticeable. At the time of our visit, a large force of hands had been summoned to deliver up their implements for transportation to Fort Sumter. Around on every side were the evidences of labor in the fortification of the work. In many places, a portion of the defences were strengthened by every appliance that art could suggest or ingenuity devise; while, in others, the uncompleted works gave evidences of the utmost confusion. On all hands the process of removing goods, furniture, and munitions was yet going on. The heavy guns upon the ramparts of the fort were thrown down from their carriages and spiked. Every ounce of powder and every cartridge had been removed from the magazines; and, in fact, everything like

"On one side of the fort a palisade of Palmetto logs is extended around the ramparts as a complete defense against an escalading party. New embrasures have been cut in the walls so as to command the faces of the bastion and ditch. These new defenses are all incomplete, and are evidence of the haste with which they were erected. Considering the inferior force, in point of numbers, under his command, Major Anderson had paid particular attention to strengthening only a small part of the fort.

"A greater portion of the labor expended was spent upon the citadel or centre of the west point of the position. This he had caused to be strengthened in every way; loop-holes were cut, and everything was so arranged that in case a well-concerted attack was made, he would have retired from the outer bastions to the citadel, and afterwards blow up the other portions of the fort. For this purpose mines had already been sprung, and trains had been laid ready for the application of the match. The barrack-rooms and every other part of the fort that was indefensible would have gone at a touch.

"On the ramparts of the fort fronting Fort Sumter were nine eight-inch columbiads,

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