In such
a contingency, the responsibility for consequences would rightfully rest
upon the heads of the assailants." This being the condition of the
parties on Saturday, 8th December, four of the representatives from
South Carolina called upon me and requested an interview. We had an
earnest conversation on the subject of these forts, and the best means
of preventing a collision between the parties, for the purpose of
sparing the effusion of blood. I suggested, for prudential reasons, that
it would be best to put in writing what they said to me verbally. They
did so accordingly, and on Monday morning, the 10th instant, three of
them presented to me a paper signed by all the representatives from
South Carolina, with a single exception, of which the following is a
copy:
"To his Excellency James Buchanan, _President of the United States_:
"In compliance with our statement to you yesterday, we now express to
you our strong convictions that neither the constituted authorities, nor
any body of the people of the State of South Carolina, will either
attack or molest the United States forts in the harbor of Charleston,
previously to the action of the Convention, and, we hope and believe,
not until an offer has been made, through an accredited representative,
to negotiate for an amicable arrangement of all matters between the
State and the Federal Government, provided that no reenforcements shall
be sent into those forts, and their relative military _status_ shall
remain as at present.
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