" Place that "assurance," as contained in our
letter, in the sentence, and we are prepared to repeat it.
Again, professing to quote our language, you say: "Thus the authorities
of South Carolina, without waiting or asking for any explanation, and
doubtless believing, as you have expressed it, that the officer had
acted not only without, but against my orders," etc. We expressed no
such opinion in reference to the belief of the people of South Carolina.
The language which you have quoted was applied solely and entirely to
_our assurance_, obtained here, and based, as you well know, upon your
own declaration--a declaration which, at that time, it was impossible
for the authorities of South Carolina to have known. But, without
following this letter into all its details, we propose only to meet the
chief points of the argument.
Some weeks ago, the State of South Carolina declared her intention, in
the existing condition of public affairs, to secede from the United
States. She called a convention of her people to put her declaration in
force. The Convention met and passed the ordinance of secession. All
this you anticipated, and your course of action was thoroughly
considered. In your annual message you declared that you had no right,
and would not attempt, to coerce a seceding State, but that you were
bound by your constitutional oath, and would defend the property of the
United States within the borders of South Carolina, if an attempt was
made to take it by force.
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