assembly of Kentucky; and we hereby invite our sister States to unite with us, without delay, in similar application to Congress. Resolved, That the governor of this State forthwith communicate the foregoing resolution to the President of the United States, with the request that he immediately place the same before Congress and the executives of the several States, with a request that they lay them before their respective legislatures. Resolved, If the convention be called in accordance with the provisions of the foregoing resolutions, the legislature of the Commonwealth of Kentucky suggest for the consideration of that convention, as a basis for settling existing difficulties, the adoption, by way of amendments to the Constitution, of the resolutions offered in the Senate of the United States by the Hon. John J. Crittenden. DAVID MERIWETHER, Speaker of the House of Representatives. THOMAS P. PORTER, Approved January 25, 1861. Speaker of the Senate. By the governor : THOMAS B. MONROE, Jr., Secretary of State. B. MAGOFFIN. Message from the President of the United States, transmitting correspondence in relation to Fort Sumter, &c. To the Senate and House of Representatives: I deemed it a duty to transmit to Congress, with my message of the 8th of January, the correspondence which occurred in December last between the "commissioners" of South Carolina and myself. Since that period, on the 14th of January, Colonel Isaac W. Hayne, the attorney general of South Carolina, called and informed me that he was the bearer of a letter from Governor Pickens to myself, which he would deliver the next day. He was, however, induced, by the interposition of Hon. Jefferson Davis and nine other senators from the seceded and seceding States, not to deliver it on the day appointed, nor was it communicated to me until the 31st of January, with his letter of that date. Their letter to him urging this delay bears date January 15, and was the commencement of a correspondence, the whole of which in my possession I now submit to Congress. A reference to each letter of the series, in proper order, accompanies this message. JAMES BUCHANAN. WASHINGTON, February 8, 1861. Papers accompanying the President's message, February 9, 1861. No. 1.-A letter addressed by Hon. Jefferson Davis and others, dated January 15, 1861, to Colonel I. W. Hayne. No. 2.-Colonel Hayne to Hon. Jefferson Davis and others, January 17, 1861. No. 3.-Note from Hon. John Slidell and others, communicating to the President the foregoing correspondence, and asking him to take into consideration the subject of it, January 19, 1861. No. 4.-A letter addressed by the Secretary of War ad interim to Hon. John Slidell and others, expressing the views of the President, January 22, 1861. No. 5.-Colonel Hayne to the senators who had communicated to him the letter of the Secretary of War ad interim, transmitted to the President with a note from Mr. Slidell, (January 28, 1861,) January 24, 1861. No. 6.-Colonel Hayne to the President, with Governor Pickens's letter of January 12, which had not before been communicated, January 31, 1861. No. 7.-Answer of the Secretary of War to Colonel Hayne, February 6, 1861. No. 1. WASHINGTON CITY, January 15, 1861. SIR: We are apprised that you visit Washington as an envoy from the State of South Carolina, bearing a communication from the governor of your State to the President of the United States in relation to Fort Sumter. Without knowing its contents, we venture to request you to defer its delivery to the President for a few days, or until you and he have considered the suggestions which we beg leave to submit. We know that the possession of Fort Sumter by troops of the United States, coupled with the circumstances under which it was taken, is the chief if not the only source of difficulty between the government of South Carolina and that of the United States. We would add that we, too, think it a just cause of irritation and of apprehension on the part of your State. But we have also assurances, notwithstanding the circumstances under which Major Anderson left Fort Moultrie and entered Fort Sumter with the forces under his command, that it was not taken, and is not held, with any hostile or unfriendly purpose towards your State, but merely as property of the United States, which the President deems it his duty to protect and preserve. We will not discuss the question of right or duty on the part of either government touching that property, or the late acts of either in relation thereto; but we think that, without any compromise of right or breach of duty on either side, an amicable adjustment of the matter of differences may and should be adopted. We desire to see such an adjustment, and to prevent war or the shedding of blood. We represent States which have already seceded from the United States, or will have done so before the 1st of February next, and which will meet your State in convention on or before the 15th of that month. Our people feel that they have a common destiny with your people, and expect to form with them, in that convention, a new confederation and provisional government. We must and will share your fortunessuffering with you the evils of war, if it cannot be avoided, and enjoying with you the blessings of peace, if it can be preserved. We therefore think it especially due from South Carolina to our States— to say nothing of other slaveholding States-that she should, as far as she can consistently with her honor, avoid initiating hostilities between her and the United States, or any other power. We have the public declaration of the President that he has not the constitutional power or the will to make war on South Carolina, and that the public peace shall not be disturbed by any act of hostility towards your State. We therefore see no reason why there may not be a settlement of existing difficulties, if time be given for calm and deliberate counsel with those States which are equally involved with South Carolina. We therefore trust that an arrangement will be agreed on between you and the President, at least till the 15th February next, by which time your and our States may in convention devise a wise, just, and peaceable solution of existing difficulties. In the meantime, we think your State should suffer Major Anderson to obtain necessary supplies of food, fuel, or water, and enjoy free communication, by post or special messenger, with the President, upon the understanding that the President will not send him re-enforcements during the same period. We propose to submit this proposition and your answer to the President. If not clothed with power to make such arrangement, then we trust that you will submit our suggestions to the governor of your State for his instructions. Until you have received and communicated his response to the President, of course your State will not attack Fort Sumter, and the President will not offer to re-enforce it. We most respectfully submit these propositions in the earnest hope that you, or the proper authorities of your State, may accede to them. We have the honor to be, with profound esteem, your obedient servants, Hon. ISAAC W. HAYNE LOUIS T. WIGFALL. S. R. MALLORY. C. C. CLAY, JR. No. 2. WASHINGTON, January 17, 1861. GENTLEMEN: I have received your communication dated the 15th instant. You say you represent States which have already seceded from the United States, or will have done so before the first of February next, and which will meet South Carolina in convention on or before the 15th of that month; that your people feel they have a common destiny with our pcople, and expect to form with them in that convention a new confederacy and provisional government; that you must and will share our fortunes, suffering with us the evils of war, if it cannot be avoided, and enjoying with us the blessings of peace, if it can be preserved. I feel, gentlemen, the force of this appeal, and, so far as my authority extends, most cheerfully comply with your request. I am not clothed with power to make the arrangement you suggest, but, provided you can get assurances with which you are entirely satisfied that no re-enforcements will be sent to Fort Sumter in the interval, and that public peace will not be disturbed by any act of hostility towards South Carolina, I will refer your communication to the authorities of South Carolina, and, withholding the communication with which I am at present charged, will await further instructions. Major Anderson and his command, let me assure you, do now obtain all necessary supplies, including fresh meat and vegetables, and I believe fuel and water, from the city of Charleston, and do now enjoy communication, by post and special messenger, with the President, and will continue to do so, certainly until the door to negotiation has been closed. If your proposition is acceded to, you may assure the President that no attack will be made on Fort Sumter until a response from the governor of South Carolina has been received and coinmunicated to him. I am, with high consideration and profound esteem, your obedient servant, ISAAC W. HAYNE. Hon. LOUIS T. WIGFALL. JOHN HEMPHILL. D. L. YULEE. S. R. MALLORY. C. C. CLAY, Jr. JOHN SLIDELL. J. P. BENJAMIN. No. 3. SENATE CHAMBER, January 19, 1861. SIR: We have been requested to present to you a copy of a correspondence between certain senators of the United States and Colonel Isaac W. Hayne, now in this city, on behalf of the government of South Carolina, and to ask that you will take into consideration the subject of said correspondence. Very respectfully, your obedient servants, His Excellency JAMES BUCHANAN, President of the United States. JOHN SLIDELL. No. 4. WAR DEPARTMENT, January 22, 1861. GENTLEMEN: The President has received your communication of the 19th instant, with the copy of a correspondence between yourselves and others "representing States which have already seceded from the United States, or will have done so before the 1st of February next," and Colonel Isaac W. Hayne, of South Carolina, in behalf of the government of that State, in relation to Fort Sumter; and you ask the President to "take into consideration the subject of said correspondence.' With this request he has respectfully complied, and has directed me to communicate to you his answer. In your letter to Colonel Hayne, of the 5th instant, you propose to him to defer the delivery of a message from the governor of South Carolina to the President, with which he has been intrusted, for a few days, or until the President and Colonel Hayne shall have considered the suggestions which you submit. It is unnecessary to refer specially to these suggestions, because the letter addressed to you by Colonel Hayne, of the 17th instant, presents a clear and specific answer to them. In this he says: "I am not clothed with power to make the arrangement you suggest; but provided you can get assurances, with which you are entirely satisfied, that no re-enforcements will be sent to Fort Sumter in the interval, and that public peace will not be disturbed by any act of hostility towards South Carolina, I will refer your communication to the authorities of South Carolina, and, withholding the communication with which I am at present charged, will await further instructions." From the beginning of the present unhappy troubles the President has endeavored to perform his executive duties in such a manner as to preserve the peace of the country and to prevent bloodshed. This is still his fixed purpose. You therefore do him no more than justice in stating that you have assurances (from his public mes |