File:Abraham Lincoln; a history (1890) (14739740016).jpg

Identifier: abrahamlincolnhi03nicol (find matches)
Title: Abraham Lincoln; a history
Year: 1890 (1890s)
Authors: Nicolay, John G. (John George), 1832-1901 Hay, John, 1838-1905
Subjects: Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 United States -- History Civil War, 1861-1865
Publisher: New York : The Century Co.
Contributing Library: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

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rtheless, to dosomething on his own part to avert hostilities, heasked them why they did not first attempt diplo-macy instead of war. He said if they would send acommission to lay their claims before the authori-ties at Washington, he would send another torepresent the condition of the fort, and the Gov-ernment could then form its own judgment, andcome to some decision. The commissioners couldof course say nothing else than that they wouldsubmit the proposition to the Governor. Fostersrecollection of the incident is slightly different; hesays the commissioners demand was mitigatedto a proposal to send a joint commission to Wash-ington, which was agreed to by Major Anderson.Bringing their interview to a close, they bore to thecity the following written reply from Anderson: Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt ofyour demand for the surrender of this fort to the author-ities of South Carohna, and to say in reply that the de-mand is one with which I cannot comply. Your Excel-
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FRANCIS W. PICKKNS. ANDERSONS TRUCE 113 lency knows that I have recently sent a messenger to chap.viii.Washington, and that it will be impossible for me to re-ceive an answer to my dispatches, forwarded by him, at an earlier date than next Monday. What the character Anderson of n)y instructions may be I cannot foresee. Ja^nSi. Should your Excellency deem fit, prior to a resort to History arms, to refer this matter to Washington, it would afford 8(?itiirn me the sincerest pleasure to depute one of my officers to Rebellion, , , Vol. I., p. accompany any messenger you may deem proper to be 253.the bearer of your demand. This suggestion of Major Anderson was prac-tically the tender of an armistice for the period ofabout two days, the time necessary to travel toWashington, with contingent results impossible tocalculate. Having already, two days previously,decided against retaliation, it involved him in noadditional restraint, but it placed the Grovernmentat Washington in the awkward predic

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