us objection, made
by a so-called "Republican" Senator, to the reading of the document by
the Clerk of the Senate at my request. This will be made manifest by an
examination of the debate and proceedings which ensued.[120] The
discourtesy recoiled upon its author and supporters, and gave the letter
a vantage-ground in respect of prominence which I could not have
foreseen or expected.

The next day (January 10th) the speech was delivered, the greater part
of which may be found in the Appendix[121]--the last that I ever made in
the Senate of the United States, except in taking leave, and by the
sentiments of which I am content that my career, both before and since,
should be judged.

The history of Fort Sumter during the remaining period, until the
organization of the Confederate Government, may be found in the
correspondence given in the Appendix.[122] From this it will be seen
that the authorities of South Carolina still continued to refrain from
any act of aggression or retaliation, under the provocation of the
secret attempt to reenforce the garrison, as they had previously under
that of its nocturnal transfer from one fort to another.

Another Commissioner (the Hon. I. W. Hayne) was sent to Washington by
the Governor of South Carolina, to effect, if possible, an amicable and
peaceful transfer of the fort, and settlement of all questions relating
to property. This Commissioner remained for nearly a month, endeavoring
to accomplish the objects of his mission, but was met only by evasive
and unsatisfactory answers, and eventually returned without having
effected anything.

There is one passage in the last letter of Colonel Hayne to the
President which presents the case of the occupancy of Fort Sumter by the
United States troops so clearly and forcibly that it may be proper to
quote it. He writes as follows:

"You say that the fort was garrisoned for our protection, and is
held for the same purposes for which it has been ever held since
its construction. Are you not aware, that to hold, in the
territory of a foreign power, a fortress against her will,
avowedly for the purpose of protecting her citizens, is perhaps
the highest insult which one government can offer to another?
But Fort Sumter was never garrisoned at all until South Carolina
had dissolved her connection with your Government. This garrison
entered it in the night, with every circumstance of secrecy,
after spikin