($ H,i . gipe^i -*/ ;^^^jL^ ^Ob r #>5 Ouke University Libraries Circular letter Con) Pam q*«9 i : ■ i|6oo • TO ^Lql fi\ [n^ir<3 iJ fMm m mmm (i^mmmA. HEAD QUARTERS, i^o/mnma^ ^x I C'^^^C^, /^Ss. J^Jn "^JtA foaxcff^ pital they will be kept ready for duty whenever they recover. The probability is that we may have a protracted \ \ war, and if so, there must be large and permanent establishments for our immense armies, and we owe it to the J brave men who are in the field to let them know that the best provisions are made for their comfort and protec- tion. It is evident our enemies intend to wage a war of permanent conquest, and it is essential to their existence L ^that they shall. Our independence is their ruin. Our success inevitably ends in their bankruptcy and desolation. Their success, in lii 3 Quasi I'roliriordtes. Under the treaty by wliich the First Napoleon ecded Louisiana, the protection of jiroperty and personal rights was guaranteed to the citizens of the ceded territory. The time may come when the present sagacious Emperor of the French may interfere and assert tlie doctrine that the country West of the Mississippi was ceded to the United States of America as a Government, and that as such a Government may then be destroj'ed by being broken into separate combinations, and also that the rights of persons and property may be destroyed, he will interfere, and assume the exercise of the power resulting from reverted or lapsed sovereignty. But all these foreign issues that may arise will be as deeply important to us as even our \ conquest by the North. Xo human sagacity can see at present what may lay before us. It is clear, in any point' of view, that our very existence, as a free people, is now immediately involved in the terrible conflict upon which we seem to be just entering. Although I have often emjuired and written on the subject, yet I have never been informed of any great plan upon which we are to rest for defence. If I could have been informed of any, even of the outlines of such a plan. I should not have troubled you with this letter, but would have contented myself with acting in concert with the authorities and suggestions of the Confederate Government, and would have cheerfully and cordially exerted all the power I might have to bring the resources of South Carolina to aid in the measures that might be proposed. Under existing circumstances, it strikes me that the Executives of the different States should immediately communicate to each other their views, freely and frankly, and then meet together at some convenient point, and agree upon some great and leading mea.<;ures by whiili our difTcrcnt States could be brought to act in concert, and cordially in a course, when the existence of each depends now upon the combination of the whole. We must provide for an inner or seccuid circle of defence, and a great central camp for trainin"- our men and allowing them to pass through the usual camp diseases. The whole male white population of all the States fit^ for military duty must be organized upon some general and equal plan "for and during the war." Unless we' .are prepared to put up at lea,st half the property of the citizens of the different States, and to put our whole ) force, liable to duty, into immediate organization, we will never be able to meet the difficulties before us without disgrace and disaster. Nothing but a sense of duty and the great dangers with which our country is surrounded, prompts mc to write you thus freely and fully. It would afl'ord me great satisfaction to receive in reply any suggestions that you may think proper. I only most respectfully present my views, but am ready, at a moment, to yield any of them, and to adopt any others that may appear more wise and proper. If it is suitable to your views that we should meet at some convenient point for free and confidential conference, I would be most happy for j-ou to suefest the time that you may think best. I would respectfully suggest the twentieth of April, or sooner, if convenient. T have the honor to be, with great respect, Vour most obedient servant, ^ / ' t v. S. I have .sent a coi.y of this letter to each (iovernor of the Confederate States. I'erhaps public en- gagements may make it impossible for us to meet at all, and I would therefore respectfully request a full and free interchange of views, by correspondence, upon which we may be able to form some definite system of action. Of course, if anything is done towards forming an inner or secondary circle of defence, it must be done with the approbation of the Confcderaic Authorities, and wc will net freely in aid of them. y . c Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from Duke University Libraries r^. /it http://www.archive.org/details/circularlettercaOOsout p€Rnulife« pH8.5