DECEMBER 28, 1860:
President James Buchanan believes
secession is illegal but believes he has no legal means to stop it. Having taken a position on the great issue of
the day wherein he has permitted himself to do nothing as the Union convulses,
Buchanan has a meeting with R. W. Barnwell, J. H. Adams, and James L. Orr,
South Carolina’s appointed Commissioners, to resolve the matter of U.S. Federal
troops in the newly-declared independent Republic of South Carolina, and the
disposition of the harbor forts, including Fort Sumter. He refuses to meet with
them as “ambassadors” but agrees to speak with them in their roles as
"private gentlemen." They demand removal of federal troops from
Charleston. Buchanan states he needs more time to consider the situation.
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