Description:

JAMES BUCHANAN'S SECRETARY WARNS HIM OF SOUTHERN MACHINATIONS
ADAM J. GROSSBRENNER (1810-1889) American politician, a member of the House representing Pennsylvania, Sergeant at Arms of the House from 1850 to 1860 and served as private secretary to President James Buchanan in 1860 and 1861. Fine content A.L.S. with initials "A.J.G.", 1p. 4to., [Washington], Jan. 18, 1861, in pencil, recipient unknown but undoubtedly intended for President James Buchanan whom he was serving as private secretary. In part: "...Night before last...Senators [Robert M. T.] Hunter & [James M.] Mason had an interview of several hours with Mr. [J. W. ] Hayne of S.C. - and it is supposed that whatever communication Mr. H. may have made to you afterward was in some degree shaped by the counsels of these two Senators. This may or may not be consequence. I give it for what it is worth at the insistence of Capt. Franklin". Very good. In January of 1861, South Carolina Governor Francis W. Pickens sent a special envoy, J.W. Hayne, to Washington D.C. to meet with President Buchanan to discuss Fort Sumter. The U.S. had taken control of Fort Sumter weeks prior and as of December 20, 1860, South Carolina no longer considered itself part of the Union. Federal control of this territory was dangerous for South Carolina, especially after secession, and Hayne was ordered to obtain Washington's surrender of the fort or otherwise a "bloody issue" would ensue". (A.G. Magrath to J.W. Hayne, 12 January 1861. S511001. Governor Francis W. Pickens papers. South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia, South Carolina). Both Hunter and Mason would soon be expelled from Congress for supporting secession. Hunter would become the Confederate Secretary of State and Mason would become envoy to Britain (his arrest in the Trent Affair nearly provoked a war with England).

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December 16, 2010 11:00 AM EST
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