The Congress of the United States had assembled as usual in December, and was at this time in session. The clouds surcharged with sectional hate and political fanaticism were now lowering over us, and the distant mutterings of that storm which had been heard so long, and against which the wise and patriotic had given solemn warning, foreboded evil times. South Carolina had already, on the 20th of December, adopted her ordinance of secession; Mississippi on the 9th of January; Florida followed on the 10th, Alabama on the 11th, Georgia on the 18th, Louisiana on the 26th, and Texas on the 1st of February.
Events now crowded upon each other with the rapidity of a drama. On the 10th of January, 1861, Governor Ellis telegraphed Hon. Warren Winslow of North Carolina, at Washington, to call on General Winfield Scott and _demand_ of him to know if he had been instructed to garrison the forts of North Carolina. The Governor stated that he was informed that it was the purpose of the Administration to coerce the seceded States, and that troops were already on their way to garrison the Southern forts. On the 12th, Governor Ellis addressed the following letter to President Buchanan:
"Your Excellency will pardon me for asking whether the United States forts in this State will be garrisoned with Federal troops during your administration. Should I receive assurances that no troops will be sent to this State prior to the 4th of March next, then all will be peace and quiet here, and the property of the United States will be protected as heretofore. If, however, I am unable to get such assurances, I will not undertake to answer for the consequences. Believing your Excellency to be desirous of preserving the peace, I have deemed it my duty to yourself, as well as to the people of North Carolina, to make the foregoing inquiry, and to acquaint you with the state of the public mind here."
On the 15th day of January, J. Holt, Secretary of War (_ad interim_), in behalf of the President, replied as follows:
"It is not his (Buchanan's) purpose to garrison the forts to which you refer, because he considers them entirely safe under the shelter of that _law-abiding_ sentiment for which the people of North Carolina have ever been distinguished."